Washington, July 22: President Donald Trump has formally approved a landmark nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could permit uranium enrichment inside the kingdom and generate tens of billions of dollars for American companies, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.

The 30-year agreement would give Saudi Arabia access to a civilian nuclear programme. It is designed to place US companies at the centre of the kingdom’s emerging nuclear infrastructure while excluding foreign competitors, the Journal said.

The deal could mark a significant expansion of nuclear cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. It is also expected to revive concerns in Congress about the spread of sensitive nuclear technology in the Middle East.

Under a key provision, American companies could build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia. The project would proceed only if a joint US-Saudi study concluded that such a facility was warranted, according to the Journal.

Uranium enrichment can produce fuel for civilian nuclear reactors. The same technology, if taken to much higher levels, can also be used to produce material for nuclear weapons. That dual-use capability has long made enrichment one of the most sensitive parts of international nuclear negotiations.

Trump administration officials contend that direct American involvement would give Washington greater influence over the Saudi nuclear programme. They argue that US participation would also help prevent nuclear technology from being diverted for military purposes, the report said.

The agreement is expected to be submitted to Congress for review in the coming days.

Trump gave the agreement the green light late last week, the newspaper reported. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman are expected to sign it on Wednesday.

Wright discussed the proposed cooperation with his Saudi counterpart during his first overseas visit to the region in April 2025. The agreement could bring large contracts for US companies involved in reactor construction, nuclear fuel services and associated infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia has sought to develop civilian nuclear power as part of its effort to diversify its energy mix and economy beyond oil. The kingdom has also argued that nuclear energy could help meet rising domestic electricity demand and free more oil for export.

Washington, July 21: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has carried out another round of strikes against Iran, targeting military facilities and capabilities as Washington seeks to reduce Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said: “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another round of strikes against Iran at 9 p.m. ET, July 20. US forces struck Iranian military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.”

According to CENTCOM, commercial vessel transits through the vital international maritime corridor continue. “Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil.”

US forces remained prepared to take further action against Iran, accusing Tehran of carrying out what it described as unwarranted aggression against civilian mariners seeking to transit the Strait of Hormuz freely and openly.

CENTCOM said the strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s military infrastructure linked to attacks on maritime traffic in the strategically important waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy route through which a significant volume of international oil shipments passes.

The latest military action comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, with concerns growing over possible further escalation and threats to regional security.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issued a worldwide caution notice, warning American citizens about the complex security environment.

In a post on X, the department said: “Worldwide Caution: Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.”

It added: “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Please monitor embassy and consular security alerts, local authorities, and the news for breaking developments.”

The advisory further warned that US diplomatic facilities and American interests could face threats.

“U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world,” the department said.

The State Department urged US citizens to stay informed through official channels and security alerts, saying: “Enroll at http://step.state.gov to receive the latest security alerts and follow the “U.S. Department of State – Security Updates for U.S. Citizens” channel on WhatsApp or @TravelGov on X.”

The department also advised travellers to review official travel advisories and destination-specific information before making plans amid the uncertain security situation.

Tehran, July 21: Several explosions were heard in southern and central Iran on Monday night and early Tuesday, Iranian media reported, as US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the launch of a new round of strikes against the country.

Blasts were reported on Monday night in the counties of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Bandar Lengeh and Qeshm in the southern province of Hormozgan, as well as the counties of Chabahar and Konarak in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iranian media.

Air defenses were activated in the southern port city of Bushehr to “engage with hostile aircraft,” the official news agency IRNA reported on Monday night.

On early Tuesday, an explosion was heard in the southern city of Shiraz, and two explosions were heard in the central city of Isfahan, according to the IRNA and the semi-official Mehr news agency.

The incidents occurred as CENTCOM announced Monday night a new round of strikes against Iran on social media platform X, saying they are designed “to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Separately, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army said early Tuesday on X that its air defenses are currently responding to “hostile missile and drone threats.”

Over the past week, the United States has launched multiple strikes on Iran, saying they were aimed at “degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.”

Iran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and facilities in regional countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared a “full-scale war” with the United States, though Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran had received mediation proposals and keeps its diplomatic channels open.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its forces earlier in the day launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US assets and facilities in Jordan and Kuwait.

In statements published on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said it struck with ballistic missiles the US Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft at an airport in Jordan’s port city of Aqaba, and heavily damaged a number of them.

It added that its forces attacked with drones and destroyed an American early warning radar system in Kuwait, and targeted a warehouse of equipment and aircraft parts as well as a hangar of MQ-9 Reaper drones at the Ali Al Salem Air Base, setting on fire a number of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The IRGC said the attacks were in retaliation to the US’ frequent “aggressions” against Iran’s territory.