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US-Iran war

Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi says regional solutions stressed in Pakistan, Oman talks

  • 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

US blockade pushes Iranian tankers toward Asian waters

The US naval blockade is forcing Iranian-flagged oil tankers to remain away from Iranian ports, with at least 20 empty vessels now anchored off Sri Lanka after completing ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian crude in Southeast Asia, United Against Nuclear Iran said on Tuesday.

The tankers have remained away from Iranian ports because of the blockade, with several moving away from the Galle anchorage on August 23, possibly because of increased regulatory or enforcement pressure following recent media coverage of the vessels, the report said.

Other Iran-flagged tankers reached the Singapore Strait, with 26 vessels tracked there and expected to carry out ship-to-ship transfers at an anchorage off Malaysia, according to the report.
 

Iran and Oman propose temporary Strait of Hormuz deal

Iran and Oman outlined a proposal Tuesday to jointly establish a temporary shipping channel through the Strait of Hormuz, according to regional officials, after weeks of fraught discussions between the two countries.

Tehran and Muscat discussed a “phased framework” for a joint project facilitating a “temporary shipping corridor” and to “clear mines,” a press statement from the Iranian and Omani foreign ministries said.

Officials will carry on talks “with the aim of reaching agreement on a permanent shipping corridor and the future administration of the Strait,” the statement added.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi visited Iran and held consultations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the state-run Oman News Agency (ONA) reported earlier.

After the meeting, the Omani foreign minister said he was “hopeful” both nations would “soon announce a temporary corridor” for the strait. “Future management of the Strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course,” he posted on X.

 

 

Iran says Oman understanding bars military vessels from Hormuz route

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said an understanding with Oman would allow only commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, saying “no military vessel will be allowed to pass,” in an interview with state television Tuesday.

“Under the understanding, the inbound route to the Persian Gulf will be through Iranian waters and the outbound route through Omani territorial waters, and on both routes ships will pass through Iranian waters,” he added.

Gharibabadi said the route would be temporary and that Iran and Oman would negotiate a new permanent route within 30 to 60 days to replace the previous maritime traffic scheme.

 

Turkiye faces gas supply risk as US targets Iran trade: Bloomberg

Turkiye could lose a significant source of natural gas if the United States follows through on threats to economically isolate Iran, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Turkiye sourced about 13% of its natural gas imports from Iran last year, or 7.7 billion cubic meters, according to data from Turkey’s energy regulator, making Iran its fourth-largest supplier after Russia, Azerbaijan and the United States.

Gas flows from Iran have continued despite the war, aside from a brief interruption following an attack on the South Pars gas field, Bloomberg reported.

Bilateral trade stood at about $3.1 billion in the first half of 2026, down 3% from a year earlier, according to Turkish trade data.
 

Iranian speaker ridicules US 'Economic D-Day' campaign

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked the US campaign against Iran on Tuesday, ridiculing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s description of the new sanctions drive as an “Economic D-Day” and questioning Washington’s stated concern about disrupting the global financial system.

“Him: “Economic D-Day.” Also him, five seconds later: “ why would I want to blow up the global financial system?” Sir this ain’t Normandy, this is improv night and you forgot your own script,” Ghalibaf posted on X.
 

UK backs further economic pressure on Iran, supports US campaign

Britain will continue working with the United States and other partners to increase economic pressure on Iran and has imposed more than 240 sanctions since taking office, Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said in a statement Tuesday.

Healey said Britain supported US efforts to secure a diplomatic solution and welcomed increased pressure on Tehran, including through Operation Economic Outcast.

“We will continue to work with partners to protect our interests, take the necessary steps to re-open the Strait and counter Iran’s dangerous activity,” he said.

Healey called on Iran to cease its destabilizing activity across the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, and to engage in diplomatic talks “in good faith.”
 

Iran says regional solutions stressed in Pakistan, Oman talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks with Pakistani and Omani officials had emphasized regional solutions to current tensions.

“Iran’s commitment to peace and stability is matched by steadfast diplomacy with our neighbors,” Araghchi wrote in a post on X Tuesday.

He said a proposed framework for a new corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, joint mine-clearing and future management of the strait was “a case in point.”
 

Trump says all mines removed from Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has claimed that all mines have been cleared or detonated in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US Navy had warned Iran that any vessel attempting to lay new mines would be “immediately and systematically destroyed”.

He said the US Space Force was monitoring every part of the strategic waterway, as well as Pickaxe Mountain and three other nuclear sites that he said had already been destroyed.

Trump also reiterated that a “zero-tolerance policy” was in place against any further mine-laying in the Strait. 

No talks with Iran underway or planned, White House official says

A White House official has said the United States currently has no talks or discussions underway with Iran, nor are any scheduled, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.

The official reiterated President Donald Trump’s position that Washington is not engaged in negotiations with Tehran.

The official also said the US naval blockade remains firmly in place, while the Strait of Hormuz is open and operational.

The source added that sea mines in the strategic waterway had been removed or destroyed. 

One-third of vessels blacklisted by Iran already attacked around Hormuz: AFP analysis

One-third of the vessels Iran has threatened to confiscate for breaching Strait of Hormuz transit rules have already been attacked during the Middle East war, an AFP data analysis finds.

Since the conflict erupted in late February, Tehran has sought to impose its own shipping corridor in a bid to control traffic through the strategic chokepoint, which had been open before the war and governed by international maritime law.

But not all vessels have been passing through this Iranian-approved route in the northern part of the waterway.

 

Qatar rejects Iran's attempts to involve regional states in war: foreign ministry

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says Doha rejects any attempts by Iran to draw regional countries into the conflict whenever it comes under attack from a third party, according to Al Jazeera.

The spokesperson said Gulf states are maintaining full coordination to prepare for and respond to various possible escalation scenarios in the region. 

Finnair cancels Dubai flights for winter season amid Middle East tensions

Finnish airline Finnair has cancelled all flights between Helsinki and Dubai for the upcoming winter season due to continued instability in the Middle East, AFP reports.

The airline said flights on the route would remain suspended from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027.

Finnair cited the region’s unsettled security situation, saying there were no clear indications of improvement.

The airline added that it would contact passengers affected by the cancellations and provide further information. 

Gulf stock markets muted as investors assess fresh US measures on Iran

Gulf stock markets were largely rangebound in early trade on Tuesday as investors assessed fresh US. economic pressure on Iran and signs of progress ‌in Pakistani-mediated talks with Tehran.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new measures on Monday, but stopped short of imposing the harshest sanctions. He said ?countries continuing to trade with Iran could risk being ?excluded from the dollar-based financial system.

Pakistan and Iran made "significant ?progress" in talks focused on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ?and efforts to secure peace, Pakistan's interior minister said on ?Tuesday following a visit to Tehran.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index (.TASI) was little changed, as declines in energy, utilities and healthcare stocks offset gains elsewhere.

Oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) fell 0.5%, while National Shipping Company of ?Saudi Arabia (4030.SE), known as Bahri, lost 1.3%. Bahri said on Monday one of ‌its ?vessels, the Amzan, had come under attack in the Red Sea. Rasan Information Technology (8313.SE) rose 4%.

Economic warfare is main battlefield in confrontation with US: IRGC

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that economic warfare is the “main battlefield” in the current confrontation with the United States, according to Fars news agency.

“By waging economic warfare and imposing multilayered sanctions, the enemy seeks to sow despair, put pressure on people’s livelihoods, and undermine social trust,” the IRGC said in a statement.

IRGC added that the government’s “round-the-clock and prudent” efforts in all key sectors, including the economy, trade, oil, industry, agriculture, banking and diplomacy, played a decisive role in neutralizing sanctions and mitigating their impact.
 

Pakistan and Iran made 'significant progress' in talks on regional conflict, minister says

Pakistan and Iran made "significant progress" in talks that focused on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and a path ‌to peace, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Tuesday, at the end of a visit to Tehran.

Talks between the two sides focused on measures to prevent further escalation, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an expedited termination of the conflict, a statement from the Pakistani military said about the meeting between Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the Iranian leadership.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional peace and the way to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the dispute, the statement said.

"The Iranian President candidly shared his government's perspective and we had a very constructive ‌exchange on the issues involved," Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied Munir to Tehran, said in a post on X. 

 

Israel's Netanyahu says Iran tried to assassinate one of his sons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iran had attempted to assassinate one of his two sons, without offering further details.

"Something incredible happened: Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill one of my sons," Netanyahu said during a phone interview with Israel's Channel 14.

The claim came during a discussion about reports that the Shin Bet domestic security agency had declined to provide a security detail for Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief who is running neck and neck with Netanyahu ahead of elections on October 27. 

Sanctions and pressure tactics do not help in resolving issues, China says

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said sanctions and pressure tactics do no help in resolving issues.

He stated this during regular press briefing while responding to a question that the US Treasury Secretary had threatened secondary sanctions against countries that trade or deal with Iran. China has historically been a major buyer of Iranian oil.

“They will only lead to escalation that serves no one’s interest. China calls on parties to act rationally and with restraint, and avoid taking any measure that may further escalate tensions or deal another blow to global economic growth and financial stability,” he said.

They need to return to the right track of political settlement through dialogue and negotiation at an early date. China will closely watch relevant developments and do what is necessary to protect our legitimate rights and interests.
 

Six months into Iran war, almost half of global oil flows from war zones

Almost half the world's oil comes from countries affected by conflict ‌in 2026, Reuters calculations show, underscoring that current disruptions have eclipsed previous energy crises, Reuters reported.

Six months ago, U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered what has become the largest oil supply crisis on record, with no clear end in sight.

At the same time, the Russia-Ukraine war has forced production and refining cuts, including in nearby Kazakhstan this year.

Ongoing conflict in Libya and U.S. restrictions on Venezuelan oil exports at the start of the year have added further strain.

Together, countries affected by those conflicts produced about 45 million barrels per day of oil based on 2025 output, accounting for more than 43% of global supply, according to Reuters calculations using International Energy Agency data. 

Global food supply has become 'collateral damage' in conflicts: UN Secretary-General

The disruption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Black Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait has worsened hunger crises and must immediately end, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.

Speaking to reporters in New York on Monday, Mr. Guterres warned that the global food supply has become “collateral damage” in conflicts involving the US, Iran, and Israel; Russia and Ukraine; and the Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

The Secretary-General stressed that “maritime chokepoints must never become instruments of coercion” and that the delivery of food, energy and essential goods must never be impeded.

“The unimpeded exercise of navigational rights and freedoms is a cornerstone of peace, security and shared prosperity, and must be respected,” Mr. Guterres said. “Protecting it is a legal obligation and a humanitarian imperative.”
In the Strait of Hormuz – which connects the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman between Iran and Oman – commercial shipping has slowed to a trickle.

US and Iranian forces have each escorted limited numbers of mostly oil tankers through separate sections of the strait under their control, but Mr. Guterres noted the decline in traffic through the Strait has spiked oil prices and container rates, which in turn affect the cost of food and fertiliser.

In the Bab al-Mandab Strait – which connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden between Eritrea, Djibouti and Yemen – Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have declared a naval blockade against shipping linked to Saudi Arabia.

About 12 per cent of seaborne oil trade has historically passed through Bab al-Mandab, and around 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply has historically passed through Hormuz.  

Six months of war: 20 dead in 68 incidents near Hormuz, IMO says

The Strait of Hormuz has been the main focus of the six-month war between Iran and the US and Israel, with many commercial vessels targeted in the vital conduit for oil and gas shipments.

In total, 68 incidents have been confirmed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the Gulf and neighbouring bodies of water, the equivalent of one every 2.6 days.

Across all incidents, at least 20 seafarers or port workers were reported killed, 35 wounded and one missing, the UN maritime agency said.

About half of the incidents have involved tankers, 20 percent container ships and 15 percent bulk carriers.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) classified 47 of the incidents as attacks.

Liberia-flagged vessels have been most affected, being involved in 13 incidents, followed by 10 vessels each from Panama and the Marshall Islands.

Iran-flagged vessels were reported as being involved in four incidents. 

Pakistan says CDF Munir held talks with Iran focussed on preventing further escalation of Middle East conflict

Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir held discussions with Iran that were ‌focussed on measures including the ‌prevention of a further escalation of the conflict and the reopening ‌of the Strait of Hormuz, ‌the Pakistani military said in a statement on Tuesday.

Munir discussed regional peace and ways to reach a negotiated settlement to disputes, the statement added. 

Trump's approval holds at record low as US support for Iran war falls, Reuters Ipsos poll finds

US ‌public approval of the war with Iran fell to its lowest level since the conflict's early days, helping to hold President Donald Trump's popularity at a record low, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday.

The four-day poll showed just 31% of Americans support U.S. military action against Iran, down from 37% in a March Reuters/Ipsos poll and 34% earlier this month. The decline was driven by fewer self-identified Republicans backing the ?conflict. Some 69% of Republican respondents support the war, compared with 77% in March. 

Iran vows to retaliate after US widens sanctions

Iran promised to retaliate against expanded US economic sanctions that the Americans said would cut off Iran's economic ?lifeline, with Tehran expressing confidence that major trading partners would resist Washington's pressure campaign.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the measures on Monday but stopped short of the ‌most punishing sanctions, saying countries that continued trading with Iran risked being forced out of the dollar-based financial system. 

Bessent declined to identify the countries that would be targeted or reveal when those penalties would take effect, saying he would instead provide them time to comply with the new directive. The Treasury Department did announce new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels, but the list did not include any of the Chinese financial institutions ?suspected of facilitating Iran's oil trade.

Before the announcement, Iran threatened both a possible military response and further reduction in oil exports from the Gulf in response to any U.S. ?economic measures. Afterward, Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said, "We are fully prepared for the U.S. sanctions."

Oil prices fall after US Iran sanctions threat stops short of penalties

Oil prices fell after the Trump administration’s “economic D-Day” campaign against Iran stopped short of imposing new penalties, Reuters reported.
Brent crude was down 0.1% at $92.08 a barrel after falling more than 2% overnight, while US crude edged 0.1% higher to $85.09.

The Trump administration warned countries Monday to cut business ties with Iran or risk secondary sanctions, but the Treasury Department did not announce penalties as part of the move.
 

Houthis warn region against joining US sanctions on Iran

Houthi Deputy Foreign Minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras warned regional countries Monday against taking part in implementing US sanctions on Iran, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported.

Abu Ras said the sanctions were part of what he described as a “psychological war” against the Iranian people and had been adopted after what he called the failure of the military option.

He said countries in the region should not become “tools” for enforcing what he described as unjust US measures against Iran.
 

Tanker struck by projectile off Oman's coast, UKMTO says

An unidentified projectile struck and disabled an oil tanker about nine nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Ash Shishah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported early on Tuesday.

The tanker’s engine room was damaged, but the crew was reported safe, UKMTO said.

The environmental impact is not yet known, according to the organization.

“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO. Authorities are investigating,” UKMTO said.
 

Iran vice president says inflation is a serious national problem

Inflation is one of Iran’s most serious problems and its effects are being felt across the population, Executive Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah said, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Monday.

“One of the country’s serious problems is inflation, whose effects all people are struggling with,” Ghaempanah said.
Iran’s rial fell to a record low of about 2.02 million to the US dollar on Monday, amid mounting pressure on the economy from the war and US sanctions.
 

Netanyahu says Iran tried to assassinate one of his sons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had attempted to assassinate one of his two sons but did not identify which son was targeted or provide details about the alleged plot.

“Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu said in a phone interview with Israel’s Channel 14.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the alleged attempt occurred while Netanyahu’s older son, Yair, was outside Israel but did not say Yair was the intended target. It said Israel’s security establishment had known about the alleged plot for several months, but the military censor had barred its publication.
 

Saudi Arabia, France urge Iran to resume full IAEA cooperation

Saudi Arabia and France called for a negotiated solution over Iran and urged Tehran to resume full cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, according to a joint statement issued Monday after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Paris.

The two countries said diplomacy should ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program and help prevent further escalation in the region.

They also condemned attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and called for navigation to return to conditions before February 28, including freedom of passage, regular shipping traffic and no direct or indirect fees or transit restrictions.

Saudi Arabia and France issued the statement at the end of Mohammed bin Salman’s August 23-24 state visit to France, according to the Saudi Press Agency. 

US offers up to $10m for information on senior IRGC figures

The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme said on Monday that it was offering up to $10 million and possible relocation for information on senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The programme said it sought information on Ahmad Vahidi, commander of Iran’s IRGC; Ali Abdollahi, chief of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters; Saeed Aghajani, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force’s drone unit; Hamidreza Lashgarian, chief of the IRGC Cyber-Electronic Command; and Majid Khademi, commander of the IRGC Intelligence Office.
 

US redirects 71 vessels under Iran blockade, CENTCOM says

As of Monday, US forces have redirected 71 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to enforce compliance with the naval blockade against Iran, US Central Command said on X.

More than 40 vessels supporting humanitarian aid have been allowed to pass, CENTCOM added.
 

US not ruling out military force in Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth says

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Monday that Washington was not ruling out using military force against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz “or anywhere else.” 

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Ghalibaf discuss regional situation in Tehran

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran on Monday to discuss the regional situation.

Ghalibaf, who heads Iran’s negotiating team, said Tehran was working to implement the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), stressing that the United States must honour its commitments under the agreement.

Munir’s visit is part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

Accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, he held talks with Iranian officials after arriving in Tehran.

According to ISPR, Pakistan remains committed to peaceful efforts and lasting stability in the Middle East.

US expands economic pressure on Iran with new sanctions

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced tougher economic sanctions against Iran, saying the measures aim to cut off the country’s economic lifelines.

Speaking at a media briefing, Bessent said countries and entities doing business with Iran would be given limited time to comply or face US sanctions.

Countries maintaining economic ties with Tehran would also be required to close branches of Iranian banks operating on their territory.

He said Washington would use all available economic tools to restrict Iran’s financial and commercial activities.

The new measures expand secondary sanctions against third countries and financial institutions trading with Iran.

Bodies of two killed in Israeli drone strike recovered in Southern Lebanon

Bodies of two people killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon have been recovered, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

The two were killed when an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in the Kafr Rumman area of southern Lebanon, despite an ongoing ceasefire and a US-mediated framework agreement, Al Jazeera reports.

First aid teams recovered the bodies of 17-year-old Hussein Shukruon and Ahmed Rumani, both from the town of Deir ez-Zahrani.

The incident adds to tensions in southern Lebanon despite efforts to maintain the ceasefire and prevent further escalation in the region.

 

South Korea says US cancels joint marine drill over Iran war

South Korea says that the United States has cancelled a large joint amphibious landing exercise scheduled for next month due to constraints on force availability caused by the war with Iran, AFP reports.

The biennial Ssangyong drills involve marine forces from South Korea and the US and are designed to strengthen combined operations, typically involving warships, aircraft and ground forces rehearsing amphibious landings.

“The US Marine Corps formally notified our forces in June that its ability to deploy forces during this year’s Ssangyong exercise would be constrained due to the situation in the Middle East,” Han Seung-jeon, a spokesman for the South Korean Marine Corps, told reporters at a news briefing. 

Iranian rial falls to record low above 2 million per dollar

Iran’s currency has fallen to a record low of more than 2 million rials per US dollar on the free market, according to two currency-tracking websites, highlighting growing pressure on the country’s economy.

The sharp decline comes as the United States prepares to impose further sanctions on Iran, adding to economic pressures facing Tehran amid the ongoing conflict and disruption to trade.

US cancels South Korea marine drill over Iran war force constraints

The United States has cancelled a major joint amphibious landing exercise with South Korea scheduled for next month due to constraints on US force availability caused by the war with Iran, Seoul said.

The biennial Ssangyong exercise involves US and South Korean marine forces and typically includes warships, aircraft and ground troops. Seoul said Washington had notified it that its ability to deploy forces for the drill would be limited by the situation in the Middle East.

CDF Munir, Naqvi meet Iranian interior minister in Tehran

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have met with their Iranian counterpart, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, in Tehran, according to Pakistani state media.

The meeting took place shortly after Munir and Naqvi arrived in Tehran as part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability. The visit is aimed at supporting diplomatic efforts for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.

Iran dismisses US 'economic D-Day' threat as admission of defeat

Iran has dismissed Washington’s declaration of a massive economic pressure campaign, questioning US claims that it has dismantled Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the need for a sweeping financial offensive and the mobilisation of US institutions contradicted Washington’s claims of victory, asking whether the campaign represented a victory or an admission of defeat.

 

CDF Munir, Interior Minister Naqvi depart for Iran for regional peace efforts

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have departed for Iran as part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Monday.

According to ISPR, Field Marshal Munir will focus on advancing efforts for a peaceful, lasting and comprehensive resolution to the conflict in the Middle East. The visit comes as Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts to help de-escalate the regional conflict.

Iran warns Bulgaria against supporting US 'aggression'

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has warned Bulgaria against cooperating with the United States in what Tehran describes as aggression against Iran.

Baqaei said any Bulgarian cooperation with US attacks on Iran would constitute an act of aggression, adding that Tehran considers targeting the source of any aggression to be its right.

US cancels joint marine drill with South Korea over Iran war

The United States has cancelled a joint amphibious landing exercise with South Korea scheduled for next month, citing constraints on the availability of US forces due to the war in Iran, South Korea’s Marine Corps said Monday.

The exercise, known as Ssangyong, was expected to involve division-level training. The two allies remain in close consultations on resuming the drills, while US Forces Korea has not immediately commented.

US has many options to deal with Iran: JD Vance

US Vice President JD Vance said the primary purpose of the American presence in the Middle East is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding that Washington has many options to deal with Tehran.

Vance said the most effective way to pressure Iran is to make it pay the price for disrupting oil and gas trade. He added that Iran does not have the ability to completely shut down international trade routes, while the US is managing to keep oil shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

US enters 'economic D-Day' against Iran: Treasury Secretary

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is entering an “economic D-Day” against Iran, vowing a major financial offensive to further isolate Tehran and cut off economic support for the Iranian government.

Bessent said the Trump administration would use every available authority and resource to sever Iran’s economic lifelines. He also warned governments and other actors against supporting Tehran, saying they should not underestimate the cost of challenging Washington’s Iran policy.

Iran slams expected new US sanctions as 'same movie' repeated

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the new US sanctions package expected to be unveiled on Monday, saying it is like watching the “same movie playing over and over again.”

Araghchi said the “bullying” under US President Donald Trump was no different from that of previous US administrations, portraying the expected sanctions as a continuation of Washington’s longstanding pressure campaign against Tehran.

Oman Foreign Minister to visit Tehran on Tuesday for Hormuz talks

Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi will visit Tehran on Tuesday to continue discussions with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions over the strategic waterway and ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease the US-Iran conflict. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is also scheduled to visit Tehran on Monday as part of mediation efforts

Six-month Iran war raises questions over future of US military bases in Middle East: FT

A six-month war with Iran has raised questions over the future of US military bases in the Middle East, the Financial Times reported. Iran’s missile and drone attacks exposed the vulnerability of major US facilities located close to its shores.

The attacks forced the US to move some troops and aircraft farther from Iran, including to Israel, Jordan and European bases. The report said some Gulf allies are also seeking stronger security ties with countries other than the United States.

US threatens 'greatest financial offensive' against Iran as sanctions loom

The United States threatened Iran with what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the “greatest financial offensive ever marshalled” as Washington prepared to impose new economic sanctions targeting Iran’s trade partners. Iran warned it could halt all oil exports from the Gulf if the economic pressure continues.

Bessent said the measures would target countries continuing to engage with Iran’s economy and financial system. Tehran, meanwhile, has warned that any country supporting the US economic campaign could be considered to be committing an “act of war,” raising concerns over further disruption to Gulf oil supplies.

US dollar hits historic 2 million rials in Iran

The US dollar reached a historic 2 million rials on Sunday as Iran’s currency continued its decline, crossing a threshold that had been approaching as the rial fell sharply in recent days.

The British pound climbed above 2.72 million rials, while the euro approached 2.34 million rials.

The dollar was trading at around 1.865 million rials at the beginning of last week, putting its rise at more than 7% in less than a week. It has also more than doubled from around 958,000 rials during the same period last year.
 

Yemeni government forces launch drone strikes on Houthi targets

Yemen’s internationally recognized government said its forces carried out drone attacks on Iran-backed Houthi targets across several fronts.

The media center of the government’s armed forces released several videos showing drones dropping munitions on what it described as Houthi “gatherings, movements and barracks.”

The strikes mark continued military pressure on the Houthis amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and its allies.
 

Oil prices dip slightly while Iran threatens to halt Strait of Hormuz oil flows

Oil prices dipped slightly Sunday with Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropping 0.66% to $93.77 a barrel, while US crude fell 0.68% to $86.47 a barrel.

Iran’s top security chief threatened to halt all oil movement through the Strait of Hormuz. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, threatened to further block the strait if neighboring countries help the US weaken Tehran’s economy. The US is expected to increase sanctions on Iran on Monday as peace talks remain at a stalemate.

Roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the Strait of Hormuz prior to the war. The US Department of Energy has said that between 8 million and 9 million barrels of oil move through the strait each day.
 

Iran threatens fines and seizure for ships violating Hormuz transit rules

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority has warned that vessels violating Tehran’s rules for passage through the Strait of Hormuz could face fines, seizure or confiscation on future voyages.

“In light of violations by certain vessels of the Iranian arrangements for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, these vessels will face restrictions in their future transits,” PGSA Iran said in a statement on X, listing possible measures including “fines, seizure, or confiscation.”

The authority warned that vessels cooperating with ships deemed noncompliant could also be added to its list of violators.

Cargo owners seeking removal from the list would have to submit a request with supporting documentation, it said.
 

Iran conflict will enter new phase soon, US House speaker says

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said he expected the Iran conflict to enter a new phase soon and believed allied countries would help the United States bring it to an end.

“I think we’re going to get into a new phase here very soon,” Johnson told Fox News. “I believe our allied nations are going to assist in the next phase, and we’ll get this finished.”

 

Hormuz traffic remains at reduced levels amid Iranian threats: UKMTO

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained at reduced levels over the past 48 hours, with single-digit numbers of vessels transiting in both directions, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The activity “continues to demonstrate Iran’s intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure on transiting vessels,” it said.

Commercial traffic through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait also remained reduced following the July 20 naval blockade against Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, UKMTO added.
 

Support for US economic war against Iran is 'act of war,' Rezaei says

Iran will treat any country’s participation in or support for the US economic campaign against Tehran as an act of war and could halt all oil exports from the Persian Gulf, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said on Sunday.

“If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf,” Rezaei said on X.

“Iran will regard any country’s participation in or support for America’s economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war,” he added.
 

US military says 70 vessels redirected under Iran blockade

As of Sunday, US forces have redirected 70 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two while enforcing the naval blockade against Iran, US Central Command said.

 

Iran says intensified US economic pressure shows military campaign failed

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Sardar Mohebi has said Washington’s intensified economic pressure on Iran indicates that the United States failed to achieve its objectives on the battlefield.

According to Al Jazeera, Mohebi described the latest US economic measures as a “tacit admission” of military defeat. 

US has become desperate in face of Iran, says foreign minister

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the United States has resorted to its “old” tactics of military threats and claims of attacks because it has become desperate in dealing with Iran.

According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Araghchi said US President Donald Trump’s economic pressure represented nothing more than the same pattern of American “bullying”.

He described the economic campaign as a repetitive approach that had been used by successive US administrations.

“We have seen this film many times and know how to confront it,” Araghchi said. 

Iran nuclear chief says Isfahan fuel plant was first target of US-Israeli strikes

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Mohammad Eslami, has said the nuclear fuel production facility in Isfahan was the first target of US and Israeli military strikes during their attacks on Iran over the past year, according to IRNA.

Eslami said the facility produces fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, which is primarily used for research and the production of radiopharmaceuticals.

He added that a radiopharmaceutical production facility was also among the sites targeted in the airstrikes. 

War on Iran has led to 'a new geopolitical awakening': Iranian army spokesperson

The war on Iran has led to “a new geopolitical awakening”, particularly greater public awareness of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and its potential influence on Iran’s foreign policy and regional position, says Iran’s army spokesman, according to Al Jazeera.

Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia added that Iran’s military doctrine had gradually shifted from a predominantly “defensive” posture towards a more “proactive” approach during the recent two wars.

He stressed that this did not necessarily mean initiating conflicts, but rather maintaining the capability to respond rapidly and forcefully to aggression.

The military was using the current ceasefire period to rebuild damaged systems, introduce new capabilities and train staff, he added. 

Iran says Field Marshal Munir to visit Tehran on Monday

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will visit Tehran on Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday, according to a statement by the ministry.

Baghaei said the visit was in continuation of Pakistan's efforts to strengthen peace and security in the region.

Pakistan has taken on the mediator role in negotiations between Iran and the US aimed at ending their war. 

Iran executes man accused of aiding US, Israel in anti-govt protests

Iran has executed a man accused of carrying a chainsaw during January anti-government protests, who was charged with acting as an agent of Israel and the United States, AFP reports.

The judiciary said Majid Adineh had been convicted of “operational action in favour of hostile groups” in nationwide rallies that broke out late last year.

Adineh was accused of “deliberate arson, gathering and collusion with the intention of committing crimes against the country’s internal security”, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said in a report.

“Based on numerous documents and evidence in the case and the defendant’s statements, the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death and confiscation of all his property.”

 

Kuwait condemns Israeli drone attack on civilian car outside Damascus

Kuwait has condemned an Israeli drone attack on a civilian car in a village southwest of Damascus that injured several civilians, Al Jazeera reports.

“The ministry renews its call upon the international community and the Security Council to fulfil their responsibilities in halting the repeated Israeli occupation aggressions against Syrian territories,” Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on social media.

Israel defended the strike, claiming it was targeting “terrorists” and that the attack was in response to “an immediate threat to our forces”.

This is Israel’s second attack on Syria within a week. 

Iran emerged as 'power that amazed world with its resistance': Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that an attempt was made to “turn Iran into another Venezuela”; however, the country has emerged as a “power that amazed the world with its resistance, solidarity & unity,” Press TV reports.

“Our people achieved something remarkable,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying. 

President Pezeshkian says Iran is in 'a full-scale war'

Iran’s president has said: “We are in a full-scale economic, military and security war,” Al Jazeera reports.

Masoud Pezeshkian also said in his televised speech that the government is “ashamed” that there are significant problems in the economy.

“[US President] Trump easily says that they will impose the most crushing or the most terrible sanctions on Iran,” added Pezeshkian. “We are standing and trying to serve the people in the face of this unequal war.”

 

Top security official: Strait of Hormuz remains closed until US changes its behaviour

The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, says that any country participating in the US-led economic blockade will face consequences, and has warned that if the blockade persists, not a single drop of Persian Gulf oil will be allowed to leave via any route, state-run IRNA reports.

He reiterated that while Iran has not yet targeted the US economic interests, that option remains available should such hostile actions continue.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed and will not reopen until the US changes its behaviour and honours its commitments; they must first take concrete action,” he said. 

CDF Asim Munir speaks with Iranian FM Araghchi on regional situation, security cooperation

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed regional developments and security during a telephone call on Saturday, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.

The call comes as Pakistan remains engaged in diplomatic efforts to help ease tensions in the region, particularly amid the continuing US-Iran conflict and the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan has said it supports dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The two sides have remained in close contact over regional security. Araghchi also spoke with Pakistani officials in recent weeks on developments involving the conflict, security and ceasefire efforts. 

Six EU countries urge windfall tax on energy firms

Six EU countries are stepping up calls for a bloc-wide windfall tax on oil companies as profits soar due to the Middle East war, according to a letter seen by AFP.

The finance ministers of Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland and Portugal, along with Spain’s economy minister, sent the joint letter to Ireland’s finance minister.

Ireland currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, and the ministers urged the issue of a levy be put on the agenda at a meeting of the bloc’s finance chiefs in Dublin next month.

“Oil companies are enjoying overall profitability and margins on refined products that exceed the rise in crude oil prices,” it read. “We are experiencing one of the biggest supply shocks in decades, and all over the world there is growing discontent about the rise in the cost of living.”

They called for discussions on an “EU-wide framework to tax windfall profits,” which would take into account lessons from when a similar measure was introduced in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Iran says any country joining US sanctions considered 'enemy'

Iran has warned countries against participating in the United States’ “economic war” against the Islamic republic, saying they would be considered enemies, AFP reports.

“We declare to all countries… do not join the economic war waged by the United States. Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy,” said Mohsen Rezai, the head of Iran’s supreme national security council, on state television. 

Iran security chief vows to "neutralise economic war,” threatens to halt Hormuz oil flow

Tehran’s security chief vowed to “neutralize the economic war” with the United States and threatened to halt oil flow out of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Press TV reported.

“America is backed into a corner. Either they honor their commitments or they will have to struggle to get out of that corner, which will make the situation worse,” Mohsen Rezaei said late Saturday in a televised speech reported by Press TV.

Iran is allowing a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest example of Tehran granting selective access to the vital waterway.

However, Rezaei threatened to shut down all traffic if any of Iran’s neighboring countries enter President Donald Trump’s economic war.

“If they start such an action, we will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Persian Gulf. Oil will leave neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor through the Persian Gulf.”
 

US threatens to target Iran's economy, but details are scarce

As the war with Iran drags on, the US has been increasingly threatening economic tactics to exert pressure on Tehran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledged economic measures that have “never been seen” last week and President Donald Trump promised an “ECONOMIC D-DAY.”

The US has been employing sanctions against Iran for almost 50 years, and it’s not clear what measures Trump and Bessent might take.
Trump made contradictory statements about the status of talks earlier in the week, and the status of negotiations remains unclear.
 

Trump shares tweet saying US escorted 1,000 ships through Hormuz

US President Donald Trump on Saturday shared a tweet by Fox News contributor and Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen on Truth Social. “We’ve escorted over 1000 ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” Thiessen wrote. 

Yemeni forces attack Houthi positions in north-central Yemen

Yemeni government forces attacked positions and gatherings of the Iran-aligned Houthis northwest and south of Marib, Al Arabiya reported in a post on X on Saturday.

 

Trump again shares image calling Strait of Hormuz 'new US territory'

US President Donald Trump on Saturday again shared an image on Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz “NEW US Territory,” after first posting the same image on Aug. 18.

During a speech at a police academy on Long Island, New York, on Aug. 14, Trump said: “Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.”
 

Iran-linked hackers shut down UK power plant for four days: report

Hackers affiliated with the Islamic Republic shut down a small British power plant for four days in what may be the first successful cyberattack of its kind against a UK facility, the Telegraph reported on Saturday.

British officials did not identify the plant for security reasons, while the four-day outage had no impact on the UK’s wider power supply, according to the report.

The attack occurred around the same time as a series of cyberattacks on US water infrastructure last month that affected 12 states.
 

Iran security chief says regional defense pact signals US plans to leave

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, was a sign that the United States had told them it wanted to leave the region.

“The United States told them, ‘Goodbye, we are leaving,’” Rezaei said in a televised interview.
Rezaei added that Iran supported broader Islamic unity and said Iran and Egypt should be founding participants in any such regional alliance.
 

Iran security chief says Strait of Hormuz closed, will not reopen

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz was closed and would not reopen unless the United States changed its behavior and fulfilled its commitments.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed and will not reopen,” Rezaei said in an interview with state television. “If the United States changes its behavior and fulfills its commitments, the equation will be different, but this time the United States must act. It cannot be resolved through words and talks.”

Rezaei said Iran had reached an agreement with Oman over a “middle route” through the strait, but that a joint statement had not yet been finalized.

 

Russian specialists return to Iran's nuclear plant: Bloomberg

Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom is continuing to return employees to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, Bloomberg reported on Saturday.

The number of Russian specialists back at the facility has reached 42, Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said, adding that the company plans to increase staffing to 100 this autumn if conditions remain stable.

Rosatom began evacuating staff from Bushehr in the spring after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February, Bloomberg reported.

Russian staffing at the plant had been reduced to about 20 people by April, according to the report.
 

Iran lawmaker says US MoU had Khamenei's approval

Iranian lawmaker Farshad Ebrahimpour Nourabadi, a member of the parliament’s presiding board, said on Saturday that the government’s negotiations with the United States in Oman and the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in Pakistan were carried out with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s authorization.

“We must accept that the country’s major policies approved by the Supreme National Security Council can only be implemented with the leader’s signature,” Ebrahimpour told Jamaran.

He rejected claims that anything had been imposed on Khamenei, saying such assertions were incompatible with the Islamic Republic’s governing structure.
 

Iran security chief threatens 'earthquake-like' retaliation against Trump

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei threatened on Saturday to retaliate against any further action by US President Donald Trump and warned countries neighboring Iran against joining Washington’s economic campaign.

“If Trump wants to take action, we will retaliate in an earthquake-like manner,” Rezaei said in a televised interview.

 

Pezeshkian says late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei backed diplomacy to end standoff

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had backed diplomatic efforts to resolve Iran’s prolonged confrontation with the United States, as he defended negotiations and the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

“I was with the martyred Supreme Leader, and he publicly announced in his speeches that we must get out of this situation of neither war nor peace,” Pezeshkian said.

Pezeshkian said those involved in Supreme National Security Council discussions had considered the memorandum “the best” available agreement. “We are not going to humiliatingly give in to the enemy and bow our heads,” he said. “With strength, but with logic, we can sit down and resolve our problems.”
 

Egypt, Iran discuss regional de-escalation and return to diplomacy

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have discussed regional developments and ongoing efforts to reduce tensions, according to Egypt’s foreign ministry.

The two sides reviewed efforts to return to diplomacy, including negotiations between Oman and Iran and the possible resumption of the US-Iran memorandum, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement.

Abdelatty stressed the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to reach peaceful understandings and restore security and stability in the region.

Iran has shown 'only a fraction' of its power during war: deputy defence minister

Iran’s Deputy Defence Minister Sardar Ibn al-Reza says that during the Middle East war, the US and Israel “fully understood” the country’s military capabilities, he is quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.*

“What you have seen and heard is only a fraction of our power. What you have not yet seen is much greater,” he warns, adding that the battlefield is “a good place to test the new systems”.

Iran says it is advancing ballistic and cruise missile capabilities

Iran’s defence ministry says the country is continuing to upgrade its ballistic and cruise missiles across various ranges based on evolving threat assessments and defence requirements, Fars news agency reports.

A ministry spokesperson said the development of strategic weapons remains a consistent priority for Iran’s defence industry and armed forces, adding that producing weapons, equipment and ammunition domestically costs 10 to 20 times less than comparable foreign alternatives.

Iran's Ghalibaf says neighbours seek new regional security framework

Iraq won't allow its territory to be used for attacks on regional countries, president Amidi says

Iraqi President Nizar Amidi has rejected use of Iraqi soil for attacks against regional countries.

He added that attacks launched from inside Iraq against countries in the region “have no justification,” Al Jazeera reported.
 

Iran warns of broader response to any act of aggression

Iran’s army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia warned that any act of aggression will met a broader response, Aljazeera reported. 

He stressed that the change “does not mean carrying out preemptive operations against the enemy,” adding: “We will respond to any act of aggression immediately and on a broader scale than the aggression itself.” 

said that the military doctrine is shifting from a “defensive” to an “offensive” posture following lessons learned from recent wars, AlJazeera reports, citing Iranian state media.

“Our country’s military doctrine was defensive in the past, but gradually during these two wars, we witnessed the military doctrine moving from a defensive posture towards an offensive one,” Akraminia said.

 

Iran, Oman FMs discuss revival of talks, Strait of Hormuz navigation

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a phone conversation with his Omani counterpart Seyyed Badr Albusaidi on the revival of talks and maritime navigation in the Strategic Strait of Hormuz, IRNA reported.

During a phone call late on Friday, the two ministers exchanged views on the latest regional developments, suitable conditions for resuming talks, and issues related to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. 

Iran allows Iraqi oil tankers to pass through Strait of Hormuz

Iran has agreed to allow Iraqi oil tankers to transit the strategically important Strait of Hormuz following a series of requests from Baghdad, Iran’s state-run IRNA reported.

The decision came after extended discussions between the two sides and was linked to recent diplomatic efforts by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf during his visit to Iraq. The agreement marks a notable development in Tehran-Baghdad relations and provides Iraqi oil shipments with access through the key maritime route. 

South Korea to send first container ship through Arctic route

South Korea was set Saturday to send its first trial container through the Arctic, as the Middle East war rattles global shipping, while environmental groups warned the route could accelerate polar ice melt, AFP reported.

The Middle East conflict, sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has roiled global shipping, sending governments and shipping firms scrambling to seek alternative routes.

Sailing from Busan New Port, the container ship -- the "PanStar Acro" -- will sail to Europe via the Arctic, testing whether a route opened by melting sea ice can be commercially viable.

"The ship will depart at 8 pm (1100 GMT) today unless there are unforeseen circumstances, such as bad weather," an oceans ministry official told AFP on Saturday. 

Iran says economic coercion and naval blockade undermine state sovereignty

Araghchi dismisses new economic threats, citing history of failed US sanctions


Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed claims of new, severe economic measures against Iran, describing the recent rhetoric as a rerun of past unsuccessful pressure campaigns by Washington.

In a social media post reacting to statements regarding the “most crushing economic operation in history,” Araghchi laid out a timeline of previous U.S. economic and political strategies against Tehran, noting that each attempt ultimately failed to achieve its objectives.

“14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed. 8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed,” Araghchi wrote, referencing historical policy shifts and sanctions pushes by successive U.S. administrations.

To illustrate his point, the foreign minister shared a screenshot of a 2012 post quoting former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden calling past measures “the most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions.”

Araghchi emphasized that Washington’s latest economic warnings represent the same repeated script and are similarly destined to fail. 

 

 

Trump says Iran not ready to make the 'right deal'

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he did not think that Iran was ready make the "right deal," and that Washington was observing "what happens" in the war.

"It just means that we're seeing what happens," Trump told reporters when asked if US military options with Iran were limited.

"We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz, and that means well into it, the land areas. So, they would love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion," Trump added. 

NATO members discuss Strait of Hormuz options without alliance involvement

NATO's top commander convened a videoconference earlier this week to facilitate possible contributions to ?support freedom of navigation in the Strait of ‌Hormuz, his spokesperson told Reuters, adding that this is not a NATO mission.

“Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe hosted a ?meeting of interested Allies at the chief of ?defence level on Wednesday, 19 Aug 26, ?in order to facilitate their possible contributions to ?support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," ?a spokesperson for the alliance's top commander U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich said on Friday.

"To be clear, this is ?not a NATO mission. But given NATO’s unique ?strengths in its ability to bring together Allies and understand the ‌capabilities ?they bring to bear, it makes sense for NATO to facilitate in this way," the spokesperson added.

NATO allies have sought to avoid direct involvement in ?the Iran conflict, ?instead focusing ?on plans outside the alliance to reopen the strait, which before February carried ?about a fifth of all traded oil.

France ?and ?Britain have led efforts to build a coalition among roughly a dozen countries to guarantee safe passage ?through the ?strait once tensions ease or ?the conflict is resolved, though any long-term arrangement would ultimately require ?Iranian acquiescence.

Iran vows 'devastating' response to US threat

DUBAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran said on Friday that its response to any new US threats would be "devastating" after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial ?penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership.

US Treasury chief Scott Bessent said he would give details on Monday of the planned sanctions, which follow a warning from President ‌Donald Trump of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran."

The chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the Islamic Republic's reaction would be broad and decisive.

"With preparedness across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace, Iran's armed forces will respond to the enemy's new threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses," Abdollahi was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the country's main negotiator in mediated talks with the United States, said ?Washington appeared to have concluded it could not prevail in its direct military confrontation.

"We must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them," he said in neighbouring ?Iraq, accusing the US and Israel of resorting to what he said was economic and "cognitive" warfare.

But, speaking to Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople late on Thursday, Qalibaf acknowledged ?the strain on Iran's economy.

"No matter how much military power we have, we won't survive if people are hungry and we don't have financial turnover, economic growth and national production," Qalibaf said, according to official news ?agency IRNA.
 

Pezeshkian says Iran will not bow to pressure, warns of 'crushing response'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran should not reject peace but must remain vigilant against possible deception, while warning that Iran will not submit to pressure or intimidation. 

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim praises Pakistan's role in US-Iran peace efforts

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed the situation in the Middle East with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a telephone conversation, praising Pakistan’s role in efforts to facilitate peace between the United States and Iran.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ibrahim appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their leadership in advancing the peace process.

The Malaysian premier also acknowledged Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at supporting stability and peace in the region.

 

Hezbollah says new US sanctions 'will not deter us'

Hezbollah says that the United States “will not deter” its resistance against Israel after Washington announced new sanctions on the group, accusing it of serving Iran, AFP reports.

“All these unjust sanctions and classifications will not deter us from adhering to the path of resistance and the right of Lebanon and the Lebanese to defend their land, sovereignty and resources,” Hezbollah says in a statement, stressing that it “does not need anyone to vouch for its Lebanese identity and patriotism”.

“Our close and fraternal relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran is a relationship we cherish and are proud of,” it adds.

 

Iran, Iraq to Continue Resistance Against 'Global Arrogance': Ghalibaf

Iran and Iraq will continue to stand against what Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described as “global arrogance” and pursue their path of resistance, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.

Ghalibaf said the unity between the Muslim communities in Iran and Iraq was “unbreakable”, highlighting the two countries’ cooperation during critical periods, including the fight against Islamic State.

He said Baghdad stood by Tehran during the recent US-Israeli war, adding that resistance against Israel was “more alive and active today than ever”. 

Oil set for second weekly gain as US ramps up pressure on Iran

Oil prices are on track for a second straight weekly gain after the United States threatened to impose the toughest sanctions in history, with no end in sight for disruptions to Middle East oil flows, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures have risen by 20 cents, or 0.21 per cent, to $93.98 a barrel as of 1307 GMT (6:07pm PKT). US West Texas Intermediate crude is up 7 cents, or 0.08pc, at $86.90. 

Iran vows 'devastating' response as US threatens toughest ever economic hit

Iran said on Friday that its response to any new U.S. threats would be "devastating" after Washington pledged to ?impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership. Reuters reproted.

US Treasury chief Scott Bessent's comments on Thursday followed a warning from President Donald ‌Trump of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran." Bessent promised details on Monday.

The chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the Islamic Republic's reaction would be broad and decisive.

"With preparedness across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace, Iran's armed forces will respond to the enemy's new threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses," Abdollahi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. 

Iran must plan to overcome 'unjust sanctions', says Iranian parliament speaker

Iranian ?parliament ?speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said ?Iran ‌must ?plan ‌to overcome the "unjust ?sanctions", after US ?Treasury Secretary ‌Scott Bessent announced what ‌he described ?as the toughest sanctions ever imposed ?on ?Iran, ?according to ?Qalibaf's channel on Telegram. 

Sanctions and pressure' on Iran not a solution, says China

China said that US "sanctions and pressure" would not resolve the Middle East conflict, after Washington urged governments including Beijing to join efforts to isolate the Iranian economy.

"Sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters at a news briefing, calling on "all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means". 

US urges allies and China to join Iran economic pressure campaign

The United States on Thursday warned allies and China to join President Donald Trump's new campaign to isolate the Iranian economy, vowing that Washington would "collapse this regime" in Tehran, AFP reported.

Iran branded the US threats as "economic terrorism" and said they would fail. 

Iran, Iraq will not allow foreign powers to determine their fate, says Ghalibaf

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said Iran and Iraq have rejected attempts by US-led Western powers to dictate their future, urging the two neighbors to turn their longstanding political and security cooperation into concrete economic development and shared prosperity, Press TV reported.

Hormuz ship crossings halve amid heightened Middle East shipping risks

Ship crossings at the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint were down on Thursday from the previous day, initial shipping data showed, amid growing concern over risks to shipping in the Middle East, with US-Iran peace talks remaining in limbo.

Thursday's tally of seven commodity ships was half that of Wednesday, Kpler data showed. Of these, four ships were entering and three exiting the waterway used by nearly a fifth of global shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas before the war.

No very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers were in the mix.

However, one very large gas carrier – carrying propane and butane – did transit out of Hormuz via the Iranian route, the data showed. 

US enters 'new phase' of economic pressure on Iran, Vance says

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Washington has entered a “new phase” in its campaign against Iran, with economic pressure emerging as the most effective tool for advancing US objectives.

“We’re kind of now in a new phase where the most effective tool that we have is the economic pressure that we can apply to them,” Vance said in an interview with The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.

“We’re going to keep that going,” he added.

Vance said increasing the supply of oil and gas could help ease pressure on American consumers at the pump and reduce energy prices, while simultaneously putting greater economic pressure on Iran and potentially influencing its decision-making.

He acknowledged that the strategy involves a “delicate dance,” as Tehran could respond with measures aimed at putting economic pressure on the United States. However, Vance said Washington believes sustained economic pressure remains the best path toward achieving its goals.

His comments came shortly after the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added 10 individuals to its Iran-related sanctions list.

Earlier Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would impose the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran.

“The economic pressure means that we are going to all of our allies, and this is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world,” Bessent told CNBC.

US will impose 'toughest sanctions in history' on Iran, Bessent says

The US will impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday, a focus on ?economic measures he suggested would lessen the need for new major military operations against Tehran.

According to Reuters, his statement followed President Donald Trump's threat a day earlier of "Economic Warfare" ‌and warning of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran".

Oil prices rose to more than a three-week high on Thursday following those US threats of financial penalties aimed at forcing an end to a nearly six-month-old war that has stranded millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil.

"I'm not sure why oil has popped up on this," Bessent told CNBC. "If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be ?a large-scale kinetic restart," he said, using a term referring to military force.

Bessent ?told CNBC he would share more details and "talk about exactly what we're going to do" on Iran at a press conference on Monday.

"It is a one-two punch. We have the blockade (on Iran), and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history," he added, referring to a U.S. naval blockade imposed on Iran in April and paused for a month in mid-June.

"It is going to work in Iran and we are going to collapse ?this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision," he said.

When asked if the United States could target China for doing business with ?Iran, Bessent said many conversations were best to have in private.

"Keep in mind that the Chinese get 50% (of their) energy from inside from the Gulf. So it would do them a big service to get ‌with the program," ?he said.

China buys more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler, but engaging in further economic warfare with China, a major exporter to the U.S. including vital rare-earth minerals, risks retaliation against Washington.

 

US military establishes shipping corridor through Strait of Hormuz: Axios

The US military has quietly established a shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate oil supplies to global markets, Axios reported.

Citing US officials, the operation has been running for several weeks, with 15 to 20 tankers moving through the southern channel each night.

Officials said about 10 million barrels of oil are now safely transported through the strait daily, roughly half pre-conflict levels.

US forces escort tankers and provide air protection against Iranian drones and missiles.

A US official said Washington has controlled the southern lane for two months, while Iran’s ability to monitor shipping has been significantly reduced.

Houthis claim drone attacks on Najran airport, Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia

Yemen’s Houthis claimed drone attacks on Najran airport and a Saudi Aramco facility in southern Saudi Arabia, saying both targets were hit accurately.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said separate drones were used in the operations, but provided no details on casualties or damage.

Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed or denied the claims, according to Reuters.

The attacks came shortly after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned Saudi Arabia it could not control the Houthis or remain safe from their attacks.

The Houthis also claimed a drone strike on an Aramco facility in Jazan last week, amid continuing regional tensions.

Iraq tells Iran armed groups threatening neighbours are banned under national charter

Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Aboudi told Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf that Iraq’s constitution prohibits armed groups that pose a threat to the security of other countries, Anadolu reported.

During a meeting with Ghalibaf in Baghdad, al-Aboudi said the Iraqi government was taking measures to ensure that all weapons remained under the control of state institutions, according to a statement from his office.

The two officials also discussed regional developments, ways to strengthen bilateral relations and the implementation of security agreements previously signed between Iraq and Iran. 

EU not immediately concerned about gas supplies amid Middle East war: Commission

European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova said the European Union has no immediate concerns over natural gas supplies, with storage facilities currently 62% full, according to Al Jazeera.

However, EU countries are facing difficulties in replenishing gas reserves ahead of winter. High gas prices following the US-Israeli war on Iran have discouraged companies from purchasing additional supplies, raising concerns about winter preparedness. 

Enforcing new Iran sanctions will be 'very difficult': analyst

Paul Musgrave, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Al Jazeera that enforcing new US sanctions on countries doing business with Iran would be “very difficult.”

He said US President Donald Trump was seeking to impose economic penalties unilaterally, despite such sanctions traditionally requiring broader international coordination.

Musgrave noted that Washington would need the cooperation of major powers, including China and Russia, as well as the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to effectively enforce coordinated sanctions. 

Iran Guards say Saudi Arabia will not be able to contain Yemen's Houthis

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that Saudi Arabia will not be able to contain the Houthis in Yemen as the rebels ramp up attacks on the kingdom, AFP reports.

“Saudi Arabia will certainly be unable to contain Yemen and Ansarullah or remain safe from their attacks,” Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi told Defa Press, using another name for the Houthis.

“As we have seen in recent days, the more Saudi Arabia attacks, the more it is hit in return.” 

Gharibabadi reacts to US 'economic war' threats

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi on Thursday reacted to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of launching a “crushing economic operation”.

In a post on X, he wrote that said there had been miscalculations.

The military war didn’t yield results, so now they’ve named the next failure “economic war,” he said.
 

Iran says Trump's 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from US domestic problems

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that the ‌US "Economic D-Day" against Iran ‌was a diversion from America's economic problems and warned that further ‌pressure would fail.

Earlier, Trump announced what he called the "most crushing economic operation" ever taken against a country, targeting Iran with economic warfare and isolation. 

Israeli defence minister Katz says Erdogan is 'dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria'

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was "dragging ‌Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria" ‌and that his country would not "allow any entity to threaten its security", ?=in a post ‌on X.

Turkey firmly rejected on Wednesday ‌what it called "untenable allegations" by Israel regarding its military position in Syria, after Israel bombed a Syrian air base near the Turkish border and said Syria was on the verge of permitting Turkish troops to deploy there. 

Oil prices steady as investors assess US-Iran war outlook

Oil prices steadied in early trade on Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for the U.S.-Iran war and the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures for ‌October delivery rose 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $91.87 a barrel by 0037 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for September slipped 2 cents to $85.81 a barrel. The more active October WTI contract gained 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $84.53. 

Iranian FM, Pakistani Field Marshal discuss regional developments

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Wednesday evening, with the two officials discussing the latest regional developments and the current situation.

According to Iranian media reports, Araghchi and Munir exchanged views on recent diplomatic developments and ongoing efforts to advance political and diplomatic solutions to regional issues. 

Hormuz shipping unchanged amid US-Iran stalemate, data shows

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday was unchanged from the day before as discussions to end the war between the ‌United States and Iran remained deadlocked, according to the latest shipping ‌data.

Commodity vessel transits at Hormuz totalled nine on Wednesday, unchanged from Tuesday, shiptracking data from Kpler showed.

Transits remained low amid conflicting claims ‌between the U.S. and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday no talks ‌were taking place and that the strait was open. Iran said the waterway remained shut. 

Trump threatens sweeping economic measures against Iran

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran and countries continuing to maintain economic ties with Tehran of what he described as unprecedented new measures aimed at intensifying pressure on the Islamic Republic.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of rejecting opportunities to reach an agreement with his administration and said Washington would pursue what he called “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.”

“No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a Deal than me,” Trump said, claiming Tehran had failed to take advantage of the opportunity.

Trump also claimed that Iran’s navy and air force had been destroyed, military factories had been reduced to rubble and the country’s currency had become “worthless.”

The US president warned that countries allowing their financial institutions, companies, airports or government agencies to provide economic support to Iran would face what he called “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences.”

He specifically called for an end to oil smuggling, financial swap arrangements, cash transfers, exchange-house transactions, ship registrations and the use of front companies to support Iran’s economy.

“It all needs to stop NOW,” Trump said, describing the planned measures as an “ECONOMIC D-DAY” and urging US allies to join Washington’s efforts to isolate Tehran.

Trump said the campaign was intended to further weaken Iran’s ability to “project terror worldwide” while reiterating his administration’s opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

“IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he said. 

Iran proposes military control over Strait of Hormuz under new security plan

Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei has said a proposed security plan for the Strait of Hormuz would place the management, monitoring and inspection of the strategic waterway exclusively under Iran and its armed forces.

According to Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the plan would bar vessels considered hostile, involved in espionage or posing a threat to Iran’s national security from entering the strait.

Under the proposal, the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces would also set rules for collecting transit fees and service charges from vessels passing through the waterway.

The proposal comes amid heightened tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian officials asserting greater authority over shipping through the strategic passage. 

Foreign powers' influence in region declining rapidly: Ghalibaf

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said the influence and intervention of foreign powers in the Middle East is “declining rapidly” as a new regional order emerges.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Iraq, Ghalibaf said the United States was seeking an “honourable way out” of the region.

He also dismissed as unrealistic the idea of securing territory “from the river to the sea” for Israel, describing such ambitions as mere dreams. 

Iran earns $7.5bn in oil revenues during first four months of 2026

Iran generated $7.5 billion in oil-related foreign currency revenues during the first four months of 2026, with the funds made available to the country’s central bank, according to Iran’s semi-official *Fars* news agency, as reported by *Al Jazeera*.

Citing Iran’s Oil Ministry, *Fars* reported that the revenue was 1.5 times higher than the amount recorded during the same period last year.

The ministry said the funds are expected to meet the government’s foreign currency requirements through the end of December.
 

NATO vows to defend all allies as Iran 'weighs' targeting US bases in Europe

NATO said it is ready to “address any threat” in response to reports that Iran is considering an option of striking US military bases in Europe if the conflict with Washington escalates.

“As demonstrated earlier this year when NATO air defences successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading to Türkiye from Iran on four separate occasions, our deterrence and defence posture is strong and effective,” a NATO official told CNN on Wednesday. 

An official said NATO is “prepared to address any threat and will always do what is necessary to defend all allies.”

Oil hits three-week high on uncertainty over Hormuz

Oil prices hit a three-week high on Wednesday as uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing supply disruptions supported the market.

Brent ‌crude futures climbed 45 cents, or 0.49%, to $91.47 by 07:54 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 45 cents, or 0.53%, to $85.39 a barrel.

Brent crude hit its highest level since July 30 and WTI reached ‌its highest since July 31.

Trump said on Tuesday no talks were taking place with Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz was open, contradicting ‌Iran, which said the waterway remained shut. 

Iran's armed forces warn Gulf countries against assisting US military

Iran's armed forces on Wednesday warned Gulf countries against assisting the US military, saying it would be tantamount to joining American military operations.

"We wish to warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US military operation," armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency. 

Iran weighs targeting US bases in Europe if war escalates: reports

Iran has considered an option of striking US military bases in Europe if the conflict with Washington escalates, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing two individuals described as insiders within the Iranian setup.

American military assets located in Bulgaria and Cyprus were among the potential targets discussed by Iranian authorities.

The reported consideration comes as efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict between Iran and the United States have reached an impasse.

Talks between Washington and Tehran have stalled, and there are currently few indications that negotiations will resume in the near term.
 

Iran's post-war foreign policy to be 'completely different': Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the recent war involving Iran has altered perceptions of security across the region, with Arab countries increasingly recognising the need for a collective, regional security framework rather than reliance on foreign military bases, according to Mehr News Agency.

In an interview with the president’s communications office, Araghchi argued that the conflict exposed the limitations of outside military deployments. He said foreign forces and bases had failed to provide the protection expected by host countries and, in his view, had instead contributed to greater insecurity.

Araghchi said countries without foreign military bases experienced fewer consequences during the conflict than states hosting American facilities. He claimed that the bases primarily served to protect Israel rather than providing effective protection to the countries where they were located.

According to Araghchi, meaningful regional security would remain difficult to achieve while significant economic and security disparities persisted between countries in the region.

He also indicated that Iran’s foreign policy following the war would undergo a major shift, describing the country’s post-war approach as fundamentally different from its policy before the conflict.

Araghchi separately credited Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian with playing a key role in negotiations that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
 

Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli attacks against Syria

Pakistan strongly condemned the unprovoked attack carried out by Israeli occupation forces on Abu al-Duhur Airbase in Idlib, Syria.

“Such provocative actions constitute a flagrant violation of the international law, and have the potential to further undermine regional peace and stability,” Foreign Office said in statement.

Pakistan expresses its unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people of Syria, and reiterates its full support for the sovereignty, and territorial integrity as well as peace and prosperity of Syrian Arab Republic. 

Iran rejects UAE missile attack claim as baseless

Iran has rejected a UAE claim that missiles were fired from Iranian territory toward the Emirates, calling the accusations baseless.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei expressed regret over the accusation and called on all regional parties to avoid unfounded claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehr News reported.

He cited "the existing complexities caused by the continued mischief of America and the Zionist regime against regional peace and security, and especially the record of numerous false-flag operations." 

Hormuz traffic slows as uncertainty over waterway persists

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed on Tuesday, preliminary ‌shipping data showed on Wednesday, as ‌most shipowners avoided the key waterway because of a lack of clear ‌signalling on a reopening.

Six commodity vessels ‌crossed the strait on Tuesday, according to Kpler data as of 02:58 GMT on Wednesday, down from nine a day earlier and below the 10-day daily average of 11, AFP reported. 

Oil edges up on uncertainty over exports through Hormuz

Oil prices ticked higher in early trade on Wednesday, climbing for a fourth straight day on supply uncertainty as investors weighed conflicting messages from ?Tehran and Washington on whether the Strait of Hormuz is open ‌to ships, Reuters reported. 

Brent crude futures climbed 26 cents, or 0.29%, to $91.28 by 0004 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 37 cents to $85.31 a barrel. 

Iran's two ballistic missiles targeted maritime navigation, claims UAE

The UAE's Ministry of Defence announced that assessments revealed the two ballistic missiles detected, originating from Iran, were targeting maritime navigation and fell into the sea, WAM reproted.

It affirmed in a statement its readiness to respond to any threats and to resolutely counter any attempts to undermine the security of the country or the safety of maritime navigation in the region, thereby safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security, and stability, and protecting its national interests, assets, and resources. 

All trade, commercial exchange, financial transactions with Iran halted: UAE

The Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Afra Al Hameli, rejected all allegations regarding the status of the economic relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Al Hameli reiterated the UAE’s steadfast commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and regional integration as essential means of advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, WAM reported.

Al Hameli underscored that, in light of regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security, all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice.

Al Hameli emphasised that the UAE remains firmly committed to safeguarding the integrity of the international financial system, in line with international law and the highest global standards. 

Trump posts image labelling Strait of Hormuz as 'US Territory'

US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh attention over the Strait of Hormuz after sharing an image on Truth Social depicting the strategic waterway as “New US Territory.”

The graphic shows a map of the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and Oman, with the waterway circled and a banner carrying the territorial claim.

Trump’s post comes amid heightened tensions over the strategic shipping route, including the US military’s pressure on Iran and Tehran’s repeated threats to restrict or close the waterway.

The development has also been reflected in prediction markets, where expectations of a US-Iran agreement restoring normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by August 31 have fallen sharply. The odds of such a deal stood at 7.5%, down from 24% a week earlier.

The market movement suggests traders have grown less optimistic about a near-term diplomatic breakthrough, with Trump’s latest post potentially adding to uncertainty surrounding negotiations.

A significant shift in expectations could come from a formal US-Iran agreement or the unrestricted restoration of commercial traffic through the strategic chokepoint. With only 13 days remaining until the prediction market’s deadline, further moves by either side could quickly change the outlook.

It remains unclear whether Trump’s post represents a serious policy position or another pressure tactic aimed at Tehran. The US president has repeatedly used provocative statements and threats during the ongoing negotiations with Iran. 

Over 850,000 displaced Lebanese return home, but crisis persists: UNHCR

More than 850,000 Lebanese displaced by months of Israeli airstrikes have returned to their areas of origin, but the humanitarian crisis remains far from over, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said.

According to UNHCR, around 860,000 people have so far returned to their homes following the conflict.

However, approximately 360,000 people remain displaced, including at least 22,000 who are living in collective shelters.

The agency said many other displaced people are staying with relatives or living in overcrowded rented accommodation, highlighting the continuing humanitarian challenges faced by communities affected by the conflict. 

Araghchi says perception of 'weak Iran' has been shattered

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the perception of Iran as a weak country has been completely dispelled following the recent conflict with the United States and Israel, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim.

Araghchi said Iran’s foreign policy after the war would be “fundamentally different” from its approach before the conflict.

He said the US-Israeli war had demonstrated Iran’s resilience and significantly changed the international community’s perception of the country.

According to Tasnim, Araghchi argued that the United States and Israel had failed to achieve their key objectives during the conflict, including regime change, forcing Iran into unconditional surrender and triggering widespread internal unrest. 

Ghalibaf vows Iran will avenge deaths caused by US-Israeli war

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has vowed that the deaths of Iranians killed during the US-Israeli war against Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “will not go unavenged,” state media reported.

According to Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV, Ghalibaf said Tehran would use all available capabilities to defend the rights of the Iranian people and respond to the attacks.

He pledged that Iran would work to end what he described as the aggression, punish those responsible and safeguard the country’s honour and standing.

Ghalibaf’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran and the reported killing of senior Iranian figures. 

Qatar condemns attacks targeting officials in Iraq's Kurdistan region

Qatar has strongly condemned attacks targeting the office of the prime minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government and the residence of the head of Erbil’s Security and Intelligence Agency.

In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry described the attacks as a “flagrant violation” of the sovereignty of Iraq and the Kurdistan region.

Doha stressed that the Kurdistan region should be protected from the consequences of what it called unjustified attacks.

Qatar also called for dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation to address regional tensions, stressing that such efforts were essential to strengthening security and stability at both the regional and international levels. 

South Korea involved in consultations with US over freedom of navigation in Hormuz

South Korea says that it has been involved in consultations with the United States and other partners over freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and possible military contributions, AFP reports.

Seoul has reviewed “practical military contributions” it could make, while taking into account its defence readiness and domestic legal procedures, national security adviser Wi Sung-lac has told reporters. 

Mediators waiting for Oman, Iran bilateral agreement on Hormuz before broader US-Iran talks: Qatar

Mediators are waiting for Oman and Iran to reach a bilateral agreement on the Strait of Hormuz before returning to broader US-Iran talks, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson says, reports Reuters.

An agreement regarding Hormuz would make it much easier to resume the US-Iran talks, Qatar has said.

 

Hormuz Strait to remain closed until US meets interim deal conditions, Iran's top negotiator says

The ?Strait of ?Hormuz will remain closed until ?the ‌United ?States meets ‌conditions of the ?interim deal with Iran including ?lifting the ‌marine blockade and sanctions ‌as well ?as freeing Iran's frozen assets, Iran's ?top negotiator ?Mohammad Baqer ?Ghalibaf said ?in comments published by state media on ?Tuesday. 

Saudi Arabia resumes oil loadings, sales from inside Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Aramco resumed oil loading from inside the Strait of Hormuz last week and has more tankers waiting to load as the state energy giant offers spot heavy crude cargoes, according to ‌shipping data and trade sources. 

FM Araghchi accuses Israel of sabotaging US-Iran ceasefire talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israel of sabotaging the US-Iran ceasefire talks, calling in a major obstacle to the lasting peace deal, IRNA news agency reports.

“The Zionist regime was and remains the biggest opponent and obstacle to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding. They made every effort to prevent such an agreement from being reached, every effort to make this agreement fail, and every effort to prevent it from being implemented,” he said.

Araghchi added that Trump’s demand for an “unconditional surrender” from Iran failed to materialise, as Tehran ultimately accepted a ceasefire and conducted negotiations with the US on its own terms.

According to the report, Araghchi said those who “sought an unconditional surrender, within a short time of the war’s commencement, were begging for negotiations”.
 

Strikes hit military airport in northwest Syria

Unidentified aircraft struck an out-of-service military airfield in northwest Syria where forces from the country's defence ministry are present, a security source told AFP.

"Early on Tuesday morning, unknown aircraft bombed the Abu Duhur military airport in Idlib province," the source said on condition of anonymity. The facility has been out of service since 2012 and is currently protected by Syrian defence ministry forces, the source said, without immediately reporting casualties.

No side has claimed the strikes on the airfield, which suffered heavy damage during Syria's civil war. 

60-day deadline null and void, says Iranian FM

Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that the 60-day deadline to reach a deal with the US was null and void due to Washington's "violations," AFP reported.

Ghalibaf to visit Iraq tomorrow to discuss regional developments

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf will travel to Iraq tomorrow to discuss regional developments and strengthen strategic cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad, Press TV reported.

Hormuz crossings rise slightly from weekend, remain in single digits, data shows

Ship crossings via the Strait of Hormuz were still in single digits on Monday, despite rising slightly from the weekend, according to preliminary shipping data on Tuesday, ‌amid a stalemate in U.S. and Iranian peace talks, Reuters reported.

Six commodity ships transited the strait on Monday, of which three were exiting the Gulf and three were entering, Kpler shiptracking data showed, compared with the 10-day average of 11 ships. Three ships transited on Saturday while two moved through the waterway on Sunday.

Iran warns Kurdish friends against false-flag ploys after attack on PM Barzani's office

Vessel struck by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz, crew casualty reported, UKMTO says

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade ‌Operations (UKMTO) received a report on Tuesday that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz, ‌causing engine room damage and a crew casualty, with the remaining crew being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard, Reuters reported.

Oil climbs as fading US-Iran peace hopes raise supply risks

Oil prices rose on Tuesday as a deal to end the Middle East war ‌seemed further out of sight with Iran saying it will adopt a more offensive stance and the U.S. ruling out extending a ceasefire agreement, heightening worries about energy supply.

Iran will shift to a "fully offensive" military posture because efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war with the U.S. have stalled, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, as Washington ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement. 

Erdogan calls for maximum use of diplomacy in Iran-US tensions

Trump approval falls to 33%, lowest of his presidency

President Donald Trump's approval rating fell to the lowest level of his presidency, ‌with an overwhelming majority of Americans concerned the US war with Iran will last a long time, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday.

Just 33% of respondents in the four-day survey said they approved of Trump's performance in the White House, while 64% disapproved. Trump's approval rating, down from 35% in a poll that closed earlier this month and lower than at any point in his current term, has now tied the lowest level of his prior term reached in December 2017.

After returning to the White House in 2025 with just under half the country approving of his presidency, Trump's popularity this year took a hit after he ordered strikes on Iran alongside U.S. ally Israel. The ensuing conflict paralyzed a fifth of the global oil trade, triggering a surge in the price of gasoline that is weighing on U.S. households - and on Trump's Republican allies defending congressional majorities in November midterm elections.

Trump, who campaigned on promises to keep inflation in check and avoid long-lasting wars, initially pledged the conflict with Iran would take a few weeks. But Iran has proved resilient and has kept the oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz largely bottled up even as the conflict has cooled.
 

Iran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with US fails

Iran will shift to a "fully offensive" military posture because efforts to negotiate a permanent end to its war with the U.S. have stalled, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, as Washington ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement.

Progress towards peace talks and a resumption of oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt, with no sign that the warring parties are moving towards ending the conflict that the U.S. and Israel launched with attacks on Iran on February 28.

"Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions," the Iranian official said, adding that Tehran would conduct a "timely and precise" military attack to break the U.S. naval blockade if diplomacy failed.

Monday marked the day by which Iran and the U.S. were expected to reach a final peace agreement ?under a memorandum of understanding signed in June and aimed at ending the war.

Signed on June 17, the MoU set a 60-day timeframe for the U.S. and Iran to reach a broader deal on Iran's nuclear programme and U.S. sanctions.

The agreement, which declared the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", quickly unravelled over a dispute about control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the war.

Asked by reporters on Monday if the U.S. was seeking to extend June's interim agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump said no.

 

IRGC rejects Trump's claim of secret talks with Iran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington established direct backchannel contacts with the IRGC, saying no talks are underway.

Iranian media quoted Mohebbi as calling Trump’s claim baseless and accusing him of using alleged diplomatic contacts to influence oil and energy prices.

Mohebbi said Trump should accept what he described as US defeat and Iran’s conditions.

Trump had claimed his administration established a direct backchannel with the IRGC and said he was in no hurry to end the conflict, amid continuing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.

Kushner meets Netanyahu as Trump's Gaza peace plan faces hurdles

US President Donald Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as Washington sought to revive a Gaza peace plan opposed by Israel.

Kushner had held talks with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt a day earlier, urging the group to verify its disarmament and renounce any future governing role in Gaza.

Hamas said it remained committed to the plan and urged Washington to pressure Netanyahu to implement it.

Netanyahu has rejected the proposal, insisting Hamas must be fully disarmed before any Israeli troop withdrawal.

The talks come amid renewed violence and mounting international pressure on Israel.

Trump warns Oman against interfering in US efforts in Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has warned Oman of an attack if it interferes with American efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, according to US media.

In an interview, Trump claimed that his administration had established a backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to facilitate a route.

He said the United States still had extensive weapons stockpiles, adding that the weapons used so far represented only a fraction of its reserves.

Trump also said Washington had many medium-range weapons available.

The warning comes after Trump issued a similar threat against Oman in May, amid tensions surrounding the strategic waterway.

Iranian lawmaker warns Trump against claims over Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Parliament National Security Commission Chairman Ebrahim Azizi has urged US President Donald Trump to focus on his own security instead of making what he described as baseless and endless claims about the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, Azizi said Trump should consider ensuring his own safety so that he would not have to hide in a truck while fleeing.

He further claimed that last month, amid security concerns during Trump’s travel from Türkiye to Britain, he was transported to an aircraft in a catering truck.

Azizi’s remarks came amid heightened tensions and continuing exchanges between Iran and the US over the strategic waterway.

Iran says Pakistan, Qatar important role to ease ongoing tensions with US

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the 60-day deadline for talks with the US following the June 17 memorandum of understanding (MoU) "lost its relevance" after what he called "flagrant" violations by Washington, Anadolu reported.

“There is no provision in the memorandum of understanding referring to a ‘60-day deadline’, and the Islamic Republic of Iran never formulates its policies under pressure, ultimatums or time limits,” Baqaei told reporters at a weekly news conference, as cited by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Baghaei said Pakistan and Qatar are playing an important role to reduce tensions through mediation in the reigon.

Baghaei said Qatar is playing an important role in diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, while talks with Oman are also ongoing. He added that some countries are attempting to undermine the negotiations.

The Iranian spokesperson also said the memorandum of understanding contains no provision for a so-called 60-day deadline. 

Yemen's Houthis fire two hypersonic ballistic missiles towards Mokha, Red Sea

Yemeni army said Houthis had launched two hypersonic ballistic missiles towards Mokha port and Red Sea, according to Anadolu. 

US-Iran Islamabad MoU expires today amid no hopes for extension

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the US and Iran to settle the issues is set to expire today, with no immediate hopes for an extension in the deal, Al Jazeera reported on Monday. 

US envoy Kushner to meet with Netanyahu after talks with Hamas on Gaza

US envoy Jared Kushner is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday after holding talks with Hamas leaders in Egypt aimed at reviving a US-backed Gaza peace plan that Israel has so far rejected.

The meeting comes two weeks after Hamas endorsed the latest stage of Trump's Gaza plan, which Netanyahu has refused to support, insisting any settlement must ensure the group is "genuinely disarmed".

Kushner -- Trump's son-in-law -- met Hamas's new leader Khalil al-Hayya in the Egyptian Meditarranean city of El-Alamein on Sunday, sources with knowledge of the talks told AFP.

Kushner pushed for Hamas to take "concrete, verifiable steps" and relayed a message that "Gaza can never again be a source of terror for Israel", said one source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

Hamas again voiced its commitment to the plan, another source said. 

Iranian vice president says US attempting to compensate for its military failures by exerting economic pressure

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has warned that the enemy is attempting to compensate for its military failures by exerting economic pressure on Iran, stressing that Iran can overcome the “economic war” just as it prevailed on the military front, IRNA reproted.

Speaking at a meeting of the Market Regulation Headquarters on Sunday evening, Aref emphasized that the administration has managed the country under difficult wartime conditions with cohesion and coordination.

“The enemy now wants to compensate for its defeat on the military front through economic warfare, and the government must stand firm against this approach with proper planning,” the vice president said.

He added that while the enemy may possess greater resources in the economic war, the experience of the two recent imposed wars has proven that maintaining national unity and cohesion can lead to victory over the enemy. 

IRGC warns enemies of 'strategic surprises' amid possible offensive shift

A senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that enemies should expect “strategic surprises” as he said the country may shift from a defensive stance to an offensive one.

"The enemy should know that it cannot catch us off-guard," Yadollah Javani told state media, according to the Middle East Eye.

"Instead, it is the enemy that must anticipate strategic surprises."
 

Shipping slows through Strait of Hormuz after tanker attacks, data shows

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed over the weekend, data showed on Monday, following attacks on tankers, while U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the Middle East ‌conflict stalled, Reuters reported.

Five commodity vessels transited the strait on Saturday, with none registered for Sunday, shiptracking data from Kpler showed, versus 31 in the prior weekend.

Ships entering the strait on Saturday included an empty Very Large Crude Carrier with its Automatic Identification System switched off and an Indian-flagged Very Large Gas Carrier that used the Iranian route, Kpler data showed. 

Iran papers splash bounty for killing or capturing US troops

Iranian newspapers gave prominent front-page treatment Monday to an army chief’s announcement of cash rewards for killing or capturing US military personnel.

Hamshahri devoted much of its front page to an image of a visibly frightened US soldier being grabbed by the collar by a hand wearing an Iranian tricolor wristband.

“Kill or capture any American invader and receive a 3 billion toman reward,” the paper’s headline read, attributing the offer to the army commander.

It added that Iranian women would receive double the reward for doing so.

Kayhan also made the bounty its main front-page story, declaring in a large headline: “30 billion rial reward for hunting any American invader.”

Elsewhere on its front page, Kayhan argued that the United States had lost the war against Iran and would have to make concessions to bring it to an end.


 

Oil wavers near $88 as Iran-US talks stall, Hormuz traffic stays low

Oil prices fluctuated between gains and losses as US-Iran talks remained stalled and shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continued at a trickle.

Brent crude edged 0.1% lower to $88.48 a barrel amid continued uncertainty over the conflict and the future of shipping through the strategic waterway.

President Donald Trump told Americans to prepare for continued high fuel prices as a result of the war, while Iran called on the United States to accept defeat.
 

Trump criticises South Korea for refusing to join Iran campaign

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he had instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, while also criticizing Seoul for refusing to participate in US actions against Iran.

“While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’” he wrote.
 

Ghalibaf says Iran won war militarily and politically

Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran had won the war both militarily and politically, arguing that the United States and Israel failed to achieve any of their objectives.

“I say with complete conviction that we won this war, both militarily and politically,” Ghalibaf said. “The United States and Israel attacked us with nine specific objectives, but they failed to achieve any of them.”

He said victory did not mean Iran had destroyed the US military, but that Washington and Israel had failed to meet their goals.

“The United States and Israel failed to achieve any of their nine stated objectives, and that was their greatest defeat,” Ghalibaf said.

Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with Washington, also described the US-Iran memorandum of understanding as “a document of pride and of our victory on the diplomatic front.”

He added that Iranians had not felt the victory as much as they should have and said they had the right to take pride in what he called a “glorious victory.”
 

Iraqi Kurdistan president's office confirms Barzani's US-Iran backchannel role

Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani played a role in relaying messages between the United States and Iran and in efforts to ease tensions, a spokesperson confirmed to Iran International on Sunday.

The confirmation follows an earlier Axios report that the Trump administration turned to Barzani in May to establish a direct channel with the leadership of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. 

Iran's military actions could turn 'offensive,' IRGC political deputy says

A senior Revolutionary Guards official said Iran’s military actions, which he described as defensive so far, could become “offensive” in the future and warned adversaries to expect “strategic surprises.”

“The enemy should know that it cannot carry out surprise actions against us and should expect strategic surprises,” Yadollah Javani, the IRGC’s political deputy, told state broadcaster IRIB.

Javani said Iran’s armed forces would take whatever measures they deemed necessary to defend the country, ensure security and counter threats at what they considered the appropriate time.

He also said the newly appointed military commanders were “among the best” and that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had set out his expectations in their appointment decrees.

Javani said the armed forces would adopt “transformative approaches” based on those decrees.
 

Iran army chief warns US against any attempt to annex Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Army Chief Major General Amir Hatami has warned the United States that it would regret any attempt to annex the Strait of Hormuz, according to IRNA.

Hatami said Iranian forces remained fully prepared to confront any hostile moves and would continue to defend the country’s interests. 

Saudi authorities issue warning for Jazan province along Yemen border

The Saudi civil defence agency issued an alert warning of “potential danger” in southern Jazan province along the border with Yemen that has been targeted by Houthi rebels recently, reports AFP.

“A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in the Jazan Province to alert of a potential danger,” read the statement by the agency, with similar alerts usually issued ahead of potential strikes targeting an area. 

Pezeshkian says Islamabad MoU with US reached with 'dignity, strength'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the recent Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States was reached with “dignity” and “strength.”

Pezeshkian said the agreement was concluded in line with the principles upheld by Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

He described the memorandum as a significant achievement and a reflection of Iran’s strength and commitment to diplomacy while preserving its dignity and independence. 

Iran military vows 'complete defeat' of US, Israel

Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces has vowed not to retreat until achieving what it described as the “complete defeat” of the United States and Israel in the region.

In a statement marking the anniversary of the 1990 return of Iranian prisoners of war from Iraq, the military said the legacy of resistance had been passed on to a new generation of Iranians.

The statement praised young Iranians for continuing to stand against what it described as the world’s most heavily equipped military, while stressing that Iran’s armed forces would remain committed to confronting US and Israeli adversaries. 

IRGC says 85pc of air defence production capacity survived war

More than 85 per cent of Iran’s air defence production capacity remained intact during the recent war, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official said, according to Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s Fars news agency.

Speaking in a documentary published by Fars, the official said attacks on Iran’s military production infrastructure had not significantly affected output.

He claimed that the production and delivery of missiles and air defence systems remained at levels comparable to those recorded before the conflict. 

Iranian military official says Kuwait withholding information about four Iranians being held

Baqerzadeh says Kuwait is withholding information about the fate of four Iranians held in Kuwait, Reuters reports.

In May, Iran said the four were affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards and had been on a maritime patrol before entering Kuwaiti territorial waters because of a navigation disruption. Kuwait has said they were suspected of planning hostile actions against the country. 

Iran says Qatar delaying probe into fate of Iranian pilots: Iranian media

An Iranian military official says that Qatar should let an Iranian team in to investigate the fate of Iranian pilots who Tehran says are being held there, Iranian media says according to Reuters.

Mohammad Baqerzadeh, commander of the Committee for the Search for Missing Persons of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff, said the air force and fact-finding team had been waiting for months to enter Qatar, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Baqerzadeh accused Qatari officials of repeatedly delaying the investigation and preventing the pilots’ return to Iran. He called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to urgently follow up on the case.

 

Iran says Qatar delaying probe into fate of Iranian pilots: Iranian media

Iranian military official said on Sunday that Qatar should let an Iranian team in to investigate the fate of Iranian pilots who Tehran says are being held there, Iranian media said on Sunday.

Qatar denies holding any pilots.

Mohammad Baqerzadeh, commander of the Committee for the Search for Missing Persons of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff, said the air force and fact-finding team had been waiting for months to enter Qatar, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Baqerzadeh accused Qatari officials of repeatedly delaying the investigation and preventing the pilots' return to Iran. He called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to urgently follow up on the case. 

Arab League denounces ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon

The Arab League has condemned Israel's attacks on Lebanon, which resulted in the killing of 11 people, including women and children, on Saturday, Al Jazeera reported.

In a statement, the Arab League condemned the attacks as "a dangerous escalation that threatens to derail any efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict".

Israel's policies and practices blatantly expose "the occupation's intentions" to prolong the confrontations, obstruct negotiations, and impose a new reality on the ground that is completely unacceptable and rejected," it said. 

Israeli official claims latest strikes on Lebanon should 'jumpstart' talks

A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Israel wants new and more ambitious talks with Lebanon, after Israeli forces carried out their deadliest strikes on the country since a US-brokered truce in June, Al Jazeera reports.

Doron Spielman told the AFP news agency that the strikes should “jumpstart” the talks, “not do the opposite”.

Spielman said Israel was still upholding the US-brokered framework agreement with Lebanon.

“We believe in the agreement. We very much hope that the Lebanese Armed Forces are going to be able to step into the foray, and together we’re going to remove Hezbollah from the picture,” he told AFP.

The agreement calls for the Lebanese army to “restore effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament” of Hezbollah, after which Israeli forces would “progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory”.

Hezbollah has rejected the deal, with the group’s chief Naim Qassem saying it “grants Israel everything it wants, and the Lebanese authorities relinquish their sovereignty, leaving nothing for Lebanon”. 

Arab League condemns Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon

The Arab League has condemned Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon, calling the attacks that killed 11 on Saturday as “a dangerous escalation that threatens to derail any efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict”, Al Jazeera reports.

Israel’s policies and practices, he added, “blatantly expose the occupation’s intentions to prolong the confrontations, obstruct negotiations, and impose a new reality on the ground that is completely unacceptable and rejected”.

The spokesman also warned that the conflict could spread unless the international community, and Washington in particular, stops Israel’s “war machine” and compels it to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. 

Araghchi says talks with Oman and reopening of Hormuz are 'two separate issues'

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says in comments to Shahrara News that talks with Oman are a “completely separate” matter from the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our negotiations with Oman are ongoing. That is a completely separate matter. It is a technical issue concerning the designation of maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz for the passage of ships,” he said, according to Al Jazeera.

“The routes that existed previously are no longer functional, so a new route needs to be defined. For now, we are designing a temporary route, which can then, at a later stage, be turned into a final route.”

He added, “We may reach an outcome soon, but I want to emphasise that these negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz are two separate issues. This is a technical negotiation concerning the designation of a maritime route.” 

Iran says full security in Hormuz contingent on end to US blockade, threats: state media

“The process of fully restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz … depends on the cessation of unlawful actions, interference, threats, and the naval blockade imposed by the United States, as well as compensation for the violations of commitments that have occurred over the past two months,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has said in an interview, according to state-owned Press TV.

He added that the current insecure situation in the Strait of Hormuz is a “direct” outcome of illegal and aggressive measures by the United States and the Israeli regime. 

Yemen's Mocha port halts operations after Houthi attacks, port director says

Yemen’s Mocha port has suspended commercial and maritime operations after being hit by more than 25 missiles in Houthi attacks over recent days, the port’s director says according to Reuters.

The attacks killed seven people and caused an estimated $16 million in losses, the director told a news conference. 

Israel claims Lebanon strike targeted Hezbollah commander

The Israeli military claims that its strike on the Lebanese village of Ansar, where authorities reported seven people killed including children, targeted a Hezbollah commander, AFP reports.

It claimed it “struck a central headquarters of the Radwan Force”, referring to an elite Hezbollah unit, adding that “the strike eliminated terrorist Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, a battalion commander in the Radwan Force”.

The military further acknowledged what it called a “claim” that “Hassan’s family was also present with him inside the military headquarters,” adding that they “were not the target of the strike”. 

Iran embassy claims Leavitt resigned over Trump 'betrayal'

Iran’s embassy in South Africa has claimed, without providing evidence, that former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt resigned after becoming disillusioned with President Donald Trump, using his reported escape in a food truck during a security scare in Türkiye to mock the US president.

In a post on X, the embassy shared an image of Leavitt looking unhappy and said: “Betrayal is awful. When your boss betrays you and sends you into danger.” It added: “When your boss escapes in a food truck, all hopes for camaraderie are lost.”

The embassy further said: “Of course, you can't expect much more from a murderer”, before telling Leavitt: “You did a good job resigning, Caroline Leavitt.”
 

Iran says any attempt to seize Strait of Hormuz will face defeat

Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei has warned that any force seeking to challenge Tehran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz would be defeated, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s threat to declare the strategic waterway US territory.

Mohseni-Ejei said Iran was the “owner and ruler” of the waterway and that any “aggressor” or military force attempting to challenge its position would be defeated, according to the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency.

He said Iran’s claim over the strait was based on international law and national sovereignty, adding that US warships had already failed to establish control over the waterway.
 

Iran fires anti-ship missiles toward Strait of Hormuz: report

Anti-ship missiles were reportedly fired from Qeshm Island and Iran’s southern coast toward the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman on Saturday, Saberin News reported.

The report did not provide further details on the targets or any possible damage.

 

CENTCOM chief visits USS Abraham Lincoln amid Iran blockade

US Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper completed a 10-day trip to the Middle East on Saturday, visiting six countries and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea as more than 50,000 US troops operate across the region.

“While at sea, Cooper met with Sailors and Marines aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for the second time this year. He previously visited the aircraft carrier in February with U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,” CENTCOM posted on X.

 

Iran Central Bank says US-Israeli actions triggered website security disruption

Iran’s Central Bank said on Saturday that “hostile US and Israeli military and cyber actions” led a foreign provider to revoke security certificates for some of its websites, causing SSL warnings for users. However, it denied its infrastructure had come under cyberattack.

The bank said the technical security certificates for some websites linked to the Central Bank had been revoked by the unnamed foreign provider.

As a result, users may encounter SSL certificate errors when attempting to access the affected websites, it said.

The Central Bank stressed that the disruption was not caused by a cyberattack on its infrastructure and said all of its services remained operational.

It said measures were underway to introduce alternatives and resolve the security certificate issue.

Until the problem is fixed, the bank said users could bypass the security warning displayed by their browsers to access the services they need.

 

Yemen's Mokha port suspends operations after Houthi attacks

Yemen’s Mokha port has suspended operations after being hit by more than 25 missiles in Houthi attacks in recent days, the port’s director said on Saturday, according to Reuters.

The attacks killed seven people and caused an estimated $16 million in losses, the director said in a news conference, Reuters reported.

On Friday, the Houthis launched six ballistic missiles at Mokha, a strategic port city on the Red Sea, Yemen’s internationally recognized government said.

Houthi Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the attacks targeted “Saudi military concentrations and weapons, as well as military boats belonging to its proxies and mercenaries,” in Mokha.
 

Qatar denies holding Iranian pilots, says jets violated its airspace

Qatar on Saturday denied claims that it was holding Iranian pilots whose aircraft were shot down during an attack on the country in March, saying the jets had violated Qatari airspace and failed to respond to attempts to contact them.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said in a post on X that Doha was surprised by the claims, particularly amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.

He said Qatari search-and-rescue teams later searched for the pilots’ remains and that Doha coordinated with Tehran to return the remains of one pilot who was found.

Al Ansari added that Qatar invited an Iranian team in April to review details of the search-and-rescue operation, but that Tehran had not responded to the invitation.
 

Iran defies Trump over Strait of Hormuz, says Tehran holds control

Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s remarks about declaring the Strait of Hormuz US territory, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying Tehran alone controls whether the strategic waterway opens or closes.

Gharibabadi said Iran was not intimidated by US threats or military power, insisting the strait “was, is and will remain Iranian.”

Trump earlier said Washington would impose severe economic pressure on Tehran to force it to end the war.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said talks with the US were suspended after an Israeli strike in southern Beirut killed Hezbollah’s intelligence chief and members of his family.

Israel wants 'more serious' talks with Lebanon: PM's spokesman

Israel wants new and more ambitious US-brokered talks with Lebanon after carrying out strikes, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, adding the countries’ common enemy is Hezbollah, AFP reports.

The Israeli strikes against Hezbollah “should jumpstart the talks and make them much more serious, not do the opposite”, Netanyahu spokesman Doron Spielman tells AFP. 

Iran's economic woes worsen as oil revenues fall and factories are damaged: Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the country’s economic problems have worsened since the start of the war with the United States and Israel, citing declining oil revenues and damage to factories.

Speaking in remarks carried by Iranian media, Pezeshkian attributed rising prices to higher costs and reduced government revenues caused by a decline in oil sales.

He said imported goods that previously entered Iran through more direct routes were now being brought in through alternative channels, increasing their final costs.

Pezeshkian also said damage to industrial facilities during the war had further aggravated the economic situation and reduced tax revenues from factories. 

Lebanon death toll from Israeli strikes climbs to 11

Lebanon says Israeli strikes on the south have killed 11 people, including three children, in the deadliest raids since deals in June eased hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, AFP reports.

Israel’s military said the strikes in the early morning were in retaliation for an attack by the Iran-backed militant group on its troops in south Lebanon.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) says Israel “escalated its attacks on the south”, reporting an airstrike on a home in the village of Ansar and a “series of airstrikes targeting the Ali al-Taher ridge”, a strategic hill overlooking the Nabatieh area. It also reports another strike on the southern town of Deir Zahrani. 

Death toll from Israeli strike on southern Lebanon rises to four

The death toll from an Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Deir ez-Zahrani has risen to four, according to Al Jazeera, citing Lebanese Civil Defence.

Lebanese Civil Defence said one more body was recovered from the rubble following the attack, while another casualty was found by a separate search team. 

Hezbollah says Israeli attacks will be met with 'appropriate' response

Hezbollah said that Israeli attacks on Lebanon would be met with an “appropriate” response after deadly strikes on the country’s south on Saturday, urging authorities to halt “humiliating” negotiations with Israel, AFP reports.

Israel “must clearly understand that its attacks, violations and attempts to impose a fait accompli cannot continue, and will be met with an appropriate response”, the group said in a statement, adding that Lebanese authorities “must not insist on continuing along the humiliating path of direct negotiations and providing the enemy with free concessions”. 

Iran's Bandar Abbas airport resumes flight operations

Iran’s Bandar Abbas International Airport has resumed flight operations, with flights to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan scheduled in the coming days, Fars news agency reports. 

Iran claims three pilots shot down in March are in Qatari custody

Iran’s military Missing Persons Search Committee has claimed that three Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force pilots are being held in Qatari custody after their aircraft were shot down during an operation in March, according to Iranian news agency Fars.

Four crew members aboard two Iranian Air Force Su-24 bombers took part in an attack on a US base on March 2, 2026. Iranian military officials said the aircraft were intercepted by air defence systems over the Gulf.

One of the four crew members was killed in the incident and was later buried on July 30. 

Lebanon PM says those killed in Israeli strike were not 'military infrastructure'

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said seven people including two women and three children killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday were not military targets, after Israel said it struck Hezbollah "infrastructure," AFP reported.

"The seven martyrs of the Israeli strike on the village of Ansar are not 'military infrastructure' and the women and children who were killed are not military targets," Salam said, adding that "Israel must halt this escalation", which he said was "extremely dangerous and undermines efforts to consolidate stability in the south". 

Iran brought 'most armed army in history' to its knees, says IRGC commander

Iran has brought the “most armed army in the history of the world to its knees,” IRGC commander Major-General Ahmad Vahidi has said, Al Jazeera reports.

He wrote it in an open letter to IRGC members and other security forces, published in the military publication Sepah News.
 

US will never control Strait of Hormuz, says key Iranian official

Head of Iran’s Judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said any force seeking to challenge Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz would be destroyed Iran International reported.

He stated this while responding to President Donald Trump’s remarks that he would soon declare the crucial waterway as US territory.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is the owner and ruler of this important global waterway,” Mohseni-Ejei said, according to the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency.

He added that any “aggressor” or military adventurer in the strait would be defeated.
 

Israeli military says Hezbollah infrastructure in southern lebanon

Israeli military said it struck hezbollah infrastructure in southern lebanon in response to action against soldiers in security zone.
 

Bulk carrier hit by projectile in Strait of Hormuz: UKMTO

 A bulk carrier was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, which hit its hull, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Saturday, adding that the crew were safe, no damage assessment had been reported and that the environmental impact was unknown, Reuters reported.

'We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics play out in the West Bank'

Palestinian residents of three houses in Qusra near Nablus in the occupied West Bank say they have been effectively cut off from food and other supplies since the siege by Israeli settlers began on Sunday.

But the Israeli military has not done anything to remove the settlers.

"We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics, including a paralysed prime minister’s inability to condemn basic filmed violent acts, play out in the West Bank," says FRANCE 24 correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky, reporting from Jerusalem. 

Lebanon state media says Israeli strike on south kills seven

Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike in the country's south early Saturday killed seven people, the worst toll since deals in June saw a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

The National News Agency (NNA) said "a strike launched by enemy warplanes on a home" on the outskirts of the village of Ansar "killed seven people and wounded three others" and destroyed the home. 

Yemen government says Houthi missiles kill four civilians in port city

Yemen's internationally recognised government said Iran-aligned Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at the Red Sea port of Mocha on Friday, killing at least four civilians.

The escalation in hostilities between the Houthis and the ‌Saudi-backed government has come amid heightened regional tensions from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The Houthis have emerged as a key front in that war, raising the prospect of a return to large-scale conflict in Yemen.

The Yemeni armed forces aligned with the government said in a statement that the Houthi attack on Mocha targeted a civilian facility and economic and maritime installations, killing one port security guard. Two sailors were also missing and eight civilians were wounded, the armed forces said. 

Iran says Strait of Hormuz will remain under its command

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi has rejected claims that the United States could seize or control the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that the strategic waterway will remain under Iranian authority.

Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz could not be taken through statements on social media, military force, official orders or election speeches. He argued that displays of American power would not make Iran surrender its position over the strategically important strait.

“The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Gharibabadi said, according to the information provided.

He further stated that the waterway would be opened or closed only under Iran’s command. Gharibabadi also rejected what he described as expectations that Iran would be intimidated by threats or military pressure.
 

Trump urges Americans to accept higher gas prices as he escalates Iran rhetoric

President Donald Trump on Friday urged Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices as the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S territory.

The comments underscore the growing political risk for Trump as higher fuel prices collide with his campaign promise to lower energy costs, with Democrats already seeking ?to make the economic fallout from the Iran war an issue heading into the November midterm elections.

In a speech in Garden City, Trump said Americans who had to "pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline" should remember that this was the cost of ensuring "a very evil country" could not have a nuclear weapon.

"What we're doing is a great service for the world, not only for ourselves ... and we're really doing a great job," ?said Trump, adding he would never apologize for attacking Iran. 

Trump says will 'soon' declare Strait of Hormuz US territory

President Donald Trump has said he would “soon” declare the Strait of Hormuz waterway part of US territory, claiming that Iran was being heavily defeated, AFP reports.

“Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. It’s true,” he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state. 

UAE state oil company confirms its vessel was attacked in Hormuz strait

United Arab Emirates’ state-owned oil giant ADNOC said one of its vessels came under attack in the Hormuz strait, the latest incident in the waterway at the centre of the US-Iran conflict, AFP reports.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) “confirmed that one of its vessels was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the evening of Friday, August 14”, according to the official WAM news agency, but reported no injuries.

No decision yet on resumption of peace talks with US: Iran

Iran has not yet decided whether to resume indirect negotiations with the US, its foreign minister said, stressing that exchanges through mediators should not be interpreted as a return to talks.
Abbas Araghchi rejected reports suggesting that the 60-day ceasefire under the Islamabad memorandum — a June framework peace deal with the US, brokered by Pakistan — requires an extension.
"What was included in the Islamabad memorandum was the end of the war, not a ceasefire," he told Iran’s ISNA news agency early on Saturday.
"The United States violated the memorandum, and the fighting resumed. Therefore, there was no 60-day ceasefire that needed to be extended."
He said the 60 days referred to in the memorandum was intended as a window for negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement, not as the duration of a ceasefire.
"Both Qatar and Pakistan continue to exchange messages and remain in contact with us, but that does not mean negotiations," he said. "No decision has yet been made to resume talks with the United States."
Tehran-Muscat talks
Araghchi said Iran’s negotiations with Oman are continuing but are entirely separate from any discussions with Washington.
He described the talks as technical negotiations focused on establishing new shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, as the previous routes were no longer suitable.
"We are currently designing a temporary route that will later become permanent route," he said, adding that experts from both countries, as well as Iran’s armed forces, are involved and the talks could conclude soon.
Araghchi stressed that the technical negotiations on shipping lanes should not be confused with the issue of reopening the strait.
"Once the route is determined, whether the Strait of Hormuz is reopened depends on the fulfillment of other conditions that the United States must comply with," he said.
US joined Israel in attacking Iran on February 28, with strikes quickly killing the longtime supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and much of the other top brass as well as hundreds of civilians.
But Iran quickly hit back by exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passageway through which one-fifth of global oil once sailed, and it has rained missiles and drones on Gulf states.
The US and Iran agreed to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April and later signed a deal on June 17, launching negotiations toward a final agreement.
But the talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategic routes for global energy supplies and trade.
From July 8 to 24, the US and Iran exchanged more military strikes, with Washington launching attacks on targets inside Iran.
Tehran responded by striking what it described as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
 

Hormuz traffic slows further after US threatens more economic pressure on Iran

Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to grind to a near standstill on Friday after two more ships were attacked there and the United States said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely.

According to Reuters, a senior Iranian source said on Wednesday that there had been no progress in talks to build on a June agreement to end the war. Since the ceasefire renewed in the June deal broke down, Iran has resumed attacks on ships it accuses of trying to transit the strait without its permission.

The United Arab Emirates' Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said two of its vessels were attacked transiting the strait on Thursday evening. The UAE government blamed Iran, which made no immediate comment.

Two vessels passed through the narrow waterway on Friday, according to analysis from ship tracking firm Kpler: a grain ship entering Iranian waters and an empty dry bulk ship going in the other direction.

A separate empty liquefied petroleum products tanker was sailing into the Gulf via the strait, the data showed. There were no crude oil shipments visible on Friday.

Nine vessels passed through the strait on Thursday, up from five on Wednesday but ?below the average of 12 for August.

Some ships may pass through undetected with their transponders off, but the figures are nowhere near the more than 130 ships that traversed the Strait of Hormuz daily before the war launched by the US and Israel on Iran in February.

"Alongside the threat to energy infrastructure in the region, Iran's ability to restrict shipping through the strait is its main source of leverage in negotiations," said Torbjorn Solvedt, principal Middle East analyst with risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

Trump downplays concerns about health of sailors going to take part in operations against Iran

President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed the toll on American sailors enduring a record-setting deployment of nearly nine months on the USS Abraham Lincoln as concerns escalated about mental health and supply issues aboard the aircraft carrier supporting U.S. operations against Iran.

In a brief exchange with reporters before flying to New York for an event to highlight falling violent crime rates across the U.S., Trump refuted that family members have raised concerns about the deployment’s length and even said that the more than 260-day deployment is “not nearly long enough.”

“That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said when asked about the lengthy deployment.

The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, and several Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were “completely misrepresented.”

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment before being elected, took to social media to criticize Trump’s comments, saying on X that “President Trump does not care about our servicemembers or their families.”

Extended deployments of carriers during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods as well as the increasing strain on the ship and its equipment.

While hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. Hegseth said that the U.S. military can maintain the blockage of Iranian ports “indefinitely.”

Another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, and is expected to replace the USS Lincoln, one of two aircraft carriers currently deployed in the Middle East.

After reports emerged that sailors on the Lincoln are struggling with mental health concerns, the Navy said it has “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship,” though officials have declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns.

A Navy official said that a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but that the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship’s medical department and transferred off ship for follow-on care. The official would not say whether it was being considered a suicide attempt.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has also pushed back on reports about poor conditions. 

Iran war a boon for China's e-trucks, fuelling export surge

China’s exports of electric trucks to other Asian countries have spiked, adding to a surge in domestic sales as higher fuel costs as a result of the Iran war accelerate regional electrification, Reuters reports.

China’s rapid adoption of electric trucks (e-trucks), from lighter vehicles to tractor-trailers, has partially shielded the world’s biggest auto market from the impact of the conflict. Now other countries are scrambling to follow.

In the four months after the US and Israel started the war on Iran in February, China’s exports of heavy e-trucks more than doubled from the same period last year to 16,823 vehicles. 

Qatar condemns attack on UAE oil tankers, calls for unconditional reopening of Hormuz

Qatar has strongly condemned what it described as an Iranian attack on two UAE oil tankers operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the attack constituted a serious violation of international law and freedom of maritime navigation, as well as a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

Doha also reiterated its opposition to using the Strait of Hormuz as a means of exerting pressure and called for the strategic waterway to be reopened without conditions. 

Iraq's daily oil exports in August highest since start of Middle East war: minister

Iraq’s average daily oil exports since the beginning of August are the highest since the outbreak of the Middle East war between Iran and the United States, which has choked off the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reports citing the country’s oil ministry.

Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair tells a press conference that “exports since the beginning of the month have reached a rate of two million barrels” per day, for a total of around 26 million barrels, saying the daily rate has been achieved “for the first time since the crisis began”. 

Iran's Araghchi discusses regional, international issues with Austrian counterpart

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger to discuss the latest regional developments and issues of bilateral, regional and international importance, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.

 

Iran gives 'general approval' to strategic plan for Strait of Hormuz

Iran has approved the general principles of a strategic action plan aimed at managing and safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, according to Al Jazeera, citing Iranian media.

Valiullah Bayati, spokesperson for Iran’s Parliamentary Committee on Councils, told Tasnim news agency that the committee had reviewed the proposed plan during a meeting.

The plan focuses on ensuring the security and development of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and the wider Persian Gulf. 

'Implementation of Islamabad MoU is the only war forward'

Tanker struck by drone in Strait of Hormuz, UK maritime agency says

A tanker was struck by an uncrewed aerial vehicle while making ‌an outbound transit ‌of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, the United Kingdom ‌Maritime Trade Operations agency said ‌on Friday, citing military authorities.

The vessel sustained minor damage, while all crew were reported safe and accounted for, with no environmental impact reported. 

Hegseth says reports about poor conditions aboard carrier are misrepresented

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that reports about poor conditions aboard aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln ?in the Middle East were "completely misrepresented."

Two military-focused outlets, Navy Times and Stars and ‌Stripes, reported suicide attempts and declining morale on the 5,000-person ship, which has been at sea since November 2025.

The carrier has been in the Middle East since January, supporting the U.S. war with Iran.

"We ?make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide ?them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and ?I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in ?those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it's incredible," Hegseth told reporters ?during a visit to Panama. 

Strait of Hormuz is closed, says IRGC Navy commander

The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, stressing that Iranian forces have complete and decisive control over movements in the strategic waterway, Tasnim News Agency reported.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Our control over movements is complete and decisive,” IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Ozmaei said.

“No movement in this strait escapes the eyes of the IRGC Navy fighters,” the commander stated.

“The reality should be seen in the field, not in the communiqués and statements of US officials,” he added. 

US could not verify Israeli warnings of Iran plots against Trump, sources say

The US has received several warnings from Israel over the past year that Iran intended to assassinate President Donald Trump, including before a secret Air Force One ruse in Turkey, that U.S. intelligence officials could not independently verify, according to a current U.S. official and two former officials.

The warnings, passed to ‌U.S. intelligence agencies and in some cases relayed directly by Israeli officials to senior White House officials, included possible plots to shoot Trump with a sniper or recruit someone to attack him with a knife at a large public event, the sources said. The tips began in the lead-up to the 12-day war in June 2025 and intensified prior to the U.S. decision to go to war in Iran in February, the sources said.

The most detailed warning came ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara in July, the U.S. official and the other person familiar with the matter said. Israeli officials briefed the White House about intelligence that indicated Iran may try to kill Trump, potentially with a shoulder-launched missile, while he traveled on Air Force One for the summit, the officials said.

The U.S. intelligence community has long assessed that Iran wants to retaliate for Trump’s killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. But the Central Intelligence Agency has not been able to corroborate some of the specific threats against Trump's life shared by Israeli intelligence since early last year, the officials said. 

Conditions aboard US aircraft carrier in Middle East reach tipping point

Some sailors have reportedly tried throwing themselves into the sea, basic supplies can run short and sanitation is going awry – life on the giant USS Lincoln aircraft carrier is increasingly difficult as the Iran war drags on.

The ship – now in its ninth month of deployment – is expected to be replaced in the Middle East by another carrier, the George Washington, in a move sure to be welcomed by the Lincoln's crew and their loved ones.

The USS Lincoln's deployment has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 260 days.

Several Democratic lawmakers are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were “completely misrepresented.” 

Hormuz shipping traffic capped amid competing claims from US and Iran

Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz fell below the month average towards the end of the ?week due to volatile sentiment between the United States ‌and Iran, with both countries making competing claims over its control.

The Strait of Hormuz is "under Iran's control and management", the recently appointed head ?of Iran's Basij paramilitary unit said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the ?United States on Thursday said it could maintain a ?naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and would ratchet up economic ?pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have floundered.

Commodity vessel transits at ?Hormuz picked up slightly on Thursday, but remained lower than the month's daily average of 12, based on Kpler data in August so ?far. 

UAE condemns Iranian attack on two ADNOC vessels in Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates on Friday condemned an Iranian attack it said targeted two vessels linked to state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait and wants to charge users for passage, which the US fiercely opposes. Iran is in talks with Oman over arrangements for the strait's future management.

The UAE foreign ministry in a statement denounced what it called "the hostile Iranian attack that targeted two vessels affiliated with ADNOC as they transited the Strait of Hormuz, with no injuries reported".

ADNOC confirmed "two of its vessels were attacked while transiting" the waterway on Thursday evening, adding the situation was "brought under control", the official WAM news agency reported. 

Oil prices edge higher as US threatens indefinite Iran blockade

Oil prices inched higher on Friday after the US threatened to maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, reviving crude supply concerns, after prices fell in the previous session on a weaker global demand outlook.

Brent futures rose 9 cents, or 0.1%, to $87.16 a barrel by 0130 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 4 cents to $81.29 a barrel. 

US threatens Iran with unprecedented economic isolation

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened Thursday to subject Iran to economic isolation "like the world has never seen before", adding that new measures are expected next week.

"It will be a combination of economic isolation, like the world has never seen before," Bessent told conservative television network Newsmax, adding that "the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz ... will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports." 

USS George Washington headed to Middle East to replace USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS George Washington carrier group, which finished a port visit in Vietnam on August 5, is currently headed to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, a US official told CNN.

The official said that the swap had been previously planned. It was not immediately clear when the Washington would arrive.

The Lincoln has been the subject of growing concerns about the wellbeing of its crew, with Democratic lawmakers demanding answers from the Pentagon.
 

US to apply measures "never been seen" on Iran, Bessent says

The US is going to apply measures that have “never been seen” on Iran, indicating Washington will continue to economically isolate the country and blockade its ports, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday.

“Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country,” Bessent said in an interview on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight” program.
 

UAE says two of its vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening.

The state-owned energy and petrochemical group said no injuries were reported and the situation was under control.

In a statement published on the UAE’s state news agency WAM, the company emphasized the importance of protecting seafarers and safeguarding freedom of navigation and maritime security.

ADNOC did not provide further details about who was behind the attack. No group has claimed responsibility.
 

CENTCOM chief urges renewed Iran strikes in meeting with Israeli officials

US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper has pushed for renewed strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including oil, gas and electricity facilities, during a recent visit to Israel, Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Thursday.

“Striking infrastructure in Iran will change the rules of the game, will hurt the Iranians badly, and in the current situation they will not change their positions,” Cooper told senior Israeli military officials, according to the report.
 

US eyes indefinite Iran naval blockade as oil supply shortfall deepens

The United States on Thursday threatened to maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, ratcheting up economic pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have floundered, global oil supply is dropping and regional tensions are rising.

Defense Secretary ‌Pete Hegseth told reporters that the U.S. military could keep a naval presence in the region to enforce its blockade of Iran, which has inflicted severe economic damage on the country.

"Indefinitely the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we'll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we'll continue to," Hegseth told reporters on a ?trip to Panama.

With a tentative June deal to end the war in tatters, Iran has sought to control the Strait of Hormuz and ?has attacked some vessels trying to transit the strategic waterway, through which a fifth of the world's oil and ?liquefied natural gas traveled before the war began in February.

Two vessels from the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked transiting the strait on Thursday ?evening, UAE state news agency WAM reported. The United Arab Emirates government condemned it as an Iranian attack.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to ?eight vessels on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of about 12 vessels, and 130 to 140 ships before the war.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that the U.S. has "total control" over the strait.

Iran said in an X post that those claims "do not change the reality. The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until ?Iran’s conditions are accepted." Those include removing economic sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets.

The U.S. lifted its blockade of Iran's shipping and ports for a ?month in mid-June but has since reimposed it, cutting off Tehran's primary source of hard currency and compounding earlier losses from wartime strikes on its energy infrastructure.

Washington previously said ‌it would ?lift the Iranian blockade once Iran and Oman, which sit on either side of the strait, reach an agreement to restore commercial shipping.
 

Hegseth says reports about poor conditions aboard carrier 'misrepresented'

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth says reports about poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier are “completely misrepresented”, Reuters reports.

“We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it’s incredible,” he tells reporters during a visit to Panama.

 

Iran calls for compensation after Hormuz oil spill

Iran has warned of environmental degradation in the Strait of Hormuz after an oil spill reached Qeshm island, calling for compensation from those responsible, AFP reports.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei says the slick has “degraded the waters” of the Gulf and Sea of Oman, claiming “preliminary evidence indicates a foreign bulk carrier as the source”.

Baqaei writes on X that such spills have in “recent decades imposed trillions of dollars in damage on Iran’s coastal areas”, calling for compensation.
“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,” he adds.

 

Iran dismisses Trump's claim of US control over Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has rejected US claims of having full control over the Strait of Hormuz as “baseless lies,” according to Anadolu.

The Iranian military command said no vessel could pass through the strategic waterway without authorisation from Tehran.

 

59 commercial vessels redirected under Iran blockade, says Centcom

The US Central Command (Centcom) said 59 commercial vessels have been redirected as part of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.

According to Centcom, three vessels have also been disabled and two others boarded during enforcement operations.

 

Iran will respond 'more aggressively' in any future war, official says

Iran will respond more aggressively if another war breaks out, political adviser to Supreme Leader Brigadier General Rasoul Sanaei-Rad said, according to Al Jazeera, citing Iranian news agency Fars.

“We stood firm in the recent war and, God willing, we will stand firmer and more aggressively in a possible future war,” Sanaei-Rad said.

Without directly naming the United States, the official accused Iran’s “enemy” of seeking to fuel divisions within the country through economic pressure, saying the strategy had failed. 

European shares inch up as lower crude offsets geopolitical unease

European shares edge higher as falling oil prices shifted investor focus toward weakening demand, while US-Iran peace efforts remain stalled and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz persists, Reuters reports.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.2 per cent at 660.57 points by 0830 GMT. The benchmark retreated from record highs in the previous session.

Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.3pc despite the UK economy unexpectedly expanding in June, offering some reassurance over the domestic growth outlook. 

Container shipper Hapag-Lloyd takes $600m hit from Middle East crisis

Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s top container shipping companies, has said that the conflict in the Middle East, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cost the group $600 million in the second quarter, weighing on its earnings, Reuters reports.

Net profit came in at $83m, down from $306m a year earlier, as strong exports from Asia and improved demand in the United States only partly offset problems in the Middle East, the Hamburg-based company said. 

Iran FM warns US of 'bigger miscalculation' over Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the United States over what he described as intelligence failures related to the war on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, Araghchi wrote, “The US has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures. Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz. Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful.”
He warned against relying on inaccurate intelligence.

Allah is Great, Greater than ANY power on Earth. In Allah we trust.

 

Sailors tried to jump US warship Abraham Lincoln over long deployment amid Iran war

Concerns over the mental health of sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are intensifying as the aircraft carrier continues an unusually long deployment linked to the war with Iran, international media reported.

The carrier, carrying around 5,000 personnel, has reportedly remained at sea for nine months, including about 250 consecutive days without a port visit. The prolonged deployment and difficult conditions have raised concerns among military families and some members of Congress, The Guardian reported citing two leading specialist military papers.

At a recent town hall in San Diego, families shared fears about the wellbeing of relatives serving aboard the vessel. One spouse reportedly said her husband had expressed severe emotional distress in a message to her.

Reports have also described several incidents in which sailors allegedly attempted to go overboard, including cases where fellow crew members intervened.

Navy officials, including Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, faced questions from families who said the prolonged deployment had damaged their confidence in military leadership.
 

Iraq says it will not allow territory or airspace to be used for attacks on neighbours

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said the country will not allow its territory or airspace to be used to launch attacks against neighbouring nations, Iran's Today reported.

He stated this while speaking during a visit to Iraq’s Air Defence Command Operations Centre. 

Norway commends Pakistan's constructive role during Iran-US conflict

Iran calls for shared responsibility over environmental harm in Gulf waters

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. 

 

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. 

'Stop lecturing the world': Iran FM rebukes france over Gaza and Iran

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

Acclaimed Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery has spent much of her career documenting moments of dissent and the lives of women in Iran, Reuters reported. 

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.