• UK Maritime Trade Operations reports that a tanker was struck by three unknown projectiles near Khasab, Oman, while exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
• US President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz remains secure, while claiming that Iran’s financial systems, armed forces, and governing body have largely degraded, adding that “it doesn’t mean we won’t smack them to see what happens”.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reports that its air defences intercepted a US MQ-9 drone over the eastern Strait of Hormuz, following a pledge from Trump to respond to Iranian strikes on US personnel in Jordan.
• A White House spokesperson tells Al Jazeera that “every option” is on the table for Iran and “economic tools are a very powerful set of tools that the president and the administration have.”
• The death toll from the US attack on Iran’s Larak Island on Sunday climbs to three after an injured person succumbed to wounds in hospital, according to Iranian state media.
• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent states that Washington’s goal for sanctions on Iran is “to create the conditions that they will want to come to the table” for negotiations.
• Iran’s deputy parliament speaker says the US must be “besieged in the region” while arguing that Tehran should target all oil-exporting nations to heighten economic pressure on Washington.

Iran urges UN Security Council to intervene after US attack on Larak Island

Iran has told the UN Security Council that the US attack on Larak Island killed and wounded soldiers and civilians, and that Tehran’s strikes on US bases in Jordan were an act of self-defence, according to the country’s IRNA news agency.

The letter was addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres by Gholamhossein Darzi, Iran’s deputy permanent representative and ambassador to the UN, on Monday.

In it, Darzi stated that US forces struck the island in the Gulf on Sunday evening, damaging public and private property in “a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Iran, according to IRNA.

Darzi maintained that the war on Iran has amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity, for which the US bore responsibility, alongside those who ordered or carried out the attacks, IRNA reported.

Iran had shown restraint throughout, Darzi wrote in the letter, but its forces “would not hesitate” to answer any further attack, having already struck US bases in Jordan.

He asked the council to demand that the US end its attacks and requested that the letter be circulated as an official document, IRNA said.

Former US National Security Adviser says US blockade of Iranian oil an ‘enormous win’

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has described the US blockade of Iranian oil as an “enormous win,” saying it is having a major impact on Iran’s economy and should remain in place.

Bolton told US television network NewsNation that the blockade had been “very effective in stopping Iran from exporting oil and other commodities,” adding: “That’s a very good thing. We should have had it on from the beginning of the war.”

He added that China remained the main challenge to Washington’s pressure campaign because it has long been a major buyer of Iranian oil and, he claimed, has helped Iran move financial assets through its banking system.

“If this is really serious, the main enforcement effort over countries that are helping to keep Iran afloat would be China,” he said, adding that Washington could sanction Chinese banks and government entities involved in purchasing Iranian oil.

“I’m all for additional financial leverage against Iran. I think the main thing, though, is the blockade. If that stays in place, that’s a huge development, and one that I think will have enormous economic effect. Everything else is icing on the cake,” he added.

Vance says US now focused on free flow of commerce in Strait of Hormuz

US Vice President JD Vance has said that Washington, during the current phase of the war on Iran, is focused on ensuring the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to Fox News, he said that Sunday’s strike on Larak Island was intended to prevent Iran from placing mines in the strait.

He accused Iran’s leadership of acting “not with a whole lot of strategic wisdom” in trying to choke off oil and gas exports.

“What’s odd to me is that they will sometimes fire at their own allies just to prevent the free flow of oil and gas,” he said, calling Iran’s leaders “really crazy”.

Vance added that Washington had expected Tehran to take that course.

US senator brands Trump’s war on Iran a ‘failure’ at six-month mark

Democratic Senator Mark Warner has renewed his criticism of Trump six months into what he termed a “war of choice”.

Warner wrote on X that “US-Iran strikes are escalating again”, while pointing out that oil prices are surging and American service members and military resources remain stretched. He added that the government in Tehran has become more “extreme” and that the country still retains “enriched uranium, missiles, and drones”.

“The president’s war has been a complete failure, yet there’s still no end in sight,” Warner wrote.

How many times has the US struck Iran during ceasefire periods?

Since the initial US-Iran ceasefire took effect on April 8, Washington has carried out multiple rounds of strikes on Iranian territory during periods of renewed escalation.

The attacks took place on various dates, including May 25, May 27, May 30, May 31, June 2, June 5, June 9, June 10, June 26, June 27, July 7, July 8, a sustained period from July 11 to 23, and August 30.

The strikes targeted radar sites, air-defence systems, and drone and missile facilities. US Central Command stated that these actions were responses to what it described as Iranian threats or attacks.

Although Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire framework on June 17, subsequent violations led to renewed exchanges, and US President Donald Trump later declared the agreement void. The conflict saw heavy escalations in July, with multiple consecutive nights of operations.

Iran responded with missile and drone strikes targeting positions associated with US forces in countries such as Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, alongside commercial shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest reported US strikes occurred on August 30, when US forces targeted two Iranian launchers on Larak Island.

Oil prices climb amid renewed US-Iran conflict

Crude prices extended their gains on Tuesday, driven by new concerns over potential supply interruptions in a critical petroleum-producing region following the flare-up of hostilities between the US and Iran.

Brent crude futures advanced by 56 cents, or 0.6 percent, settling at $91.05 per barrel as of 00:44 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 83 cents, or 1 percent, to $86.59 per barrel.

Asian fuel imports fall to lowest level since Iran war began

Reuters reports that Asia’s imports of refined fuels have fallen to their lowest level since the US-Iran war, as supplies from the Gulf region have remained partially choked off.

The region, which consumes about 90 percent of Middle East crude, has cut its imports by nearly 4 million barrels a day and is depleting its inventories.

Imports of light and middle distillates fell to an estimated 5.10 million bpd (bpd) in August, down from 5.61 million bpd in July, according to data compiled by the commodities analyst Kpler and cited by Reuters.

Before the US and Israel began attacks on Iran in February, the three-month average stood at 7.06 million bpd. The shortfall matches almost exactly the volume lost from the Middle East.

While Gulf countries still retain the operational capacity to meet Asian demand, Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and a shortage of available vessels for shipping to Asia have kept flows constrained.

US economic pressure will not force Iran to change

The Trump administration is ramping up economic pressure on Iran while threatening military strikes. Former US ambassador Joey Hood said Trump has “clearly understood the limits” of military strikes, but warned that Iran is “not going to suddenly change its behaviour” in response to sanctions.

He noted that it took two years of sanctions to bring Iran to the negotiating table for the 2015 nuclear deal, but that China and Russia are not “fully on board” now, and Iran knows that Trump is “after regime change”, making a similar outcome unlikely.

French finance minister calls for sustained economic pressure on Iran

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure has said France wants economic pressure on Iran to continue.

Lescure said France will discuss with the US administration and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent what they intend to do regarding Iran.

“France and the European Union have imposed strong economic pressure on Iran for years, and we want to continue doing so,” he said.

Strait of Hormuz ship traffic remains depressed amid regional tensions

Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic remains low, holding near weekend lows, according to preliminary tracking data released and cited by Reuters.

Data compiled by Kpler showed that only five vessels sailed through the vital waterway, well below the 10-day average of about 14.

Of the total count, four vessels entered the strait while one exited. The figures exclude ships navigating the passage with their transponders turned off, Reuters said.

No liquid tankers were recorded among the vessels transiting the waterway on Monday. Among those entering, one was an empty handy-sized gas tanker that arrived via the Iranian route, while the remaining three were laden dry bulk carriers.

Oil prices rise as latest US-Iran fighting revives supply disruption risks

Oil prices gained as the resumption of fighting between the US and Iran in the Middle East renewed fears of ⁠supply disruptions from the world’s key crude-producing region.

Brent crude futures were up 66 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $91.15 a barrel at 06:40 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 70 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $86.46.

In the ⁠previous session, Brent closed up 2.7 percent and WTI settled up 2.8 percent.

On Monday, Trump threatened further strikes against Iran, raising tensions in a conflict that recently shifted into an economic standoff.

“These bring the potential for Iranian retaliation back into the equation. That in turn raises the prospect of damage to energy infrastructure around the Gulf and adds fresh uncertainty for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Both of those risks are being reflected in the firmer tone in crude prices,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM.

EU’s Kallas says Hormuz diplomatic efforts have produced ‘no results’

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says diplomatic efforts over the Strait of Hormuz are continuing but have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

“The freedom of navigation needs to be respected. The diplomatic efforts are still ongoing, but no results at the moment,” Kallas said ahead of an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Wicklow, Ireland.

“For us it is important that there are no tolls, no fees for these routes that have been open before.”

Crude price passes $90 a barrel after tit-for-tat US-Iran strikes

Oil prices continue to rise after the resumption of fighting in the Middle East.

Brent ⁠crude futures are up $1.18, or 1.3 percent, to $91.67 a barrel at 07:39 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude is up $1.27, or 1.48 percent, to $87.03.

“The tit-for-tat missile exchanges between the US and Iran bring validation to those who believe that even if not a ‘forever war’, this conflict will run and run,” said PVM analyst John Evans.

Efforts by mediators including Qatar and Oman to broker a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ⁠which carried about one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war ⁠erupted in late February, have so far proven inconclusive.

US CENTCOM says 84 vessels redirected during naval blockade

US Central Command (CENTCOM) says as of today, troops have redirected 84 commercial vessels during its ongoing naval blockade against Iran.

According to a post on X, CENTCOM added that it had disabled three vessels and boarded two to “ensure compliance”.

On Sunday, its statistics included 83 redirections, with three disabled vessels and two boarded. It means the US foces redirected one vessel over the past 48 hours.

US claim Iran economically collapsing ‘incorrect’, central bank says

Tehran’s Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati made the following comments at a conference:

• The Central Bank is prepared to inject up to $2bn into the foreign exchange market to help stabilize conditions.
• The US assertion that Iran has entered a phase of economic collapse is not correct.
• The process of collecting Iran’s dues and its foreign-currency resources is ongoing and domestic reserves are available.
• “I say to the American president that we have enough foreign currency,” said Hemmati.
• Iran’s economic system continues to function despite Western sanctions.
• The decline in the value of the national currency has been affected more by the psychological atmosphere than by real factors.

Washington to announce new sanctions on ‘anyone that does business with the IRGC’, US treasury secretary says

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent claimed at the G20 finance meeting today that the US had “destroyed” Iran’s navy, its airforce, and its drone inventory as well as “85 or 90 percent of their factories” that could build new drones.

Claiming that Iran is now “in extreme distress militarily”, Bessent also said “the blockade is very powerful” and “we are going to economically asphyxiate this regime”.

He added that the US will announce new sanctions on “anyone that does business with the IRGC” while the US is “tracking down the IRGC’s assets”.

Iran pledges to ‘reciprocate’ if US honors June MoU

Iran will immediately reciprocate if ⁠the US fulfils its commitments under ‌an interim deal signed in June, President Masoud Pezeshkian ⁠says.

He made the comments ⁠at the Shanghai ⁠Cooperation Organization ⁠summit ⁠in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the ISNA news agency reported.

The June 17 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran expired on August 17.

The MoU was supposed to facilitate peace negotiations and included provisions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a major flashpoint in the war.

“I state explicitly that if the United States returns to its commitments under the aforementioned memorandum of understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately take reciprocal action,” Pezeshkian said at the SCO summit, as reported on the website of the Iranian presidency.

The June deal collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of violating its terms.

Pezeshkian’s remarks came after Iran and the US resumed exchanging fire on Monday after more than a month of relative calm.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US “must return to its commitments and to what their president signed” under the Islamabad deal.

“In that case, everything can be put back on the right track.

Iran, China foreign ministers hold talks in Kyrgyzstan

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, according to Tehran’s top diplomat’s Telegram channel.

China has said it will safeguard its interests after Washington laid out new plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Beijing’s economic partner Iran.

The US expanded secondary sanctions threats, urging governments worldwide to join its economic campaign. Beijing has advocated for a ceasefire, insisting US sanctions will not resolve the six-month conflict.

Iran holds talks with foreign ministers at Kyrgystan summit

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with counterparts from Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting.

President Masoud Pezeshkian also arrived for day two at the summit venue, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

Earlier, we reported Araghchi held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the summit in Bishkek.

Iran president says US pressure, threats risk derailing diplomacy

Masoud Pezeshkian says a return by the US to a policy of pressure and threats risks derailing diplomatic efforts to end the economically punishing war in the Middle East.

“The repeated violation by the United States of its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding showed … the absence of effective enforcement guarantees and a return to a policy of pressure and threats could derail the path of diplomacy,” Pezeshkian said in a speech at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan.

On Monday, US President Trump threatened to “hit them hard” after tit-for-tat attacks, including an Iranian missile barrage fired at US bases in Jordan.

Iran says it will continue to resist US attacks and pressure

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei is holding a news conference, denouncing US “ill intentions” against Iran.

“The United States in their war, their assault, and their aggression against Iran is targeting all our interests,” he told reporters.

He added the Sunday night strikes on Larak Island show the US “keeps committing violations” and Iran “was justified in its response”.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization slams US-Israel attack on Iran

In its summit declaration, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization expressed “deep concern over developments in the Middle East and around Iran”.

Member nations affirmed their “position condemning military strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to the country’s economy”.

“Such actions violate the principles and norms of international law and the UN Charter and create serious risks to international peace, security and stability,” it said.

Russia in solidarity with Iranian people, Putin tells Pezeshkian

President Vladimir Putin told Iranian President ⁠Masoud Pezeshkian at ⁠a meeting that Russia stands in solidarity with the Iranian people in the ⁠fight against the US and Israel.

Putin ⁠also said Russia and Iran ⁠will maintain ⁠their economic and ⁠trade relationship despite the current military ‌and political environment.

The US threatened a new sanctions regime against any countries cooperating economically with Iran, including Tehran’s close allies Russia and China.

Putin made the comments at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on Tuesday.

“During the meeting, the latest state of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia was reviewed, and the two sides discussed ways to strengthen and expand cooperation in various fields,” said the presidency in a statement accompanied by images of Putin and Pezeshkian shaking hands.

Iran’s president thanks Putin for Russia’s backing in war with US

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s stance during the US-Israel war on his country during their first meeting since the conflict began in February.

“We appreciate and thank you for your positions at every stage, both during the period when the fighting and acts of aggression were taking place and under normal circumstances when the United States was imposing sanctions on us, both at the United Nations and in international forums,” Pezeshkian said at a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan.

Putin earlier offered to continue backing Iran despite US threats against countries supporting it economically.

Iran’s president ‘received with open arms’ at Shanghai forum

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has been received with open arms (by leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan).

This is the first time the Iranian, Chinese and Russian leaders have been able to meet face-to-face after the US-Israeli war on Iran. So, it is a great avenue for them to be able to sit together, away from the prying eyes of the media. A lot of their discussions have taken place behind closed doors.

Delegates see this event as offering a unifying voice against unilateralism imposed by the US.

There’s been discussions about a host of issues – regional connectivity, artificial intelligence, counterterrorism and water.

The forum allows the countries to come together and show the world that the Global South has the capability, will and expertise to solve its own problems, as well as to tell the world that it continues to believe in multilateralism and diplomacy rather than coercion and unilateralism.

Putin says Iran-US ceasefire ‘proved unstable and too fragile’

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire but said “the truce proved unstable and too fragile”, while assuring Tehran of his country’s support.

Putin made the comments at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on Tuesday.

As we reported earlier, the Russian leader met with his Iranian counterpart, ⁠Masoud Pezeshkian.

In mid-June, Iran and the US signed a Pakistan- and Qatar-brokered memorandum of understanding (MoU), which provided for a ceasefire extension, initiating a now-expired 60-day period for negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Trump had unilaterally ended the ceasefire on July 8, 2026.

Iran says it’s clear US ‘stuck’ in Middle East quagmire

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says mediation efforts by Pakistan and other countries are continuing.

Baghaei also said economic US sanctions are affecting various aspects of life in Iran.

The US doesn’t know how to extricate itself from the war it started, he added.

“It has become clear they are now stuck in the massive error they’ve made, and it’s their usual habit to raise excessive demands. In each occasion, they fall into a state of miscalculation. We cannot accept any orders being dictated upon us. If they continue with this philosophy, they will not get any different result.”

White House official: 'Iran wants to make deal but won’t go far enough'

A White House official is saying that Iran wants to make a deal with the US but its positions are always too late and fall short of what is required.

The official also said Trump is keeping all options on the table in dealing with Iran.

Iran’s parliament speaker says ‘enemy cannot stop our missiles’ 

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said his country is rebuilding its military capacity faster than “the enemy”.

In comments carried by Iran’s Fars news agency, the chief negotiator said Iran’s military has fought better in each successive round of conflict.

“We have made the enemy conclude that it cannot stop our missiles,” added Ghalibaf. “The enemy should know that in the next rounds of war, we will have greater superiority both qualitatively and quantitatively.”

Iran’s Ghalibaf says US giving ships ‘false guarantees’ about Hormuz passage

In a video message shared by Iranian news agencies, Ghalibaf said Iranian forces are resisting the US effort to get ships across the Strait of Hormuz.

While Ghalibaf acknowledged that “the enemy managed to get some ships” through Hormuz, he stressed that Iranian forces remain “in complete control of the strait and will not allow it to be opened.”

He went on to say that the US is giving ships “false guarantees” about their ability to cross a southern route in Hormuz, adding that ships that try to do so are being targeted.

“America wants to use the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding, and we will not allow it,” he said.

Ghalibaf warns Iran to respond militarily if US intensifies blockade

Continuing in his video statement, Ghalibaf said the US’s naval blockade against Iran amounts to a military act and that Tehran will respond militarily if it intensifies.

If the US’s “will is that we do not export oil” from the Gulf, Ghalibaf said, “no one will be able to export oil”.

Ghalibaf calls on public to conserve fuel amid US blockade

In an earlier video statement, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addressed the country’s fuel situation amid the US’s naval blockade.

Ghalibaf urged Iranians to help conserve fuel, saying the country could make do with the amount of petrol produced domestically if managed properly.

“Of course, part of the responsibility for this high consumption does not lie with our people; it lies with our industry,” said Ghalibaf. “But in any case, what is clear is that we need to save petrol in our consumption.”

Conserving fuel “requires collective wisdom and certainly requires the people’s cooperation”, Ghalibaf added.

Iran says facilities damaged in war rebuilt in safer locations

Brigadier-General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the commander of the IRGC, says military sites damaged during the war are now operating with newer technology and at higher production rates.

According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Naqdi also said relations between the IRGC and the Iranian government are strong.

Iran’s priority is neither war nor negotiations but establishing deterrence, and it would not be in the US’s interests to enter another major conflict, he added.

Latest round of US-Iran attacks drives some Western bond yields to multi-year highs

Renewed attacks between the US and Iran have pushed crude oil prices above $91 a barrel, reigniting fears of persistent inflation and altering central bank interest rate expectations. The recent developments triggered a global government bond sell off that drove yields to multi-year highs across the US, Europe, and Japan, Reuters reports.

US Treasury yields climbed on Tuesday to their highest level since January 2025. Meanwhile, the sell off spread internationally, pushing Japan’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield to its highest rate since 1996, while German and French long-dated yields reached peaks not seen in more than 15 years.

Luxembourg declines to renew Israel bonds approval

Luxembourg is not renewing authorization for the issuance of Israeli bonds since it expired, leaving Israel with an uncertain future over its ability to borrow via investors in European markets.

Last month, Luxembourg’s Finance Minister Gilles Roth told media it was decided in May not to renew approval for the bond prospectus beyond its August 31 expiry date.

Israel bonds issued in the European Union raise about $2.5bn a year. Focus on the bonds held by EU countries has intensified as Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank continue.

Middle East uncertainty stokes inflation worries as oil rises

Japan’s benchmark 10-year bond yield struck the key 3 percent barrier for the first time since 1996 on Tuesday during a deepening global debt selloff as traders fret about oil-driven inflation.

With the Middle ⁠East crisis stoking price pressures globally, yields have been spiking from Tokyo and Sydney to New York and London as investors anticipate the need for central banks to raise interest rates. The bond market is also under pressure.

“Investors are increasingly demanding greater compensation to own duration as sovereign issuance and corporate funding needs compete for the same pool of capital,” said Masahiko Loo, senior fixed income strategist at State Street Investment Management in Tokyo.

“Bond investors are less worried about growth and increasingly focused on inflation and supply.”

Jordan port sees transit cargo boost during Hormuz disruption

Jordan’s Aqaba port has seen a surge in transit cargo as the US-Iran conflict has largely ⁠shut down commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to port officials and terminal data.

“If we talk about container trade, we have grown ‌easily by 5 percent and the growth is driven by the volumes, increased volumes to greater Levant and Iraq in particular,” said Angshuman Mustafi, chief commercial officer at the Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT).

In a statement published in July, ACT said transit volumes jumped 155.1 percent in the first half of 2026 from the same period last year.

Before US and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered the regional war in late ⁠February, the Strait of Hormuz was a critical route for global oil shipments and other trade. Since then, security risks have sharply reduced traffic through the waterway.

Traders have sought alternative routes, including via Syria.

Saudi crown prince, Omani sultan discuss Middle East developments

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has met Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in the Saudi city of Jeddah, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman across various fields, as well as recent developments in the Middle East and ongoing efforts to maintain regional security and stability.

They also reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries.

Trump attacks Iran again

Explosions heard east of Iran’s Bandar Abbas

Several explosions have been heard east of Bandar Abbas, according to Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB.

It added that more than five explosions were heard around the village of Masan in Qeshm, and four explosions were also heard from the Strait of Hormuz in Qeshm.

According to the deputy political, security, and social affairs officer of the Hormozgan governorate, where Bandar Abbas is located, no casualties or incidents have been reported so far.

US says striking targets in Iran

The US military began striking targets in Iran, CENTCOM says. The strikes began at 12pm EST (16:00 GMT).

Iran expected to strike back after latest US attack, says analyst

Hossein Ebrahimi, a political analyst in Tehran, says Iran is likely to carry out its own retaliatory attack after the US’s claimed strikes on Iran.

Ebrahimi referred to remarks by Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf earlier today, promising harsh retaliation to any future US attacks. “We have to look at the situation … and [see] how Iran will have its own retaliatory strikes again,” said Ebrahimi.

He added that the status of the Strait of Hormuz, where several recent explosions were heard, appears to remain a central sticking point between the US and Iran.

US attacks on IRGC still ongoing

US military attacks on targets affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) in Iran are still ongoing.

Explosions also heard in Iran’s Konarak: Iranian news agencies

Iran’s Fars news agency reports that several explosions have also taken place in Iran’s south-eastern city of Konarak. It said the exact location of the explosions is unclear.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported explosions in the area, saying authorities have not yet disclosed the extent of the damage.

Four projectiles hit Iran’s Chabahar and Konarak, local official says

General Ali Khalilabadi, the deputy governor for security and law enforcement of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, confirms the US attack on Konarak, and says Chabahar was also targeted, according to the country’s IRNA news agency.

A total of four projectiles hit the two counties, he was quoted as saying.

“Expert investigations are under way to determine the details of the incident, potential damages, and further information,” he added.

US attacks seem to be geared towards maintaining ‘pressure’ on Iran

Dan Grazier, a former US Marine Corps officer, says that the latest US attacks are “very likely” in response to some Iranian moves against commercial shipping as the targets are focused on launch sites close to the Strait of Hormuz.

“These seem like low-level attacks probably geared towards maintaining some pressure and trying to create some leverage until both sides can come back to the negotiating table,” he said.

Grazier said the warring sides need to reach a settlement and the best way to do that is for both countries to “set aside arms and make a sincere effort to get back to good-faith negotiations”.

“It’s really hard to get there when missiles and bombs are being traded in both directions,” he said.

“The MoU was a good first step, and it seemed like a reasonable plan for both sides, considering how all of this started and the goals sought by both sides,” he added.

US attack on Iran comes after two-day escalation

Essentially, this is a response to attacks that have been carried out in the last 24-48 hours.

First, the US struck Iran’s Larak Island on Sunday evening, saying the Iranians were planning to lay new mines in a recently de-mined commercial and civilian shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz.

Later that evening into early Monday, the Iranian military responded by targeting US military sites inside the country of Jordan.

Later on Monday, Donald Trump said there would be a US response to those Iranian strikes. And now, just about 24 hours after Trump’s comments, there has been a response.

As far as we know, the US military strikes are still under way. They started a little more than an hour ago. The question is going to be whether the US military considers these strikes successful enough to basically do this one campaign and then announce it is done for the time being.

US State Department issues security alert, tells citizens to ‘exercise heightened vigilance’

The US State Department has issued a security alert telling its citizens in the Middle East to “exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions”.

“Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the agency said.

Trump warns Iran against retaliation for ‘this very justified’ US attack

US President Donald Trump says “large and powerful” US attacks on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz are still ongoing.

He claimed the aggression came “in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan”.

“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump warned.

Iran has the right to defend itself as Trump's attack on Larak Island from yesterday was an attack without support of evidence. The other reason is that Trump had declared the ceasefire with Iran ended on July 8, 2026.

No official reaction from Iranian authorities on latest US attacks

There is no official reaction from the Iranian authorities, but they have acknowledged explosions so far. However, we haven’t heard any details about the strike yet.

According to social media, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Konarak, and Chabahar are reported to have been hit.

But, of course, this is interesting because [Iranian President Masoud] Pezeshkian said today that there is always a route back to the memorandum of understanding as long as the United States complies with its commitments in the previous one mediated by Pakistan.

There is a style in Tehran – the political side, especially Pezeshkian, has a softer version where he opens the door for negotiations and diplomacy.

On the other hand, the military side of Iran has stronger responses, and today they mentioned that retaliation would be much harder and much stricter.

Regional threat assessment ‘has shifted dramatically’ after latest US attacks

Alerts have been issued at US embassies across the Middle East in anticipation of the possibility of another round of retaliatory attacks by Iran.

Just earlier this week, there were reports of threat levels being reassessed and the families of diplomatic services here in the region receiving clearance to return to their homes here. But now, once again, that threat assessment has shifted dramatically.

IRGC and Iranian army vow response to latest US attacks

Sardar Mohebi, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, says on X that the US will regret and face “severe punishment” for its latest attack on Iran.

“America will regret its new attacks”, Mohebi’s short post concludes.

Also, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters issued a statement carried by Iranian outlet IRIB, saying that the army will “inflict crushing and fragile blows on the vicious and vicious enemy of the United States”.

“The more the terrorist army of the United States insists on evil in the region, the more it will suffer more and heavier losses”, the statement says

Trump confirms attacks are under way on social media

There has not been any updated confirmation from CENTCOM that this latest wave of military strikes on targets run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been concluded – the attacks started at 16:00 GMT.

According to CENTCOM, previous waves of these attacks have lasted as little as an hour or so or have sometimes taken several hours to complete. It basically depends on the scope of the attacks designed; it depends on the goal of what those strikes are meant to achieve.

Whether it’s meant to disable certain operations that the IRGC might be carrying out or whether it’s to destroy facilities that might be used in future attacks against the US and its allies.

But suffice it to say, the statement posted by Donald Trump on TruthSocial is perhaps the most complete form of confirmation that we are getting at this hour.

More explosions heard in Iran’s Bandar Abbas, Qeshm: Iranian media

New explosions have been heard in Iran’s Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s state-run IRIB broadcaster.

Explosions have also been heard on Lavan Island west of Qeshm, IRIB reports.

Iranian lawmaker says Iran’s deterrence doctrine has ‘evolved’

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, says his country’s latest response to US attacks yesterday was “more than a warning; it was a formal declaration”.

“Iran’s doctrine of deterrence has evolved. The message is clear: the might of its armed forces will ensure enemy regret,” Azizi wrote in a post on X.

“We know you admitted this during your ‘top secret’ emergency meeting yesterday,” he added.

US attack targets airport in Iran’s Jiroft, state broadcaster says

Iranian broadcaster IRIB is reporting a US attack on an airport in Iran’s southeastern Jiroft county.

Fish powder factory in Qeshm, civilian targets in Hormozgan hit in US attacks, Iranians state media reports

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reports that the US attacked a fish powder factory in Qeshm and several civilian targets in Hormozgan during its latest attacks.

It added that the fishing pier and the port authority tower in Sirik were among the places that were targeted.

Trump claims Gulf allies notified before US strikes on Iran

The US president has claimed Gulf allies were notified before the latest round of US strikes on Iran, according to his interview with Fox News.

The report said he also warned Iran against retaliating, adding that the USS George Washington “is loaded to the gills”.

Washington began striking targets in Iran at 12pm EST (16:00 GMT), according to CENTCOM. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian army have promised to respond to the aggression.

Iran’s army says US bases, assets in region to be targeted, Iranian media reports

Iran’s armed forces have announced that they have launched an operation in response to the US attacks, Iran’s Tasnim reports.

It claims the Iranian army says that US bases and interests in the region are being hit by missiles and drones.

IRGC chief says ‘unparalleled coordination’ with army air defence forces

Major General Ahmad Vahidi says in a message to Brigadier General Alireza Elhami, commander of the Army’s Defence Force, that there was “unparalleled coordination” between the air defence forces of the armed forces and the IRGC, Fars reports.

Vahidi added that there was “integrated networking [and] continuous updating of technologies”.

“Reliance on the power of Iranian knowledge-based youth can further disrupt the enemy’s equations and create a reassuring deterrent for the country,” he added.

Explosions heard in Iranian city of Asaluyeh, says governor

The governor of Asaluyeh reports that an explosion was heard in the city, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

Asaluyeh is a key gas hub and the capital of Iran’s energy sector.

US attack targeted residential area of Iran’s Kuhestak city

Iran’s Fars news agency reports that a US attack targeted the residential area in the coastal city of Kuhestak in the Hormozgan governorate.

US attacks have continued in southern Iran, with Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Konarak, Chabahar, Jask, Sirik, Lavan and Asluyeh targeted.

‘Unfortunate’ to see return of escalation, but war between Iran and US ‘never ended’

Zeidon Alkinani, founding director of the Arab Perspectives Institute, said following the US strike on Iran that although “it is unfortunate that we see a reemergence of the militarized aspect of the conflict”, the war has “never ended” despite the “strong calmness” over recent weeks.

He added that Donald Trump’s administration had made it “very clear that the new strategy was to increase and intensify the economic sanctions”, and that “it seems the focus on the southern part of Iran means that there has been an extended militarized aspect in connecting the economic pressures simultaneously to the military strikes”.

Alkinani also said that “the issue of the Strait of Hormuz is usually the most complex part of this conflict”, and due to its size, it is “very difficult” to determine a new status quo around it. Additionally, he said, “many of the proclaimed statements from either side tend to be contradicted by the reality”.

On that note, Alkinani said, “a major part of this war has been a war of rhetoric, where both sides tried to claim as much symbolic achievement and resilience” as they could.

No casualties, minimal damage from US attack on Jiroft Airport: Local official

A deputy governor of Iran’s Kerman province says the situation at Jiroft Airport, where a US attack was recently reported, is “under control” with no casualties or damage to airport infrastructure.

In comments carried by Iran’s Fars News Agency, the deputy governor said a projectile landed outside the airport’s runway.

Another explosion reported in Iran’s Chabahar

Iran’s Mehr news agency is reporting another explosion in the southeastern port city of Chabahar.

IRGC says ‘regretful response’ to US attacks has begun

The IRGC says fighters have begun a “regretful response to the aggressors” as the US continues its attacks on southern Iran, state broadcaster IRIB reports.

In a statement, the IRGC said: “In blind and desperate attacks”, the US bombed several locations, including civilian areas.

“Attacks that tightened the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and strengthened the determination of the fighters to suppress the foreign forces interfering in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement reads.

“The brave warriors of the IRGC have begun a regretful response to the aggressors, and in the first action, using the new aerospace defence system, they shot down the 50th advanced MQ9 drone of the invading American army,” it added.

Iran’s response will be ‘stronger than US strike’

Hassan Ahmadian, an assistant professor of West Asian studies at the University of Tehran, says that he anticipates a strong response to the recent US strike on southern Iran.

Moments ago, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that a “regretful” response to the latest wave of US attacks had begun.

“Two days ago, the US hit one site, and Iran responded by targeting three sites. Thus, I anticipate that Iran’s response will be stronger than the US strike”, Ahmadian said.

At least two people killed in US attack on Sirik, says deputy governor for security

At least two people have been killed and several others wounded at a wedding in the Sirik mountains during the US’s attack, Iranian media report.

Fars reported Hormozgan governor’s deputy for security as saying that relief units were still providing services in the area.

US realizes it ‘cannot win conflict with military means alone’: Ex-US diplomat

Former US Ambassador Henry Ensher says the US has realized it cannot rely only on military means in its conflict with Iran and is now pursuing a strategy with diplomatic, economic and military components.

“I think at the beginning of the conflict, the US focused strictly on the military instrument … but has now realized the conflict cannot be won with military means alone,” Ensher said.

“It is trying now to put together a diplomatic, economic and military strategy in order to succeed in its major objective now – which is to get the oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz,” said Ensher.

US missile hits outskirts of Iran’s Ahvaz city: Official

A US missile attack has occurred near the Iranian city of Ahvaz in the western Khuzestan province.

That’s according to a local security official quoted by Iran’s Fars news agency.

Missile may have been launched from Kuwait, as the city is located east of Iraq's Basra and northeast of Kuwait.

update

US missile attack hits outskirts of Iran’s Ahvaz

A US missile attack has hit the outskirts of the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, Tasnim reports, citing Khuzestan’s deputy governor for security affairs, Valiollah Hayati.

Hayati said authorities were assessing the damage, with no further details immediately available.

Most of US’s attacks appear to target areas near Hormuz

The US appears to be continuing its strikes. We are continuing to hear reports of attacks, mostly in coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC says it has begun its response, but it has not given any detail on whether it has targeted US military assets or bases in the region.

There has been no word yet from the Iranian president.

Rocket interceptions reported in Mafraq, east of Jordan

Rocket interceptions in the city of Mafraq, east of Jordan.

US air strike hits wedding party in Sirik

Four people killed at a wedding party in Sirik during US attacks.

Death toll in Iran’s Sirik rises to four, including child: Rescuers

A total of four people, including a child, have been confirmed killed by the US attack that hit a home near the Iranian city of Sirik, Iran’s Fars news agency cites the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s provincial branch as saying.

The attack, which Iranian media reported occurred during a wedding, also injured more than 50 people, according to the local Red Crescent Society branch, which says rescue efforts are ongoing.

Footage appears to show major damage at attacked home near Iran’s Sirik

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has shared footage it says shows the aftermath of a US attack on the site of a wedding near Sirik.

The footage shows mounds of debris surrounding what appears to be a damaged home, as rescuers rush through the scene. People are heard screaming in the background.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the attack has killed at four people, including a child, and injured more than 50 others.

Four killed in attack on wedding in Iran’s Sirik region

According to a local official, the death toll from a reported US strike on a wedding party in southern Iran has risen to four. The victims include a four-year-old child and another 15 people were wounded, several seriously.

Iranian officials are presenting this incident as evidence that the US is not only targeting the IRGC or the Iranian army in the region but also civilian locations – and that civilians are being killed.

This is also an important tool for the Iranian government to drum up domestic public support and leverage its voice on international platforms.

But so far, these are Iranian claims and Iranian identification of the targets. There has been no word from the US side yet.

Along with the wedding party, a fishmeal factory on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a fishing pier, and a ports and maritime organization tower in the coastal city of Sirik were reportedly hit.

Three missiles intercepted over southern Syria

Three missiles were intercepted in the skies over the eastern Daraa countryside in southern Syria, our correspondent on the ground reports.

They added that the attack was aimed at Jordan.

‘We’re in a cycle of response, escalation,’ former US diplomat says

Former US Ambassador Henry Ensher says there is concern the latest exchange of attacks between the US and Iran could cascade into a wider conflict.

“Both sides would be well served to stop talking quite so much,” Ensher told Al Jazeera, saying that recent US military statements about its operations in the Strait of Hormuz may have “provoked” Iran.

“I personally think that what triggered this latest round [of escalation] was not the US action to clear the [Strait of Hormuz] of mines, but rather [CENTCOM Commander] Brad Cooper’s decision to talk about it last week,” Ensher said.

“I believe that provoked the Iranian response, … and now we’re in a cycle of response and escalation,” he said.

White House signals Iran sanctions regime ‘going to continue’

A person in the White House has said that recent remarks by the Iranian president are basically a non-starter, as far as Trump is concerned.

The US president has said that he does not trust the Iranians to negotiate in good faith. That was reiterated in the statement made to Al Jazeera today, which said that the Iranians are basically a day late and a dollar short.

We’ve heard a similar message from Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, who is back on Capitol Hill after the August recess, essentially repeating that the Iranians are not to be trusted. This basically signals that the conflict is going to continue and the sanctions regime is going to continue.

IRGC claims ballistic missile attack on US military barracks in Jordan

Iran’s IRGC says it has carried out a ballistic attack targeting US Marines’ barracks at Camp Titin, a military site near Aqaba, Jordan.

In a statement carried by Iranian broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC claims it killed numerous US forces, while destroying “several installations and enemy attack helicopters” at the camp. The IRGC said its retaliation would continue.

Iranian supreme leader says Tehran has ‘unforgettable lessons’ for US

“Dear Iran and the Resistance Front, it has unforgettable lessons for the American enemy”, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in a post on X after US strikes on Iran began.

Washington began striking Iran at 12pm Eastern US time (16:00 GMT). Four people, including one child, have died as a result, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.

No injuries or major damage at US base following Iran attack, US source claims

A US source says that Iran’s missile attack on a US military barracks at Jordan’s Camp Titin has not caused any injuries or major damage.

The source said that US forces intercepted the attack and that Iran’s response to the latest round of US attacks was ineffective

Jordan says 10 of 13 Iranian ballistic missiles intercepted

Jordan’s armed forces say 13 ballistic missiles launched from Iranian territory entered the kingdom’s airspace, with air defence systems intercepting and destroying 10 of them.

“The remaining three missiles fell in remote areas, far from population centres,” the spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces said in a statement carried by Jordan’s National Center for Security and Crisis Management.

“No injuries or loss of life were recorded,” he added, saying specialist teams were sent to secure the impact sites and deal with debris.

Iran says it launched drone attacks on US base in Bahrain

Iran’s army says it carried out a wave of drone attacks on radar installations and areas where it says US forces are stationed at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, according to a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.

The army said the strikes were part of the 29th phase of Operation Thunder, and that Sheikh Isa is a key US base in the Gulf used for helicopter maintenance, drone components and reconnaissance aircraft.

Iran’s army said it would deliver a “crushing and extensive response” to further attacks.

Kuwait says air defenses responding to drone attacks

Kuwait’s army says the country’s air defenses are responding to attacks by “hostile drones”, which it said were linked to Iranian aggression.

In a post on X, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces said any explosions heard were the result of air defence systems intercepting the drones.

It urged the public to follow safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

Iran says it will respond ‘with firmness’ after Kuhestak attack

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says Tehran will respond “with firmness” after a residential home in a southern coastal town was reportedly struck during a wedding celebration.

In a post on X, Baghaei said more than 50 men, women and children were killed or wounded on the strike in Kuhestak north of the city of Sirik on the Strait of Hormuz. Baghaei described the attack as part of a wider series of strikes in Minab, Lamerd, Qeshm Island and elsewhere.

“The United States’ catalogue of atrocities against the nation of Iran is now complete,” he said.

Baghaei also criticised governments and international institutions that “remain silent … or seek to justify such attacks”, saying “their silence is not neutrality” and warning that those who remain silent “will not be immune to its consequences tomorrow”.

Head of Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee vows response after Kuhestak attack

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, has condemned a deadly attack on a wedding in Kuhestak, warning in a post on X that those responsible would face retaliation.

Azizi said the killing of civilians reflected the “desperation” of those behind the attack and described it as a continuation of what he said were earlier crimes in Minab and Lamerd.

“Make no mistake: these crimes will not go unpunished,” he said.

“Nothing will protect them from the crushing will of Iran’s armed forces.”

Maritime expert warns of ‘repeatable pattern’ of escalations in US-Israel war on Iran

Alexandru Hudisteanu, a maritime security expert, has said that the recent escalation in the US-Israel war on Iran is unlikely to be a one-off “because this war has not been settled in military terms and both sides have the impetus to go to war from time to time.”

It can become “a repeatable pattern” although the war is no longer “in an active phase”.

He added, “there are still conditions that create these flare-ups, especially because the US is trying to show that Iran does not have monolithic control over the Strait of Hormuz and on who passes through the strait”.

Hudisteanu also said that as Iran uses the Strait of Hormuz “as leverage”, it “tends to depreciate in time the more they use it” as countries begin to find alternative routes.

US says completed its wave of attacks on Iran

US Central Command says it has completed a wave of strikes against Iran.

CENTCOM said its forces hit Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets, including air defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites.

It said the strikes were a response to “recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members”.

Warning alert of ‘potential’ threat activated in Bahrain

The Ministry of Interior has urged citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location, and follow news through official channels for the protection of public safety.

Iran’s IRGC claims ballistic missile strike on US drone hangars in Jordan

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has launched a “heavy” ballistic missile attack on Prince Hassan airbase in Jordan, targeting hangars housing long-range US RQ-4 and MQ-9 drones.

In a statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC claimed that several drones were destroyed, a number of US flight and technical personnel were killed, and several pieces of technical infrastructure were set ablaze.

There has been no immediate confirmation from the US or Jordan.

The IRGC said the attack was “retribution” for a US strike on a wedding celebration in Sirik, Hormozgan province, which it said hit about 70 guests, killing four people, including a child, and seriously wounding several others.

Iran has targeted the base several times during the conflict, previously claiming to have struck facilities housing US MQ-9 drones there.

UN’s nuclear agency says lack of access to Iranian nuclear sites a ‘proliferation concern’

The UN’s nuclear agency has called for its lack of access to major Iranian nuclear sites to be urgently addressed, according to a report seen by the AFP news agency.

“The agency’s lack of information about this nuclear material and access to facilities to verify it is a matter of proliferation concern,” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in the report.

G20 finance leaders, except China, demand ‘free, safe’ transit through Strait of Hormuz

G20 finance talks have wrapped up in the United States, and a statement has been released calling for “free, safe, and predictable navigation through the Strait of Hormuz”, although China objected to that paragraph being included in the official communiqué.

“We are concerned about continued disruptions to energy trade and stress that the free, safe, and predictable navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and worldwide, and the resolution of ongoing wars and conflicts are essential to sustaining durable growth,” the G20 chair’s statement said.