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US-Iran war

'Hypocrisy is blatant and embarrassing': Araghchi slams France over Gaza, Iran policy

  • On Feb 28, US and Israel launched strikes on Iran
  • Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated in strikes; Mojtaba succeeded him
  • A two-week ceasefire began on April 8 and was later extended indefinitely.
  • US, Iran reach preliminary deal to end conflict, hold talks in Switzerland
  • US launches strikes on Iran on July 8 over Hormuz attacks as Tehran retaliates, tensions escalate

Oil drops on lower demand forecasts despite deadlock in US-Iran talks

Oil prices fell more than $1 on Thursday as forecasters lowered global oil demand projections for 2026 because of the disruptions from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, though the supply constraints from the conflict provided a ‌floor for the market.

Brent futures dropped $1.29, or 1.5%, at $87.69 a barrel by 0100 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.30, or 1.6%, to $81.97. 

Iran says no progress on reviving interim peace deal with US

Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source, who said there ‌had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a time frame to implement it.

The comments came as U.S. President Donald Trump issued yet another broadside against Iran's leaders, dealing a further blow to hopes for a resolution to the crisis, following new attacks on shipping in the region on Tuesday.

The deal agreed in June declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly unravelled, with Trump saying it was "over" on July 7 and Iran's foreign ministry declaring it "suspended" ?a week later.

The U.S. accuses Iran of failing to honor an agreement under the deal to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Tehran says Washington has reneged on its commitments, including lifting a blockade of Iranian ports and releasing frozen Iranian assets.

"One of the issues that is being discussed via mediators is the U.S. returning to the interim agreement and defining a time frame for implementing the commitments. There has been absolutely no ?progress on this issue," the Iranian source said. 

Strait of Hormuz more valuable than nuclear bomb, Iran lawmaker says

Alireza Salimi, a lawmaker and member of Iran’s parliament Presiding Board, said in an interview with the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) that the Strait of Hormuz was more valuable to Iran than a nuclear bomb and could be used to address sanctions and compensation claims.

“The Strait of Hormuz is a blessing that God has placed in Iran’s hands,” Salimi said, adding that US actions had “opened the way” for Iran to use the waterway.

“With the Strait of Hormuz, we can resolve the issue of sanctions and compensation and retaliate,” he added.
 

Iran demands compensation for oil spill damaging its waters

Tehran is demanding compensation for pollution in waters in the Persian Gulf and surrounding areas over recent decades, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said.

“Every party that benefits from commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz carries both a legal and a moral obligation to remediate the environmental harm inflicted upon the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman,” he said on X.
 

Iranian photojournalist faces 15 years in prison over images, reporting

LONDON (Reuters) - Acclaimed Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery has spent much of her career documenting moments of dissent and the lives of women in Iran.

The work has repeatedly brought her into conflict with the authorities, and on Iran's National Journalist Day on Saturday she learned she had been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The sentence was handed down under a law enacted after a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in 2025, legislation that Iranian authorities say is intended to combat espionage and cooperation with hostile states.

When Moaiery arrived at Tehran's Revolutionary Court, she was not given formal case documents, she said. Instead, a friend accompanying her copied details from a charge sheet by hand. Rights groups say such procedures reflect a lack of transparency in Iran's judicial system.

According to the handwritten notes reviewed by Reuters, the accusations against her include giving interviews to media outlets deemed hostile by the authorities and providing photographs to organisations linked to the U.S. and Israel. Reuters could ?not independently verify the contents of the charge sheet.

In a statement provided to Reuters, Moaiery said the intelligence wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps raided her home during anti-government protests in January and confiscated her phone, laptop and other electronic equipment. She said IRGC officers returned after the U.S. launched air strikes on Iran this year and again seized her belongings.

“On this occasion, they took everything, including even the cameras I had owned since childhood," she said.

"I was subjected to several interrogations, and eventually my case was referred to Branch 33 of the Security Prosecutor’s Office and subsequently to the Revolutionary Court.”

The spokesman for Iran's United Nations Mission in New York did not respond to a request for comment on her case.

Roya Boroumand, executive director of the U.S.-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran, said that withholding case documents is an effort by the Islamic Republic to “silence" defendants and showed the judiciary "blatantly" acting as a state agent.

A CAREER CHRONICLING WOMEN'S LIVES IN IRAN

The handwritten document provided by Moaiery to Reuters lists accusations including “interviewing with ?networks hostile to the system” and sending photographs to entities in the United States and Israel that it describes as “hostile”.
 

Fuel price hike could disrupt calm in Iran

Ali Gholhaki, an activist close to Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, warned on Wednesday that a poorly managed increase in fuel prices could disrupt the current calm inside Iran, saying he was more concerned about domestic conditions than developments imposed from outside the country.

“My concern about the situation inside the country is greater than about events imposed from outside Iran. One of the things that could disrupt the current calm inside Iran is mismanagement in raising the prices of energy products,” he posted on X.

“Until a few days ago, the government’s plan to raise gasoline prices was different from the plan announced today, including the 87,200-toman price in Kerman. That, too, was halted, and the government, so to speak, ‘backed down.’
 

Oman oil spill spreads to coastline, threatens marine reserve - report

A vast oil spill from a grounded tanker has reached Oman’s coastline and spread across more than 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles), threatening a marine nature reserve and wildlife including Arabian Sea humpback whales and Socotra cormorants, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The spill from the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi has spread largely unchecked for weeks, with experts warning that the vessel could break apart and release much of its estimated 800,000-barrel cargo of Russian crude. 

Missile threat prompted secret Trump aircraft switch in Turkey: report

A credible and imminent threat that Air Force One could be targeted by a shoulder-fired missile prompted the US Secret Service to secretly move President Donald Trump onto an unmarked government jet during a visit to Turkey last month amid heightened tensions with Iran, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing a person briefed on the matter.

The Secret Service deemed the threat credible and imminent, prompting an extraordinary operation to conceal Trump’s movements. The source declined to say where the intelligence came from.

Trump and a small group of aides left Turkey aboard a C-32A jet, while Air Force One departed separately carrying senior officials, White House staff and the traveling press corps, according to the report. 

Barzani says Iran offered help on Iraq weapons restrictions

Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, said in an interview with Al Sharqiya that Iranian officials had twice told him they were ready to help Iraq’s prime minister with efforts to bring weapons under state control.

Barzani said Iranian officials conveyed the offer during his recent visit to Tehran and asked him to pass the message to the Iraqi prime minister, according to the report.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi ordered the preparation of a draft law Tuesday to restrict weapons to the state, saying “the most serious threat to the state is the proliferation of weapons,” the Iraqi News Agency reported. 

Strait of Hormuz remains blocked until conditions are met, Iran says

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said on Wednesday the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked despite repeated announcements by US officials that the key waterway has reopened, adding that it will not be opened until Iran’s conditions are accepted.

“The successive claims and tweets by American officials about lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz do not change reality; the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran’s conditions are accepted.” it posted on X. 

Iran seeks to elevate Pakistan ties to new heights, says Mohsen Rezaei

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iran’s newly appointed Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, with bilateral relations, security cooperation and matters of mutual interest coming under discussion.

During the meeting, Rezaei said Iran is keen to take cooperation with Pakistan to new heights and remains committed to strengthening security ties and mutual collaboration between the neighbouring countries.

The Iranian official said Tehran is seeking exceptional progress in relations with Islamabad and wants to broaden cooperation in areas of shared interest.

Rezaei also stressed that Iran views Pakistan and itself as each other’s “strategic depth”, highlighting the significance Tehran places on its relationship with Islamabad.

Trump claims US has 'total control' over Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States is in control of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

“The US has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we will keep it!” he writes on Truth Social. “Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, a wall of steel, and there is nothing Iran can do about it.” 

Lebanese army says Israeli attacks hindering deployment in south

The Lebanese army has said continued Israeli attacks are hindering its deployment in southern Lebanon and preventing displaced residents from returning to their homes.

In a statement, the army accused Israeli forces of continuing their “assaults and violations” of existing understandings and international law.

It said the latest attacks included the destruction of a municipal building, a public school, a health clinic, a daycare centre and several homes in the Nabatieh area.

The Lebanese army said the attacks were obstructing efforts to establish stability and fully deploy its forces in the south. 

Japan PM asks Iran to help restrain Houthis in Bab al-Mandeb

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to help prevent further escalation by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea’s Bab al-Mandeb Strait during a phone call on Wednesday.

Takaichi also welcomed progress in Iran’s talks with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz and expressed hope that the key waterway would reopen soon through successful negotiations. 

International oil benchmark nears $90 a barrel

Oil prices have risen once again after attacks on two ships reinforced worries about disruptions to Middle East supplies, Reuters reports.

Brent futures were up 35 cents, or 0.4 per cent, at $89.26 a barrel by 1219 GMT (5:19pm PKT), heading for a sixth day of gains. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by 57 cents, or 0.7pc, to $83.77, heading for a fifth daily gain. 

Iranian official says no ceasefire extension talks held with US

There were no discussions between Iran and the United States to extend their ceasefire because, from Tehran's perspective, the deal had no start date and therefore had nothing to extend, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday.

The source's comments came after Turkiye's Anadolu news agency, citing Pakistani government sources, reported on Wednesday that Tehran and Washington had agreed to extend a 60-day ceasefire under their interim deal signed in June.

The deal declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly unravelled, with US President Donald Trump saying it was "over" on July 7 and Iran's foreign ministry declaring it "suspended" a week later.

US, Iran agree to extend 60-day ceasefire, Turkish media reprots

Both sides have reportedly agreed in principle to extend the ceasefire, with the duration of the extension still under discussion, Anadolu Agency reported.

The development comes as the current Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is set to expire on August 17.
 

Dar, Iranian ambassador discuss evolving regional situation

Ambassador of Iran, Reza Amiri Moghadam, on Wednesday called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The ambassador briefed the DPM on progress under various bilateral institutional mechanisms aimed at strengthening cooperation across diverse areas, following the recent exchange of high-level visits between Pakistan and Iran.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening engagement with Iran in key priority areas.

The two sides also exchanged views on the evolving regional situation. DPM Dar underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only effective means of addressing outstanding issues and achieving lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
 

Islamabad MoU remains key framework for peace, says Pakistan

Pakistan is using all direct and indirect channels to implement the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and bring the parties back to the negotiating table, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said Pakistan remained hopeful of playing a role as a mediator for peace between the United States and Iran.

He said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was currently visiting Iran but added that he was not aware of any special message being conveyed during the visit.

The spokesperson said negotiations in Islamabad could resume at any time with the consent of the parties.

He added that Pakistan had already made its position clear regarding the Islamabad memorandum. Although the memorandum may not have been fully implemented, he said it remained the basic framework for pursuing peace.

Andrabi further said the ceasefire could be extended with the agreement of the parties, which could help create conditions for the resumption of negotiations.
 

Four drones hit Iranian Kurdish opposition camps near Iraq's Erbil, sources say

Four drones hit three Iranian Kurdish opposition ‌camps near ‌Erbil in Iraq on Wednesday, ‌with no casualties ‌reported, security sources told Reuters.

Earlier Wednesday, Kurdish news site Rudaw reported that Iran fired missiles and drones at locations in the Alana Valley, about 90 kilometers north of Erbil, targeting positions of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups Komala and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI).

They included drone strikes on locations across Soran, Khalifan, and Harir districts in Iraqi Kurdistan at around 6am local time. Two drones crashed in Khalifan, while another struck a civilian home in Soran and one crashed in Harir, where it caused a fire in the brushwood and grasslands of Mount Bani Harir. 

Dar confirms death of three Pakistanis in Houthi attack on commercial vessel

Hormuz shipping traffic falls to one-week low amid hostilities

The tally of vessels tracked in the Strait of Hormuz fell to a one-week low of eight on Tuesday, ‌shipping data showed, as owners avoided the key waterway amid continued hostilities in the Middle East.

The United States and Houthis reported separate attacks as prospects appeared to dim for an end to the Iran war, with Tehran saying the strait would stay closed unless Washington accepted its conditions.

Tuesday's tally of eight vessels fell below a 10-day average of about 12, for the lowest daily count since August 5, Kpler data showed. Only one, a coal carrier, exited the strait, while ‌the rest were still making their way through.
The seven entering all took the Iranian route.

Separate LSEG data showed 11 transits on Tuesday, down from 14 the prior day.

About 130 to 140 ships typically transited the strait before Iran closed the waterway since the U.S.-Israeli attacks began on February 28.

The tally of 30 vessels crossing the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea on Tuesday was above a 10-day average of 25, Kpler data showed. 

Khawaja Asif says US and Iran nearing a possible agreement

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the United States and Iran appear to be moving closer to a possible peace agreement or understanding.

Speaking to US media, Asif said signals emerging over the past two to three days suggested that both sides were approaching some form of settlement.

The defence minister expressed hope that the developments could lead to an agreement between Washington and Tehran. He also stressed that lasting peace would serve the interests of the entire region.
 

IRGC commander says US military 'weaker than perceived'

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Mohammad Reza Naqdi has said the US military is weaker than Iran had previously perceived.

In an interview with PBS, Naqdi claimed Iran had remained victorious and would continue to prevail. He said the longer the conflict continues, the more experience Iran gains in warfare. According to Naqdi, Iran had not previously experienced a real war against the United States and had learned how to fight American forces during the past five months. He said the experience had also revealed weaknesses in the US military. 

Oil, gold prices rise as geopolitical tensions mount before CPI

Oil and gold prices climbed while regional shares edged nervously higher on Wednesday as geopolitical tensions ratcheted up ahead of key U.S. inflation data.

The yen was mostly flat against the dollar, having unwound much of its gains following rare intervention in currency markets by Japan and the United States.

The U.S. ?and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis reported separate attacks on shipping, while Asia was rattled by an early morning missile launch by North Korea. ‌Markets remained focused on U.S. consumer price index data later in the session for signals of timing for a potential Federal Reserve rate hike.

U.S. crude rose 0.89% to $83.94 a barrel, and ?Brent advanced to $89.60 per barrel, up 0.78% on the day. Both benchmarks settled more than $1 higher on Tuesday, marking their highest closes since July 31 and ?extending gains after jumping about 5% on Monday.

Spot gold gained 0.46% to $4,387.03 an ounce. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was up 0.5%, while Japan's ?benchmark Nikkei share gauge (.N225) traded flat as the market reopened after a holiday. 

US helicopter fires missiles at cargo ship attempting to break Iran blockade

A US helicopter fired missiles on Tuesday into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship that attempted to break the American blockade of Iran's ports, the United States military said.

The US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired on and disabled the M/V Vela Nova "after the ship's civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, adding that the vessel "is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the US blockade."

It was the third time the United States, in a months-long war against Iran, has forcibly halted a vessel since reinstating the ports blockade on July 14.

CENTCOM said it has redirected 55 ships that tried to run the blockade and boarded two others as of Tuesday.

US forces previously blockaded Iranian ports from April 13 to June 18, during which they disabled nine ships and redirected more than 140, according to CENTCOM. 

Trump says he secretly switched planes in Turkey over assassination threat

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he secretly switched planes in Turkey last month at the direction of the US Secret Service, but that the plane he ultimately flew on was still more vulnerable than Air Force One.

Following a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was transferred from Air Force One to a military plane via a catering truck in an extraordinary deception prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, US media reported.

The White House did not disclose the change and it remained a secret until the Washington Post first reported it on Monday.

Some media commentators questioned whether the operation left Trump's aides and journalists travelling with him at risk aboard the plane presumed to be carrying the president.

Trump insists US has control over Hormuz, threatens Iran would get blown away if it tried to do something

President Donald Trump insisted that the United States still has control over the Strait of Hormuz and threatened that Iran would “get blown away” if the country tried to “do something.”

“They don’t have control. We have total control. We own it, and at some point, maybe they’ll do something, and then they get blown away,” Trump told reporters. “Right now, we’re in a very good position.”

 

Iran proposed 30-day Hormuz corridor before US objections stalled deal

Iran proposed a 30-day trial arrangement for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with separate routes for Iranian and Omani vessels, but “US objections stalled an agreement with Oman,” Ali Gholhaki, an activist close to Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Tuesday.

"Iran's proposed model for passage through the Strait (north of the Strait—the Iranian route—and south of the Strait—the Omani route) was supposed to be tested for 30 days, and in the event of US flexibility in the areas of "sanctions relief" and "unfreeze of Iran's assets," it would become permanent. However, due to America's stubbornness, everything is currently on hold. The next two weeks are very critical!” he posted on X.
 

US Navy tests low-cost underwater drone with 2,000-mile range

The US Navy begun testing a new unmanned underwater vehicle designed for long-endurance missions, with its developers saying the system can travel more than 2,000 nautical miles and cost a fraction of comparable vehicles, The National Interest reported on Tuesday.

The 34-foot-long HADALUS has a carbon-fiber exoskeleton with a 6-foot cross-section and is equipped with sonar and electronic systems. Its developers say it has an endurance of more than 2,000 nautical miles, the report added.
 

Saudi, Turkish FMs discuss regional tensions, maritime security

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to ease tensions during a phone call.

The two ministers also stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and discussed ways to protect the security and freedom of navigation in the Gulf and Red Sea, according to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry.
 

Four crew, two rescuers killed in Red Sea attack; US strikes ship in Gulf of Oman

SANA'A (Reuters) - Four crew members were killed in an attack by Iran-backed Houthis on a cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Tuesday, Yemen's transport ministry said, while the U.S. military said it struck a container ship attempting to sail toward an Iranian port.

Two Yemeni rescuers from an anti-Houthi military group were also killed in the Bab el-Mandeb attack, Yemen's Coast Guard said.

The fatalities aboard the Egyptian-owned Tihamah, if confirmed, would mark the first deaths in a Houthi strike on shipping since the Iran war began on February 28.

Later in the day, the Houthis said they attacked a ship carrying Saudi military equipment in the Bab el-Mandeb, but did not name the ship.

The Saudi Center for International Communication did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The British navy-affiliated agency UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported one incident in the strait on Tuesday, saying a ship was hit by an unknown projectile.

Reuters was able to confirm the cargo ship as Tihamah by the shape of the deck and ?mast of the ship, which matched archive imagery of the vessel. Corroborating visuals from the dock matched satellite imagery and topography mapping of the area.
 

Houthis say they attacked Saudi military cargo ship in Bab el-Mandeb

 Houthis say they attacked Saudi military cargo ship in Bab el-Mandeb

 

 

Israeli operatives toured Iran's nuclear site 'many times', ex-Mossad chief says

Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen said on Tuesday that Israeli intelligence operatives toured Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility “many times” to better understand the site, and described the US bombing of the underground facility as “the fulfillment of all my dreams,” according to Israel Hayom.

Cohen made the remarks at the Galilee Conference, without specifying when the visits took place or who entered the facility. He also said that Iran’s uranium enriched to 60% was “still far from a bomb,” the report added.

 

Mohsin Naqvi meets Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, Fars news agency reports.

The Iranian agency posted a photo on social media of the two ministers shaking hands, a few hours after Mehr news agency reported that Naqvi had arrived in Tehran for discussions on “bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest”.

 

Strait of Hormuz won't reopen until US 'changes its behaviour': senior Iran official

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has told China’s ambassador that the Strait of Hormuz “will not be opened until the United States changes its behavior and accepts Iran’s conditions,” Al Jazeera reports citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

He said the US is “the source of insecurity” in the the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, accusing it of imposing “an illegal war” that has put the entire region at risk. Rezaei said Washington “must end the war” and release Iran’s blocked funds, along with ending conflict across the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza.

He added that any Iran-Oman agreement on a route through the Strait of Hormuz would remain “separate” from the broader issue of the Strait’s closure.

Trump claims US has 'total control' over Iran's money

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington has “total control” over Iran’s money, describing the country’s economy as being in a dire condition.

Speaking to the US-based Real America’s Voice, Trump said Iran was facing severe economic difficulties and could no longer borrow money.

“They can’t borrow money. We control their money,” Trump said, adding that Iran previously had substantial financial resources but that the US now had control over them.

Trump jokingly described himself as Iran’s “banker”.

In the same interview, Trump also accused Iranian negotiators of being “devious” and “dishonest”, alleging that they sometimes agree to proposals and later deny reaching an understanding. 

Mohsin Naqvi meets Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, Iranian media reported.

Iran's Fars news agency shared a photograph showing the two ministers shaking hands during the meeting.

The development came hours after Iran's Mehr news agency reported that Naqvi had arrived in Tehran for discussions focused on bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest. 

Pakistani interior minister arrives in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials

Pakistan's Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi has arrived in Tehran for meetings with Iranian officials, Iranian media reported.

Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, citing diplomatic sources, said Naqvi left Islamabad earlier today for the Iranian capital to discuss bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest.

His visit comes about a month after Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni travelled to Islamabad and held talks with Naqvi. 

US and Iran are close to some sort of arrangement, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif tells Bloomberg

The United States and Iran are close to “some sort of an arrangement”, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has told Bloomberg News in an interview published today, according to Reuters.

“Things are shaping up again in favour of a peace arrangement or a deal,” Asif told Bloomberg News.

“The signals in the last two three days are that we are close to some sort of an arrangement,” he added. 

Oman, Iran talks on Hormuz are in advanced stage, says Qatar

Talks between Oman and Iran on the future of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are now in an advanced stage, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said in a briefing on Tuesday.

Two Pakistanis among 3 killed in alleged Houthi attack on vessel in Bab el-Mandeb

Three crew members were killed after Yemen’s Houthi group attacked a commercial vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Anadolu agency reported, citing a government-affiliated Yemeni broadcaster.

Al-Jumhuriya TV said the victims have been identified as two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian, according to preliminary information.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthis.
 

Brent North Sea oil tops $90 as Iran-US deal hopes fade

The price of Brent North Sea crude, the main international oil contract, climbed above $90 as hopes that the United States and Iran reach a deal to end the war fade, Reuters reports.

Brent reached $90.02 a barrel, a gain of more than 2.5 perc ent from Monday, while the main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, jumped 2.7pc to $84.32 a barrel. 

US has 'begged for negotiations': Araghchi

The Iranian foreign minister has said that the US “begged” Iran for negotiations, Al Jazeera reported.

Speaking in a televised news conference broadcast by Iranian state television, he recalled that US President Donald Trump demanded “unconditional surrender” from Iran at the beginning of the war.

“The US President wrote two words [on social media] at the beginning of the war: ‘Unconditional surrender’,” he said.

“That was what they wanted from us and, 20 days later, the same enemy was begging for negotiations,” the top diplomat added. 

Araghchi calls for end to US aggressive actions to restore Hormuz security

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz would require the United States to stop what he described as aggressive and unlawful actions. He also accused Washington of imposing a maritime blockade and violating its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

He stated this while holding telephonic conversation with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, discussing bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments. 

Araghchi congratulates senior officials on appointments to key military posts

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has congratulated senior officials on their appointment to key military posts by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, IRNA news reported.

“I sincerely congratulate each and every one of you, dear brothers, on the trust placed in you by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and on being entrusted with such important and weighty responsibilities,” the foreign minister said in a message late Monday.

He said the Leader’s trust in the newly appointed military officials is the result of their years-long “struggle, experience, and valuable service in defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran and in safeguarding the country’s security, independence, and territorial integrity.”
 

Gulf shipping traffic via Strait of Hormuz falls to six vessels

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to six on Monday, compared with a 10-day average of about 11 vessels, ‌shipping data showed, amid fading hopes of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, Reuters reported. 

Four commodity vessels, including two empty oil product tankers, entered the waterway, data from Kpler showed on Tuesday as of 0420 GMT. Two vessels — a small tanker laden with liquefied petroleum gas and another carrying residual fuels — exited the Strait, the data showed.

In pre-war days, about 130 to 140 ships typically transited the strait. 

Iran condemns US 'suffocating' sanctions strategy as 'habit'

Hopes for Hormuz deal fade as Trump demands Iranian reparations

US President Donald Trump on Monday responded to Iran's conditions for a peace deal with his own demands that Iran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, in a rhetorical escalation likely to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of ‌Hormuz.

Trump's proposal, which had not been raised before, was a response to Tehran's demands for compensation and an end to sanctions. The Iranian demands were largely in line with the terms of a preliminary peace deal signed in June, which has since broken down.

Since the war began in February, Trump has repeatedly oscillated between threats of escalation and claims that a peace deal is imminent.

"We're going to ask for money for the damage they've done over a 50-year period," Trump said at the White House, saying payments would cover deaths among both civilian demonstrators and U.S. forces in the region.

"So if there's damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages," Trump said. 

Oil prices rise as US-Iran talks hit impasse

Oil prices rose early Tuesday, with Brent crude reaching $88 a barrel and US crude $82.45, Reuters reported.

Both benchmarks had rallied about 5% Monday after US President Donald Trump responded to Iran’s conditions for a peace deal with demands of his own, complicating efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. 

Iran 'threat' forced Trump to switch planes leaving Turkey: report

US President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey last month aboard an alternate military aircraft after what a US official described as a credible threat involving Iran, while Air Force One served as a decoy, the Washington Post reported Monday.

Trump had been in Ankara for a NATO summit. He initially boarded the legacy Air Force One in view of cameras before being moved to an Air Force C-32A using an airport catering truck, according to the report, citing a US official and other material reviewed by the newspaper.

The Post said journalists and some White House staff believed Trump remained aboard Air Force One, while his actual location was concealed for hours. 

Houthis fired ballistic missiles at Yemen's al-Makha, military says

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces fired ballistic missiles at the Red Sea city of al-Makha and its port, Yemen’s military said Monday in a post on X. 

US sanctions undermine chances of diplomatic resolution, Iran warns

Iran has hit back at new US sanctions, insisting it will not buckle and that the development only undermines the chances of a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in the Middle East.

It comes after the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday targeted individuals, exchange houses and companies across several countries that it accused of helping Iran’s Shahr Bank move hundreds of millions of dollars clandestinely.

In a post on X on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei noted that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had boasted of “suffocating” Iran through sanctions, but insisted the approach would not work. Iran had “demonstrated over decades that it will not be strangled by these exhausted refrains,” Baqaei said, adding that the latest measures only made a diplomatic solution less likely.

The Treasury has said these sanctions are its eighth in 2026 targeting Iran’s alleged shadow-banking system under Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign.

“Iran’s shadow banking system is buckling under Economic Fury, and the regime is running out of ways to move money,” Bessent said in a Treasury statement on Friday. He pledged to expose the networks and cut them off from the US financial system.
 

Araghchi says US should be held responsible for Hormuz closure

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the international community should hold the United States responsible for the security and economic consequences of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, blaming Washington and Israel for instability in the strategic waterway.

Araghchi made the remarks during a phone call with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

He briefed Wadephul on Iran’s ongoing talks with Oman over establishing a safe shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and said restoring security there would require an end to what Tehran describes as US military aggression, its naval blockade and other alleged violations of American commitments.

Araghchi said insecurity in the strait was caused “exclusively” by US and Israeli military action against Iran.
 

Trump likens US blockade of Iran's ports to 'steel wall', says Hormuz is open

US President Donald Trump said on Monday the US blockade of Iranian ports has been flawless, likening it to a “steel wall” around the country.

Trump added that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively open because Washington is allowing other vessels to pass while preventing ships from heading to Iran.
 

Iran says US sanctions strategy has become an 'addiction'

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused Washington on Monday of relying reflexively on economic sanctions, responding to remarks by the US Treasury secretary about “suffocating” Iran economically.

In a post on X, Baghaei said the United States turns to sanctions when diplomacy fails and intensifies them when they do not produce the desired outcome, describing the approach as a “habit” and an “addiction.”

He also argued that decades of sanctions had failed to force Iran into submission and warned that further pressure could reduce Washington’s chances of finding a diplomatic way out of the current crisis.
 

Trump says US will demand compensation from Iran for conflict

US President Donald Trump is demanding “compensation” from Iran “for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts”, saying he has instructed that this demand be made in any further negotiations.

In a post on Truth Social, he noted that Iran’s representatives were asking for compensation for damages done to the country over the last five months, despite this not being mentioned in negotiations.

“But it is an interesting idea,” the US president added, “because I am now likewise demanding compensation from Iran.”

He added that compensation should also be paid to the families of “hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years” as well as 52,000 killed in recent months.

“I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any, and all, future negotiations,” Trump said.

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Iran's supreme leader makes new military appointments

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has made six new appointments to the Revolutionary Guards and armed forces, including Major General Pilot Ali Abdollahi as chief of staff of the armed forces and Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi as commander-in-chief of the IRGC, according to a written message carried on Mojtaba's social media accounts.

Iranian negotiators received invitation from Pakistan, says foreign ministry

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Pakistan had invited Iranian negotiators to Islamabad.

Baghaei said that the visit will be made whenever conditions permit.

Pakistan shares Makkah pact contours with Iran

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, discussing regional and international developments and efforts to promote peace and stability.

Dar shared details of the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, highlighting its role in strengthening strategic cooperation and regional security.

Araghchi thanked Dar for the briefing. Both ministers agreed to remain in close contact on matters of mutual interest.

Vessel traffic drops sharply through Strait of Hormuz

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply over the weekend, according to vessel-tracking data.

The number of vessel crossings declined from 15 on Friday to 11 on Saturday and just six on Sunday.

The data showed that 17 vessels used the Iranian Unilateral Scheme route, while another 10 travelled along a route classified as “undetermined”.

By comparison, significantly higher traffic was recorded through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean, with 116 vessel crossings recorded over the same period. 

US Chargé d'Affaires lauds Pakistan's efforts to maintain economic stability amid regional conflict

United States Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan Natalie Baker has appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in navigating the regional conflict and its economic implications while maintaining economic and financial stability, in a meeting with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to the ministry of finance, Baker called on Aurangzeb to discuss Pakistan-US economic relations and opportunities to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. 

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei 'completely healthy': Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health, dismissing concerns over his condition.

According to the ISNA news agency, Pezeshkian said he had held a “very good” meeting with Khamenei and described him as “completely healthy”.

“Someone who can sit and discuss for seven to eight hours cannot have any health problems,” the Iranian president said. 

IRGC says US used advanced technology, AI against Iran but failed

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebi has claimed that the United States deployed its most advanced military capabilities, including artificial intelligence (AI), during its war with Iran but failed to achieve its objectives.

According to Mohebi, AI played a key role in coordinating a network of US technologies used to identify targets, assess damage and track personnel.

He said Washington had deployed its latest military capabilities on the battlefield but was ultimately unable to overcome Iran’s institutional resilience, ideological cohesion, unity and national resolve.

The IRGC spokesman maintained that the US “failed” despite employing advanced technology and military systems in the conflict. 

Ishaq Dar, Saudi foreign minister discuss regional developments over phone

The Foreign Office (FO) said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss regional developments and matters of mutual interest.

According to the FO, the two ministers also discussed multilateral cooperation and stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination and cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral forums.

UN envoy urges Houthis to halt attacks amid Yemen escalation

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has expressed concern over recent Houthi attacks on Yemen’s al-Makha (Mocha), warning that the escalation is putting civilians and critical infrastructure at serious risk.

According to Al Jazeera, Grundberg called for an immediate de-escalation and urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

In a statement posted on X, the UN envoy said the latest attacks represent the most significant intensification of military activity since the UN-brokered truce in 2022, raising fears of a return to full-scale conflict in Yemen.

“The escalation must stop, and civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected,” Grundberg said, stressing the urgent need to protect civilians from the growing risks. 

Iranians 'professional chess players', says ministry in response to Trump analogy

Tehran said Iranians had shown "they are professional chess players" in response to remarks by US President Donald Trump comparing his dealings with Iran to the board game.

Trump on Sunday signalled he was prepared to let economic pressure mount against Iran, apparently backing away from more military strikes after Tehran issued a list of demands for opening the Strait of Hormuz.

"Lights out or lights on, Iranians showed they are professional chess players," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly press conference.

Trump had earlier been quoted by news outlet Axios as saying he was "low-keying it" with Iran.

"We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money," he said.

"It will work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game," Trump added. 

Iran says Saudi-Pakistan-Turkiye deal shows 'change in perception' towards US

Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that a defence pact signed last week between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan was "a sign of a change in the perception" of countries in the region towards the United States.

"The countries of the region have realised that security is not a commodity that can be bought from false brokers," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei at a weekly press conference, referring to the United States, an ally of the three signatories to the pact.

Iran sees no reason to be concerned that a new security pact between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia ‌is directed against Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil ‌Baghaei said on Monday.

Baghaei said the pact showed a shift in regional countries' approach to security, with ‌greater reliance on their own capabilities rather than outside ‌powers.

"Any plan that is based on the geopolitical and historical realities of the region, is comprehensive and inclusive, and correctly identifies the enemy and the threat, has a chance of helping to strengthen security and prevent instability and abuses by the Zionist enemy and its allies," he added, referring to Israel. 

US senator says Trump has lost Iran war

Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy has said President Donald Trump has lost the war with Iran, arguing that prolonging the conflict is weakening the United States while making Iran stronger.

Speaking to a US television network, Murphy said the cost of reopening the Strait of Hormuz was increasing with each passing day.

He claimed that under a proposed agreement, Iran would receive $100 billion annually in return for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, describing the arrangement as a major achievement for Tehran.

Murphy said he would oppose providing additional funding to continue the war. However, he added that once the conflict ends, he would support replenishing US stocks of weapons and ammunition.

The senator's remarks come amid continuing uncertainty over diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
 

Yemen's Houthis resume attacks on Mocha port, killing seven and wounding 30

The Yemeni military said seven people including military personnel and civilians were killed ?and ‌30 others wounded in ?a Houthi attack on the Red Sea ‌port city of Mocha, civilian infrastructure and ?armed forces.

"Four members of the armed forces and three civilians ?have been killed, and 30 others ‌injured," the Yemeni military said in a statement early on Monday.

Air defences ‌intercepted and shot down 11 Houthi drones ?that participated in the attack, the military said.

Footage shown by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV ?showed the launch of several ballistic ?missiles and drones, which ?Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a post ?on Telegram targeted Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots.

The Yemeni military said the Houthi attacks had also targeted residential ?neighbourhoods in Mocha. 

Oil rises on uncertainty over reopening of Hormuz

Oil prices rose on Monday on uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz anytime soon, as Iran said a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes was ‌in its final stages but insisted the U.S. must still meet other conditions.

Brent crude futures rose 91 cents or 1.09%, to $84.46 a barrel by 0056 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 61 cents, or 0.78% to $78.79 a barrel.

Both benchmarks had fallen more than 7% last week on hopes that Iran and Oman were close to reaching a deal that would result in a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried a fifth of the world's oil before the war.
 

Iran ties Hormuz reopening to US concessions on several demands

Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the U.S. must meet other conditions, including compensation and an end to sanctions and military threats, before the strategic waterway is reopened.

A U.S. official told Reuters on ‌Friday that Iran and Oman were close to a deal that could pave the way for restoring safe passage through the strait, a major conduit for oil and gas shipping before Iran blocked Hormuz in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Tehran that began in late February.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday an agreement with Oman on the strait was in its "final stages" but reiterated comments made on Saturday that Tehran would not reopen the channel unless the U.S. met certain demands made by Tehran.

The deal with Iran would set out the new shipping lanes to be used once the U.S. fulfils those conditions and the strait is reopened, Iran's Mehr news agency quoted him as saying.
 

Chatter swirls over removal of Iran security chief after just four months

The abrupt replacement of Iran’s top security official after just four months in the job has triggered widespread speculation in Tehran over the reasons for one of the shortest tenures at the helm of the Supreme National Security Council.

Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr was replaced as secretary of the SNSC on Sunday, less than five months after taking the post on March 24 following the death of Ali Larijani.

No official explanation has been given for the unusually rapid change, leaving its significance and meaning for Tehran’s approach to talks with Washington the subject of intense speculation.

Some Iranian commentators are citing the reported ‘criticism’ of his handling of the post and tensions over decision-making during the war, including targeting vessels in the Persian Gulf during the week-long funeral of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
 

Iranian retirees protest over livelihoods, executions in seven cities

Retirees receiving pensions from Iran’s Social Security Organization held protests in seven cities on Sunday, demanding improvements to their livelihoods and healthcare, the release of political prisoners and an end to executions, US-based rights group HRANA reported.

The demonstrations took place in Tehran, Kermanshah, Arak, Dezful, Ahvaz, Shush and Rasht, HRANA said. 

CENTCOM says 55 vessels redirected under Iran blockade

US Central Command said that as of August 9, US forces had redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others to enforce compliance.

The command account on X posted images of US sailors standing watch aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross, one of the vessels deployed to the region.

CENTCOM said more than 20 US warships are deployed to the Middle East in support of military operations, including enforcement of Washington's blockade against Iran. 

Houthis resume missile, drone attacks on Yemen's Mocha

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have resumed attacks on the Red Sea port city of Mocha, launching several ballistic missiles and drones, according to the group and the Yemeni military.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the attacks targeted Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots.

Footage aired by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV showed several missiles and drones being launched. 

Trump says US pursuing 'semi-negotiations' with Iran

US President Donald Trump said Washington is pursuing a lower-intensity approach toward Iran and does not plan a new major military operation for now.

In an interview with Axios, Trump said the US was engaged in “semi-negotiations” with Tehran while closely monitoring the situation.

He said Iran was facing severe inflation and a deep economic crisis, claiming the country lacked funds, including for military salaries.

Trump said a US naval blockade had worsened Iran’s economic difficulties.

He indicated Washington would maintain economic pressure while avoiding new military action.

Comparing the situation to a chess game, Trump said the issue remained unresolved.

Iran official says footage showing Mojtaba Khamenei in meetings will be released

Basij Organisation deputy Qasem Qoraishi has said that footage and other documentation showing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei among the public and out in the streets, as well as in meetings with armed forces commanders, would be released in the future, Reuters reports.

Qoraishi said the footage would “once again bring disgrace upon the enemies and detractors of the Iranian people”.

The comments appeared aimed at countering speculation about Khamenei’s health and lack of public appearances. 

Houthi attacks kill 11 in Yemen, including 8 military personnel

Strikes by Houthi rebels have killed at least 11 people, a medical source in the Yemeni port city of Mokha tells AFP, after an earlier drone salvo targeted a Saudi oil refinery on the Red Sea coast.

A medical source in Mokha, held by Yemen’s internationally recognised, Aden-based government, said three civilians and eight military personnel had been killed in the Houthi attacks.

A further 32 individuals were wounded, six of them civilians, the source added, explaining all the civilian casualties had been a result of strikes on Mokha’s port. 

Iran president, supreme leader discuss economic and defence strategies

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to discuss the country’s economic and defence strategies, state news agency IRNA reported. 

Netanyahu vows Iran will 'not have nuclear weapons' with or without deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons, a goal he has long alleged Tehran is pursuing, regardless of the course of diplomacy with Washington and Arab states, AFP reports.

“I want to emphasise once again: with an agreement or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting. 

Houthis say targeted 'Saudi enemy' forces, equipment in Yemen

Houthi rebels say they targeted “Saudi enemy” troops and equipment on Yemen’s Red Sea coast city of Mokha after residents there said they heard blasts, reports AFP.

The group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said the Houthis had “carried out a large-scale and precise military operation targeting Saudi enemy troop concentrations and weapons depots in the Mokha area,” using “a large number of ballistic missiles and drones”.

 

Talks with US won't happen while interim deal is breached, says Araghchi

Iran and the US are not ?engaged in talks and Tehran ‌will not start them as long as Washington breaches ?an interim deal signed ?in June, Iran’s Foreign Minister ?Abbas Araghchi says according to Reuters, adding that messages are ?being exchanged via intermediaries.

Araghchi repeated Iran’s position that an agreement on ?the Strait of ?Hormuz between Tehran and Muscat was ‌in ?the “final stages” but would not reopen the strategic waterway.

In comments reported by ?Mehr ?news agency, ?he said the agreement would set ?out the new shipping ?lanes ?to be used once the US fulfils other ?conditions ?and the strait ?is reopened to traffic. 

Yemen's Houthis say struck refinery on Saudi's Red Sea coast

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have said they had struck an oil facility on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, reports AFP.

The group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said the Houthis had “succeeded in targeting the Aramco refinery in Jazan with a drone, and the strike was precise”, adding the attack had been launched in response to Saudi incursions into territory in northwest Yemen. 

Iran lists six demands for reopening Strait of Hormuz

Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), has said Tehran will not ease restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz until the United States changes its behaviour towards Iran, Press TV reported.

Zolqadr said Iran's policy towards the US is to avoid any concessions that violate the rights of the Iranian people and stressed that Tehran would continue to defend its national interests.

Tehran's demands are:

  • The US must refrain from threatening or insulting the sacred beliefs of the Iranian nation.
  • The US must permanently end aggression against Iran.
  • The US must permanently end aggression against Iran's regional allies.
  • The US must lift the naval blockade imposed on Iran.
  • The US must remove all sanctions on Iran.
  • The US must return Iran's frozen assets and pay compensation for damages resulting from aggression. 

Iraqi armed group promises revenge for US-Saudi strikes

The leader of Iraq’s Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba has promised retaliation for joint Saudi-US strikes last month that hit sites of the country’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), of which it is a member, Al Jazeera reports.

In a statement, Akram al-Kaabi said diplomacy with Saudi Arabia is “futile”, and that it must be disciplined “through a suitable military response” to avenge the strikes on the PMF.

“Missiles can only be countered with missiles, and fire can only be met with fire,” he said.

Saudi Arabia and the US Central Command said last month that the joint air strikes targeted militias in Iraq responsible for attacks on American troops and Saudi energy infrastructure. The PMF, a paramilitary force, said at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 wounded in the strikes. 

Saudi Arabia, Yemen join condemnation of attack on UAE tanker

Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognised government have joined Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and Syria in condemning the attack on an oil tanker operated by the UAE’s ADNOC while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reports.

The UAE blamed Iran for the attack and said it did not result in any injuries.

In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “These reprehensible attacks constitute an assault on the security and safety of maritime navigation, as well as on the security of global energy supplies.”

The kingdom “holds Iran responsible for the consequences of its continued acts of aggression and calls on Iran to immediately cease these violations”, it added.

Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a similar statement, calling it “a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and commercial vessels”.

It demanded an immediate end to such attacks and adherence to international law.

 

Pentagon orders defence firms to ramp up weapons production amid Iran war

The Trump administration has asked the US defence industry to rapidly escalate the production and delivery of weapons, including munitions that are in extremely short supply due to the war with Iran, The Washington Post has reported, quoting a Defence Department memo, according to Al Jazeera.

Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg wrote to industry leaders last Wednesday, noting that they have to submit plans to “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities”, within 21 days.

“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”

There have been multiple reports of the US running short on munitions stockpiles, and more critically, of anti-missile Patriot interceptors. Trump earlier said that the army has “massive amounts” of munitions, posting on Truth Social that “large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed”. 

Iran issues demands for US before Strait of Hormuz reopens

Iran’s national security chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr issued a list of demands for the US to fulfill before Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The list includes measures such as lifting the US naval blockade, withdrawing military forces and permanently ending the war.

Zolghadr also calls for the US to compensate Iran for damages caused by the conflict and release frozen Iranian assets.

 

US lawmaker calls Middle East war administration's 'costliest blunder'

US Rep Thomas Massie said on Saturday that starting a war in the Middle East would prove to be the Trump administration’s “biggest and most costly blunder,” criticising what he described as a series of policy failures.

“Of all the stupid things this administration has done… Hiding Epstein files, trying to pass tariffs without Congress, advocating for more spending, ignoring DOGE, indemnifying glyphosate, Starting a war in the Middle East will prove to be the biggest and most costly blunder,” Massie posted on X.
 


Jordan, Bahrain discuss Hormuz navigation amid regional escalation

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, discussed efforts to preserve freedom of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call on Saturday, Qatar’s state news agency QNA reported.

The two ministers also discussed regional developments and efforts to end the escalation and maintain regional security and stability.

They exchanged views on bilateral coordination and broader Arab cooperation, as well as regional and international issues before the UN Security Council.
 

Iran says Oman deal won't reopen Hormuz unless US accepts its demands

Iran says Oman deal won't reopen Hormuz unless US accepts its demands

 

Saudi Arabia welcomes UN condemnation of Houthi attacks

Saudi Arabia welcomed a UN Security Council statement condemning Houthi missile attacks on the kingdom since July 13 and attacks on commercial vessels since July 22, the Saudi foreign ministry said Saturday.

The ministry said the Security Council statement, issued Friday, underscored the threat posed by the attacks to regional security and international shipping.

Riyadh renewed its call for the international community to uphold relevant Security Council resolutions and take a firm stance against actions it said threaten regional stability, maritime security and international trade.

The ministry said such attacks also undermine efforts to achieve peace in Yemen and the wider region.
 

Iran says US 'has no choice but to accept' new order in Hormuz

Iran’s army spokesman Amir Akraminia has said the new situation in the Strait of Hormuz is "irreversible", despite US opposition, Al Jazeera reported, citing IRNA news agency.

“The United States has no choice but to accept the existing situation; otherwise, it will face costs far greater than those it has incurred in the past,” Akraminia said, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

US has enough munitions 'to execute war': Pentagon official

The principal deputy director of the US Department of War’s Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) says the military has enough munitions for its campaign against Iran, amid reports of diminishing air defence weapons like interceptors.

“We have sufficient munitions for the task at hand,” Jarred Conley tells Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview. “The department has everything it needs today to execute a war.”

Iran president defends Islamabad MoU

Speaking to the media, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also defended the Islamabad MoU signed with the US, saying “you will not find any clause in it that we have surrendered anything there”.

According to remarks carried by IRNA, he said: “Anyone who has read it should compare it with the analyses of foreign news agencies. Are they saying we surrendered? Did we fail? Was this agreement, for example, an irrelevant agreement that was signed? We stand firmly by what we have written and defend it.”

Pezizkian stated that the enemy’s calculations were based on creating internal disintegration and division, adding: “This is not a plan that was designed with us in mind. The reason they are doing these things is that all their calculations were that if they attacked, Iran would be torn to pieces; but this did not happen.”

He considered social cohesion and the presence of the people to be important factors in the failure of these calculations, saying: “This was due to the cohesion that was created.”

US trying to maximise amount of oil, gas coming our of Hormuz strait: VP Vance

US Vice President JD Vance says Washington is trying to maximise the amount of oil and gas exiting the Strait of Hormuz, so that Americans can enjoy lower fuel prices.

“We’re just trying to make sure we get what we need out of this particular conflict,” Vance tells Fox News, reiterating that the US has destroyed Iran’s military and “asymmetric” capabilities, as well as their nuclear programme.

“Right now, we’re trying to see if they’re willing to make the kind of long-term changes that would be necessary to have a better relationship with the United States. If not, that’s fine too; we’re just going to keep on applying the pressure that we can apply, and getting as much oil and gas out of the Middle East so Americans can enjoy low gas and energy prices,” Vance states.

Now is the best time for agreement: President Pezeshkian

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said right now is the “best time” for a peace agreement with the US as his country is considered “victorious” in the war, given that Washington recognises the rights of Iran and its people, IRNA reports.

He told the media: “If there is sometimes talk of reaching an agreement, I believe that now is the best time for an agreement; because there is cohesion, strength, and unity in the country, and as far as I know, Iran is considered victorious and powerful in this war and this conflict.“

The president continued: “In such circumstances, we can pursue our rights and demands through dialogue. They must accept to recognise our rights and ensure them. Naturally, we also demand nothing but the rights of our country and people.”

He answered a query, saying: “Almost every day we discuss how we should manage this process so that we can get out of the situation of neither war nor peace and be able to reach an understanding within the framework of which our own fundamental beliefs and values ??are preserved, while at the same time disappointing the enemy from any greed or hope of attacking our country.”

Iranian media releases rare video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

Araghchi says Oman agreement does not guarantee Strait of Hormuz reopening

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reiterated that any agreement with Oman would not automatically lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Fars news agency.

Araghchi said negotiations with Oman on passage through the strategic waterway were nearing their final stages, while work was underway to establish a temporary route based on a map provided by Iran’s armed forces.

He said reopening the Strait of Hormuz would depend on other conditions, including compensation for what Iran considers a violation of the agreement by the United States. 

Iran says 'very close' to Oman deal on temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping route

Iran and Oman are "very close" to reaching an accord on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday, though he said there would be conditions, including compensation for what Tehran says were US violations of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

Iran and Oman were discussing a temporary shipping route while technical and legal issues surrounding a permanent route were resolved, Araghchi added.

UAE claims Iran targeted ADNOC tanker in Hormuz, no casualties

The United Arab Emirates claims Iran targeted a tanker belonging to the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reports.

The foreign ministry has condemned “the hostile Iranian attack that targeted a tanker belonging to ADNOC with a missile while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, without causing casualties” in a statement. 

Iranian official calls for US forces to leave Middle East

Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has called for foreign forces to leave the Middle East, while backing growing cooperation among regional countries.

In a series of posts on X in Persian, Arabic, English and Turkish, Velayati said recent developments had demonstrated the resilience of Iran’s armed forces, the steadfastness of its people and the courage of the Resistance Axis.

He said the defeat of the US and Israel had strengthened the belief that foreign forces, which he described as the main source of insecurity, must leave the region.

Lebanon death toll from Israeli aggression rises to 4,335

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the death toll from the latest Israeli aggression has risen to 4,335, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

In a statement carried by Lebanon’s Al Manar news network, the ministry said at least 4,335 people had been killed since the Israeli aggression began on March 2, 2026.

The number of injured has reached 12,273, the ministry added. 

Foreign media acknowledgment of Trump's Iran war failure reflects Iranian media efforts: IRGC

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said that foreign media outlets’ acknowledgment of US President Donald Trump’s failure in the war against Iran is the result of the efforts of Iranian revolutionary media outlets to counter the enemy’s disinformation campaign, Press TV reported. 

In a statement issued on the occasion of Iran’s National Journalists’ Day on Saturday, the IRGC praised journalists for their role in informing the public and maintaining hope, awareness and truthfulness during challenging circumstances.

“Today, the region and the world are witnessing one of the most complex and consequential battles in contemporary history,” the statement said, referring to the second and third wars waged by the United States and Israel against Iran. 

US senator introduces resolution to put stop to Trump's illegal war with Iran

Araghchi stresses on Muslim unity to face every challenge by 'malicious outsiders head-on'

US expects deal soon on Strait of Hormuz

A US official on Friday reported progress between Iran and Oman that could soon reopen the Strait of Hormuz, potentially restoring oil exports that have been disrupted by the five-month-old U.S. war with Iran.

The U.S. official, who declined to be identified, said Washington anticipated ‌an agreement soon between the two countries, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume.

A deal between Iran and Oman over control of the strategic waterway is seen as crucial to a wider peace agreement.

"There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon," a U.S. official told Reuters on Friday. "Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports."

"As always, U.S. actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments," the official said.

Before the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28, about one out of every five barrels of oil consumed worldwide transited the strait, but Iran has used the hostilities to justify charging a toll on oil tankers and firing on ships that attempt to cross the strait without permission.

That disruption in oil shipments has caused energy prices to surge and fueled inflation.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has repeatedly signaled that a deal to open the strait could be close, only to have Iran deny that talks are under way. It was unclear whether the latest flurry of negotiations would yield a more lasting arrangement. 

Alarmed at a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca on Friday.

The pact among three US allies is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, the countries said in a statement.

Iran will defend its rights, military capabilities: Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran will not accept pressure aimed at forcing the country into submission, stressing that Tehran will continue defending what it considers its rights and preserving its military and defensive capabilities.

Speaking in the third and final part of a televised broadcast aired on Friday to mark the second anniversary of his inauguration, Pezeshkian said Iran would resist attempts to compel it to surrender, Press TV reported.

He rejected any prospect of Iran abandoning its military capabilities or defensive strength, describing their preservation as a non-negotiable matter for the Islamic Republic.

Pezeshkian questioned why Iran should follow a path sought by Israel when, in his view, the country has the ability to secure its rights.

The president said Iran would neither back down nor accept surrender, maintaining that the country would continue to defend its interests.
 

Iran seeks to bar US warships from Strait of Hormuz

Iranian officials are seeking to bar US Navy warships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of negotiations on an agreement to reopen the waterway, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the talks.

US officials told mediators that Washington will not accept Iranian restrictions or tolls on shipping through the strait. The draft agreement would temporarily establish an inbound lane near Iran and an outbound lane near Oman, while the Trump administration would lift its blockade on Iranian ports if Tehran opened the waterway without impediments, according to the report.
 

Trump's top general 'looking for an off-ramp' from Iran war as US military options remain limited

Over the last few weeks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine has privately made clear to other top Trump advisers that the US needs to find an off-ramp from the war with Iran — because the military options on the table to escalate the conflict could backfire and airpower alone is unlikely to achieve President Donald Trump’s stated objectives, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
“Caine is looking for an off ramp,” one of the sources said bluntly.
 

US forces redirect 51 commercial vessels amid Iran blockade: CENTCOM

US forces redirected 51 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others as part of a blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas, US Central Command said on Friday.

“A US sailor stands watch in the combat information center aboard USS Mason (DDG 87) as the guided-missile destroyer sails in regional waters supporting the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas. As of Aug. XX, CENTCOM forces have redirected 51 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2 to ensure compliance,” CENTCOM posted on X.
 

Iraq hosts Saudi intelligence chief as Iran militias postpone retaliatory attacks

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi met with Saudi’s intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan as Iraqi militias postponed retaliatory attacks for deadly US-Saudi strikes on the country.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of pro-Iran militias, said that the delay was due to “honorable positions taken by some honorable political leaders.”

“We call on those whose pursuit of power has blinded them to the need to safeguard blood and violated sovereignty to reconsider their positions and come to their senses,” the resistance group said in a statement.

The militias also warned the US that the “fists of the loyal” would restore their sovereignty.

On Thursday, a Saudi official told CNN that the kingdom was bracing for “multiple coordinated attacks” by Iraqi militia factions and Iran-backed Houthis.
 

US Army opens test ranges to private firms amid munitions crunch

The US Army is expanding access to its test ranges and proving grounds to help private companies get new munitions, drones and other weapons to the battlefield faster, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

The move comes as the military has gone through thousands of sophisticated missiles and interceptors during the five-month war with Iran, the report said.
 

Iraqi PM, Saudi intelligence chief discuss regional security

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met Saudi general intelligence chief Khalid al-Humaidan on Friday to discuss coordination over regional security developments, the prime minister's office said.

Zaidi said Iraq would not allow its territory to be used to launch actions or activities targeting any other country, reiterating Baghdad's commitment to protecting its sovereignty and preventing regional escalation, it added.

Modi, Netanyahu discuss Middle East in phone call

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he discussed the situation in the Middle East during a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a post on the former’s X account.

US sanctions Iran-linked exchange houses, shell companies

The US has imposed new sanctions targeting companies, exchange houses and financial facilitators it claims helped Iran secretly move hundreds of millions of dollars through the international financial system, Anadolu reports.

“Teapot refinery purchases of Iranian oil provide the primary economic lifeline for the Iranian regime, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says in a statement.

In a separate statement, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott says the measures are intended to “cut the financial lifelines that sustain Iran’s ruling elite”.

“Through these networks, Tehran accessed oil revenue and evaded sanctions designed to curb its destabilising activities, laundering funds using front companies,” Pigott alleges.???????

Iran releases images of downed US, Israeli drones

Iran says diplomacy must continue during war but messaging should adapt

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said diplomacy must continue during wartime, but a country’s messages, positions and language should be adjusted according to the circumstances.

Speaking to state news agency IRNA, Gharibabadi said wartime diplomacy should not convey weakness to an adversary, warning that “unnecessary flexibility emboldens the enemy”.

He said keeping diplomatic channels open during a war was important, noting that most conflicts had ultimately been resolved through diplomacy and negotiations.

“It is correct that when a country is at war, the door to diplomacy should not be closed,” he said.
 

Iran, Oman agree on Strait of Hormuz framework, Iranian official says

Iran and Oman have agreed on a framework of understanding concerning the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian official said, according to Al Jazeera.

Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, told state-run IRNA that the broad framework had been agreed upon, while the final text and details would be announced soon.

He added that the final decision would have to be approved at higher levels. 

Arab League chief condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Yemeni government forces

League of Arab States Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy has condemned Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Najran region, as well as strikes on positions of Yemeni government forces in Marib and Hadramout, Al Jazeera reported.

In a statement, Fahmy warned that attacks on Saudi territory and actions that endanger civilians, along with violence inside Yemen, constitute a “very dangerous path” that threatens regional security and stability.

He said such attacks also undermine efforts to de-escalate tensions and reduce the prospects for a political settlement. 

Oil prices drop as investors weigh potential Hormuz deal between Iran, Gulf states

Oil prices edge lower as investors weigh signals that Gulf states and Iran are closing in on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary arrangement aimed at allowing for broader talks to bring the Iran war to a close, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures were down 57 cents, or 0.7 per cent, at $81.92 a barrel at 1014 GMT.

US West Texas Intermediate futures have fallen 33 cents, or 0.4pc, to $76.96.

 

Two civilians killed in Houthi attacks on Yemen government-held city: minister

Yemen’s Houthi rebels shelled residential neighbourhoods and displacement camps in the government-held city of Marib, killing at least two civilians and injuring 14 others, AFP has cited the health minister.

“Shelling by the terrorist Houthi militia today, Friday, targeting residential neighbourhoods and displacement camps in the city of Marib, has resulted — according to an initial toll — in the deaths of two civilians and injuries of varying severity to 14 others,” says Health Minister Qasim Buhaibeh in a post on X. 

Houthi missile attacks target Saudi-backed Yemeni government, dozens killed

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis targeted the Saudi-backed and internationally recognised Yemeni government, killing at least 58 government troops in missile and drone attacks on military bases in the Marib and Hadramawt provinces.

Yemen, which has been embroiled in more than a decade of war, got sucked into the Middle East conflict last month as the Houthis upended a 2022 truce with the Saudi-backed government. 

Vessel traffic through Hormuz dwindles this week as markets watch Iran-Oman talks

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dwindled to 33 vessels from Monday to Thursday this week, data showed, ?versus 50 in the week-ago period, as markets watched talks ‌between Iran and Oman for signs of progress in reopening the key waterway.

Four vessels transited the strait on Thursday, including a very large crude carrier, Nissos Kea, ?carrying about 2 million barrels of Basrah crude loaded in ?Iraq, Kpler data showed. Of the rest, two were laden with ?liquefied petroleum gas and one was a minor bulk carrier.

Just six ?crude oil tankers have exited the strait this week, Kpler data showed. ?A total of 21 vessels have entered it so far, mostly via the Iranian route.

Several Chinese and Indian refiners have sought vessels this week to enter the ?strait and load crude at Iraq's Basrah Oil Terminal, attracted by ?steep discounts, shipping sources said.

However, no vessels have been fixed so far as shipowners ‌are ?wary of entering the waterway, they said.

Iraq's state oil marketer SOMO offered discounts of close to $30 a barrel for Basrah Heavy and Basrah Medium crude to customers for August loading.

Typically, about 130 to 140 ships ?would transit the ?strait before Iran ?closed the waterway after the U.S.-Israeli war began on February 28. 

Oil rises on concerns over Strait of Hormuz reopening plans

Oil ?continued its rise ?on Friday amid further concerns around the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as Iran, ?working with Oman, suggested banning vessels deemed hostile from the strait and heavily fining those who violated the proposed rules.

Brent crude futures rose 99 cents, or 1.2%, to $83.48 a ?barrel ‌by 0010 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate futures rose 85 ?cents, or 1.1%, to $78.84.

Oil futures settled up at over $3 a barrel on Thursday as Iran reviewed a bill ‌to ban US and Israeli vessels from the Strait of Hormuz where ?roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transmitted before the war began at the end of February. 

Trump says he thinks Iran war will end 'pretty soon'

US President Donald Trump said that he thinks the war on Iran will end “pretty soon”.

While responding to questions on energy prices both globally and in the US, he said: “I don’t think they can go much longer.”

 

Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia wounds 11 civilians as kingdom warns of wider threat

An attack by Yemen's Houthis on southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians on Thursday, a military official said, as the kingdom warned that coordinated attacks by ‌the Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias were imminent.

Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government, said early Friday the attack in southern Najran Province injured seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani national. 

The victims included a 4-year-old child who suffered second-degree burns.

Maliki accused the Iran-aligned Houthis of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas in violation of international humanitarian law and said the coalition would continue taking all necessary measures to protect civilians.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthis or Iran on the coalition's statement, as the five-month-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has complicated Saudi Arabia's security calculations.

Israel, US complete Arrow missile defence test amid Iran tensions: report

Israel and the United States successfully tested the Arrow missile defense system Thursday in a joint exercise aimed at improving defenses against long-range ballistic missile threats, Fox News reported.

The test was conducted by Israel’s Missile Defense Organization and the US Missile Defense Agency as part of an ongoing program to evaluate and upgrade the interceptor system.

Arrow is Israel’s primary defense against long-range ballistic missiles and has been used against attacks launched by Iran and Iran-backed groups, including Yemen’s Houthis.
 

Trump orders probes into leaks on Pentagon munitions stockpiles

US President Donald Trump ordered new investigations into disclosures about Pentagon munitions stockpiles after weeks of media reports on depleted munitions levels tied to the Iran war, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing administration officials.
 

Erdogan to visit Saudi Arabia, meet PM Shehbaz and MBS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday (today), where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Anadolu reports citing Communications Director Burhanettin Duran. 

Iranian parliamentary committee reviews draft bill to bar US, Israeli ships from Hormuz

An Iranian parliamentary committee is reviewing a preliminary bill that would prohibit US and Israeli vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported Thursday citing a lawmaker.

Alireza Salimi, a member of parliament’s presiding board, said the proposed legislation would bar military and civilian cargo linked to Israel, as well as vessels or shipments involved in actions against the Iran-aligned “resistance front,” from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
 

Trump says deal could be reached soon, he is involved in negotiations

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was personally involved in negotiations and believed the war with Iran could end soon.

“I’m involved in the negotiation. I think we’re doing fine,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It could be soon.”
 

Iran-backed groups preparing imminent attacks on Saudi Arabia: report

Intelligence reports indicate Iraqi militias coordinating with Yemen’s Houthis are preparing imminent attacks on Saudi Arabia under the guidance of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, a senior Saudi official told Reuters Thursday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said potential targets included civilian and economic infrastructure, such as energy facilities, ports and airports.

Saudi Arabia had observed drones and missiles being moved, suggesting coordinated operations from the kingdom’s north and south, the official told Reuters.
 

Mossad officials ordered to resign over failed Iran regime overthrow plan

Mossad chief Roman Gofman dismissed the heads of the Israeli intelligence agency’s Intelligence Directorate and Iran Division following the failure of an operational plan aimed at overthrowing Iran’s government, media reported citing security sources.
 

Trump denies rift with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, calls report 'false'

US President Donald Trump has dismissed media reports claiming a rift between him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing the reports as false and praising his Pentagon chief's performance.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was "extremely happy" with Hegseth, adding that "everything has been extraordinary."

Trump also defended his administration's handling of Iran, claiming the country had been "decimated" to ensure it could never develop a nuclear weapon, and said the situation was progressing well.

He praised Hegseth as being "highly respected" within the military, crediting him with increasing military recruitment and eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Trump accused The Washington Post of fabricating the story despite being told it was inaccurate, calling the report "completely false" and describing the newspaper's reporting as "treasonous." 

Iran threatened to 'black out' Gulf if US hit power plants: officials

Iran intensified its threats towards its Gulf neighbours last week, conveying messages that it would “black out” the entire region if the United States struck its power plants and rattling off a list of specific targets, two officials tell AFP.

The warning followed threats by US President Donald Trump of a massive attack against Iran, which he later walked back over the weekend citing requests from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar and hope for a breakthrough in talks.

“Iran threatened to black out the Gulf, country by country, if Trump attacked its power plants,” a Gulf official tells AFP, with another regional official confirming the messaging. 

Saudi-led maritime defence coalition appoints new commander

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence has announced the appointment of a new commander for the Gulf maritime defence coalition, marking a step toward strengthening the alliance's operational capabilities.

In a statement, the ministry said Rear Admiral (Staff) Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shahri has been appointed as the coalition's commander.

The ministry said the appointment represents a significant milestone in advancing the coalition's institutional development and enhancing its operational readiness.

 

Kuwait orders Iranian school shut: education ministry source

Authorities in Kuwait have ordered the closure of a local Iranian school, a source at the education ministry tells AFP, after the country came under repeated Iranian attack during the Middle East war.

The source did not give a reason for the closure of the country’s only Iranian school, but Kuwait has been one of several Gulf states hosting US forces to be targeted by Iran over the course of the war, most recently when the June ceasefire broke down.

“The Minister of Education issued a decision to revoke the educational license of the private Iranian school and close it down,” said the text of the decision, which was seen by AFP. 

Oil prices steady as investors cautious over Iran-Oman talks

Oil prices are holding steady amid market caution over whether talks between Iran and Oman will restore flows through the Strait of Hormuz, while reports of attacks on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden renew supply tensions, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures have gained 9 cents, or 0.11 per cent, to $79.54 a barrel by 09:28 GMT (2:28pm PKT). US West Texas Intermediate futures added 5 cents, or 0.07pc, to $75.27 a barrel.

“Traders still remember the short-lived Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, so there is understandable anxiety that any new deal could prove equally fragile,” says Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade. 

Iran and Oman 'close to deal' on Hormuz... but not with the US

Iran said Wednesday it is in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz but denied the US was involved in the negotiations.

US President Donald Trump had in recent days insisted a deal to reopen the critical waterway was imminent. 

HRW, Amnesty decry Israeli killing of Lebanese journalist as 'war crime'

Rights groups say that an Israeli attack in south Lebanon that killed reporter Amal Khalil and wounded another journalist on April 22 — after a ceasefire was declared — was an apparent “war crime”, AFP reports.

Khalil, a 42-year-old reporter for Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, and freelance camerawoman Zeinab Faraj had taken refuge in a building in the village of Al-Tiri after an Israeli strike hit a vehicle travelling in front of theirs.

The building was subsequently attacked, and while Faraj was rescued, Lebanese authorities accused the Israeli army of obstructing efforts to save Khalil while she was still alive.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Lebanese rights group The Legal Agenda have released the findings of separate investigations into the attack. 

US seeks low-cost drone interceptors as missile stockpiles dwindle: report

The US military is urgently looking to procure low-cost missile interceptors to counter small drones, aiming to keep the production cost below $150,000 per unit to enable large-scale deployment, according to media reports.

A procurement document published on the US General Services Administration's website states that the target production cost should remain below $150,000 per missile for an order of at least 5,000 units, RIA Novosti reported.

Under the stated requirements, the interceptor must be capable of engaging small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing between 20 and 1,300 pounds at distances of up to 15 miles.

The procurement effort comes amid reports of growing pressure on US missile stockpiles and an increasing need for cost-effective air defence systems against drone threats. 

US to use military, economic, diplomatic tools to resolve Iran conflict: JD Vance

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington would use military, economic and diplomatic measures to bring the conflict with Iran to what he described as the "right resolution."

Speaking to Fox News, as reported by Anadolu, Vance expressed optimism that the conflict would eventually be resolved, while acknowledging the process would take time.

"It’s going to be messy and it’s gonna take some time to get there — but we’ll land," he said, adding that oil prices would "come down and stay down."

Vance also reiterated that Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and said the United States would emerge in a stronger position.

"We’re going to use all the tools that we have — military, economic, diplomatic — to make sure we bring this thing to the right resolution," he said. 

Lebanon state media reports new Israeli strikes in south

Lebanese state media reported Israeli airstrikes and shelling overnight into Thursday morning, after Israel announced its first military fatalities in more than a month as renewed hostilities flared.

The strikes -- which began Wednesday afternoon and were accompanied by the first evacuation warning in weeks -- came as Israel and Lebanon took part in US-mediated talks in Rome, with Beirut seeking Israel's phased withdrawal from the south.

Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that "the Israeli enemy escalated its attacks" on Tyre district with "a series of airstrikes and artillery shelling" that lasted from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

The agency reported four strikes in the town of Burj al-Shamali, leaving four people wounded.

It also said Israeli aircraft carried out three strikes in and around Mansouri, as "artillery shelling and tank fire" targeted the town simultaneously.

Mansouri's residents had been warned by the Israeli military on Wednesday to evacuate.

The Lebanese health ministry reported at least one person killed in Wednesday's strikes. 

PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir to visit Saudi Arabia August 6-8

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir will visit Saudi Arabia on August 6-8, the South Asian nation's foreign office said on Thursday.

"Although taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit will carry significance beyond the immediate crisis and short term considerations," said foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi, whose government has been mediating to end the US-Iran war that has drawn in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia. 

'US has massive amounts of munitions,' says Trump

 

Oil prices slip as Iran cites progress with Oman on Hormuz agreement

Oil prices trended lower on Thursday on the progress in Iran-Oman talks, with investors cautiously waiting for signs of a US-Iran peace deal and progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures fell 33 cents, or 0.42 percent, ‌to $79.12 a barrel by 04:18 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate futures declined 42 cents, or 0.56 percent, to $74.80 a barrel.

Brent settled up slightly on Wednesday, while WTI edged lower.

Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through ‌the Strait of Hormuz, and a joint announcement is being finalised, provided certain third parties did not interfere, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday. 

Iran president says contact with supreme leader is 'very difficult'

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that communication with the country's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was very "difficult at the moment," AFP reports.

Khamenei, who was wounded in the US-Israeli strike that launched the Middle East war, has not appeared in public since succeeding his father, who was killed in the same attack.

"It is very difficult to communicate with him at the moment, but in any case, his presence is a very great source of strength for us so that we can continue," Pezeshkian said.

The younger Khamenei has communicated through written statements but his low profile at a time when Iran is in conflict with the United States has led to speculation about his relations with other top officials.

He notably did not appear at his father's funeral ceremonies last month.

Proposed Hormuz deal would give Iran control of inbound traffic

A proposed deal between Iran and Oman to help end five months of war between Iran and the United States would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told ‌Reuters on Wednesday, one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.

There was no immediate U.S. comment on the proposal. While President Donald Trump has said a deal reopening the strait is imminent, U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world's most important trade route for energy supplies. 

Tanker reported hearing two explosions off the coast of Oman

A tanker reported hearing two explosions while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the organization that monitors marine traffic in the region.

The tanker’s master reported hearing the sounds about nine nautical miles southeast of Kumzar, Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

 

US Vice President JD Vance says negotiations with Iran will take some time

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that deal negotiations with Iran would “be messy” and take time, saying that “the Iranians are extraordinarily difficult people” with “a fractured system.”

Vance’s comments come as Iran denies that its negotiating with the US. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said earlier Wednesday that Iran has not yet decided whether to proceed towards the implementation of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
 

Country faces unprecedented pressure from war, sanctions: Iranian President

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran continues to face mounting pressure from sanctions and conflict, describing the current period as the most difficult since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In an interview Wednesday with state-run media on the second anniversary of his inauguration, Pezeshkian said sanctions have steadily intensified and were followed by military confrontation. He spoke amid efforts to revive diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.

“The circumstances we face now are the toughest possible conditions in the history since the revolution,” Pezeshkian told the official Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). “Sanctions existed, and they increased. Then, they sanctioned our banks and our financial operations. Not satisfied with this, they launched a war. Still dissatisfied, they tried to corner us.”
 

Iran warns Gulf states of retaliation if US launches new strikes

Iran has warned Persian Gulf states that any new US attack on its territory would prompt strikes on critical energy infrastructure and other regional targets, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing five sources familiar with the discussions.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed the warning in contacts with Saudi, Turkish and Qatari officials and Pakistan’s army chief, while urging Washington’s regional allies to press President Donald Trump to return to diplomacy, a senior regional diplomat cited by Reuters said.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman subsequently urged Trump to delay military action, pursue negotiations and seek a ceasefire, the diplomat and Persian Gulf sources cited by Reuters said.
 

Trump says he prefers deal with Iran over war

Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, Trump said at a rally in Las Vegas on Wednesday. “I would rather make a deal with Iran because I don't want to kill people,” he added. 

Pezeshkian says interaction with supreme leader currently 'very difficult'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said in an interview aired by state TV on Wednesday that interaction with the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is currently “very difficult”, Reuters reports. 

48 commercial vessels redirected by naval blockade: US military

US Central Command (Centcom) says that as part of the naval blockade of Iranian ports, American forces have redirected 48 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others.

Iran says proposed transit route with Oman could operate for up to four months

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that a proposed transit route being negotiated between Iran and Oman could remain viable for two to four months, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The official also said that the United States returning to its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a prerequisite for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but stressed that this condition alone would not be sufficient.

He further said that no talks have been held with the United States in recent days, dismissing speculation about ongoing negotiations.

Iran, Oman reach understanding on Strait of Hormuz shipping route: FO spox

Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographical aspects of the shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, with a formal announcement expected soon, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.

He said the agreement would be announced if no third party intervenes.

Baghaei clarified that the proposed arrangement concerns the administrative management of the strategic waterway and does not mean the Strait will become fully secure or free of restrictions.

He also said Iran has no immediate plans for senior officials to visit Pakistan or Qatar but has discussed the issue with both countries and urged restraint to ease regional tensions.

US removes sanctions from three IRGC-linked entities, Treasury website shows

The United ?States has ‌removed counterterrorism ?sanctions ?from two aircraft ?and ?three airlines ?with links to ?Iran's ?Islamic Revolutionary Guard ‌Corps, ?according to details posted ?to ?the ?U.S. ?Treasury Department's ?website ?on Wednesday. 

One dead, 11 wounded in Israeli strike on southern Lebanon: state media

Lebanese state media says an Israeli attack on the country’s south has killed one person, as Israel announced it was carrying out strikes in retaliation for what it claimed was a Hezbollah ceasefire violation, AFP reports.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reports that the Israeli strike “targeted the roof of a prayer area of the cemetery in the town of Tibnin”, killing one person and wounding 11 others. 

Lebanon state media says one dead, 11 wounded in Israeli strike on south

Lebanese official media says an Israeli attack on the country’s south has killed one person, as Israel announced it was carrying out strikes in retaliation for what it said was a Hezbollah ceasefire violation, AFP reports.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) said the Israeli strike “targeted the roof of a prayer area of the cemetery in the town of Tibnin”, killing one person and wounding 11 others. 

Israel army claims fresh strikes on southern Lebanon

The Israeli military claims it has begun striking targets in southern Lebanon in response to a “blatant violation of the ceasefire” by Hezbollah, just as Israel and Lebanon hold talks in Rome, AFP reports.

“In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the IDF has begun conducting precise strikes in southern Lebanon,” a statement from the military reads, shortly after telling residents to evacuate a village in the area. 

Israeli soldiers killed, 7 wounded in blast in southern Lebanon: Iranian media

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in an explosion inside a booby-trapped building in southern Lebanon, Iran's Fars news agency reported.

Citing Israeli media, Fars said the blast occurred during demolition operations in the border towns of Kafr Tibnit, Al-Mansouri and Hadatah.

The report said the explosion took place as Israeli forces were demolishing houses in the area. No official statement has yet been issued by the Israeli military regarding the reported casualties. 

Iran says any shipping deal with Oman will not immediately reopen Strait of Hormuz

Any agreement between Iran and Oman on future shipping arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz would not result in the immediate reopening of the strategic waterway, according to Iranian state media.

Citing Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, Al Jazeera reported that negotiations over future navigation arrangements are taking place exclusively between Tehran and Muscat and are not linked to the United States.

"The possible agreement between Iran and Oman on arrangements for vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the immediate reopening of the strait," the source said. 

Oil prices rebound after Houthis say they attacked Saudi tanker

Oil prices have risen after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they attacked a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, denting hopes of a de-escalation in Iran war hostilities that could restore shipping traffic and oil flows in the Middle East, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures were up $1.51, or 1.9 per cent, at $80.87 a barrel by 11:23 GMT (4:23pm PKT). US West Texas Intermediate futures gained 90 cents, or 1.19pc, to $76.67.

The Houthis said they had launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the coast of Yanbu, a key port for Saudi crude oil exports. Saudi officials did not respond immediately to a request for comment. 

Ishaq Dar, Jordanian FM discuss regional situation, stress dialogue and diplomacy: FO

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss the evolving regional situation, including recent developments related to the US-Iran conflict, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Tuesday.

According to the FO, the two leaders underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to ease tensions and prevent further escalation in the region.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination at both bilateral and multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to promote regional peace, stability and cooperation. 

Yemen's Houthis claims attack on Saudi oil tanker in Red Sea

The Yemen’s Houthis have claimed targeting the Saudi oil tanker "Wafa" in the northern Red Sea, off the coast of Yanbu, with a number of ballistic missiles as they have imposed a maritime blockade in Bab al-Mandab.

“With this latest attack, the total number of Saudi oil tankers targeted by our forces since the start of the maritime blockade on July 22nd has reached eight,” Houthis spokesperson said in an official statement.

Meanwhile, the total number of Saudi oil tankers that have been prevented from proceeding and forced to turn back in the Red and Arabian Seas has reached 29.
 

Saudi cabinet urges talks to end Iran-US war

 The Saudi cabinet has called for a resolution to the Iran-US war through negotiations, stressing that dialogue is essential to ending the conflict.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasised the need to reduce tensions across the region.

According to Saudi media, the cabinet said resolving the Iran-US war through negotiations is imperative.

US THAAD interceptor stockpile nearly 80% depleted as Pentagon faces munitions warning

The US military has exhausted nearly 80 percent of its interceptors for a key missile defence system as senior US military commanders are warning that the Pentagon’s munitions stockpile is “dangerously low,” CNN reports.
Stockpiles of key air defence systems have been particularly depleted during the war with Iran.

The disclosure of the low THAAD inventory has not been previously reported.
 

Pakistan-flagged oil tankers sail through Red Sea amid Houthi blockade

Two Pakistan-flagged crude oil tankers have reportedly sailed through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb without reported incidents, despite heightened maritime tensions in the region.

Maritime intelligence company Windward said in a post on X that since the July 20 Houthi blockade against Saudi Arabia, Saudi-linked tankers, excluding Chinese-affiliated vessels, have either been targeted or diverted around the Cape of Good Hope.

“During the same period, two Pakistan-flagged Aframax crude tankers loaded at Yanbu, then sailed through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb back to Pakistan with AIS on and no reported incidents,” Windward said.

The company added that the vessels maintained their Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals during their journey, allowing their movements to be tracked.

The development comes days after Pakistan’s foreign ministry warned Houthi forces that any attack on a Pakistan-flagged vessel would be considered a threat to national security. 

US, Iran and Oman close to agreement on reopening Strait of Hormuz

The US, Iran and Oman are closing in on an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the US aiming for a Wednesday announcement, Axios reported citing two regional sources and a US official.

The deal under discussion sets up a 60-day temporary arrangement between Oman and Iran in the Hormuz strait, which could be extended.

No tolls or fees would be charged during the 60-day period, according to reports.
 

Gulf shipping traffic steady amid uncertainty of peace talks

Shipping traffic at the key Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb was little changed on Tuesday from the previous day, ship-tracking data showed.

Eight vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, including five tankers ‌and three bulk carriers, shipping data from Kpler showed, the same as the previous day. Six of the vessels, three tankers and three bulk carriers, were entering the strait, while a gas carrier and a tanker were exiting.

Roughly 130 to 140 ships would typically transit the waterway before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28 and Iran responded by closing the strait.

Additionally, a liquefied natural gas tanker controlled by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co reappeared outside the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, carrying a cargo loaded from Das Island, according to LSEG and Kpler data. 

Iran will make a dead or get hit very hard, says Trump

US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is “going to be open very soon — or they're gonna hit very hard, and then the Strait is going to be open."

He stated this while talking to Fox News, adding that Iran will make a deal or get hit very hard.
 

Iran's former FM urges leaders to grasp "window for diplomacy" with US

Leadership in Iran should capitalize on a “window for diplomacy” with the US, former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said, suggesting that the current stage of the conflict may help Tehran negotiate itself into a better position on the world stage.

Zarif, who does not currently serve within the Iranian political system, made his comments amid a growing debate within Iran’s political establishment over the country’s post-war direction.

While pragmatists see diplomacy with Washington as an opportunity, hardliners have criticized renewed engagement, highlighting deep divisions over Iran’s future.

“Under current conditions, even Iran’s friends in the Global South are reluctant to openly support Iran against the United States and the West,” he claimed.

Going forward, Iran needs to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in negotiations, but not keep it closed in a way that turns the world against it, Zarif suggested.

The country should establish a coalition with countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and also rebuild its relations with Europe, he continued, adding that Iranian cooperation with Russia and China “should be based on the intrinsic value of these relationships, not on Iran’s need or weakness.”
 

Secretary of War Hegseth rejects report on US missile stockpiles

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth rejected a CNN report that said the US military depleted nearly 80% of its THAAD missile interceptors during the Iran conflict.

"That banner is NOT TRUE, CNN. Shame on you," Hegseth wrote on X on Tuesday, adding "We don’t hate the Fake News media enough."
 

Strait of Hormuz remains open despite Iranian threats, CENTCOM says

The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping despite what the US military described as continued Iranian aggression, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday.

“The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open for all commercial vessels seeking to transit the international waterway. Over the past three months, U.S. forces have assisted more than 1,000 vessels in successfully transiting the strait despite unwarranted Iranian aggression, and these transits continue today,” CENTCOM posted on X.
 

Indian vessel sinks after projectile strike off Yemen

An Indian commercial vessel sank after being hit by a projectile off the coast of Yemen, but all 13 Indian nationals on board were rescued, Indian authorities said on Tuesday.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the mechanised sailing vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya was struck near Yemeni waters, causing it to capsize and sink.

He said all 14 crew members, including 13 Indians, were safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and taken to the Port of Mokha.

Oil prices drop after claims of progress in US-Iran talks

Oil prices have fallen to a three-week low after comments by Qatari and US officials raised hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the Iran war that could improve oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures have dropped $3.30, or 3.9 per cent, to $80.47 a barrel by 1519 GMT (8:19pm PKT), and US West Texas Intermediate futures have dropped $3.67, or 4.6pc, to $76.67 a barrel.

Iran says proposed Hormuz route seeks to safeguard sovereignty

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the Hormuz route currently under negotiation is designed to protect the sovereign rights and national security interests of both Iran and Oman, Reuters reports.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the route being negotiated is intended to ensure the sovereign rights and national security considerations of both Iran and Oman.

Iraq exported 30m barrels of crude via Hormuz in a month: monitor

Iraq exported over 30 million barrels of crude oil in one month through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, AFP reports citing data from the maritime tracking firm Kpler.

Before the Middle East war, which choked shipments through the vital waterway, Iraq produced around four million barrels per day, and exported an average of 105 million barrels per month, mostly from its Basra oil terminal via the strategic waterway.

Around 30 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil passed through Hormuz between July 4 and August 4, according to vessels detected by Kpler. 

US sees progress in Hormuz Strait talks, hopes for deal very shortly, Rubio says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says there has been progress in discussions with Iran and Oman on getting more ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but no final agreement has been reached, Reuters reports.

“There’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We’re hoping that will happen very shortly,” Rubio tells reporters at the State Department. 

Lebanon and Israel hold new round of direct talks in Rome

Lebanon and Israel held a fresh round of US-sponsored talks in Rome on Tuesday, with Beirut seeking Israel’s phased withdrawal from the country’s south.

Convoys carrying delegations from the two countries arrived in the morning to the US embassy in the Italian capital, where discussions are scheduled to run until Thursday.

At negotiations in Washington in June, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework deal that involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon’s south and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as "pilot zones".

This week’s negotiations are the seventh round of Washington-mediated talks since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran.

Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion that Lebanon says have killed more than 4,300 people.

US Treasury Secretary says chance of Hormuz deal with Iran by Wednesday

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that the United States can reach a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Wednesday, adding that this will stabilise energy prices, AFP reports.

“We are in talks with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalised position in this conflict,” Bessent says in an interview with CNBC.

Asked if a deal would allow Iran to charge a toll on shipping using the strait, Bessent said: “I think it would be freedom of movement.” 

Yemen's Houthis claim attacked southern Saudi airport

Yemen’s Houthis claim they attacked an airport in southern Saudi Arabia, as tensions between the two foes brew after the rebels declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh and struck its ships, AFP reports.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree says the rebel group “successfully targeted a sensitive target belonging to the Saudi enemy at Najran Airport using a drone,” adding that the strike on the southern airport was “in response to the Saudi enemy’s violation of airspace over the Saada and Hajjah governorates using drones”. 

Mediator Qatar says efforts 'ongoing' for Iran-US resolution

Mediating nation Qatar says efforts for a diplomatic solution between the United States and Iran are ongoing but that there are no direct talks between the sides planned, AFP reports.

“We can confirm that the efforts are still ongoing with all parties,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters, adding that negotiations were focused on “a short-term resolution that would help us reignite the talks and go back to the mediation efforts in its totality”.

 

US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war

The U.S. Army has used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data, raising concerns about the military's ?readiness for future conflicts, Reuters reported.

The missiles are principally the Army's surface-to-surface weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). The U.S. has used "virtually all" of these weapons, according to two of the sources.

The ‌degree to which the military is running out of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles has not been previously reported.

The long-range munitions are an important part the military's arsenal, allowing accurate strikes from a safe distance. U.S.-supplied ATACMS have played a key role in the war in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainian forces to attack targets inside Russia. The PrSM is a newer, more advanced generation that will replace the ATACMS, which have a shorter range.

Analysts say such weapons – which cost over $1 million each – would also be important in any conflict with China.

The sources declined to say how many of each munition the U.S. ?had left. 

Iran seeks control over inbound Hormuz route, senior Iranian source says

Iran wants control over inbound shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and visibility over outbound traffic, with ‌the ability to intervene if necessary, under ‌a plan being discussed with Oman to reopen the strategic waterway, a senior Iranian source told ‌Reuters on Tuesday.

The source, who is involved ‌in the talks, said this is "the general idea currently being discussed", and specified that the outbound lane would follow a route between Iran and Oman, with exit clearance granted through Oman after notifying Iran.

"Tehran is unlikely to change its position," the source added. 

Thousands march in Tehran in solidarity with Arbaeen pilgrims

Thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran in a solidarity march during Arbaeen commemorations after being unable to join the annual pilgrimage in Iraq, Iran's Fars News Agency reported.

According to the agency, participants waved Iranian national and red flags, chanted slogans calling for retaliation over Iran's "martyred leaders," and reaffirmed their commitment to carrying forward the path and ideals of those they described as martyrs. 

Lebanon's negotiations with Israel bring 'shame and humiliation': Hezbollah

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said that direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel would bring “nothing but shame, humiliation, and successive compromises” for Lebanon, ahead of new talks in Rome, AFP reports.

In a televised address, Qassem said Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun “has not acted as an arbiter, nor as a unifying figure, but has become biased and divisive, which is incompatible with his role and with Lebanon’s strength”. 

Iran president pledges territorial defense while rejecting wider conflict

 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, “We will protect our territorial integrity, yet we have no intention of widening the conflict. We must work to forge a society that offers the enemy no temptation to interfere, no opening to infiltrate, and no means to divide or dismantle us,” IRNA News reported.

Rezaei says Iran abandoned planned strikes on Ukraine after Kyiv apology

Iran’s former Supreme Leader’s senior military adviser, Mohsen Rezaei, has claimed that Iranian armed forces had completed preparations for attacks on three locations in Ukraine but later decided to cancel the operation.

According to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, Rezaei made the remarks in an interview with Iranian state television, saying that all preparations for the proposed military action had been completed before the operation was halted.

Rezaei claimed that Iran decided not to proceed with the strikes after an alleged apology from Ukraine. However, he did not provide details about the nature of the reported apology, when it was made, or who delivered it.
 

Tehran will not allow any unauthorized shipping route through Hormuz: Rezaei

Senior advisor to the Supreme Leader and former IRGC Major General Mohsen Rezaei has warned that Tehran would not allow any shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz other than the one it approves, according to news outlet Drop Site.

“Even if the U.S. brings an aircraft carrier into the illegal route of the Strait of Hormuz, we will target it,” Rezaei said.
 

Cargo vessel hit by 'unknown projectile' in Strait of Hormuz: maritime agency

A cargo vessel was struck by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, a British maritime agency said on Tuesday, without giving specifics on damage or injuries.

The vessel, which has not been named, reported being "hit by an unknown projectile" and authorities were investigating, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, adding the incident occurred 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres) northeast of Al Khasab, Oman. 

Another tanker struck in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO reports

A cargo vessel made a distress call on the VHF Channel 16 late early Tuesday local time, saying it was hit by “an unknown projectile,” said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The unnamed tanker was struck about 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, on the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz, the UKMTO report said.

 

Trump says oil prices will 'drop through the floor' after he's finished with Iran

US President Donald Trump said Monday that oil prices would “drop through the floor” after the United States was finished with Iran.

Responding to a question about record profits at Exxon and Chevron, Trump said the companies were making “too much money” and should cut retail prices for consumers.
 

Democratic lawmaker accuses Trump of hiding Iran war details

Democratic Representative John Garamendi accused President Donald Trump of using classified briefings to shield details of the Iran war from public scrutiny.

"This is how the Pentagon hides information from Congress: classified hearings," Garamendi wrote on X.
Calling Trump "the biggest liar on the Iran war," he added: "When he wants to tell the truth he usually gives updates to Congress in classified hearings. That way members of Congress aren't allowed to share the truth."

 

Cargo vessel reports projectile strike near Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says a cargo vessel has reported being hit by an "unknown projectile" about 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman.

Authorities are investigating the incident and have advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
 

Senate Republicans back Trump's Iran strategy

Senate Republicans voiced support for President Donald Trump's approach toward Iran, saying he was right to "use every tool available" to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"President Trump is right to use every tool available to hold Iran accountable and deny them a nuclear weapon," the Senate Republicans account said in a post on X. 

Oil falls sharply as markets rally on renewed Iran diplomacy

Oil prices tumbled and global stocks climbed on Monday as investors bet renewed diplomacy would ease tensions between the United States and Iran.

Brent crude fell 7.0% ($6.35) to settle at $83.77 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped 5.1% ($4.33) to $80.34.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average also closed at a record high, helped by optimism over corporate earnings.
 

Trump warns Iran of 'last chance' to sign deal but says he's under no time constraint

US President Donald Trump called Iranian leadership “unbelievably duplicitous” on social media today after Tehran contradicted his claim that negotiations would resume today. He later insisted that this is Iran’s “last chance” to sign a deal – but also said he has no time constraints on negotiations because he’s not seeking reelection. 

Trump accuses Iran of mixed signals on negotiations

US President Donald Trump has pledged to maintain pressure on Iran, accusing its leadership of sending mixed signals over negotiations.

In a social media post, Trump claimed Tehran requested talks before denying it, while insisting it communicates with Washington only through Oman.

He also asserted that the US Navy has full control of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming nothing can reach Iran without US approval.

Trump said pressure would continue until a new agreement is reached or Iran accepts what he described as "complete surrender." He reiterated that the United States would never allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

Iran and Oman's foreign ministers discuss latest regional developments

During a phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has spoken to his Omani counterpart, Badr AlBusaidi, and discussed the latest regional developments, Al Jazeera reports citing a Telegram post by Araghchi.

Oman and Iran have been negotiating over a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, which borders both of their territorial waters.

'Deal or total surrender': Trump says US military blockade of Iran will continue


US President Donald Trump has blasted Iranian leadership as “unbelievably duplicitous” after Tehran announced that there are no talks with Washington.

“They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg”, talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman’,” he writes on Truth Social.

Trump also reiterates that the Strait of Hormuz is under American control, not Iranian, due to the US’ naval blockade and military presence in the region.

“Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a deal, or total surrender, is accomplished,” he adds. “Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades.”

Dar, Aragchi discuss East Jerusalem, regional developments

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi discussed regional and international developments, including the deteriorating situation in Occupied East Jerusalem, during a telephonic conversation, the Foreign Office said.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on key regional and international issues, with particular focus on the worsening situation in Occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Foreign Office.

During the conversation, Dar also invited Araghchi to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

Trump urges oil companies to cut retail fuel prices immediately

US President Donald Trump has called on oil companies to immediately reduce fuel prices for consumers.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump urged the industry to "get your consumer (retail!) oil prices down, now!", pressing companies to lower prices at the pump. 

Six Saudi tankers turn away from Gulf of Aden, ship-tracking data shows

Six Saudi-flagged supertankers have changed course in the Gulf of Aden in recent days and are heading to southern Africa, following threats by Yemen’s Houthi movement to target Saudi shipping, Reuters reports, citing tracking data.

The tankers, which were empty of cargo after returning from destinations in Asia, were sailing in formation towards southern Africa, rather than opting to transit the southern Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint, according to AIS ship-tracking on LSEG and MarineTraffic.

One of the tankers, Dilam, had Gibraltar as its destination, ship tracking shows. 

US signs deal to boost production of missile-interceptor parts

The US Department of War says it has signed a framework deal with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to expand the production capacity of missile-interceptor components, Reuters reports, adding that the department did not say how much the deal was worth. 

Iran says US 'at war with entire region', warns of growing instability

Iran has accused the United States of waging a broader conflict that threatens the security of the entire Middle East, saying the US-Israel war on Iran extends beyond a single country.

According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters that the conflict "is a war against the entire region and against the security of all countries in the region."

Baqaei said the US military presence in the Middle East, along with the use of bases and facilities in countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf, had heightened insecurity and instability across the region over the past five months.

He added that regional countries were therefore seeking to prevent the conflict from escalating further. 

Iran executes two people accused of spying for Israel

Iran has executed two of its citizens on charges of espionage and cooperation with Israel, amid an increase in executions for offences relating to national security, Reuters reports, citing Iranian state media.

Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat were accused of sending Israel the coordinates of military and security sites as well as images and information during a brief war last summer and during the latest conflict, judiciary news outlet Mizan has reported.

 

Pentagon looking for 'creative and unconventional' ideas to punish Iran in mass email: reports

CNN reports that an officer in the US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) intelligence branch sent an email on July 29 to a broad group of military analysts, asking them to pitch "creative and unconventional" ideas to punish Iran.

It says that such crowdsourcing-style query by email is not common in the US military. 

Iran says it discussed with Oman new Hormuz route

Iran has been discussing with Oman creating a ‌new route through ‌the Strait of Hormuz that would be ‌one path with entry ‌and exit lanes, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a televised press conference. 

Iran FM says no talks 'currently' between Tehran and Washington

Iran's foreign ministry said there were currently no negotiations with the United States but there were talks with Oman over the management of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"We are not currently negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a weekly press briefing.  

Gulf allies seek clearer US security commitments amid Iran tensions

Gulf countries are increasingly concerned over the absence of a clear US approach as tensions with Iran continue, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Regional partners have reportedly raised concerns about security risks linked to ongoing hostilities and requested additional air-defence resources.

They are also seeking assurances from Washington that American protection will remain in place if the confrontation extends further.
 

Iran executes two people accused of working for Israel

Iran executed two Iranian nationals on Monday after ‌accusing them ‌of sending sensitive military and security ‌location coordinates ‌to Israel during the Iran-war, the Fars news agency reported.

Greek shipper Gas Log says LNG tanker stable after Strait of Hormuz incident

A liquefied natural gas vessel controlled by Greek shipping company Gas Log was stable after an incident while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, with everyone on board safe and accounted for, the company said.

An "incident" had occurred on its Gas Log Shanghai ‌LNG vessel on July 31, said Gas Log in a statement. It did not provide details about the incident or whether the ship or its cargo had sustained any damage.

"Gas Log LNG Services immediately activated their emergency plan, notified all relevant authorities, and is currently assessing the condition of the vessel and assure the safety of our people," the statement said.

The Gas Log Shanghai had loaded an LNG cargo at Qatar's Rash LAFSA export terminal on July 27-28, according to ship-tracking data from analytics firms Kepler and LSE. 

Gold firms after Trump holds off on Iran attack

Gold rose on Monday as oil prices fell after U.S. President Donald Trump held off on ‌fresh attacks on Iran in hopes of a swift deal, slightly easing concerns over inflation and higher interest rates.

Spot gold was up 0.4% at $4,055.76 per ounce, as of 0210 GMT. U.S. gold futures rose 0.9% to $4,054.00. 

Oil slumps on hopes of Iran deal, yen firms up after intervention

Oil prices skidded and stocks wobbled on Monday as hopes of a peace deal in the Middle East grew, while the yen ?jumped suddenly again after the U.S. and Japan confirmed joint intervention to prop up the frail currency.

Brent crude futures sank more than 4% ‌to $83.88 after U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with Iran will happen on Monday. He had earlier called off an imminent attack on Iran to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resolve the impasse over Tehran's nuclear capabilities.

S&P 500 futures rose 0.5% while Nasdaq futures gained 0.8%. European futures were 0.7% higher.

Asian stocks, though, struggled at the start of the week after a turbulent July that saw wild swings due to worries over the AI trade as investors fretted about the massive capital spending and ?whether it will provide returns quickly enough.

Japan's Nikkei (.N225) dipped nearly 2%, while South Korea's KOSPI (.KS11) slid over 4%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MISX00000PUS)  was down about 1%. 

Trump says Gulf leaders' input weighed heavily in decision to hold off on ordering new Iran strikes

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he decided to hold off on ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran at the urging of Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Trump added that a plan was in place for US forces to carry out “the biggest attack since World War II” on Sunday. But he decided to scrap the plan and give diplomacy more time to play out after hearing from key Gulf leaders — including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — as well as at the request of unnamed Iranian officials.  

Two tankers with Saudi oil exit Red Sea over weekend, data shows

Two tankers laden with Saudi oil crossed the Bab el-Mandeb strait over the weekend, while traffic in the Strait of Hormuz slowed following reports of vessel attacks, shipping data showed on Monday.

The number of commodity vessels that passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait fell to 18 on Sunday, from 27 on Saturday and 28 on Friday, the ‌Kpler data showed.

Iran's FM holds calls with Saudi and Pakistan officials

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with senior Saudi and Pakistan officials, according to local media.

Araghchi held “a series of high-level telephone conversations” Sunday night with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, which marked his second round of diplomatic calls within 24 hours, Iranian state media Press TV said.

During the call, they discussed “the current situation” and establishing security and stability in the region, the outlet said, citing an X post by Araghchi.

 

Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran set to resume today

President Donald Trump said talks with Iran will resume Monday, just a day after he said he called off a “massive attack” on the country.

“They knew the extent of the attack because they saw it forming. Now what we’re doing is we’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon, and we’ll see,” Trump told the press aboard Air Force One on Sunday following a weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Trump said he was asked to call off the planned attack by allies like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and also by Iran.

“We’re all set to go, but when the allies asked to call it off, they got us sort of saying, “Well, let’s see.’ And the reason they ask is they think there’s a deal,” Trump said. “There’s a deal on Hormuz, and then there will be a deal on the nuclear, or you might call it the denuclearization of Iran. I call it the denuclearization of Iran.”

 

Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers discuss de-escalation

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud discussed efforts to de-escalate regional tensions in a phone call on Sunday.

According to Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry, Prince Faisal stressed Riyadh's commitment to continuing regional efforts to strengthen security and stability in pursuit of "the common interests of all the countries and peoples of the region."
 

Qatar, Saudi pressure led Trump to halt Iran strike

US President Donald Trump pulled back from a planned large-scale attack on Iran one day before it was due after pressure from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing senior US officials.

CENTCOM had prepared strikes on Iranian energy and infrastructure targets, with Israel expected to participate, a senior US official said.

Another said Israel had told Washington the attack was not worthwhile unless it severely damaged Iran’s economic and regime targets.

Qatar asked Trump for another 24 hours for negotiations, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned of regional escalation and damage to oil facilities in Persian Gulf states, the report said.

A proposed Hormuz agreement is close and includes renewing the ceasefire, opening the strait toll-free for 60 days, establishing new shipping routes and resuming US-Iran talks based on the memorandum of understanding, according to the report.
 

Crew of Iranian ship hit in Ukrainian attack returns to Iran

The crew of an Iranian commercial ship hit in a Ukrainian attack returned to Iran along with the body of a sailor killed in the incident, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Sunday.
 

Iran warns attack on its infrastructure would escalate conflict

Mohammad Mokhber, a senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Mojtaba Khamenei, has warned that any attack on Iran's critical infrastructure would have far-reaching consequences beyond the battlefield.

In a statement, Mokhber said the United States evaluates conflicts through military power, while Iran bases its response on historical and long-term strategic realities.

He claimed that strikes on Iran's infrastructure would not only escalate the conflict but also undermine the US-led global order established by Western powers over the past 250 years.

His remarks come amid heightened tensions and continued exchanges of sharp rhetoric between Tehran and Washington.

Efforts underway to revive June US-Iran deal: Iranian MP

An Iranian lawmaker said that mediators were seeking to revive a deal that briefly halted the war between Iran and the United States in June, reports AFP.

Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for parliament’s national security commission, said in a video interview that “there is an effort underway to revive the 14-point Islamabad agreement, particularly by the mediators”.

“They know that the main issue and, in fact, the key to the matter right now is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, so yes, there is an exchange of views,” he said.