Donald Trump has said he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.
The US president escalated his rhetoric over the vital waterway that carries a significant share of global oil supplies, as he spoke to the media on Friday.
He also told Fox News that the US will hit Iran hard economically as Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a deal to end a nearly six-month conflict.
His comments come as the US prepares to deploy the USS George Washington to the Middle East to relieve military personnel stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln for more than 200 days amid growing concerns about living conditions on the aircraft carrier, according to reports.
The Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has not made a port call in 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea, according to US senator Richard Blumenthal, who wrote to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about concerns for those on board.
Blumenthal cited reports of “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system”.
Trump officials have dismissed concerns about the conditions of the USS Lincoln.
Key Points
- Trump says he will declare Strait of Hormuz US territory
- USS Lincoln sailor’s wife blasts dismissive Trump over ‘appalling’ conditions
- Tehran won't be intimidated by Trump, says Iranian minister
- Top US official to step down as war with Iran escalates
- JD Vance says keeping gas prices low is 'goal number one' of Iran war
Watch: Trump reiterates America's 'complete control' over Hormuz despite Tehran's 'clear message' that strait will remain shut
05:30 , Rachel Dobkin
Poll: Just 29% of expected midterm voters say they approve of Trump’s handling of Iran
05:00 , Rachel Dobkin
A cable TV polling expert claims that numbers from two surveys conducted two years apart show just how deeply US President Donald Trump has disappointed America's voters when it comes to Iran.
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said Tuesday that a July 2024 poll of people who were extremely motivated to vote in that year’s presidential election found that 53 percent were confident Trump would be able to handle the situation in Iran, according to a video clip posted online.
But a July poll of people extremely motivated to vote in November's midterm elections shows that just 29 percent now approve of how Trump is actually handling Iran, Enten said.
"We're talking about a 24-point fall in just two years”, he said. "What was an advantage for President Trump going into the 2024 election amongst those who really wanted to turn out and vote has turned into a tremendous disadvantage this time around”.
Read on...
Just 29% of expected midterm voters say they approve of Trump’s handling of Iran
Father of USS Lincoln sailor said he's heard 'positive feedback,' but admits mental toll
04:30 , Rachel Dobkin
The father of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has said he's heard “pretty positive feedback” about the aircraft carrier’s conditions, but admits to the mental toll deployment has taken on the service members.
“As far as my particular child, I’ve heard pretty positive feedback about the conditions there”, he told CNN. “And we understand that they’re under a lot of mental stress and have nothing but sympathy and respect for the hardships and the stress that are inherent to the operation”.
It follows reports of poor maintenance, food supply issues and sailors struggling with their mental health on the aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East for more than 200 days.
Watch: Trump refutes military family concerns as conditions deteriorate on board USS Abraham Lincoln
04:02 , Rachel Dobkin
Israeli officials shocked by the speed of Iran’s military recovery after war, report says
03:00 , James Reynolds
Israeli military and intelligence officials were stunned by the rate of Iran’s military recovery after the first weeks of the 2026 war, according to a report.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was taken aback by how fast the Islamic Republic was able to reconstitute its forces after the main phase of fighting, including the redevelopment of its ballistic missile threat.
Iran launched missiles at Israel at the beginning of June and rose to an escalation in early July with renewed strikes on Arab states in the region. They were also accused of striking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining a hold over the vital waterway.
In full:
Israeli officials shocked by the speed of Iran’s military recovery, report says
Trump says he will declare Strait of Hormuz US territory
02:08 , Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump has said that he will declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States”, Trump said to cheers at an event in New York Friday.
Washington and Tehran both claim to have control over the vital oil waterway, which has been effectively closed amid the war.
US special forces ready to step up combat drills in Philippines
02:00 , James Reynolds
American special operations forces are ready to step up warfighting-readiness exercises with counterparts in the Philippines and other countries in Asia to further strengthen a security alliance and help deter a major conflict in the region, a U.S. military official said Thursday.
Adm. Frank Bradley, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, is in the Philippines after a trip to South Korea. He will then head to Japan for talks with military officials.
He is the latest American military top brass to visit key Asian allies in recent weeks to reassure them of Washington’s commitment to the region given the U.S. preoccupation with the war in Iran.
In full:
US special forces ready to step up combat drills in Philippines and help deter aggression in Asia
Karoline Leavitt quit so fast it blindsided Trump and there’s no plan to replace her as press secretary: official
01:00 , James Reynolds
President Donald Trump was caught off guard by the sudden resignation of Karoline Leavitt as his press secretary and does not intend to name a replacement for her when she steps down at the end of this month, a White House official told The Independent, leaving the most visible lectern in American politics without a permanent occupant less than three months before the midterm elections.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel deliberations, said the White House will instead continue offering reporters briefings from senior administration officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, all three of whom took turns in the briefing room during Leavitt’s maternity leave.
Read the full story:
Karoline Leavitt’s resignation left Trump blindsided with no replacement: official
USS Lincoln sailor’s wife blasts dismissive Trump over ‘appalling’ conditions on ‘floating metal prison’
Saturday 15 August 2026 00:15 , Bryony Gooch
USS Lincoln sailor’s wife blasts dismissive Trump over ‘appalling’ conditions
Food shortages, broken toilets and 250 days at sea: Crisis unfolds on Trump’s warship in the Middle East
Saturday 15 August 2026 00:00 , James Reynolds
It was almost exactly a month after anti-government protests swept through Iran that Donald Trump sent an armada of warships to the region with a promise that help was “on its way”.
The jewel in the crown was the USS Abraham Lincoln, a multi-billion dollar aircraft carrier with enough space to move a force of 90 fighter planes and helicopters into Iran’s backyard.
As of Friday, it has been 200 days since the Lincoln arrived in the region, and 250 since its initial deployment - setting a record for consecutive days at sea.
Crisis unfolds on Trump’s warship in the Middle East
Tehran won't be intimidated by Trump, says Iranian minister
Friday 14 August 2026 23:50 , Bryony Gooch
Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said early Saturday that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force by Washington after US president Donald Trump said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.
Commenting on Trump's statements, Gharibabadi said in a post on X that the strategic waterway would only be opened or closed under Iran's authority.
Watch: JD Vance says keeping gas prices low is 'goal number one' of Iran war
Friday 14 August 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds
US vice president JD Vance said the first aim of the Iran war is keeping down gas prices for Americans - before the stated goal of ostensibly stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
Pressed on the “seesawing” between pursuing talks and attacking Iran on Thursday, Mr Vance told Fox News that he believed the recurring “issue” is that Tehran does not always “honour” its deals.
He went on to outline new objectives for the war, saying goal “number one” was to “keep oil and gasoline cheap for Americans all over our country”.
He added: “And then, obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
The latest: Trump sends new aircraft carrier to Middle East as war puts troops under strain
Friday 14 August 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds
The United States is preparing to deploy a new aircraft carrier to the Middle East to relieve military personnel stationed on USS Abraham Lincoln for more than 200 days amid growing concerns about living conditions on the ship, according to a report.
The US military is understood to be preparing to replace the Lincoln with the USS George Washington as part of a scheduled Middle East deployed, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing US officials.
The Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has not made a port call in 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea, according to US senator Richard Blumenthal, who wrote to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about concerns for those on board.
Mr Blumenthal cited reports of “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system”.
Hegseth insisted on Thursday that the US was prepared to maintain its blockade on Iran “indefinitely”, however, saying the military had the means to rotate its ships.
Trump says he will soon declare Strait of Hormuz a US territory
Friday 14 August 2026 21:12 , Lucy Leeson
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would be soon declaring the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, escalating his rhetoric over the vital waterway that carries a significant share of global oil supplies.
Top US official to step down as war with Iran escalates
Friday 14 August 2026 21:00 , James Reynolds
One of Donald Trump’s top national security advisors involved in talks with Iran is expected to resign in the coming weeks as tensions with the Islamic Republic re-escalate, according to a report.
Andy Baker, the White House deputy national security advisor, will leave the administration in the next few weeks, Axios reported on Friday.
A source close to Mr Baker told the outlet he wanted to spend more time with his family and had stayed on longer than planned to ensure a smooth transition.
Watch: Fox is duped into using fake quote from Iran general on air
Friday 14 August 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds
The CIA no longer believes Israeli intel. Where does that leave Trump’s ties with Netanyahu?
Friday 14 August 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
An extraordinary operation to transport Trump onto a military plane in Ankara in a catering truck was prompted by a warning from Israel of a potential Iranian assassination attempt. But with the CIA saying they had ‘low confidence’ in the intel, experts tell Maira Butt that the relationship between the allies is under increasing strain.
More here:
The CIA doesn’t believe Israeli intel. Where does that leave a fragile relationship?
Salvors work to secure ship leaking oil off Oman
Friday 14 August 2026 18:00 , James Reynolds
Salvors with specialist vessels and other equipment are heading to waters off Oman to try to contain the environmental damage from a spill of Russian crude that has spread for weeks, the risk management firm coordinating the operation said.
The spill from the Caroline Bezengi tanker, apparently the result of an unexplained attack on the vessel in June, has spread around a nature reserve, and hit Oman's coastline on Wednesday.
Risk management firm Ambrey is coordinating the salvage operation and said it had contracted a “leading international oil spill response company”, without naming it.
The response included salvage vessels, aircraft and specialists using 100 metric tons of equipment, it said.
The Caroline Bezengi, carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and under international sanctions, ran aground on June 30 near an Omani marine nature reserve that is home to wildlife including humpback whales and Socotra cormorants.
Watch: Tehran threatens to prolong war until Trump’s term ends so ‘enemy never dares attack us again’
Friday 14 August 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Top story: New aircraft carrier heading to replace USS Lincoln after complaints
Friday 14 August 2026 16:30 , James Reynolds
The military is reportedly preparing to send a new aircraft carrier to the Middle East to replace the issue-plagued USS Abraham Lincoln, which has carried out a lengthy and high-stakes deployment as part of the Iran war.
The USS George Washington will take the Lincoln’s place, U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal. The switch is reportedly part of a previously planned rotation.
The swap comes after sailors and their families have alleged issues on the Lincoln including food shortages, months at sea without interruption and deteriorating mental health.
In full:
Replacement aircraft carrier heading to Middle East after complaints on USS Lincoln
Trump finally orders Navy to return to older steam catapults in obsession that could cost billions
Friday 14 August 2026 16:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to return to using old steam catapults to launch fighter jets, in a move that has been a bizarre obsession for the President in recent years.
Trump told the Navy to remove the advanced system used to launch fighter jets from its newest type of aircraft carrier, according to a directive issued Thursday.
The new mandate would likely cost billions of dollars and revert the Navy’s most advanced ships to a system that takes more sailors to operate and is more difficult to maintain.
Trump orders Navy to return to steam catapults in obsession that could cost billions
Trump frustrated by Netanyahu’s policy choices - report
Friday 14 August 2026 15:40 , James Reynolds
Senior US officials tell Axios that while US president Donald Trump likes Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on a personal level, he is frustrated by his decisions and policies.
Two sources told the outlet that Trump recently said of the Israeli leader: “Bibi is his own worst enemy.”
Hormuz latest: Traffic grinds to a halt after ships attacked
Friday 14 August 2026 15:30 , James Reynolds
Transit through the Strait of Hormuz was at a near standstill on Friday after two more ships were attacked and the US vowed to maintain its blockade indefinitely.
Two vessels from the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked transiting the strait on Thursday evening, local media reported. The government blamed Iran, which made no immediate comment.
Nine vessels passed through the narrow waterway at the entrance to the Gulf on Thursday, up from five on Wednesday but below the average for August of 12, according to ship-tracking company Kpler.
But there were no visible crossings by vessels seen early on Friday, according to ship-tracking data.
Meanwhile, defence secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the US military has the capability to maintain a naval presence in the region to enforce its blockade of Iran, which has inflicted severe economic damage on the country.
Israeli officials shocked by the speed of Iran’s military recovery after war, report says
Friday 14 August 2026 15:00 , James Reynolds
Israeli military and intelligence officials were stunned by the rate of Iran’s military recovery after the first weeks of the 2026 war, according to a report.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was taken aback by how fast the Islamic Republic was able to reconstitute its forces after the main phase of fighting, including the redevelopment of its ballistic missile threat.
Iran launched missiles at Israel at the beginning of June and rose to an escalation in early July with renewed strikes on Arab states in the region. They were also accused of striking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining a hold over the vital waterway.
Read the full story:
Israeli officials shocked by the speed of Iran’s military recovery, report says
In full: Top war aim is now keeping down gas prices, says JD Vance
Friday 14 August 2026 14:30 , James Reynolds
US vice president JD Vance said the first aim of the Iran war is keeping down gas prices for Americans - before the stated goal of ostensibly stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
Pressed on the “seesawing” between pursuing talks and attacking Iran on Thursday, Mr Vance told Fox News that he believed the recurring “issue” is that Tehran does not always “honour” its deals.
He went on to outline new objectives for the war, saying goal “number one” was to “keep oil and gasoline cheap for Americans all over our country”.
He added: “And then, obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
“I feel confident we’re accomplishing both of those goals, but it’s inherently an unpredictable thing, because the Iranians themselves are unpredictable, and they sometimes don’t honor the commitments they’ve made to us.”
After the US attacked Iran in February, Trump laid out a set of objectives for the war which included: destroying Iran’s stockpile of missiles and drones, degrading its military capabilities, preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon, and stopping Iran from arming and funding proxy groups across the region.
JD Vance says keeping gas prices low is 'goal number one' of Iran war
Friday 14 August 2026 14:00 , James Reynolds
US vice president JD Vance said the first aim of the Iran war is keeping down gas prices for Americans - before the stated goal of ostensibly stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
Mr Vance told Fox News that the US’s “goal number one” was to “keep oil and gasoline cheap for Americans all over our country”.
He added: “And then, obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
“I feel confident we’re accomplishing both of those goals, but it’s inherently an unpredictable thing, because the Iranians themselves are unpredictable, and they sometimes don’t honor the commitments they’ve made to us.”
US wants Netanyahu to condemn settler siege in Palestinian village, officials say
Friday 14 August 2026 13:35 , Reuters
The Trump administration wants Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn a siege imposed by Jewish settlers in a Palestinian village, US and Israeli officials said on Friday, as settlers pressured residents by pitching a new tent before Israeli soldiers arrived and it was taken down.
Settlers have been besieging homes in Qusra in the occupied West Bank for almost a week, trapping Palestinians in an area where rights groups say settlers are mounting a concerted effort to seize more land, further eating into territory where Palestinians aim to establish a state.
The siege has drawn public US criticism: the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee — a strong supporter of Jewish settlement in the West Bank — on Thursday condemned settlers besieging a Palestinian home as "Israeli terrorists".
A US official and an Israeli official said on Friday White House officials are pressing Netanyahu to publicly condemn the siege.
Washington began to protest after learning that the home of a Palestinian-American was among those under siege, said the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive discussions, of which they had knowledge.
Netanyahu has not commented on the siege in Qusra. Neither his office nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment.
'People were burning... it was a strange scene of doomsday': Crew of Yemeni vessel recount their chaotic rescue after Houthis' deadly attack
Friday 14 August 2026 12:40 , James Reynolds
Crew members of a Yemeni commercial ship who survived a deadly attack by Houthi rebels earlier this week said a second missile struck the vessel just as rescue efforts from the initial strike were underway, causing even more chaos and casualties.
In all, three ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthis struck the ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, just off Yemen’s coast, as it was coming into port, killing six people and injuring at least nine others, according to Yemeni authorities.
“People were burning ... it was a strange scene of doomsday,” said Zaheer Ahmed, a Pakistani crew member recovering at a hospital in the port city of Mokha. “I shouted for help and a Yemeni soldier came to my aid,” said Ahmed, who was injured in both legs.
Crew of Yemeni vessel recount their chaotic rescue after Houthis' deadly attack
In context: US military denies reports of sailor deaths and suicidal ideation on the USS Abraham Lincoln
Friday 14 August 2026 12:10 , James Reynolds
US Central Command had denied reports that seven sailors died in a brawl aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East and that there had been a spike in suicidal ideation on the aircraft carrier.
“USS Abraham Lincoln has maintained among the highest crew reenlistment rates (84.4%) of all aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy”, CENTCOM wrote on X.
“No service members aboard the aircraft carrier have died, and the one Sailor who fell overboard Aug. 3 was quickly and safely recovered.
“The rampant misreporting on Abraham Lincoln's historic deployment is a disservice to our men and women in uniform and their loved ones”.
US sailors trying to jump overboard on extended Middle East deployment
Friday 14 August 2026 11:40 , James Reynolds
Desperate sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have tried to jump overboard during an extended deployment in the Middle East, their families say.
The aircraft carrier, crewed by around 5,000 sailors and Marines, has been deployed since November 21 but more lately has been supporting U.S. military operations in the war with Iran. The deployment had been expected to end in May but has been extended with no current return date, families told The Military Times.
Annabelle Loma, the wife of a sailor serving on the Abraham Lincoln, told the publication her husband is now on medical hold after trying to jump from the carrier.
US sailors trying to jump overboard amid Middle East deployment, families say
Sailor’s texts reveal deteriorating conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln
Friday 14 August 2026 11:10 , James Reynolds
Text messages sent home by a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have revealed new details about the deteriorating conditions on board, according to a report.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was deployed to the Middle East last November with around 5,000 crew on board and has been supporting President Donald Trump’s war with Iran since the spring.
It had been expected to be deployed until May but its stay has been extended and there is currently no end date in sight, a situation that has led to a number of recent reports about dwindling morale.
In full:
Sailor’s texts reveal deteriorating conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln, report says
Top war aim is now keeping down gas prices, says JD Vance
Friday 14 August 2026 10:40 , James Reynolds
US vice president JD Vance said the first aim of the Iran war is keeping down gas prices for Americans - before the stated goal of ostensibly stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
Pressed on the “seesawing” between pursuing talks and attacking Iran on Thursday, Mr Vance told Fox News that he believed the recurring “issue” is that Tehran does not always “honour” its deals.
He went on to outline new objectives for the war, saying goal “number one” was to “keep oil and gasoline cheap for Americans all over our country”.
He added: “And then, obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
“I feel confident we’re accomplishing both of those goals, but it’s inherently an unpredictable thing, because the Iranians themselves are unpredictable, and they sometimes don’t honor the commitments they’ve made to us.”
After the US attacked Iran in February, Trump laid out a set of objectives for the war which included: destroying Iran’s stockpile of missiles and drones, degrading its military capabilities, preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon, and stopping Iran from arming and funding proxy groups across the region.
Watch: Hegseth says US can keep up naval blockade ‘indefinitely’ after Tehran vows to prolong war
Friday 14 August 2026 10:10 , James Reynolds
Hegseth says US could maintain 'indefinite' blockade of Iran
Friday 14 August 2026 09:40 , James Reynolds
The United States on Thursday said that it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and would ratchet up pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have floundered.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the U.S. military has the capability to maintain a naval presence in the region to enforce its blockade of Iran, which has inflicted severe economic damage on the country.
"Indefinitely the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we'll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we'll continue to," Hegseth told reporters during a trip to Panama.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to eight vessels on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of about 12 vessels, and 130 to 140 ships before the war.
The US lifted its blockade of Iran's shipping and ports for a month in mid-June but has since reimposed it, cutting off Tehran's primary source of hard currency and compounding earlier losses from wartime strikes on its energy infrastructure.
Catch up: US cannot verify Israeli warnings of assassination attempts on Trump - report
Friday 14 August 2026 09:10 , James Reynolds
The US has received several warnings from Israel over the past year that Iran intended to assassinate President Donald Trump that US intelligence officials could not independently verify, US officials have said.
The warnings, passed to US intelligence agencies and in some cases relayed directly by Israeli officials to senior White House officials, included possible plots to shoot Trump with a sniper or recruit someone to attack him with a knife at a large public event, a current and two former officials said.
The tips apparently began in the lead-up to the 12-day war in June 2025 and intensified prior to the Us decision to go to war in Iran in February.
Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara in July, Israeli officials allegedly briefed the White House about intelligence that indicated Iran may try to kill Trump, potentially with a shoulder-launched missile, while he traveled on Air Force One for the summit, the officials said.
The US intelligence community has long assessed that Iran wants to retaliate for Trump’s killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. But the Central Intelligence Agency has not been able to corroborate some of the specific threats against Trump's life shared by Israeli intelligence since early last year, the officials said.
Hitmen, toilets and secret plane swaps: Foreign plots to kill Trump
Friday 14 August 2026 08:40 , James Reynolds
The US president has faced several plots on his life both at home and abroad, Maira Butt reports
Hitmen, personal toilets and secret plane swaps: The foreign plots to kill Trump
Catch up: Hegseth says US can keep up naval blockade ‘indefinitely’
Friday 14 August 2026 08:25 , James Reynolds
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the US military has enough assets to maintain a naval blockade of Iran "indefinitely", as talks with Tehran hit an impasse over the Strait of Hormuz.
"The United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we'll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we'll continue to," Hegseth said, adding that he is advising president Donald Trump to keep applying economic pressure on Iran.
His statement comes as Iran said it could deliberately prolong the war with the US until Trump leaves office, in order to send a message that attacking the country has lasting consequences.
Mohammad Reza Naghdi, senior adviser to the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said dragging out the war would show any future US administration that “there is a cost” to hostile endeavours against Iran."We have to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so we can live with security," he told PBS NewsHour.
The CIA doesn’t believe Israeli intel. Where does that leave Trump?
Friday 14 August 2026 08:10 , James Reynolds
An extraordinary operation to transport Trump onto a military plane in Ankara in a catering truck was prompted by a warning from Israel of a potential Iranian assassination attempt. But with the CIA saying they had ‘low confidence’ in the intel, experts tell Maira Butt that the relationship between the allies is under increasing strain
The CIA doesn’t believe Israeli intel. Where does that leave a fragile relationship?
Gas prices hit their highest mark ever for mid August
Friday 14 August 2026 07:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Gas prices this week hit their highest-ever price for this point in the year, according to GasBuddy.
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported in a post on X that gas prices have never gone above $4 per gallon after August 12 in any year.
On Wednesday morning, the average fuel price was just over $4 per gallon. The last time fuel cost nearly that much around mid-August was in 2022 when the national average gas price was $3.98 per gallon.
More here.
Gas prices hit their highest mark ever for mid August as Trump’s Iran war drags on
Egypt condemns attack on two UAE ships in Strait of Hormuz
Friday 14 August 2026 07:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Egypt and Bahrain have condemned an alleged Iranian attack on two United Arab Emirates ships as they crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
Egypt this morning said the attack threatened security and freedom of navigation. It expressed solidarity with the UAE and called for restraint, de-escalation and respect for international law to maintain security.
Bahrain's foreign ministry this morning called the strike an "Iranian terrorist attack" that violated international law and rules governing freedom of navigation.
US sailors trying to jump overboard on extended Middle East deployment, families say
Friday 14 August 2026 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Desperate sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have tried to jump overboard during an extended deployment in the Middle East, their families say.
The aircraft carrier, crewed by around 5,000 sailors and Marines, has been deployed since November 21 but more lately has been supporting U.S. military operations in the war with Iran. The deployment had been expected to end in May but has been extended with no current return date, families told The Military Times.
More here.
US sailors trying to jump overboard amid Middle East deployment, families say
Yemeni soldier killed in clashes with Houthis
Friday 14 August 2026 06:43 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
At least one government soldier was killed and another critically wounded in clashes with the Houthis in the mountainous province of Taiz, Yemeni military officials said.
The fighting came as part of a spate of recent Houthi attacks on government-held areas across the country. Dozens of government troops have been killed since last week, the Yemeni military said.
The Houthis also said they launched another drone attack on an Aramco oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials did not immediately comment on the reported attack in the city of Jazan.
Last weekend, the Houthis fired drones at the refinery, where the Saudi energy ministry reported a fire but no casualties.
Hormuz shipping traffic below monthly average
Friday 14 August 2026 06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz fell below the monthly average towards the end of the week due to volatile sentiment between the United States and Iran, with both countries making competing claims over its control.
The Strait of Hormuz is "under Iran's control and management", the recently appointed head of Iran's Basij paramilitary unit said. Meanwhile, the US said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and would ratchet up economic pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have floundered.
Commodity vessel transits at Hormuz picked up slightly yesterday with nine ships crossing, but remained lower than the month's daily average of 12, based on Kpler data in August so far.
Iran mocks Trump for switching planes over 'assassination threat'
Friday 14 August 2026 05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran has been mocking Donald Trump on social media after it was revealed that he secretly switched aircraft while returning from Turkey over an alleged assassination threat from Tehran.
Iran's embassy in South Africa, in a post on X, said Trump "will be hidden in a trash can before long".
He will be hidden in a trash can before long. pic.twitter.com/ZTkAahNIKw
— Iran Embassy SA (@IraninSA) August 11, 2026
Jared Kushner to head to Middle East for Gaza talks
Friday 14 August 2026 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to the Middle East next week to try to advance plans for an end to the conflict in Gaza after a deal recently announced by the Trump administration ran into Israeli opposition.
An official with the Board of Peace, the body Trump established to oversee the fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, said Kushner, board high representative Nickolay Mladenov, and executive board member Tony Blair would arrive in Israel on Sunday.
The group will then travel to Cairo, where meetings of a Palestinian technocratic group set to assume control of Gaza under a US-brokered ceasefire deal have been taking place for the past several months.
Iran and Oman work to clean oil spills from attacked ships
Friday 14 August 2026 05:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran said it was working to clean up an oil spill off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Images distributed by Iran's semiofficial news agency ISNA showed oil fouling the island's beaches.
While Iran hasn't said what caused the spill, the firm TankerTrackers.com says it appears to have started with an Iranian attack on a bulk carrier off Oman.
Oman is responding to another spill in the Arabian Sea, coming from a tanker grounded off its southern coast. The tanker Caroline Bezengi, a sanctioned vessel believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet", has been grounded since reporting an explosion in June.
A British maritime risk and response company, which has been hired to salvage the tanker, said oil from the ship has reached shores hundreds of km north of the vessel.
Watch: Iran threatens to prolong war until Trump’s term ends
Friday 14 August 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Vance says Iran war will end with US in stronger position
Friday 14 August 2026 04:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Vice president JD Vance appeared to be lowering expectations for the Strait of Hormuz to return to the way it was before the war.
He predicted in an interview on Fox News that the war will end with the US in a stronger position, with Iran not having a nuclear weapon, and with the Strait of Hormuz "returned to a place where oil and gas prices are stable for the American people".
"That's goal number one: keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country," he said.
The second goal, according to Vance, is to ensure that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon.
Oil steadies after US threatens indefinite blockade
Friday 14 August 2026 04:28 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices inched up this morning after the US threatened an indefinite naval blockade of Iran, reviving concerns about supply of crude after the previous session's fall on a weaker outlook for demand and a large build in US stocks.
Brent futures rose 1 cent, or 0.1 per cent, to $87.08 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 6 cents to $81.31 a barrel.
Yesterday, the US warned that it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and ramp up economic pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have stalled.
ICYMI: Trump demands compensation from Iran in snub to six-point ultimatum
Friday 14 August 2026 04:02 , Rachel Dobkin
Crew of Yemeni vessel recount their chaotic rescue after Houthis' deadly attack
Friday 14 August 2026 02:58 , Sam Rkaina
Crew members of a Yemeni commercial ship who survived a deadly attack by Houthi rebels earlier this week said a second missile struck the vessel just as rescue efforts from the initial strike were underway, causing even more chaos and casualties.
In all, three ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthis struck the ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, just off Yemen’s coast, as it was coming into port, killing six people and injuring at least nine others, according to Yemeni authorities.
It was part of an escalating campaign by the Houthis and their first deadly attack this year on a vessel navigating the strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and accounts for roughly 12 per cent of global trade.
“People were burning ... it was a strange scene of doomsday,” said Zaheer Ahmed, a Pakistani crew member recovering at a hospital in the port city of Mokha.
“I shouted for help and a Yemeni soldier came to my aid,” said Ahmed, who was injured in both legs.
All three of the crew members The Associated Press interviewed at the hospital described intense fire, panic and damage aboard the ship, which was struck before dawn on Tuesday.
US official says it would be 'wise' for Iran to agree to peace deal
Friday 14 August 2026 02:01 , Rachel Dobkin
A US official has said it would be “wise” for Iran to agree to a peace deal as the war in the Middle East drags on.
While Donald Trump “has been consistent in saying he prefers a diplomatic solution, he continues to retain all options if Iran continues to engage in terrorism and refuses to make a deal”, the official told NewsNations.
“The successful sanctions and blockade have crippled Iran’s economy and left Iran in an extremely degraded state. It would be wise for Iran to agree to a deal – otherwise, they know what will happen”.
Top US Democrat calls reports of deteriorating conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln a 'disgrace'
Friday 14 August 2026 01:02 , Rachel Dobkin
A top US Democrat has called reports of deteriorating conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East a “disgrace”.
“Food shortages. Rationing. Mental Health Challenges. Lack of fresh fruits and vegetables”, Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader for the House of Representatives, wrote on X. “Republicans need to end their reckless war of choice in Iran immediately”.
US military shares video of fighter jets over Middle East
Friday 14 August 2026 00:02 , Rachel Dobkin
A U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker refuels F-16 fighter jets over the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/Unqm5Opnpt
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 13, 2026
Vance lays out two major goals in Iran war
Thursday 13 August 2026 23:16 , Rachel Dobkin
US Vice President JD Vance has laid out two major goals his administration has in the Iran war.
"That's goal number one. Keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country”, Vance told Fox News. “And then obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. I feel confident we're accomplishing both of those goals”.
Peace talks between the US and Iran, that could potentially include a nuclear deal, have stalled as gas prices in America remain higher than pre-war levels.
Strait of Hormuz traffic remains diminished as war drags on
Thursday 13 August 2026 22:33 , Rachel Dobkin
Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has remained diminished as the Iran war drags on for its sixth month.
Just three ships transited the vital oil waterway in the past 24 hours, according to the Hormuz Strait Monitor.
Donald Trump has claimed the US has “total control” over the strait, which Iran denies.
Iran hints at another war with the US in the future
Thursday 13 August 2026 21:45 , Sam Rkaina
Iran's joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has claimed no vessel could transit the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran's permission.
“The baseless claims made by the United States regarding the normal passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz ... are nothing more than lies and falsehoods,” the command said in a statement published by state media Thursday.
Separately, senior military political official Rasoul Sanaei-Rad said Iran would not reopen the strait unless the other side fulfilled its commitments under the interim deal, adding that the reopening of the waterway was not something the U.S. can achieve unilaterally, according to Fars news.
Sanaei-Rad also warned that Iran would respond more forcefully in any future conflict, saying: “In a possible future war, we will stand more firmly and more offensively.”
Iran and US continue to make competing claims over Hormuz
Thursday 13 August 2026 21:00 , Sam Rkaina
The Strait of Hormuz is "under Iran's control and management", the recently appointed head of Iran's Basij paramilitary unit said today, a day after Trump said the United States had “total control” of the strategic waterway.
Hossein Taeb said the U.S. had sought to disrupt what he described as the Islamic Republic's popularity in the region by launching another war in the Strait of Hormuz, but had once more been defeated despite claiming Iran had neither an air force nor a navy.
”Today you see that the Strait of Hormuz is under the management and control of the Islamic Republic,” Taeb said, according to the semi-official Fars news. He added that Iran was continuing on its course in complete security.
After the start of the war, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Tehran effectively shut the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas was previously shipped.
The U.S. subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian shipping and ports, while saying it would protect freedom of navigation for vessels travelling to and from non-Iranian ports.
Replacement aircraft carrier heading to Middle East after complaints about conditions on USS Lincoln
Thursday 13 August 2026 20:24 , Josh Marcus
The military is reportedly preparing to send a new aircraft carrier to the Middle East to replace the issue-plagued USS Abraham Lincoln, which has carried out a lengthy and high-stakes deployment as part of the Iran war.
The USS George Washington will take the Lincoln’s place, US officials told The Wall Street Journal. The switch is reportedly part of a previously planned rotation.
The Navy has said it is not publicly discussing plans for the carriers because of operational security concerns.
The swap comes after sailors and their families have alleged issues on the Lincoln, including food shortages, months at sea without interruption and deteriorating mental health.
Read on...
Replacement aircraft carrier heading to Middle East after complaints on USS Lincoln
US can keep naval blockade on Iranian ports "indefinitely," Pentagon chief says
Thursday 13 August 2026 19:30 , Sam Rkaina
The U.S. military has enough assets to maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, Defense Secretary Hegseth said on Thursday, adding ships could be rotated in and out of the region as needed.
Hegseth's comments suggest he is advising Donald Trump that the U.S. military can keep applying economic pressure on Iran for as long as needed to help so-far failed negotiations to end the conflict, begun in February.
“Indefinitely the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we'll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we'll continue to,” Hegseth told reporters.
He spoke in Panama after addressing the crew aboard the USS Gridley, a guided-missile destroyer, which had previously deployed to the Middle East.
