Key Takeaways
- Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan on Tuesday; all projectiles were successfully intercepted by air defense systems.
- Rio Tinto (RIO) reported H1 2026 underlying profit of $6.85 billion, slightly exceeding analyst estimates of $6.78 billion despite a slight revenue miss.
- President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington to discuss Iran's nuclear program and a potential diplomatic path forward.
- Oil prices stabilized after a three-day drop, with WTI rising above $80 as markets weighed the impact of renewed Middle East hostilities against cooling tensions earlier in the week.
- Ukraine downed a rare Russian Forpost-R strike drone over the Kursk region using a domestic interceptor, marking a significant tactical loss for Russian aerial reconnaissance.
Iranian Missile Strike on U.S. Base in Jordan
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in Jordan at approximately 5:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), multiple ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, but all were successfully intercepted by air defense systems, including Patriot batteries. This incident marks the first direct ballistic missile attack on a U.S. base in the region since a brief suspension of strikes last Friday, signaling a sharp escalation in regional hostilities.
U.S. officials confirmed that forces remain at a high state of readiness and are vigilant for further retaliatory actions. The attack followed reports of air defense activity over Jordan earlier in the evening, with social media footage appearing to show interceptions over Jordanian airspace. The strike comes amid a broader conflict that has seen nearly daily exchanges between Washington and Tehran since a ceasefire collapsed earlier this month.
Rio Tinto H1 2026 Earnings Performance
Mining giant Rio Tinto (RIO) delivered a robust set of first-half results, posting an underlying EBITDA of $14.83 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $14.78 billion. While revenue of $31.03 billion fell slightly short of the $32.03 billion expected by analysts, the company maintained its full-year guidance for Pilbara iron ore shipments (323Mt to 338Mt) and total iron ore sales (343Mt to 366Mt).
The company declared an interim dividend of $2.11 per share and notably lowered its 2026 copper C1 net unit cost guidance to US 30c to 50c/lb. Management emphasized that operating excellence and higher commodity prices have largely offset cost headwinds stemming from regional conflicts. Rio Tinto (RIO) continues to maintain its share of capital investment and unit cost guidance for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Diplomatic High-Stakes in Washington
In Washington, President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for pivotal talks centered on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security. The meeting occurred as Trump seeks a diplomatic exit from the ongoing Iran conflict, while Netanyahu has expressed skepticism regarding premature settlements that might leave Iran's nuclear infrastructure intact.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, though reports suggest "daylight" remains between their strategic priorities. The meeting is seen as a critical moment for coordination as both leaders face domestic political pressure—Trump from voters concerned about rising gas prices and Netanyahu from an upcoming October election.
Ukraine Contests Russian Airspace
On the Ukrainian front, the Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) successfully intercepted a rare Russian Forpost-R heavy strike-reconnaissance drone over the Kursk region. The high-value UAV, capable of carrying laser-guided KAB-20 bombs, was shot down at an altitude of 4,300 meters by a domestically produced Chaklun-KM interceptor drone. This represents only the sixth confirmed loss of this specific model since the full-scale invasion began, highlighting Ukraine's growing capability to contest medium-altitude layers previously dominated by Russian drones.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.