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US-Iran war

Iran, Gulf states to discuss safe Hormuz shipping routes in Oman

  • US, Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb 28, with Trump declaring “major combat operations”
  • Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei martyred in the strikes, and his son Mojtaba succeeded him in March
  • A 2-week ceasefire agreed on April 8, followed by US-Iran face-to-face talks in Pakistan
  • A preliminary agreement reached in June, but renewed fighting and disputes over Strait of Hormuz continued through July
  • The war has now entered its 7th month, with Hormuz remaining at the centre of the crisis

Saudi FM holds separate calls with Turkish, Qatari counterparts to discuss regional tensions

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held separate phone calls with his Turkish and Qatari counterparts to discuss regional developments and efforts to ease tensions.

During a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the two ministers discussed bilateral cooperation aimed at supporting regional stability. They also reviewed joint efforts to de-escalate the situation and contain rising tensions in the region.

Later, Prince Faisal spoke by phone with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The two officials discussed the latest developments in the region and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions while preserving regional security and stability. 

Iran's Pezeshkian urges BRICS to expand use of national currencies: state media

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for expanding the use of national currencies in intra-Brics trade, according to state news agency IRNA.

In a speech at the BRICS Economic Summit of Heads of State in New Delhi, Pezeshkian said the use of national currencies must come with systems to manage currency risk and mutual settlement, as the current financial system is “vulnerable to political shocks due to its focus on a limited number of currencies”, it adds.

According to the agency, he adds that US and Israeli aggression has “once again revealed that economic security is inseparable from national and regional security and could affect regional stability and even the global economy”.

Trump says US continuing 'war on terror' in Iran

President Donald Trump vows that the United States will never forget the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and suggests the country is continuing the “war on terror” 25 years later by fighting Iran, AFP reports.

During a speech commemorating the anniversary of the attacks at the Pentagon, Trump has linked the fight against Al-Qaeda launched by his Republican predecessor George W Bush to the US-Israeli war on Iran, which is now in its seventh month.

“Today we salute every member of the United States military who served in the ‘War on Terror.’ It is a war on sick, horrible terror,” Trump says. “And we salute the service members working right now to ensure the world’s number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon.”

Modi stresses need to protect navigation, seafarers in talks with Pezeshkian

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday and underscored the need to protect the freedom of navigation and commerce, and the safety and well-being of seafarers, India's foreign ministry said.

He also emphasised the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, the ministry said in a statement.

The leaders met in New Delhi on the eve of the Brics leaders' summit.

Houthis seize Yemen's entire Red Sea coast: govt military official

Yemen's Houthis have seized control of the country's entire Red Sea coast, a military official from the internationally recognised government told AFP on Friday, consolidating the group's control of the vital waterway.

The official said that all territory under government control "on the western coast has fallen", after the Houthis seized the strategic Mayyun Island and the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the Bab al-Mandab strait as they seek to choke off Saudi oil exports.

Houthis say Bab al-Mandab navigation 'safe' for all except Saudi Arabia

The Houthi military spokesman said on Friday that navigation through the Bab al-Mandab strait is "safe" for all but Saudi Arabia, after the group sealed its takeover of the vital shipping corridor.

"Maritime navigation is safe for all companies except Saudi ships, which have already been banned," Yahya Saree said in a statement.

Iran says Gulf states to meet in Oman to discuss safe Hormuz shipping routes

Iran is planning a meeting of the foreign ministers of Iraq and other Arab states bordering the Gulf in Oman on Monday to discuss safe commercial shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Six missiles hit Yemen's Red Sea Mocha port: local official

Six missiles struck the port on Friday in Yemen's strategic Red Sea city of Mocha, now under Houthi control, a local official told AFP, without specifying where they came from.

"Six missiles targeted the Mocha port," the Yemeni government official said.

Iranian forces 'blew the hell out of' US base in Bahrain: ?Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi applauded candor from US Navy Secretary Hung Cao, who acknowledged that Iranian armed forces truly destroyed the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

Araghchi, referring to Iranian attacks targeting US bases in the Middle East, said: “Blow the hell out of the 5th Fleet HQ in Bahrain as well as other bases supporting US aggression. The American people deserve better than footing the bill for Israel’s wars.”

Iran's Araghchi mocks US Treasury chief over economic threats

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticised US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, accusing him of taking pride in efforts to weaken Iran’s economy and increase financial pressure on its people.

In a post on X, Araghchi said Bessent had been “gleefully boasting” about seeking to impoverish Iranians and damage the country’s economy.

He argued that the US Treasury chief was instead appearing “powerless and exposed” as confidence in the US financial system declined globally. 

Iran president says pressure on country at critical, dangerous stage

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that pressure on his country from the United States had reached a critical and dangerous stage, speaking in India ahead of a Brics summit, AFP reports.

“Iran has been subjected to heavy sanctions in recent years; this pressure has reached a critical and dangerous stage in recent months following the military aggression by the United States and Israel,” he has said, adding that “the world today is going through a period of unprecedented complexity”. 

Iran envoy calls planned UN nuclear meeting 'abuse' of Security Council authority

Iran’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Gholamhossein Darzi, has criticised a planned UN Security Council meeting on Iran’s nuclear programme, calling it a “clear abuse” of the council’s authority.

In a letter to France’s UN envoy, Darzi rejected what he described as “unfounded allegations and distortions” regarding Iran’s nuclear activities, arguing that the latest accusations were politically motivated rather than based on technical concerns.

He also criticised a non-consensus resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors on September 9.

According to Darzi, the resolution was politically driven by the United States and the E3 countries — Britain, France and Germany — and failed to meet the principles of objectivity and impartiality.

He maintained that the renewed focus on Iran’s nuclear programme was part of a politically motivated process rather than a technical assessment. 

South Korea tells Iran no decision yet on Hormuz deployment

South Korea’s foreign minister has told his Iranian counterpart that no decision has been made on a possible military deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reports.

Tehran has warned South Korea against any such deployment after Seoul said it was weighing a “contribution” to the waterway’s security.

Top South Korean diplomat Cho Hyun spoke by phone with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with an official from Seoul saying Cho “conveyed our position that no decision has been made regarding a possible deployment and stressed the importance of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”. 

Houthi advance in Yemen 'resounding victory', adviser to Iran's supreme leader says

An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has called the advance in Yemen by Houthi fighters a “resounding victory”, after they seized a key island in the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, AFP reports.

“Congratulations on this resounding victory, Ansar Allah,” Mohammad Mokhber wrote on X, referring to the Houthi rebels by their formal name. 

Houthis say 'no cause for concern' for free navigation through Bab al-Mandab strait

A member of the Houthis’ politburo has sought to allay global fears for international shipping through the crucial Bab al-Mandab waterway after the group completed their takeover of the area, AFP reports.

“Freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab are safe and orderly,” Hazem al-Assad tells the Al-Araby al-Jadeed news outlet. “There is no cause for international concern, as they face no danger from the Yemeni side. “ 

Saudi oil supply hits more than three-decade low after Houthi attacks, IEA says

Saudi Arabia’s crude supply fell 2.3 million barrels per day (pbd) on the month to 6 million bpd in August, the lowest level in more than three decades, the International Energy Agency says, citing attacks on Saudi energy facilities, Reuters reports.

The IEA’s assessment of Saudi supply in August is lower than that of Saudi Arabia itself, which informed the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries that it supplied 7.122 million bpd last month. Saudi Arabia also told Opec it produced 6.238 million bpd in August, similar to the IEA’s supply figure. 

Houthis seize key Red Sea island, complete takeover of Bab al-Mandab area: govt official

Houthis forces have taken over a Red Sea island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandab shipping lane, completing their push to control the area, a local government official and eyewitnesses have told AFP.

“Boats carrying armed Houthi fighters reached Mayyun Island after government forces withdrew from it yesterday,” the official says, referring to an island also known as Perim that divides the strait into lanes.

“The Houthis have completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island, which is located in the middle of the strait,” he has added, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.

 

Oil set for weekly gain of over 7pc on supply disruptions

Oil prices have slipped, but are still up more than seven per cent for the week as attacks along key Middle East shipping routes stoke prolonged supply disruption fears, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures are down $3.75, or 3.48pc, to $103.88 a barrel as of 1012 GMT (3:12pm PKT). US West Texas Intermediate crude has fallen by $3.33, or 3.25pc, to $99.15 a barrel.

Both benchmarks hit their highest levels since mid-May earlier in the session. 

IEA warns 2026 oil supply gap will widen on delayed return of normal Gulf flows

Global oil supply and demand will fall further than previously thought this year, the International Energy Agency said on Friday, as a lack of progress in ending the Iran war delays the return of normal Middle East flows into 2027 and sends fuel prices soaring, Reuters reported.

An increase in attacks on oil tankers in Middle East shipping routes has helped send crude prices towards $110 a barrel this week for the first time since May. But this hike is overshadowed by the surging price of fuels such as diesel, which have hit record highs. 

World oil supply in 2026 is now expected to decline by 5.7 million barrels per day, or about 6%, the IEA said, up from a drop of around 4% seen previously. With supplies ‌short, the world is using up inventories at a record pace. Global stocks fell by 3.1 million bpd in August, the IEA said.

"Inventories have so far played a crucial role in balancing the market," the IEA, which advises industrialised countries, said in a monthly report.

"With buffers shrinking and the global refining system stretched to the limit, the need for progress in resolving the conflict in the Middle East – and the Russia-Ukraine war, which is now in its fifth year – is greater than ever to avoid further market tightening."

Iranian president arrives in India for BRICS summit

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday for an 11-member BRICS summit where the the Middle East conflict will be high on the agenda, Indian broadcasters showed.

Pezeshkian, on his first visit to India as leader, will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IRNA news agency said. The two-day BRICS summit opens on Saturday. 

Saudi Arabia launches two air strikes on Mocha airport, Houthi media reports

Saudi Arabia launched two strikes targeting the airport of the strategic city of Mocha, now under Houthi control, according to the group's Al-Masirah TV channel.

Yemen's Tehran-aligned Houthis seized control of the Red Sea port city on Thursday after launching a large-scale offensive last week against Riyadh-backed Yemeni government forces.

"The Saudi enemy launched two strikes on Mocha airport," the Houthi TV channel said. 

UAE revises AI data center plan after Iranian attacks, sources say

The United Arab Emirates is quietly revising plans for a 5-gigawatt AI data center project – one of the biggest outside the U.S. – after the Iran war prompted a rethink of how and where critical infrastructure should be built, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Originally envisaged as a 10-square-mile (26-square-kilometer) campus in Abu Dhabi, the project will ‌now likely comprise a network of data centers spread across the UAE, according to four of the sources, who all spoke on condition of anonymity. 

Iran and Gulf states to meet in push for Hormuz deal, FT reports

Gulf foreign ministers plan to meet their Iranian counterpart in a push by Oman and Iran ‌to ‌secure buy-in for ‌a temporary deal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported on ‌Friday.

The ‌gathering is ‌scheduled to ‌be held on Monday in the Omani coastal ‌city of Salalah, the report said, citing two people briefed on the matter.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. 

South Korean and Iranian foreign ministers discuss Strait of Hormuz, Seoul says

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun had a ‌telephone call ‌with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and ‌discussed the situation ‌in the Middle East, including freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said. 

Iran calls renewed accusation against its nuclear program 'political in nature'

Iran’s ambassador and charge d’affaires to the UN Gholamhossein Darzi has sent a letter to the UN Security Council president.

“The renewed accusations against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program are political in nature, not technical,” Darzi wrote in the latter.
 

Trump declines Saudi crown prince's call for US strikes on Houthis, Axios reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice on Thursday and urged him to launch strikes against the Houthis, ‌Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials.

Trump rejected the request, and U.S. officials said the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, the report said.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours. 

Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, calls for immediate de-escalation

Hormuz shipping traffic falls to single digits, data shows

Vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell to seven on Thursday from 11 the previous day, preliminary shiptracking data showed on Friday, well below the ‌10-day average of 15.

Of the seven vessels, two Panamax ships exited the strait, one carrying fertiliser and the other sailing in ballast, according to data from ship tracker Kpler as of 0306 GMT. 

Houthis advance along Yemeni coast, threaten Saudi oil exports in the Red Sea

Houthis seized control of Yemen's port city of Mocha on Thursday and advanced down the Red Sea coast to strategic islands, military sources said, hours after President Donald Trump said he expected the Iran war to end after the U.S. midterm elections.

Yemeni government military sources said the Houthis had gained further leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern ‌outlet of the Red Sea and one of the world's most important shipping routes, and had reached the islands of Hanish. 

Oil prices surge to $108.68 per barrel

Oil prices rose on Friday and both major benchmarks are on track to end the week at over $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May, as ?increasing attacks along key shipping routes in the Middle East fuel fears of a prolonged ‌disruption to supplies.

Brent crude futures rose $1.05, or 1%, to $108.68 a barrel by 0045 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 95 cents, also 1%, to $103.45 a barrel. Both benchmarks rose over 6% on Thursday. 

Iran calls for immediate resumption of Yemen talks

Iran’s Foreign Ministry called for the immediate resumption of talks on Yemen based on an agreed roadmap and said Yemen has the “right to live a dignified life, free from pressure, intimidation and brutal siege.”

In a statement carried Thursday by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, the ministry called for an end to what it described as an “illegal and inhumane blockade.”

“The latest developments in Yemen cannot be separated from more than a decade of war and crisis, and security and stability in the region, including in the Red Sea,” the ministry said in the statement. 

Acting US Navy chief says Iran forces heavily damaged Bahrain base: report

Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao said Iranian forces caused extensive damage to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, in what the Epoch Times described as a high-level acknowledgment of damage sustained during the Iran conflict.

“They blew the hell out of Bahrain,” Cao said in an interview with the Epoch Times.

Discussing the recent deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and the logistical demands of sustained operations, Cao said the damage at the Bahrain base left the carrier’s crew with “no place for them to pull in.”

Asked whether US forces would need to return to and repair the Bahrain base after the conflict, Cao said, “I have a task force that’s looking at that.”

President Donald Trump has nominated Cao to serve as secretary of the Navy on a permanent basis, and his nomination awaits Senate consideration. 

Trump says he does not regret Iran war

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he does not regret going to war with Iran despite the conflict’s potential impact on November’s midterm elections, and told Fox News he would make the same decision again.

Asked whether he regretted the war because of its effect on the elections, Trump said: “I don't believe in the word ‘regret.’ You can always question yourself a little bit.”

“If I had it do again, I would do exactly as I did,” he said in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

Trump dismissed suggestions that some of his supporters were demoralized over the war, saying: “I don't think they're demoralized. I think they're very proud of the fact that I'm not letting Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also said he expects the war to end immediately after the midterm elections.

“It ends right after the election,” he said. 

US average diesel price passes $6 a gallon for the first time

The U.S. national average price of diesel on Thursday surpassed $6 a ?gallon for the first time ever, according to price tracker GasBuddy, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s refineries have squeezed supply.

Diesel ‌fuels trucks, trains, ships and heavy equipment that keep global supply chains moving. It is also crucial to running farm equipment.

The latest surge in fuel costs is adding to inflationary pressures that have already strained consumers and businesses this year, creating a political headache for President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers as they seek to defend thin congressional majorities in November's midterm elections.

 

Iran producing limited number of ballistic missiles: US official

Iran has resumed producing limited numbers of ballistic missiles at underground sites, relying on components that were stored before the war began, a U.S. official familiar with the latest intelligence assessments on the matter told ABC News.

According to the official, Iran is manufacturing the weapons at a significantly slower rate than it was before the conflict.

It’s unclear whether Iran will be able to continue manufacturing the missiles after its stockpiles run dry, as damage to the country’s production sites and the ongoing U.S. blockade have complicated its ability to make or procure the necessary parts, they said.
 

US military helps Saudi campaign against Iran-backed Houthis: report

More than 100 US military advisers are in Saudi Arabia providing intelligence and targeting support for the kingdom’s campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, CNN reported Thursday, citing multiple sources familiar with the effort.

One US official put the number at roughly 200 troops and said they were working as part of a newly established joint forces command formed in recent weeks as Iran stepped up efforts to support Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The United States has helped Saudi Arabia use a real-time targeting tool and is also providing geospatial support for strikes against the Houthis, according to the report.

CNN reported that the US is sharing intelligence but is not directly participating in strikes, refueling Saudi warplanes or providing other operational support.

US officials believe hundreds of Revolutionary Guards officers are currently in Yemen working alongside the Houthis, with the goal of ultimately shutting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one official told CNN. 

US official confirms IRGC strike damaged US aircraft in Jordan

Iranian strikes damaged multiple US military aircraft this week at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, Reuters reported Thursday, citing a US official.

The official told Reuters that one A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the Warthog, was hit and left missing a wing, while roughly eight F-15s sustained light damage and were returned to service.

The Iranian attack came on Tuesday after US forces said they destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers in response to the Revolutionary Guards targeting a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the previous two days.

The US official said American forces fired roughly 30 Patriot interceptors to counter the Iranian missiles.


 

IRGC directly guided Houthi Red Sea offensive: report

The IRGC directly guided the Houthi offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast that culminated in the seizure of Mocha, Reuters reported Thursday, citing Yemeni government, Iranian and regional sources.

Two Iranian sources told Reuters that Tehran instructed the Houthis last week to escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia and promised additional funding, weapons and senior officers.

A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran said several senior IRGC commanders had traveled to Yemen to oversee and command Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia following weeks of discussions over military strategy.

Five Yemeni military sources also said the Guards directed the latest Houthi campaign along the Red Sea coast, beginning with heavy rocket fire. They said communications intercepts and accounts from captured Houthi fighters led them to believe the Iranian effort was being directed by senior Quds Force commander Abdolreza Shahlaei.

Iran publicly denies directing Houthi military operations and says the group is not its proxy. One Iranian official told Reuters that the decision to move on Mocha was made by the Houthis, though the advance benefited Tehran by pushing up oil prices and hurting the United States and Saudi Arabia. 

Iran, Saudi foreign ministers call for diplomacy to contain regional tensions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed escalating tensions and insecurity across the region in a phone call, Iranian state media reported.

The two stressed the need for continued diplomatic cooperation to prevent tensions from spreading and help restore regional stability and security, according to the report. 

Canadian PM speaks with Trump about Iran, Ukraine

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday that he had spoken with US President Donald Trump “a couple of times” recently about the war in Ukraine and issues related to the Iran conflict.

Carney told reporters in Calgary that the discussions took place “because part of our responsibility is to work together,” but gave no further details.
 

IRGC Navy 'hits' unmanned US vessel in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian news agency ISNA reports that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has attacked an unmanned US naval vessel at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the IRGC, the vessel is a Seadragon with the hull number 5838.

Iran says IAEA moves will push countries to exit NPT

The UN nuclear watchdog's "political moves" will push countries to exit the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said.

Mohsen Rezaei made his comments a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors passed a resolution reporting Iran to the UN Security Council for breaching its non-proliferation obligations.

Iran attack on base in Jordan damaged American military aircraft: US official

Iranian strikes damaged multiple American military aircraft this week at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a US official told Reuters.

According to a May report from the Congressional Research Service, 42 US military aircraft had already been lost or damaged in the conflict.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Iran's attack hit one A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the Warthog, leaving it with a missing wing, while roughly eight F-15s sustained light damage and were returned to service.

Freedom of navigation in Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab remains 'safe and uninterrupted': Houthi spokesperson

Houthi forces’ spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam says “freedom of navigation and international trade in Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait remain safe and uninterrupted”, Reuters reports.

Spokesperson further says “current operations are limited to specified targets and are defensive”. 

Houthis seize key Yemeni port on Red Sea

Iran-aligned Houthi militants seized control of Yemen's port city of Mocha on Thursday, military sources said, posing a further threat to global energy supplies.

Four Yemeni government military sources told AFP the Houthis had gained further leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern outlet of the Red Sea and one of the world's most important shipping routes, and were launching attacks on the strategic ?islands of Hanish.

Oil jumps to $105 a barrel after Middle East tanker attacks escalate

Oil prices have jumped by four per cent, with benchmark Brent crude hitting $105 a barrel after the biggest spike in attacks on shipping since the Iran war began, spurring trader concerns about supply disruptions, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures were up $4.05, or 4pc, at $105.26 a barrel by 1215 GMT (5:15pm PKT). US oil topped $100 a barrel for the first time since May as West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $3.99, or 4.15pc, to $100.04. 

Opec further lowers 2026 global oil demand growth forecast

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) has lowered its forecast for world oil demand growth in 2026 to 380,000 barrels per day, a copy of its monthly report shows, marking the fifth straight downward revision, Reuters reports.

The producer group continues to see a smaller impact on consumption since the Iran war started than other forecasters, such as the International Energy Agency, which expects demand to decline in 2026. 

ECB raises interest rates to fight off inflation jump driven by higher energy costs

The European Central Bank (ECB) raises interest rates for the second time this year in a widely flagged move, hoping to tame an inflation rise driven entirely by higher energy costs from the Iran war, Reuters reports.

Surging oil and natural gas prices pushed inflation well past 3pc across the 21-country euro zone last month, far exceeding the ECB’s 2pc target, and a recent escalation of the conflict points to further price pressures that could eventually seep into wage-setting.

“The outlook remains highly uncertain, with risks to the upside for inflation and to the downside for economic growth,” the ECB has said in a statement.

The ECB has also lifted its 2026 economic growth projection to 0.9pc from 0.8pc seen in June and now sees inflation averaging 3pc this year and 2.5pc in 2027. 

Iran suspends freight charge on foreign vessels carrying energy products to or from Iran

Iran has temporarily suspended a 10% charge on freight fees for foreign vessels carrying imported or exported oil, gas, and liquid petroleum products to and from Iran, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

A US naval blockade has sharply disrupted the country's seaborne oil exports.

The presidential legal deputy ordered the collection to stop until the government approves and publishes a list of products subject to the charge, Fars said.

Fars said the charge had increased the cost of transporting oil, gas, and liquid products, and suspending the levy could reduce transportation costs and encourage foreign fleets to carry goods to or from Iran.

Oman condemns Houthi attacks targeting civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi.

At the beginning of the call, Albusaidi expressed his country’s condemnation of the attacks targeting civilian and economic facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, reaffirming his country’s solidarity with the Kingdom.

The ministers also discussed the latest developments, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the security and freedom of maritime navigation, as well as supporting diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and enhance regional security and stability. 

Houthis take control of Yemeni Red Sea city of Mocha, sources say

The Iran-backed Houthi militants have taken control of ‌the Yemeni ‌Red Sea city of Mocha, closing in ‌on the strategic ‌Bab el-Mandeb Strait, three Yemeni government sources told Reuters. 

Pakistan insists Makkah alliance is 'defensive'

The Makkah ?agreement, signed between ?Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia last ?month, ‌is a "defensive ?alliance" and there ‌are no plans to ?expand it at the moment, the ?foreign ministry ‌spokesperson said.

The statement came in ‌response to a ?question at a weekly briefing on how Pakistan ?plans to ?fulfill its ?obligations under the accord ?after Saudi Arabia was attacked by the Houthis, AFP reported.

Yemen security situation worsens as defence minister's convoy attacked

Yemen’s security situation has further deteriorated following reports of an attack and siege of the convoy of Defence Minister Lt Gen Tahir Ali in Al-Dhalea province.

According to initial reports, the defence minister’s guards were overpowered and taken into custody following the attack, while the minister himself was reportedly surrounded.

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the minister’s fate, including claims that he may have been abducted or taken hostage. However, the incident and the minister’s condition have not been independently confirmed.

Meanwhile, reports have also emerged about another defence minister, Mohammed Nasser, associated with the Houthi rebels. 

US will now call Strait of Hormuz 'Trump Strait'

President Donald Trump said that the United States will now call the Strait of Hormuz the “Trump Strait,” adding that the US is “winning” its war with Iran, Anadolu reported.

Hormuz shipping traffic appears to fall to single digits

Vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell slightly on Wednesday to ‌seven, compared with the previous ‌day's 12, preliminary shiptracking data showed on Thursday, with levels also lower than ‌the 10-day average of 14.

Out of ‌these seven, four vessels exited and three entered, according to the data.

Some vessels could be sailing through the waterway with their transponders turned off and these are not considered in the counts. 

Trump says oil prices may not fall until after midterm elections

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that oil prices that have surged because of the Iran war likely won’t come down until after US midterm elections.

Oil prices on Wednesday jumped more than 3%, pushing international Brent crude past the $100 threshold for the first time since July as salvos between the US and Iran escalated.

“Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to take a little bit longer than the midterm.” 

Brent holds above $100 as tanker attacks deepen supply fear

Oil prices held firm on Thursday after Brent crude breached $100 a barrel, with traders bracing for deeper supply disruptions as Iran and the United States ‌launched their largest attacks on shipping since their six-month-old conflict began.

Brent crude futures inched lower by 0.1% to $101.10 a barrel by 0256 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $96.24 a barrel, up 0.2%.
 

Trump advisers privately warn Iran war could last through end of presidency: report

Senior White House advisers have warned President Donald Trump that the war with Iran could persist for the remainder of his term, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Citing U.S. officials, the outlet reported that key officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have privately advised the president that Tehran may continue resisting U.S. pressure, potentially extending the conflict beyond Inauguration Day in January 2029.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, Trump said he was not actively seeking a deal with Iran, though he noted that negotiations remain possible.
 

Multiple US military aircraft damaged in strikes on Jordan air base: report

Multiple US military aircraft were damaged in overnight strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Wednesday, CBS reported.

One A-10 Thunderbolt, also known as the Warthog, was hit and left missing a wing, while about eight F-15 fighter jets sustained light damage but were returned to service, according to the report. 

Houthis launch fresh attacks on three Saudi cities with missiles, drones

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis launched ballistic missile and drone attacks on the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Jazan on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said.

Major General Turki al-Maliki said in a statement posted on X that “the Terrorist Houthi Militia is persisting in its heinous attacks against the Kingdom’s national assets and infrastructure.”

According to the statement, the coalition would respond to the attacks “responsibly” to protect Saudi sovereignty, national assets and civilians, adding that any response would be carried out under the right of self-defense and in accordance with international law. 

Pakistan asks Iran to rein in Houthis

Pakistan has delivered a Saudi warning to Iran to rein in its Yemeni Houthi allies after they stepped up attacks on the kingdom, ?in a coordinated effort to prevent the crisis from spiralling, Saudi, Pakistani and Iranian sources said.

The Houthis struck an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in nearby cities ‌on Tuesday, wounding 73 people, in one of the biggest attacks on Saudi Arabia since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in February.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Wednesday that Saudi warplanes carried out 54 airstrikes across various Yemeni provinces over the past 12 hours, adding that they would "not go unanswered and unpunished".

The escalating conflict, which represents a second theatre of war to threaten global energy supplies, comes as Iran and the United States wage their ?biggest declared wave of tit-for-tat attacks on shipping in the Gulf region since their war began.
Pakistan's warning to Iran carries significant weight because of its defence pact with Saudi Arabia and ?Turkey.
While officials in Islamabad stressed any military role would be confined to defending Saudi territory, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said attacks spilling into the ?kingdom could trigger a joint security arrangement involving Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad.

 

Iran likely to reverse-engineer captured US underwater drone

Iran's capture of a U.S. ?military underwater drone gives Tehran an opportunity to study and potentially reverse engineer the vessel, delivering a setback for the Pentagon and ‌drone maker Anduril.

The U.S. military and Anduril have downplayed the significance of the drone falling into Iranian hands.

The vessel, a Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle designed for long-range surveillance and other undersea missions, is among a new generation of military drones intended to operate for days with little human intervention.

Washington has previously treated the loss of advanced drones to Iran as a ?serious matter. 

Iran denies Houthis act as its proxies after attacks on Saudi Arabia

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rejected claims by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the Houthis are a proxy force, insisting the Yemeni group operates autonomously.

“Ansarallah is an independent Yemeni actor that makes its own decisions; it takes orders from no one and acts as nobody’s proxy,” Esmaeil Baqaei said in a post on X.

The roots of instability in the region lie in US military interventions and hegemonic policies, he said, adding that if Washington genuinely wanted peace, it would take one simple step and “end its malign and destabilizing interventions in our region.”
 

Former presidents push for public say on ending Iran war

Calls by former presidents Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Khatami to end Iran’s war with the United States have triggered a fiercer political confrontation after they invoked public opinion in support of diplomacy rather than continued fighting.

Both men have called for an “honourable” end to the war, but Rouhani has gone further, arguing that public opinion should be taken into account in deciding whether Iran continues down the path of confrontation.

“Tell them that our plan is to fight the great powers of the world for another 20 years,” Rouhani said at a recent meeting with former officials. “If the people say they accept this, very well, let us continue. But if the people do not accept it and show us another way, do we not want to accept it?”

The argument has provoked a sharp backlash from hardliners, who say questions of war and national defence cannot be reduced to public opinion while the country remains under attack.


 

Rubio says US will keep targeting Iranian tankers

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that American forces would continue targeting Iranian oil tankers in response to attacks on US warships, while Washington maintains economic pressure on Tehran.

“At the end of the day, they continue to fire at our naval ships, and when they fire at our naval ships, they pay a price in tankers,” Rubio told reporters. “They lose a lot of tankers, they don’t hit our ships, but they lose five tankers.”

“They’ll continue to pay a price for that; in the meantime, we’ll continue to strangle them economically,” he added.

CENTCOM said Tuesday in a post on X that US forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers after the IRGC targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the previous two days.


 

Iran rejects Arab League statement, reasserts claim over three islands

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rejected what it called “false claims and baseless accusations” in the final statement of an Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting.

In a statement carried by state media, the ministry said Iran’s sovereignty over Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb was “indisputable.” It added: “Any territorial claim in this regard lacks any legal or historical basis.”

The ministry also rejected allegations of Iranian interference in Yemen, saying Tehran supports the country’s unity and territorial integrity and backs Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue based on an agreed roadmap.

The ministry said insecurity along regional shipping routes was the result of direct US and Israeli military actions, according to the statement.

The Foreign Ministry added that security in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman “must be ensured on the basis of cooperation among coastal countries and without the interference of foreign powers.” 

Iran officials denounce IAEA resolution, lawmaker raises NPT exit

Senior Iranian officials and lawmakers sharply criticized the IAEA Board of Governors’ latest resolution on Iran on Wednesday, with one lawmaker saying withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty could be among Tehran’s options.

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref wrote on X: “The adoption of the Board of Governors’ resolution against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, proposed by the owners of atomic bombs, the perpetrators of Hiroshima and the violators of the JCPOA, is a symbol of the double standards of today’s world.” He added that “those who threaten our infrastructure and civilization are not qualified to judge.”

Ebrahim Azizi, head of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, wrote: “No global consensus, just a political game: the IAEA’s latest anti-Iran resolution is nothing but an illegitimate document that proves the Board’s lack of independence.” He said Iran would respond “decisively on the field.”

 

Trump says Iran talks possible but US wants more than nuclear deal

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that negotiations with Iran could take place, while insisting Washington was “not looking for a deal” and that his objectives went beyond Tehran’s nuclear programme.

“I’m doing much more than a nuclear deal,” Trump said, according to remarks carried by Reuters.

Trump also said the war with Iran would “end immediately after the election.”
 

Houthis launch fresh missile, drone attacks on Saudi cities

Yemen’s Houthis launched fresh ballistic missile and drone attacks on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Jizan on Wednesday, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.

The coalition accused the Iran-aligned group of continuing attacks on Saudi “national assets and infrastructure” and said it would respond in accordance with its right to self-defense.

Saudi Civil Defense had earlier issued alerts warning residents in Khamis Mushait and Abha of potential danger. The latest attacks follow a major Houthi assault on southern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that wounded 73 people and hit energy infrastructure 

Senior Iranian lawmaker tells US forces to leave Persian Gulf

Ebrahim Azizi, chair of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, mocked US military personnel on Wednesday and urged them to leave the Persian Gulf.

“Iran’s navy just sent a clear message: the security and stability of the Persian Gulf are managed by Iran,” Azizi wrote on X. “Save what’s left of your gear and head home while you still can, and focus on defending your own borders!”

Azizi has repeatedly used social media to threaten US forces during the months-long conflict, including telling them to “just flee” after US strikes on Larak Island last month. 

Iranian media says explosion heard around southern Jask coming from sea

Iran’s Fars news agency says an explosion has been heard in the southern areas of the port city of Jask, coming from the sea, adding that no details are available regarding the source or the cause of the explosion, Reuters reports.

IAEA board refers Iran to UN Security Council: diplomats

The IAEA Board of Governors has voted to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear “non-compliance” in a diplomatic move to pile pressure on Tehran, two diplomats tell AFP.

The resolution seen by AFP has been adopted by 23 votes in favour, three votes against and eight abstentions, they say, adding that Russia, China and Niger voted against it.

Saudi Arabia lifts emergency alert in Abha

Saudi Arabia’s Directorate of Civil Defence has lifted an emergency alert issued earlier in the Abha region, confirming that the situation is safe.

The alert had been raised earlier in the evening as a precautionary measure, but authorities have now declared the area safe. 

Lebanon media says one dead in Israeli drone strike

An Israeli drone strike has killed one person in southern Lebanon, in a region where Israel has intensified attacks despite a ceasefire, AFP reports citing the state news agency.

An Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in Zebdine in the Nabatieh region, killing a man, Lebanon’s National News Agency reports. 

IRGC warns of 'unique surprises' if US continues attacks

A senior official in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that if the US keeps engaging in “miscalculations and continued aggression”, it should be prepared for further “pride-inspiring and unique” Iranian surprises, according to state broadcaster Press TV.

Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif, a former IRGC spokesman and current adviser to its commander-in-chief, emphasises, “The entire region is under the precise, comprehensive and moment-to-moment intelligence surveillance of the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He adds that Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz is a “strategic and deterrent weapon”, saying it has not only changed the balance on the ground but also become a warning to Tehran’s enemies. 

Surge in construction at suspected Iran nuclear site: analysts

A suspected underground Iranian nuclear site has seen a surge in construction this year, according to AFP reports citing a review of satellite imagery published by US analysts.

The deeply buried site at Pickaxe Mountain is near Natanz, where Western intelligence suspects Iran is building an undeclared enrichment facility.

Analysts at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank, have reviewed satellite imagery spanning six years, with the latest imagery from today.

“Together, these images reveal more road activity at Pickaxe Mountain in 2026 than at any point in the site’s history,” the CSIS analysts write. 

IRGC says war can end if US halts threats, meets demands

A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the war with the United States can end if Washington stops threatening Tehran and meet its conditions, including those regarding its nuclear programme, AFP reports.

“If the enemy wants an end to this situation, it must, while completely stopping the war, refrain from renewed threats, withdraw the Israeli regime’s army from Lebanon, end the blockade of Yemen, release $24 billion in Iran’s frozen assets and refrain from any interference in the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities,” IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi says, according to the Fars news agency. 

Saudi Arabia condemns Iran's 'unjustified and brutal' attacks on Jordan

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s “continued unjustified and brutal” attacks on Jordan, according to the foreign ministry's statement on X.

Saudi Arabia stands with Jordan “in all measures it takes against the Iranian aggressions”, it said. 

Saudi Arabia lifts alert in southern city a day after Houthi strikes

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense lifted an alert it had announced in the southern city of Khamis Mushait on Wednesday, a day after Houthi attacks there and in three other nearby cities wounded 73 ‌people and set oil installations ablaze.

Yemen's Houthis struck an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in the nearby cities on Tuesday in one of the biggest attacks in Saudi Arabia since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in February. 

Brent crude rises above $100 a barrel

Benchmark Brent crude oil futures rose past $100 a barrel on Wednesday, breaching the symbolic barrier for the first time since July 24 as intensifying conflict in the Middle ‌East fuelled growing concern about oil flows from the region.

Brent crude futures rose $2.15, or 2.2%, to $100.07 a barrel by 0721 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.70, or 1.83%, at $94.73 a barrel.

Brent crude prices have risen by a quarter since early last month as hopes fade for a permanent resolution to the six-month-old U.S.-Iran conflict. 

Protesters urge South Korea to stay out of Iran war

Dozens of South Koreans urged their government on Wednesday not to deploy troops to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, slamming what they called Washington's "illegal war".

The protesters across from the large US embassy compound in Seoul waved signs saying "Do not join a war of aggression" as their leaders weigh a "contribution" to the waterway's security.

US President Donald Trump has pressured ally South Korea to help in the Middle East war, which has seen Iran take a stranglehold on the strait key to global oil supplies.

"We cannot send our young people into a sea of death!" chanted the protesters, who numbered about 60 according to an AFP estimate, on the steps outside Seoul's Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. 

Dar, Egyptian FM discuss regional developments amid US-Iran tensions

Oil vessel transit costs through Hormuz escalated after Iran war, ENOC exec says

Oil vessel transit costs through the Strait of Hormuz have escalated significantly after the Iran war, led by a sharp climb in ‌additional war risk premiums and cargo insurance costs, an executive from Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) said on Wednesday.

Cargo insurance is now a considerable percentage of the value of the cargo being shipped, according to ENOC director Paul Bradshaw.

"I have seen anywhere up to five, six percent. So that could be another $10 million on your cargo insurance," Bradshaw told the APPEC conference.

Apart from this, there is also a much higher additional war risk premium for transits.

"If you're trying to get out, the rate for that used to be zero prior, and now the rate is anything up to 10 percent of the cargo," Bradshaw said.

Transit costs had escalated into the $10 ‌million to $20 million range, and some market participants had decided not to take on insurance, he added. 

South Korea says Hormuz talks with France concern contribution options, not troop deployment

outh Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed cooperation on security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during a summit in Paris on Tuesday, but the talks did not concern troop deployment, Seoul's presidential office said.

Lee, who is on a state visit to France, said at a joint press conference that he had discussed the Strait of Hormuz with Macron as part of wider talks on international security issues.

"South Korea and France agreed to continue close coordination so that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of global supply chains can be restored swiftly," Lee said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical energy transit route for South Korea, which relied on the waterway for 61% of its crude oil imports and 54% of its naphtha imports last year. 

Houthis report more than 30 Saudi strikes on several regions, the group's media says

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis reported more than 30 Saudi strikes on several regions, a day after the rebels launched major attacks on their neighbour, injuring dozens.

"Saudi aircraft launched 32 airstrikes on various areas across the governorates of Marib, Al-Jawf, Taiz and Hodeida over the past few hours," the rebels group's Almasirah television said. 

Iran attacks US base in Jordan, ships near Hormuz after tankers sunk

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it fired ballistic missiles at a base in Jordan used by the U.S. military and attacked 10 ships on Wednesday, after the U.S. said it had destroyed ‌five Iranian oil tankers, in a sharp escalation of the six-month-old war, Reuters reported.

Increased attacks by both the U.S. and Iran have shattered a month of relative calm, hitting military, shipping and energy assets, sending oil prices surging and drawing in regional allies in recent days.

The Americans said they destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday. The U.S. military's Central Command posted video of the strikes, which it called a response to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting a U.S. Navy warship twice with ballistic missiles over the previous two days. No Americans were harmed, the U.S. said.

"Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia.

Iran then carried out a ballistic missile attack on a base used by U.S. forces near Al Azraq in Jordan, according to an IRGC statement on state media. 

Iran says it captured US submarine drone in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday it had captured a U.S. uncrewed submarine at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, offering a rare glimpse into how underwater drones are being used in military operations.

Iranian state media said the vessel was a Dive-LD, a large autonomous underwater vehicle built by California defense firm Anduril. The 19-foot (5.8-metre) submersible can carry out missions including mine countermeasures, seabed mapping, intelligence gathering and the inspection of underwater infrastructure such as cables and pipelines, the company has said.

Iran retaliates against US allies after its oil tankers destroyed

The Middle East war intensified on Tuesday with Yemen's Houthis in Yemen launching strikes on several Saudi cities, further embroiling a U.S. ally in the conflict, while U.S. forces hit multiple Iranian oil ‌tankers and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Jordan.

The Houthis attacked four cities in the south of Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people and setting oil installations ablaze in what appeared to be a major expansion of the six-month-old war.

"Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia.

Iran then retaliated with a ballistic missile attack on a U.S. base near Al Azraq in Jordan, according to an IRGC statement carried on state media. Iranian state media published video of what it said were Iranian missiles launched at Jordan.

Although Iran said its missiles inflicted heavy damage, Jordan said its air defences intercepted 18 of the 20 Iranian missiles, with two falling in unpopulated areas, and that there were no casualties.
 

Oil nears $100 as fresh Middle East strikes raise supply risks

Oil prices rose for the fourth straight session, gaining more than $1 in early trade on Wednesday after renewed attacks across ‌the Middle East heightened worries about supply disruptions.

Brent crude futures rose 1.4%, to $99.33 a barrel by 0212 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $94.34 a barrel, up 1.4%. 

Iran FM strongly criticizes new US sanctions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has strongly criticized the new sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran.

In a statement on social media, Araqchi said that after 47 years of sanctions, the US had waged war against Iran on behalf of Israel, with devastating consequences for Washington, particularly in terms of its reputation on the global stage.

According to Araqchi, Washington’s new solution after failing to achieve its goals through sanctions and war is to impose more sanctions.

He criticized the US policy, saying that the latest sanctions demonstrated Washington’s continued reliance on the same approach despite its failure to achieve its objectives.

US Treasury ratchets up pressure on Iran with sweeping new aviation sanctions

The United States on Tuesday issued 36 Iran-related sanctions targeting the country's aviation sector and other companies as part of a broad ?push to escalate economic pressure on Tehran as the war in the Middle East has moved into a seventh month.

The U.S. Treasury ‌Department said the action was aimed at grounding Iran's Mahan Air, which was already sanctioned by the U.S. and the European Union, and expanding sanctions to all other Iranian airlines.

The sanctions also took aim at covert front companies, cargo handlers, foreign intermediaries and deceptive trans-shipment routes that Washington says Iran relies on to obtain U.S.-origin aircraft and sensitive technology. 

US military underwater drone malfunctioned in Middle East, says official

A US military drone malfunctioned in the Middle East while it was surveying regional waters in support of the Iran war, a US official told Reuters on Tuesday.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the defective drone was an older model and was not carrying any classified sonar or radar equipment.

It malfunctioned more than a day ago, the official added.

Iran says shot down US MQ1 drone

Iran's IRGC said that in another statement carried by state TV that they thwarted a drone attack on Tuesday.

"An advanced MQ1 drone was intercepted and destroyed by the IRGC's new advanced defence system, under the control of the country's integrated air defence network, over the Strait of Hormuz," it said, without saying who was behind the attack.

The model is used by only a few countries, including the United States.

Iran says captured unmanned US submersible at Hormuz entrance

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday said they seized an American submarine drone in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has blockaded in the months-long Middle East war.

"The IRGC naval forces captured one of the most modern, unmanned, and smart submarines of the US terrorist army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz in a complex intelligence and operational action at dawn today," the Guards said in a statement carried by state TV.

"This smart submarine is equipped with the latest technology in the subsurface field in the world, which was delivered to the US terrorist army fleet in 2025," the statement added.

"This submarine has now been captured and images of it will be released in the coming hours."

Qatar condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian, economic sites

Qatar has strongly condemned Houthi attacks targeting civilian and economic sites in several Saudi Arabian cities, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.

According to Al Jazeera, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry also denounced the continued targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea, warning that such attacks threaten the safety and freedom of maritime navigation.

In a statement, the ministry described the attacks as a “reprehensible act of aggression” and an unacceptable disregard for civilian lives and the security of countries across the region.

Qatar said the attacks constituted a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a clear breach of international law. It warned that the continued escalation posed a serious threat to regional security and stability.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its opposition to attacks against civilian and economic infrastructure and stressed the need to protect maritime navigation and regional security. 

Trump says Iran has been 'punished greatly' by US

US President Donald Trump has said Iran has been “punished greatly” by the United States, reiterating that Tehran will not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Speaking at an event in Washington, DC, Trump said the US was engaged in the conflict because Iran had been seeking a nuclear weapon and was close to achieving that goal.

“We’re right now fighting because we have a certain nation that wanted a nuclear weapon; they were very close to getting it, and now they have no chance at getting it,” Trump said.

He insisted that Iran would never possess a nuclear weapon, claiming that the country had suffered severe consequences as a result of US military action.

Trump also praised the US military for its role in the conflict and described the US naval blockade of Iran as “so powerful and so effective.”

The US president reiterated that Washington would continue to prevent Iran from developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon.