Story by Alisha Rahaman Sarkar and James C. Reynolds
Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, and a joint announcement is being finalised, provided certain third parties did not interfere, Iran’s foreign ministry says.
Esmaeil Baghaei said any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway.
The proposed deal would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters, in one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
Despite the apparent step towards yielding to Iranian demands, the sources pushed back against assertions by US president Donald Trump that a deal reopening the strait was imminent, saying important details still had to be agreed.
Mr Trump has said there was an “all-day negotiation” on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively, while also threatening to hit the country “really hard” if a deal was not reached.
During his cabinet meeting, Trump told reporters that the Strait of Hormuz was “going to be open very soon”. But he warned if that did not happen, Iran would be hit hard.
Key Points
- Route through Hormuz agreed, Iran says
- Trump says US having ‘very good discussion’ with Iran
- Oil prices slip below $80 a barrel
- Yemen condemns ‘terrorist attack’ on Indian ship
- Ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz and in Red Sea
- Yemen’s Houthis fire at airport in Saudi Arabia
Deal not imminent as details to be agreed, says Iran
17:22 , Jane Dalton
Iranian and regional sources pushed back against claims by Donald Trump that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was imminent, saying important details still had to be agreed.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the negotiations between Tehran and Muscat as “professional” and “moving forward”, saying “the two sides had reached a mutual understanding on the geographical parameters of the route under discussion”.
He said the joint statement between the two countries, containing the main considerations and key points of understanding, was in the final stages of review and drafting, if the process was not obstructed.
Deal would mean big concession to Iran
17:12 , Jane Dalton
The proposed deal between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian source and two regional officials said.
It would be one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
US removes sanctions from three IRGC-linked entities
17:00 , James Reynolds
The United States has removed counterterrorism sanctions from two aircraft and three airlines with links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to details posted to the US Treasury Department’s website on Wednesday.
Route through Hormuz agreed, Iran says
16:56 , Jane Dalton
The geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz have been agreed by Iran and Oman, and a joint announcement is being finalised, provided no third parties interfere, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday.
Baghaei added that any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway.
In focus: Inside Iran’s ‘deal on the side’ with Oman to open new route in Strait of Hormuz
16:30 , James Reynolds
The US and Iran can’t even agree on whether they are negotiating or not as disruption in the strait deepens global economic woes.
Experts tell Alex Croft that Washington may eventually accept key Iranian demands:
No plans to travel to Pakistan or Qatar, however: Iran
16:06 , James Reynolds
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson also says there are no current plans for minister Abbas Araghchi or parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to travel to either Pakistan or Qatar, dampening hopes of a return to negotiations.
They say Iran is exchanging views with Pakistan and Qatar, however.
Iran says Hormuz deal in final stages if ‘certain third parties’ don’t try to intefere
16:04 , James Reynolds
The Iranian foreign ministry says that a joint announcement from Oman and Iran is in its final stages if “certain third parties” do not interfere.
Iran and Oman ‘agree shape of route through Strait of Hormuz’
16:03 , James Reynolds
A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry says that Iran and Oman have agreed the ‘geographic characteristics’ of the route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel dismisses crocodile prison plan over animal welfare concerns
16:00 , James Reynolds
An Israeli court has frozen “cruel” plans to move crocodiles to a prison holding Palestinian detainees following a backlash from animal rights campaigners.
Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has floated plans to move Nile crocodiles to Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert in recent months, progressing so far as to start digging moats.
The proposals drew condemnation from international human rights groups, who said using crocodiles to police a prison was “vicious” and “nonsensical”.
But it was following a petition from an Israeli animal rights organisation that a temporary injunction was granted to prevent the transfer of animals to guard the prison.
Read the full report:
Israel halts plans for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ due to animal welfare concerns
Proposed Hormuz deal ‘would give Iran control of inbound traffic’
15:30 , Reuters
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, in one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
Despite the apparent step towards yielding to Iranian demands, the sources pushed back against assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that a deal reopening the strait was imminent, saying important details still had to be agreed.
“The concession has already been made regarding some form of control over Hormuz,” one of the regional sources told Reuters.
The other regional source said there were still details to be determined about how “control” would be defined, with Gulf negotiators insisting regional countries supervise inspections of ships, and that any payment of fees be voluntary.
The senior Iranian source said that the text of an agreement already on the table envisioned Iran having control of ships heading into the Gulf through the strait, and that one of the main sticking points was what role Iran would also have over ships heading in the opposite direction.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan in tatters after Netanyahu rejects terms
15:03 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza was in doubt again on Wednesday as Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel did not agree to terms for disarming Hamas and would not withdraw from the Palestinian enclave until Hamas is completely disarmed.
The US president last week hailed a “major milestone” towards implementing his peace plan initially agreed in October, saying that Hamas would give up its weapons and that Israel would pull back from Gaza in phases. He said that Israel was “very happy” about the deal.
But complications soon emerged as Israeli officials suggested the military would not begin to move until Hamas gives up its weapons. Hamas said it would not disarm until Israel halts its deadly attacks.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan in tatters after Netanyahu rejects terms for disarming Hamas
US nearly out of long-range missiles due to war in Iran
14:30 , James Reynolds
The US army has used up “virually all” of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data, raising concerns about the military’s readiness for future conflicts.
The missiles are principally the Army’s surface-to-surface weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). Two sources said these specific weapons have almost all been been used.
The long-range munitions – which cost more than $1 million each – are an important part of the military’s arsenal, allowing accurate strikes from a safe distance.
Read the full story:
US nearly out of long-range missiles leaving Trump short of options in Iran
Israel says it has begun conducting strikes in southern Lebanon
14:11 , James Reynolds
The Israeli military says that it has begun conducting strikes in southern Lebanon in response to a ‘blatant violation’ of ceasefire by Hezbollah.
Israeli military issues evacuation warning to village in southern Lebanon
14:02 , James Reynolds
The Israeli military issued an evacuation warning on Wednesday to Mansouri village in southern Lebanon, the military spokesperson said on X.
It was the first online warning by the military for Lebanon in more than a month.
Iran has executed at least 56 people since March, reports UN rights chief
13:30 , James Reynolds
At least 56 people have been executed in Iran on nation security related charges since 19 March, including 27 in cases linked to the protests at the start of the year, according to UN rights chief Volker Turk.
Mr Turk said in a statement: “I am alarmed by the rise in executions and death sentences issued in Iran since March, and that capital punishment continues to be used to instil fear among the population and suppress dissent.”
Iranian authorities killed thousands of people during anti-government protests in January, Iran’s worst domestic unrest in decades. Rights groups say the government has continued to crack down on opponents during the war – sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran since the end of February.
Iran weighs in on Gaza negotiations
13:06 , James Reynolds
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday Tehran would support any initiative or decision taken by Palestinian leaders in ongoing indirect negotiations between militant group Hamas and Israel, Iranian state media reported.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan in tatters after Netanyahu rejects terms for disarming Hamas
Next lifts profit outlook again after overseas and summer sales surge
13:00 , James Reynolds
High street chain Next has revealed its sales surged in recent months as hot weather and the release of pent-up demand in the Middle East helped it beat expectations.
The fashion and homeware retailer lifted its profit outlook again as a result of the stronger-than-expected second quarter.
Total full-price sales, which excludes discounts and clearance items, increased by 9.2% over the 13 weeks to August 1, compared with the same period last year.
Read the full story:
Next lifts profit outlook again after overseas and summer sales surge
Watch: Netanyahu vows Israel will not withdraw from ‘current lines’ until Hamas ‘completely disarmed’
12:30 , James Reynolds
Gulf shipping traffic steady amid uncertainty of peace talks
12:00 , Reuters
Shipping traffic at the key Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb was little changed on Tuesday from the previous day, ship-tracking data showed.
Eight vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, including five tankers and three bulk carriers, shipping data from Kpler showed, the same as the previous day. Six of the vessels, three tankers and three bulk carriers, were entering the strait, while a gas carrier and a tanker were exiting.
Roughly 130 to 140 ships would typically transit the waterway before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28 and Iran responded by closing the strait.
Additionally, a liquefied natural gas tanker controlled by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co reappeared outside the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, carrying a cargo loaded from Das Island, according to LSEG and Kpler data.
The tanker Mubaraz departed Das Island, United Arab Emirates, on July 14 after picking up a cargo there, both LSEG and Kpler reported. It was last seen inside the strait on July 16, according to the ship-tracking data.
Recap: India condemns ‘unprovoked attack’ after projectile sinks ship off Yemen’s coast
11:30 , James Reynolds
An Indian vessel sank in the Red Sea after it was struck by a projectile off the coast of Yemen, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The Yemeni coast guard rescued the ship’s 14 crew members, 13 of them Indian, and took them to the port of Mokha, India’s shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
Mr Sonowal described the incident involving the MSV Faize Noore Oliya as an “unprovoked attack” and said the directorate general of maritime administration had been instructed to coordinate with relevant agencies to safeguard Indian seafarers in the region and give assistance to the rescued crew members.
Read the full story:
India condemns ‘unprovoked attack’ after projectile sinks ship off Yemen’s coast
Will the Strait of Hormuz reopen today?
11:00 , James Reynolds
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest waterways in peacetime, carrying around a fifth of global oil shipments.
That makes its closure very expensive for global energy prices, as supply is squeezed and commercial ships have to find workarounds.
It is an issue that also concerns Donald Trump – despite the US’s vast reserves – as voters face higher fuel costs, energy costs and inflation from the impact on businesses.
Mr Trump insisted that his administration had held “very good discussions” with Iran during all-day negotiations on Tuesday, prompting oil prices to fall and stocks to jump.
He told Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz “is going to be very open very soon” – or Iran will “get hit really hard”.
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on 15 June (Reuters)
Iterations of that promise and ultimatum have appeared in Mr Trump’s remarks and social media posts throughout the five-month war, and critics remain skeptical.
This time, a US official and two regional sources told Axios that the US and Iran are closing in on an interim agreement to reopen the strait with buy-in from Oman, which also borders part of the waterway.
But casting doubt on progress, Iran said an agreement with Oman will be delayed “as long as the United States continues to threaten Iran”.
Iran has long demanded control of the Strait of Hormuz, which it says it should share with Oman on the opposite shore. But last week they rejected an Omani proposal that would have allowed shared overnight and the collection of fees from ships.
Before the war, the channel was an international waterway and free to pass. But since the war, Iran has taken steps towards taking money from passing ships, something else that can be expected to push up global prices.
Iranian media: ‘Hormuz transit talks progressing positively’
10:30 , James Reynolds
Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday that talks with Oman were “progressing positively”.
They cite foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who told state TV that the negotiations are “focused on determining safe inbound and outbound transit routes for vessels” in the waterway.
It comes after Tehran last week rejected an Omani proposal that would have allowed shared overnight and the collection of fees from ships.
Baghaei nonetheless insisted that the talks are proceeding in a “constructive atmosphere”, Mehr reports. Outcomes are expected once talks conclude.
Comment: As the midterms loom, is Donald Trump’s love-in with Big Oil going up in smoke?
10:00 , James Reynolds
The president’s sudden – and surprising – turn on the energy giants he loves so dearly shows how much pressure he is under to ease the pain for Americans at the petrol pumps, says James Moore
As the midterms loom, is Donald Trump’s love-in with Big Oil going up in smoke?
Analysis: Trump sounds like he’s been stood up for a date in whiny Truth Social tirade against Iran
09:26 , James Reynolds
Not even the president can answer why his latest efforts to reach a deal with Iran will go any differently. Monday’s outburst suggests that he’s too angry to care, writes John Bowden:
Trump sounds like he’s been stood up for a date in whiny Truth Social Iran tirade
US military asks for ‘unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
09:00 , James Reynolds
The US military has been crowdsourcing ideas for “creative and unconventional” ways to “punish” Iran, according to a report, after both sides reached an impasse over how to end the unpopular five-month war.
A senior officer at the US Central Command’s intelligence branch is said to have written to military analysts last Wednesday asking for new ideas to “pressure and punish Iran”, according to CNN, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Centcom spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said: “US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. [Centcom commander] Admiral [Brad] Cooper, in particular, reaches out to members of our great team, regardless of rank, to achieve the highest levels of operational performance possible.”
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
In numbers: Thousands killed since February and no closer to a deal
08:30 , James Reynolds
Iran has reported more than 3,400 deaths since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, while the U.S. has reported 18 military personnel dead.
The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization has reported at least 17 deaths of seafarers from 64 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz since the war started on February 28.
Those are in addition to the Iranian government’s toll of 50 people killed and 500 wounded by US strikes since hostilities renewed in late June, a figure reported before Iran said a US strike on Qeshm in late July killed a husband and wife and their 2-year-old son.
US military accused of dropping 900kg bomb on civilian house in Iran
Houthi rebels claim strike on Saudi tanker in the Red Sea
08:09 , James Reynolds
Yemen’s Houthi rebels say they attacked a Saudi oil tanker off Yanbu, in the Red Sea, with missiles.
Will the Strait of Hormuz reopen today?
08:00 , James Reynolds
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest waterways in peacetime, carrying around a fifth of global oil shipments.
That makes its closure very expensive for global energy prices, as supply is squeezed and commercial ships have to find workarounds.
It is an issue that also concerns Donald Trump – despite the US’s vast reserves – as voters face higher fuel costs, energy costs and inflation from the impact on businesses.
Mr Trump insisted that his administration had held “very good discussions” with Iran during all-day negotiations on Tuesday, prompting oil prices to fall and stocks to jump.
He told Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz “is going to be very open very soon” – or Iran will “get hit really hard”.
Iterations of that promise and ultimatum have appeared in Mr Trump’s remarks and social media posts throughout the five-month war, and critics remain skeptical.
This time, a US official and two regional sources told Axios that the US and Iran are closing in on an interim agreement to reopen the strait with buy-in from Oman, which also borders part of the waterway.
But casting doubt on progress, Iran said an agreement with Oman will be delayed “as long as the United States continues to threaten Iran”.
Iran has long demanded control of the Strait of Hormuz, which it says it should share with Oman on the opposite shore. But last week they rejected an Omani proposal that would have allowed shared overnight and the collection of fees from ships.
Before the war, the channel was an international waterway and free to pass. But since the war, Iran has taken steps towards taking money from passing ships, something else that can be expected to push up global prices.
Yemen condemns ‘terrorist attack’ on Indian ship
07:36 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Yemen’s foreign ministry this morning issued a statement condemning the Houthi attack on an Indian commercial tanker on the Red Sea.
The Yemeni coast guard rescued the 14 crew members of the MSV Faize Noore Oliya, 13 of them Indian, and took them to the port of Mokha, India’s shipping and waterways minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said.
Yemen said the attack “constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the rules of international maritime law, and poses a direct threat to the security and safety of navigation and the freedom of trade along international waterways”.
India condemns ‘unprovoked attack’ after projectile sinks ship
07:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
An Indian vessel sank in the Red Sea after it was struck by a projectile off the coast of Yemen, officials confirmed.
The Yemeni coast guard rescued the ship’s 14 crew members, 13 of them Indian, and took them to the port of Mokha, India’s shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
Sonowal described the incident involving the MSV Faize Noore Oliya as an “unprovoked attack” and said the directorate general of maritime administration had been instructed to coordinate with relevant agencies to safeguard Indian seafarers in the region and give assistance to the rescued crew members.
More here.
India condemns ‘unprovoked attack’ after projectile sinks ship off Yemen’s coast
The seven times Trump threatened Iran before pulling back
07:17 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he had called off planned US strikes on Iran, saying renewed negotiations had raised hopes of easing the conflict and reopening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement follows a familiar pattern in Trump’s handling of the five-month conflict, with repeated threats of military action followed by abrupt pauses as diplomatic efforts resume. Several previous ceasefires and negotiating windows have collapsed within days, leading to fresh rounds of US strikes.
More here.
The seven times Trump threatened Iran before pulling back
US officials suggest strait deal imminent
06:53 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Senior US officials struck an optimistic tone, suggesting a deal to reopen the strait could be reached soon.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio confirmed there has been progress made in talks between Iran and Oman, “but not finality yet.”
Treasury secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that “there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”
The Strait of Hormuz is the crucial waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the war. It has been effectively shut by Iran’s attacks on shipping since the start of the war in February.
Spike in antisemitism in UK after Iran war began – report
06:12 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Antisemitism in the UK spiked in the immediate aftermath of the US and Israel launching their war on Iran and following a double stabbing of two visibly Jewish men in London, according to a report.
Data from the Community Security Trust (CST), showed there were 1,926 antisemitic incidents recorded across the UK in January to June of 2026 – up by a fifth on the first half of last year from 1,598.
It is the second-highest total reported to CST in the first six months of any year, exceeded only by the 2,019 incidents recorded in the first half of 2024.
The statistics have been branded “appalling” by policing and crime minister Sarah Jones, who said each incident represents “people living in fear just for being who they are”.
Trump says ‘all-day negotiation’ was held with Iran yesterday
05:31 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump said there was an “all-day negotiation” yesterday with Iran, characterizing the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran “really hard” if a deal was not reached.
Oil prices slip below $80 a barrel
05:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices fell below $80 a barrel after US official said there was progress in talks with Iran and Oman about ships moving through Strait of Hormuz.
However, US secretary of state Marco Rubio yesterday said a final agreement had yet to be reached. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent earlier said that a deal with Iran to reopen the strait could come as soon as yesterday or today.
Brent crude futures fell $4.41, or 5.3 per cent, to settle at $79.36 a barrel, the lowest since 13 July.
US West Texas Intermediate futures dropped $4.57, or 5.7 per cent, to settle at $75.77 a barrel, also a three-week low.
Ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz and in Red Sea
04:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A cargo ship reported being “hit by an unknown projectile” while traversing the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center.
The center said the reported strike damaged the vessel at around 2 am local time while it was about 37km northeast of Al Khasab, a port city in Oman.
On the Red Sea, meanwhile, an Indian-flagged commercial ship sank off Yemen after being struck by an explosive-laden boat, Yemeni and Indian authorities said.
Yemen’s coast guard rescued the crew, which included 13 Indians and a Yemeni.
India’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, though no one immediately claimed responsibility. Iran-backed Houthi militants have repeatedly struck ships traversing the Red Sea near Yemen.
Trump says US having ‘very good discussion’ with Iran
04:46 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump has claimed that the US was having a “very good discussion” with Iran after issuing a “last chance” warning to Tehran to bring them back to the negotiating table.
Trump told Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz “will open very soon” or Iran “will take a very hard hit”.
“They called me and asked very politely, ‘Please, can we talk?'” Trump claimed.
US military says it has helped over 1,000 ships transit Strait of Hormuz
04:25 , Rachel Dobkin
US Central Command has said it has helped more than 1,000 ships transit the Strait of Hormuz over the past three months.
CENTCOM claimed the key oil waterway in the Middle East “remains free and open,” but maritime traffic remains muted.
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Yemen’s Houthis fire at airport in Saudi Arabia
04:36 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A Yemeni military spokesperson for the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, said a drone hit a “sensitive target” at the airport in the southwestern city of Najran, without providing evidence.
Brig Gen Yahya Saree said the attack was in response to what he described as a Saudi breach of Yemen’s airspace over the provinces of Saada and Hajjah. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis recently announced a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that leads to the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia led an international coalition and imposed an air and sea blockade against the rebels after they seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen in a civil war that began in 2014. Major fighting ended in a truce in 2022.
Watch: Trump offers soundbite to recap US shooting down Iranian missiles
04:02 , Rachel Dobkin
Israel discusses withdrawal from Lebanon
03:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israeli and Lebanese officials met in Rome yesterday to continue talks on implementing a US-mediated deal to draw down the Israeli military from southern Lebanon and disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
A diplomat familiar with the negotiations said Lebanon had asked for the next “pilot zone” — where Israeli forces would withdraw and the Lebanese army would take control — to be either in the town of Khiam or Bint Jbeil. Both areas saw heavy fighting in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war and are currently occupied by Israeli forces.
But US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa suggested ahead of the three-day talks that no new pilot zones would be immediately implemented, saying that “moving too quickly risks jeopardizing the very civilians this process is meant to protect.”
Did Trump reveal a weak hand in reported crowdsourcing memo seeking ‘creative’ ways to punish Iran?
03:00 , Harriette Boucher
The U.S. military has asked combat experts to think outside the box in a desperate bid for new ideas to end President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, according to a report Monday.
In an email last week, an officer in the intelligence branch of U.S. Central Command asked a broad group of military analysts for suggestions, CNN said, citing an unidentified source.
“We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” the email reportedly read.
Military officials said the effort to crowdsource a solution to the war by email was highly unusual, CNN reported.
The move came as Trump is considering dramatic, “fireworks”-style airstrikes against Iran that could hit the same or similar sites that the U.S. bombed last year when targeting the nation’s suspected nuclear weapons program, a source told CNN.
Did Trump reveal a weak hand in reported memo seeking ‘creative’ ways to punish Iran?
ICYMI: Hormuz deal could be reached in next two days
02:00 , Harriette Boucher
The US has said a deal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz could be reached with Iran in the next two days.
US secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC: “We are in talks with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalised position in this conflict.”
Donald Trump said the global shipping route could be open as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.
Big oil companies continue to post banner profits as fighting in Iran drives costs higher
01:00 , Harriette Boucher
Big oil companies continue to post banner profits as fighting in Iran drives costs higher
Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been the biggest ‘since WWII’
Wednesday 5 August 2026 00:00 , Harriette Boucher
Talks with Oman have been positive – Iranian foreign ministry
Tuesday 4 August 2026 23:00 , Harriette Boucher
Iran has said talks with Oman over transit through the Strait of Hormuz have been positive and focused on establishing safe shipping lanes.
State media reported that Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the route being negotiated was aimed at ensuring the sovereign rights and national security of both Iran and Oman.
Two regional officials told The Associated Press that, under the emerging agreement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman.
Service fees would be charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, the officials said, adding that the final agreement could take place in a different form.
Millions join Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq amid regional tensions and fears of US-Iran escalation
Tuesday 4 August 2026 22:00 , Harriette Boucher
Millions of Shiite Muslims observed the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage Tuesday in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala, under the shadow of ongoing regional tensions and fears of another round of escalation in the U.S.-Iran war.
Arbaeen is held 40 days after Ashoura, which commemorates the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and members of his family, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.
The operations command overseeing the Arbaeen pilgrimage at the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces said on Monday that more than 4.88 million pilgrims had entered Iraq since the first day of the Islamic month of Muharram, which includes Ashoura and the period leading up to Arbaeen, with arrivals from various countries ongoing for what is considered one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.
Millions more pilgrims typically come from different regions of Iraq to Karbala for the occasion.
Among the highest- profile foreign visitors was Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in the Iraqi city of Najaf Monday and continued on to Karbala to take part in the pilgrimage.
