Donald Trump has said he believes the war with Iran will end “immediately” after the US midterm elections, as fighting continued to escalate this week with the biggest wave of attacks on shipping so far.
Iran said on Wednesday it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the US sank five Iranian oil tankers. At least one seafarer was reported killed and another was missing.
Trump accused Iran of trying to influence the midterm election and said Tehran wanted to secure a “nice, weak group of people” who would leave it alone to develop nuclear weapons.
He also warned Iran that the US could strike Pickaxe Mountain, saying: “We notice there's a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard.”
Iran has also threatened to escalate its response to further attacks, with the Revolutionary Guard saying it would soon release maps of an expanded off-limits maritime zone extending towards Chabahar, near Pakistan.
The attacks sent the price of oil surging, with benchmark Brent crude futures breaching $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July.
Key Points
- Trump: 'I think the war will end immediately after the election'
- US destroys five Iranian oil tankers
- Iran says it captured US submarine near Strait of Hormuz
- Airstrike on Iran wedding was likely US bomb missing its target: report
- Iran War is costing Americans $100B in extra energy costs
- Russia offers to mediate in Middle East crisis
Iran and US hit tankers in biggest wave of attacks on shipping
05:00 , Shweta Sharma
Iran said on Wednesday it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the US sank five Iranian oil tankers, in the biggest wave of attacks on shipping by both sides since the start of the six-month-old war.
At least one seafarer aboard a tanker was reported killed and another listed as missing.
Iran said it had fired ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan.
Jordan said it intercepted 18 missiles, with the remaining two falling harmlessly in unpopulated areas. A US official said all American troops were accounted for.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would sharply escalate its response to any further attacks, and said Iran would soon release maps of a new, enlarged off-limits zone at sea that would extend as far as Chabahar on the coast near Pakistan.
Trump: 'I think the war will end immediately after the election'
04:30 , Shweta Sharma
President Trump said Iran is desperate to end the war and wants to impact the result of the midterm election in the US.
"I think the war will end immediately after the election, because they can't hold out any longer," the president told reporters.
"They're desperate to try and affect the election so we can get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."
"All they want is a nuclear weapon and if they had a nuclear weapon the whole world is in deep trouble," he said.
Trump said he is still not looking to negotiate with Tehran in the near future, before the midterms.
"We're not looking for it, to be honest," Trump said.
"Originally I wanted to make a deal. We're so far down the line, they have very little country left right now, so we're not looking for it. Yes, a negotiation could possibly happen but it's not something we're looking at."
Multiple US military aircraft suffered damage in overnight strikes on Jordan air base, CBS says
04:04 , Shweta Sharma
Multiple American military aircraft suffered damage in strikes overnight on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, CBS reporter Jennifer Jacobs said on Wednesday on X.
One A-10 Thunderbolt, known as the Warthog, was struck and left with a missing wing, while roughly eight F-15s sustained light damage and were placed back into service, she added.
No deaths of US personnel have been reported in the strikes on Jordan.
The overnight damage came after the US attacked five Iranian tankers in retaliation for Iran targeting a US Navy warship.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by launching attacks on eight tankers and two warships, including the base in Jordan.
US forces in Jordan launched more than 30 Patriot missiles defending against the Iranian strikes in Jordan, CBS News learned.
Trump says activity seen at Iran's Pickaxe Mountain: 'Not to get cute'
03:53 , Shweta Sharma
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States may hit Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, urging Tehran to be cautious.
"We notice there's a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard," Trump said in a speech at the midterm Republican convention.
Pickaxe Mountain, located near Iran's heavily damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, is a fortified site that hosts two deeply buried tunnel complexes.
Trump has been threatening strikes on Pickaxe Mountain since at least mid-July.
The rise in oil and gas prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February, has become a major issue for Trump and his Republican Party in the lead-up to the midterm US elections in November.
UN nuclear watchdog reports Iran to UN Security Council
03:00 , Jane Dalton
UN nuclear watchdog board reports Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years
IRGC threaten escalation of reprisals
02:00 , Jane Dalton
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they would sharply escalate their response to any further attacks, and said Iran would soon release maps of a new, enlarged off-limits zone at sea that would extend as far as Chabahar on the coast near Pakistan.
Iran also said it fired on two US ships and eight tankers in response to the US action.
One seafarer was killed aboard the oil products tanker Hercules Star while at anchorage off Dubai, the vessel's charterer, Peninsula, said.
The British maritime security agency UKMTO described a vessel in the vicinity that was listing after being struck by a projectile.
Iran and US hit tankers in war's biggest wave of attacks on shipping
01:00 , Jane Dalton
Iran says it has attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the US sank five Iranian oil tankers, in the biggest wave of attacks on shipping by both sides since the start of the six-month-old war.
At least one seafarer aboard a tanker was reported killed and another listed as missing.
The incidents follow a month of relative calm.
Iran said it had fired ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan. Jordan said it intercepted 18 missiles, with the remaining two falling harmlessly in unpopulated areas. A US official said all American troops were accounted for.
War will end straight after mid-terms, Trump claims
Wednesday 9 September 2026 23:59 , Jane Dalton
Donald Trump has predicted the war with Iran will end immediately after the US mid-term elections in November.
Tehran was trying to influence the vote but would not be able to hold out more in the face of US economic pressure, he claimed.
Trump: "I think the war is gonna end immediately after the election. Because they can't hold out any longer. They're desperate to try to affect the election." pic.twitter.com/RSyxI0WsyG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 9, 2026
Five charts that lay bare economic disaster caused by Trump’s war in Iran
Wednesday 9 September 2026 23:00 , Bryony Gooch
Five charts that lay bare economic disaster caused by Trump’s war in Iran
Watch: Iran military video claims to show missiles and drones launched at US vessels
Wednesday 9 September 2026 22:00 , Bryony Gooch
Pictured: A woman walks near an anti-US mural in Tehran
Wednesday 9 September 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch
Iran war will end straight after mid-term elections, Trump claims
Wednesday 9 September 2026 20:35 , Jane Dalton
US president Donald Trump has predicted the war with Iran will end immediately after the US mid-term elections in November.
Tehran was trying to influence the vote but would not be able to hold out more in the face of US economic pressure, he claimed.
"I think war is going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer. They're desperate to try and affect the election," he said.
Oil prices would also come down right after the election, Trump said, once the war is over, while acknowledging diplomatic talks were still a possibility but not preferred.
"Yes, a negotiation could possible happen, but it's not something we're looking at," he said.
Watch: Iran will lose tankers for targeting US Navy ships, says Rubio
Wednesday 9 September 2026 20:00 , Bryony Gooch
Analysis: Why fighting between the Houthis and Saudis is a disaster for Trump
Wednesday 9 September 2026 19:00 , Bryony Gooch
Why fighting between the Houthis and Saudis is a disaster for Trump
Pictured: A motorist rides a motrocycle near a banner bearing a message in English and Persian reading 'We will kill Trump' in Tehran
Wednesday 9 September 2026 18:00 , Bryony Gooch
Rubio says Iran will lose tankers if it tries to hit US Navy ships
Wednesday 9 September 2026 17:00 , Bryony Gooch
US secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran on Tuesday that the US would continue to strike Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for attempted attacks on U.S. warships.
"Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia.
Oil hits $100 for first time since July as chaos continues in Strait of Hormuz
Wednesday 9 September 2026 16:00 , Bryony Gooch
Oil hits $100 for first time since July as chaos continues in Strait of Hormuz
Pictured: Satellite image appears to show damage to the King Khalid Airbase at Saudi Airbase that Houthis claimed to have attacked
Wednesday 9 September 2026 15:00 , Bryony Gooch
US military says it destroyed five Iranian oil carriers after attempted missile attacks
Wednesday 9 September 2026 14:20 , Bryony Gooch
US Central Command said on Tuesday that its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers on September 8 after attempted missile attacks on a US Navy warship over the past two days.
Pictured: People walk past a mural depicting an Iranian drone on a street in Tehran
Wednesday 9 September 2026 14:00 , Bryony Gooch
Israel says it strikes southern Lebanon after Hezbollah drone launch
Wednesday 9 September 2026 13:40 , Bryony Gooch
The Israeli military said on Friday it struck southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched a drone attack towards Israeli soldiers.
Three people were killed and 23 were injured in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon, according to the country's health ministry. The wounded included medics, in addition to women and children, the ministry said.
The Israeli military also struck targets across south Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.
Hezbollah did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since March 2, Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon.
Iran's Guards say they attacked US base in Jordan
Wednesday 9 September 2026 13:30 , Bryony Gooch
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by Iranian state media on Wednesday that they had attacked what they described as a US base in Jordan's Al Azraq with ballistic missiles, in retaliation for US attacks on Iranian oil tankers.
There was no immediate confirmation from Jordan.
Kremlin says cheaper Russian gas could ease Europe's pain amid rising prices
Wednesday 9 September 2026 13:20 , Bryony Gooch
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that European countries were paying the price for shunning Russian gas as energy costs surge and could be buying cheaper supplies from Moscow instead.
European natural gas prices have soared amid the war in Iran, reaching their highest level last week since late 2022, when the start of the Ukraine conflict prompted Europe to slash imports of Russian pipeline gas.
Benchmark European gas prices climbed to €75 per megawatt hour last week, more than double their level a year ago.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Europe was hurting itself by buying expensive gas on the spot market instead of opting for cheaper Russian options.
"Europeans should of course be looking for cheaper sources of energy. Russian gas, whether piped gas or liquefied natural gas, could long ago have become a cheaper option for them, although LNG is always sold at spot market prices," he told reporters on a daily conference call.
Europe's gas stores are around 67% full, compared with nearly 80% a year ago, the latest data from Gas Infrastructure Europe showed.
HSBC forecasts European inventories will reach 73% by November 1, the lowest level at that date since data collection began in 2009.
Russia's pipeline gas exports to Europe fell 44% last year to 18 billion cubic metres, the lowest since the mid-1970s after the closure of the Ukrainian transit route, according to Reuters calculations.
Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe peaked at around 180 bcm per year in 2018 and 2019.
Explosions on the Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines in 2022 also curtailed Russian gas exports to Europe.
One leg of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea remains undamaged.
"Based on common sense, of course, they (Europeans) could long ago have made use of Nord Stream. One of its strings remains intact and operational, and it could be brought back into service at very short notice," Peskov said.
Recap watch: 'Small potatoes': Trump says Iran conflict isn't a 'big thing' for US
Wednesday 9 September 2026 13:00 , Bryony Gooch
Ships passing through restricted areas will face sanctions, IRGC warns
Wednesday 9 September 2026 12:40 , Bryony Gooch
An IRGC spokesperson has warned that any ship passing through the restricted area of the Strait of Hormuz will face sanctions if there is no coordination with Iran.
They added the maritime restricted area extended from Chabahar into parts of the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.
Panama-flagged tanker struck by drone in Iraqi waters, port officials say
Wednesday 9 September 2026 12:20 , Bryony Gooch
A Panama-flagged tanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi fuel oil was struck by a drone in Iraqi territorial waters on Wednesday, two port officials said.
Iraqi rescue boats extinguished a fire aboard the tanker, New Andros, and there were no reports of casualties, port officials told Reuters.
Sunni Kurdish cleric killed in northwest Iran, Guards blame 'separatists'
Wednesday 9 September 2026 12:00 , Bryony Gooch
Sunni Kurdish cleric Mamosta Mohammad Nezhati was killed in northwestern Iran, the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement reported on Wednesday by the semi-official Mehr news agency.
The statement accused what it called “Zionist-American Kurdish separatist groups” of carrying out the attack.
The Guards' West Azerbaijan provincial command said the killing of the local cleric was an attempt to create divisions between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims and undermine security in the province.
In a Telegram post, the semi-official Fars news agency described Nezhati as a member of Basij, a paramilitary force linked to the Guards.
It quoted the Guards' statement as saying he had a long history of cooperation with Basij organisations for professors, seminarians and clerics.
His killing follows that of Molavi Mohammad Anvar Rigi, a Sunni Baluch Friday prayer leader in the southeastern border town of Mirjaveh, who was killed by unidentified gunmen in July.
In border provinces with large ethnic minority populations, such as Sistan-Baluchistan and the Kurdish-populated western provinces, Iran has long faced militancy targeting security forces and figures associated with the state.
Several merchant vessels hit by disabling fire in Gulf and Gulf of Oman
Wednesday 9 September 2026 11:40 , Bryony Gooch
Several merchant vessels in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman were hit by disabling fire during military activity in the region overnight, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Wednesday.
The British navy-affiliated UKMTO said it was unable to confirm any casualties or environmental impact.
Separately, UKMTO reported another incident on Wednesday, 24 nautical miles from Port Rashid, in the United Arab Emirates. It said a vessel was sighted listing while at anchor, possibly indicating it had taken on water following an attack by an unknown projectile.
On Tuesday, US Central Command forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers following attempted missile attacks on a US Navy warship over the previous two days.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday they had attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf in response to the US attack on the Iranian tankers.
The Guards said the 10 vessels had attempted to cross an area of the Strait of Hormuz that they described as "prohibited and unsafe".
Centcom denies Iranian attacks on warships
Wednesday 9 September 2026 11:24 , Bryony Gooch
The US Central Command dismissed reports Iranian forces had hit its warships operating in the Middle East and said all attempted attacks had failed, in a post on X on Wednesday.
"Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces have claimed they struck two US Navy destroyers operating in the Middle East. This is completely FALSE," CENTCOM said.
🚫 CLAIM: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces have claimed they struck two U.S. Navy destroyers operating in the Middle East. This is completely FALSE.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 9, 2026
✅ FACT: No U.S. Navy warship has been struck; all IRGC attempted attacks failed. Meanwhile, U.S. forces… pic.twitter.com/yfC4OcwZ1f
Pictured: Smoke billowing during clashes between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters in the Al-Kadha area
Wednesday 9 September 2026 11:20 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Iran will lose tankers for targeting US Navy ships, says Rubio
Wednesday 9 September 2026 11:00 , Bryony Gooch
European shares dip as oil nears $100
Wednesday 9 September 2026 10:30 , Bryony Gooch
European shares edged lower on Wednesday ahead of US inflation data, with Brent crude climbing to the cusp of key $100-per-barrel level as renewed tensions in the Middle East fanned inflation worries and curbed risk appetite.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.4 per cent at 646.84 points, as of 0810 GMT. Germany's DAX edged 0.5 per cent lower, London's FTSE lost 0.2 per cent, while France's CAC 40 slipped 0.6 per cent.
The Middle East conflict escalated this week after Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen launched strikes on several Saudi cities, drawing a key US ally further into the war. The latest attacks threaten to deepen disruptions to Middle East oil supplies, already strained by strikes on regional energy infrastructure and key shipping lanes.
Energy shares gained nearly 1 per cent as Brent crude prices traded close to $100, a level last seen in late July.
The surge in oil prices has reignited inflation concerns, reinforcing expectations that central banks may have to keep monetary policy tighter for longer.
Pentagon reacts after Iran claims to capture drone
Wednesday 9 September 2026 10:00 , Bryony Gooch
A Pentagon spokesperson said an underwater drone had "malfunctioned more than a day ago” after Iran claimed to capture an unscrewed submarine drone.
"It was surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations. The defective drone was an older model that neither collected sensitive data nor carried any classified sonar or radar equipment," the spokesperson said.
Recap: IRGC 'captured' US submarine
Wednesday 9 September 2026 09:40 , Bryony Gooch
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday it had captured a US uncrewed submarine at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, offering a rare glimpse into how underwater drones are being used in military operations.
Iranian state media said the vessel was a Dive-LD, a large autonomous underwater vehicle built by California defense firm Anduril. The 19-foot (5.8-metre) submersible can carry out missions including mine countermeasures, seabed mapping, intelligence gathering and the inspection of underwater infrastructure such as cables and pipelines, the company has said.
"We trapped one of the most modern, intelligent and unmanned submarines of the terrorist American army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. This submersible is equipped with the latest technologies," the Revolutionary Guards Navy said in a statement carried by Iranian state media.
Japan urges Iran to exercise ‘maximum restraint’ in its vessel attacks
Wednesday 9 September 2026 09:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi has urged Iran to exercise “maximum restraint” over its continued attacks on vessels during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday.
Motegi also expressed “deep concern” over renewed exchanges of attacks between the US and Iran and called on Tehran to show “maximum flexibility” to avoid prolonging the standoff with Washington, Mainichi reported.
He also reportedly stressed the importance of restoring free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, without vessels incurring additional costs.
US issues new Iran-related sanctions targeting airlines
Wednesday 9 September 2026 08:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The US has imposed fresh Iran-related sanctions on individuals and more than 30 entities, including several airlines.
A notice posted on the treasury department’s website lists a number of commercial and private airlines targeted by the sanctions, including Iran’s Ava Airlines, Mehr Airways and Taban Air.
Several foreign cargo service providers have also been sanctioned.
“Let this be a warning to anyone doing business with Iran’s remaining airlines, all of which we sanctioned today: You are at risk of being cut off from the global financial system,” US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said.
Anduril confirms loss of US submarine drone vessel
Wednesday 9 September 2026 08:33 , Bryony Gooch
Anduril confirmed the loss of one of its vessels after a US submarine drone malfunctioned, but downplayed the significance of the incident.
"Dive-LD is an attritable autonomous system, meaning it is designed from the outset to operate in dangerous environments where loss of the vehicle is an expected possibility," a company spokesperson said.
The US military is investing heavily in unmanned naval systems, including underwater and surface vessels, as it seeks cheaper ways to monitor vast areas of ocean, gather intelligence and track adversary ships and submarines without putting sailors at risk.
According to Anduril's website, Dive-LD can operate for up to 10 days without returning to base and is designed to dive to depths of as much as 6,000 metres (19,700 feet). Dive-LD units cost about $2.5 million each, U.S. military news site DefenseScoop reported in 2024.
Iran says it captured US submarine near Strait of Hormuz
Wednesday 9 September 2026 08:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran says it has captured a US Dive-LD unmanned submarine near the Strait of Hormuz.
“We trapped one of the most modern, intelligent and unmanned submarines of the terrorist American army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. This submersible is equipped with the latest technologies,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said.
The Pentagon said the drone had “malfunctioned more than a day ago”.
“It was surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations. The defective drone was an older model that neither collected sensitive data nor carried any classified sonar or radar equipment,” the spokesperson said.
“Dive-LD is an attritable autonomous system, meaning it is designed from the outset to operate in dangerous environments where loss of the vehicle is an expected possibility,” the California defence firm Anduril that makes Dive-LD said.
Iran signalling tougher response as US pressure mounts - report
Wednesday 9 September 2026 08:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran is signalling a tougher military response to the US as economic pressure mounts, analysts tell The New York Times.
“How do you regain the momentum? You escalate,” Farzan Sabet, an Iran analyst at the Geneva Graduate Institute, a research group told the outlet.
“It’s highly damaging, but at the same time, they hope it raises global oil prices or fully re-closes the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Mohammad Ali Shabani, an Iran analyst and editor of the regional news website Amwaj.media told the outlet: “All signs point to a make or break moment. I’m not sure the Iranians are going to wait until after the elections to be attacked if diplomacy fails.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it attacked 2 US vessels and 8 oil tankers
Wednesday 9 September 2026 07:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Wednesday that it had attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf in response to what they described as a US attack on five Iranian tankers, Iranian state media reported.
The Guard said they had also attacked 10 ships attempting to cross what they described as a “prohibited and unsafe” area of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump reiterates Iran has ‘no chance’ of getting a nuclear weapon
Wednesday 9 September 2026 07:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Donald Trump has reiterated that Iran has “no chance of getting” a nuclear weapon.
Speaking at an event in Washington, he said: “I will tell you, we’re right now fighting because we have a certain nation that wanted a nuclear weapon.”
“They were very close to getting it. And now they have no chance of getting it. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”
Iran says that it’s not pursuing nuclear weapons, and its program is entirely peaceful.
US Centcom releases footage of tanker sinking in Gulf of Oman
Wednesday 9 September 2026 07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
US Central Command has released footage showing an Iranian tanker sinking in the Gulf of Oman after it was “destroyed by Centcom forces” on Tuesday.
Centcom said the strike was carried out “in response to attempted attacks” on a US navy warship by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
M/T Riesco sinks in the Gulf of Oman, Sept. 8, after being destroyed by CENTCOM forces in response to attempted IRGC attacks on a U.S. Navy warship. pic.twitter.com/EkmG8uyMT9
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 9, 2026
Watch: Iran will lose tankers for targeting US Navy ships, says Rubio
Wednesday 9 September 2026 06:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar
South Korea sends inspection team to UAE to assess security conditions in the region
Wednesday 9 September 2026 06:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar
South Korea has sent an inspection team to the United Arab Emirates to assess security conditions in the region, its defence ministry said.
However, Seoul stressed that the mission does not mean it has decided to deploy troops. Last week, South Korea said it was weighing options for safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including the option of deploying troops.
A South Korean official earlier said that Iran had sought clarification through diplomatic channels after media reports suggested Seoul could play a role in security efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.
The presidential office also denied reports that the US had set a deadline for South Korea to send military assets to the strait.
Qatar says naval vessel fire brought under control
Wednesday 9 September 2026 06:09 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Qatar’s interior ministry said civil defence crews had brought a fire on a naval vessel at Al Wakrah port under control.
No injuries were reported.
Iran says it captured US submarine near Strait of Hormuz
Wednesday 9 September 2026 06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran says it has captured a US Dive-LD unmanned submarine near the Strait of Hormuz.
“We trapped one of the most modern, intelligent and unmanned submarines of the terrorist American army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. This submersible is equipped with the latest technologies,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said.
The Pentagon said the drone had “malfunctioned more than a day ago”.
“It was surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations. The defective drone was an older model that neither collected sensitive data nor carried any classified sonar or radar equipment,” the spokesperson said.
“Dive-LD is an attritable autonomous system, meaning it is designed from the outset to operate in dangerous environments where loss of the vehicle is an expected possibility,” the California defence firm Anduril that makes Dive-LD said.
Rubio says US will not let Iranian attacks go unanswered
Wednesday 9 September 2026 05:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Washington would respond to Iranian attacks on its naval forces.
“Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships. And for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers. And I think you’ll see that again today,” Rubio said.
Earlier, the US military destroyed “multiple” Iranian oil tankers after Iran twice attempted to strike an American navy warship with ballistic missiles.
The strikes threaten to further disrupt oil markets, with crude prices climbing towards $100 a barrel as fears grow over the impact of the escalating conflict on energy supplies.
Iran warns tankers near ports in Bahrain and Kuwait
Wednesday 9 September 2026 05:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran has warned oil tanker crews near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels, saying the ships could be targeted in retaliation for the US attacks.
The warning from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards came after the US military struck multiple Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Iran’s Kharg Island.
The developments come as Iran maintains a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments normally pass.
The US has also imposed a blockade of Iranian ports.
The latest escalation has already pushed oil prices sharply higher, with crude approaching $100 a barrel in early Asian trading on Wednesday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it attacked 2 US vessels and 8 oil tankers
Wednesday 9 September 2026 05:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Wednesday that it had attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf in response to what they described as a US attack on five Iranian tankers, Iranian state media reported.
The Guard said they had also attacked 10 ships attempting to cross what they described as a “prohibited and unsafe” area of the Strait of Hormuz.
Watch: Trump says Iran conflict isn't a 'big thing' for US
Wednesday 9 September 2026 04:40 , Rachel Dobkin
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Wednesday 9 September 2026 04:20 , Tom Barnes
The US war with Iran is likely to last another six months, according to former defence secretary Leon Panetta.
Six months after US-Israeli strikes against Iran, the war has reached a stalemate after a preliminary ceasefire plan unravelled.
Little progress has been made in diplomatic efforts to get the peace process back on track, after negotiations broke down in June.
Mr Panetta, who was defence secretary under President Barack Obama and has also served as director of the CIA, said in an interview that Donald Trump’s war in Iran risks becoming another “forever war in the Middle East”.
He told The Guardian: “It’s no mystery that the United States and Iran are caught in a terrible stalemate, in which there really are very few options available to bring this war to an end.”
US strikes Iranian tankers after Iran targets US warship
Wednesday 9 September 2026 04:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The US military has destroyed multiple Iranian oil tankers after Iran twice attempted to strike an American navy warship with ballistic missiles, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
US Central Command said American forces struck the vessels in the Gulf of Oman and near Iran’s Kharg Island after directing their crews to abandon ship.
The strikes came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles on two occasions over the past two days.
“The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed,” US Centcom said.
Iran War is costing Americans $100B in extra energy costs
Wednesday 9 September 2026 03:00 , Tom Barnes
The war in Iran is costing Americans $100 billion in extra energy costs — and that number is going up by $1 million every two minutes, according to an estimate from Brown University.
The Iran War Energy Cost Tracker from Brown’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs has tracked the price paid for gasoline and diesel since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.
That added cost boils down to about $763 per household, based on an estimated 131 million households nationwide.
US destroys five Iranian oil tankers
Wednesday 9 September 2026 02:01 , Rachel Dobkin
The US military has announced that it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers — four in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island — in retaliation for strikes on a Navy warship.
American forces “destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers” on Tuesday “after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days”, US Central Command wrote in a statement.
“The U.S. warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed”, CENTCOM said.
CENTCOM forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers, Sept. 8, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days. The U.S. warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and… pic.twitter.com/Gi8a2tloN1
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 8, 2026
Russia offers to mediate in Middle East crisis
Wednesday 9 September 2026 01:12 , Tom Barnes
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Moscow on Tuesday that Russia was ready to help resolve the situation in the Middle East.
Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia was keen to deepen cooperation with Russia, including within the OPEC+ alliance, during talks between the two countries' top diplomats.
Trump latest: Anxious Republicans watch from the sidelines as Trump keeps tight grip on cash and spotlight
Wednesday 9 September 2026 00:03 , Tom Barnes
Channeling a western persona, President Donald Trump is heading to Dallas for this week's Republican convention to rescue his party's prospects ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The unprecedented gathering begins Wednesday, with Trump aiming to rally his base by transforming the Nov. 3 vote into a direct assessment of his own record. Although his name will not appear on the ballot, he created the event to help GOP candidates.
However, with his approval ratings at record lows, uncertainty remains about whether his presence will energize Republican voters or mobilize the opposition.
Here’s what to expect:
Republicans watch from the sidelines as Trump holds back campaign cash
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Tuesday 8 September 2026 21:00 , Daniel Keane
The US war with Iran is likely to last another six months, according to former defence secretary Leon Panetta.
Six months after US-Israeli strikes against Iran, the war has reached a stalemate after a preliminary ceasefire plan unravelled.
Little progress has been made in diplomatic efforts to get the peace process back on track, after negotiations broke down in June.
Mr Panetta, who was defence secretary under President Barack Obama and has also served as director of the CIA, said in an interview that Donald Trump’s war in Iran risks becoming another “forever war in the Middle East”.
He told The Guardian: “It’s no mystery that the United States and Iran are caught in a terrible stalemate, in which there really are very few options available to bring this war to an end.”
Read our full story below.
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Pictured: Smoke rises from an Saudi Aramco distribution centre after attack
Tuesday 8 September 2026 20:00 , Daniel Keane
Satellite images taken earlier show the impact of a Houthi attack on a Saudi Aramco distribution centre.
Deadly airstrike on Iran wedding was likely US bomb missing its target, says report
Tuesday 8 September 2026 19:00 , Daniel Keane
The US defence ministry is investigating the strong possibility that an deadly airstrike on a wedding in Iran was the result of a US bomb missing a nearby target, according to a report.
Iranian authorities say the strike on the wedding last Tuesday killed at least four and wounded at least 68, as part of a wave of attacks as Washington and Tehran exchanged the heaviest strikes since July.
A person familiar with the operation has now told The Washington Post that the Pentagon is investigating the strike.
Investigators are also looking at the possibility that the explosion occurred after an air defence missile fell out of the sky, but the source said this explanation was highly unlikely.
Read our full story below.
Deadly airstrike on Iran wedding was likely US bomb missing its target, says report
Trump claims oil prices ‘will drop precipitously’
Tuesday 8 September 2026 18:00 , Daniel Keane
President Donald Trump has claimed that oil prices “will drop precipitously” once US forces succeed in Iran.
The US president is under growing pressure over rising energy prices and inflation at home ahead of midterm elections this November.
Brent crude hit a $99 high on Tuesday following Houthi attacks on energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.
“Oil prices will drop precipitously, like everything else is dropping (but more!), when we WIN the war with Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Three Dollars a gallon, but ultimately, below Two Dollars a gallon. It will all happen quickly, and Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon.”
Iran threatens to take pre-emptive strike with upgraded ballistic missiles
Tuesday 8 September 2026 17:00 , Daniel Keane
Iran has issued a fresh threat to the US over its newly upgraded ballistic missile, with officials warning that the nation "will take action against any threat, even before it is carried out."
The report by Iran’s state news agency on Monday highlighted comments broadcast on state television the previous day by the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei.
He praised the country's expanded arsenal and claimed a new missile had been "tested" against a US warship. However, it was unconfirmed whether the test involved the solid-fueled Qassem Basir featured in the new report.
Read our full story below.
Iran threatens to take pre-emptive strike with new ballistic missiles
UK publishes legislation for tougher sanctions on Iran over nuclear programme
Tuesday 8 September 2026 16:00 , Daniel Keane
Britain on Tuesday published legislation to introduce tougher sanctions on Iran, expanding trade restrictions and powers to target ships as part of what it described as a wider effort to curb Tehran's nuclear programme and other hostile activities.
The government said the measures would restrict Iran's access to the British financial system, broaden trade bans to include more goods, technology and services, and prohibit Iranian aircraft from landing in Britain unless exemptions apply.
The measures form part of plans the government announced last year following the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran under a so-called snapback mechanism.
Stephen Doughty, a Foreign Office minister, said in a written statement that the legislation "doubles down on our action to constrain Iran's nuclear ambitions" and would help ensure Iran was never able to acquire a nuclear weapon.
South Korea sends team to assess situation in Strait of Hormuz
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:00 , Daniel Keane
South Korea has sent an inspection team to assess the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz but no decision has been taken on sending troops, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.
The announcement follows a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump in August to scale back US-South Korea joint military exercises, in part because South Korea had declined to help Washington in the US-Iran war.
The South Korean team departed for the United Arab Emirates over the weekend and is expected to return as early as this week, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing the defence ministry.
West Bank 'on the brink of explosion' from 'unchecked expansion' of settlers, says French foreign minister
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:15 , James Reynolds
Announcing the latest sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot says the occupied territories are “on the brink of explosion”.
“This deleterious situation gravely undermines the dignity of the Palestinian people. It jeopardizes Israel's security, to which France remains steadfastly committed. It undermines the two-state solution, the only alternative to a permanent state of war,” he says in a post on social media.
“France cannot, through its trade, support a situation that threatens the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike, as well as peace and stability in the region. Europe must uphold the same imperative.”
La France va mettre fin au commerce avec les colonies israéliennes situées dans les Territoires palestiniens occupés, avec onze autres pays qui ont pris des engagements du même ordre.
— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) September 8, 2026
Pourquoi ?
Parce que la Cisjordanie est au bord de l'explosion : expansion effrénée de la… pic.twitter.com/mJStC3HgOk
Dozen countries to back, consider curbs on trade in goods from Israeli settlements in West Bank
Tuesday 8 September 2026 13:51 , James Reynolds
The foreign ministers of 12 countries said on Tuesday they would back or consider restrictions on trade in goods with Israeli settlements in the West Bank that are illegal under international law.
"The Government of Israel's actions in the West Bank are undermining the possibility of a two-State solution," the statement said.
"Today, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK confirm their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with their national procedures," it added.
The UK will stand up for what is right. pic.twitter.com/0jbDiQ7vVC
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) September 8, 2026
The latest: Iran-backed Houthis attack four Saudi cities in expansion of Middle East war as oil reaches $99
Tuesday 8 September 2026 13:30 , Reuters
Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthis attacked four cities in the south of US ally Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, wounding more than 70 people and setting oil installations ablaze in what appeared to be a major expansion of the six-month-old Middle East war.
The Houthis, who control most of Yemen's populated areas including the capital, said they had launched a broad operation deep into Saudi territory.
They used drones and missiles to strike a Saudi airbase in the southern city of Khamis Mushait, and targets belonging to Saudi Arabia's state oil company in nearby Abha, Najran on the Yemeni border and Jazan, a major Red Sea port city that houses a large refinery and power plant.
Saudi authorities described blazes at the sites and said women and children were among the 73 people hurt. The reports of such large numbers of wounded suggested the attacks were among the biggest carried out against Saudi Arabia since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in February.
Houthi-controlled media reported later on Tuesday that Saudi warplanes had carried out four airstrikes in Yemen's Jubah district east of the capital Sanaa.
After a month of calm in August, fighting in the Gulf has resumed, with Iran and the US exchanging fire, sending global oil prices back up to levels unseen since July. Brent crude prices were up more than 2% on Tuesday, above $99 a barrel.
Watch: Smoke billows from burning trucks on Yemen-Saudi border after claimed Houthi attack
Tuesday 8 September 2026 13:00 , James Reynolds
Trump latest: Anxious Republicans watch from the sidelines as Trump keeps tight grip on cash and spotlight
Tuesday 8 September 2026 12:30 , James Reynolds
Channeling a western persona, President Donald Trump is heading to Dallas for this week's Republican convention to rescue his party's prospects ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The unprecedented gathering begins Wednesday, with Trump aiming to rally his base by transforming the Nov. 3 vote into a direct assessment of his own record. Although his name will not appear on the ballot, he created the event to help GOP candidates.
However, with his approval ratings at record lows, uncertainty remains about whether his presence will energize Republican voters or mobilize the opposition.
Here’s what to expect:
Republicans watch from the sidelines as Trump holds back campaign cash
Iraq in talks with US, Qatari firms on Basra-Baniyas pipeline
Tuesday 8 September 2026 11:40 , Reuters
Iraq is negotiating with a consortium of U.S. and Qatari companies over the proposed Basra-Baniyas oil pipeline, Iraq's oil minister said on Tuesday.
The minister added that Baghdad remained committed to its OPEC production quota and would not exceed output of 4.2 million barrels per day.
Russia offers to mediate in Middle East crisis
Tuesday 8 September 2026 11:20 , James Reynolds
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Moscow on Tuesday that Russia was ready to help resolve the situation in the Middle East.
Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia was keen to deepen cooperation with Russia, including within the OPEC+ alliance, during talks between the two countries' top diplomats.
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Tuesday 8 September 2026 10:40 , James Reynolds
The US war with Iran is likely to last another six months, according to former defence secretary Leon Panetta.
Mr Panetta, who was defence secretary under President Barack Obama and has also served as director of the CIA, said in an interview that Donald Trump’s war in Iran risks becoming another “forever war in the Middle East”.
He told The Guardian: “It’s no mystery that the United States and Iran are caught in a terrible stalemate, in which there really are very few options available to bring this war to an end.”
He added: “I think the likelihood is this war is going to continue for another six months without being resolved.”
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Iran War is costing Americans $100B in extra energy costs
Tuesday 8 September 2026 10:00 , James Reynolds
The war in Iran is costing Americans $100 billion in extra energy costs — and that number is going up by $1 million every two minutes, according to an estimate from Brown University.
The Iran War Energy Cost Tracker from Brown’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs has tracked the price paid for gasoline and diesel since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.
That added cost boils down to about $763 per household, based on an estimated 131 million households nationwide.
The figures in full:
Iran War is costing Americans $100B in extra energy costs
Catch up: Iran says improved ballistic missile shows it will take preemptive action against threats
Tuesday 8 September 2026 09:20 , James Reynolds
Iran state media on Monday said a ballistic missile with improved capabilities was demonstrating a new doctrine: Tehran “will take action against any threat, even before it is carried out.”
The report by Iran’s state news agency repeatedly cited comments aired on state TV the day before by the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, who boasted of new missile capability and claimed it had been “tested” against a U.S. warship.
But it was not clear whether what was tested was the missile the new report described, the solid-fueled Qassem Basir.
Read the full story:
Iran says improved ballistic missile shows it will take preemptive action against threats
In pictures: Houthi attack on trucks coming from Saudi territory
Tuesday 8 September 2026 08:40 , James Reynolds
Recap: Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says 73 people injured in Houthi attacks
Tuesday 8 September 2026 08:00 , James Reynolds
Iran-backed Houthi militia attacked several cities in Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Tuesday, in a further sign that the conflict risks spreading into a wider regional war as diplomatic progress stalls.
Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said that a number of energy facilities and utilities in the kingdom's southern region had also been attacked by Yemen's Houthis, causing fires at several sites and temporarily halting some operations.
A spokesperson for the Saudi coalition said they would respond firmly to the attacks that targeted civilian and economic entities.
Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 07:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Neveen and Mohammed had recently married and were hoping to get their life back on track after nearly three years of Israeli attacks. But in the space of just minutes, those hopes were once again shattered, Alex Croft reports.
More here.
‘Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed’
Yemeni Houthis to announce 'broad military operation' into Saudi territory
Tuesday 8 September 2026 07:17 , James Reynolds
The military spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthi rebels says the group will announce a broad military operation deep into Saudi territory.
More as we have it...
Smoke rises from a burning truck during what the Houthis say was an attack targeting trucks coming from Saudi territory
Tuesday 8 September 2026 07:07 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Houthi attacks injure 73 and disrupt Saudi energy facilities
Tuesday 8 September 2026 07:06 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Operations at some energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, were halted this morning following attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis that wounded more than 70 people, Saudi authorities said.
Fires erupted at the sites and several people were injured as firefighting and other emergency teams rushed to the scenes to contain the blazes and assess the damage, the Saudi energy ministry said.
"The concerned authorities are dealing with the repercussions of the attacks," the ministry added.
"The needed measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the facilities and workers and the continuation of work according to the approved operational plans."
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said in an earlier statement that at least 73 people were injured in Houthi attacks on the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.
Congressman says Iran war 'absolute quagmire'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US Congressman Jason Crow said that the US has been drawn into a predictable Middle East quagmire.
"It was as predictable on day one as it is today," Crow said in a video posted on X.
“This is the most predictable thing that we could’ve imagined: you get involved in another war in the Middle East, that it would be a quagmire, that our adversaries will try to draw us out."
https://x.com/RepJasonCrow/status/2097066428947984631
Senator says Iran war costing Americans $1m every two minutes
Tuesday 8 September 2026 06:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Democratic Senator Mark Warner has claimed that the US war on Iran has cost Americans $100bn and was adding another $1m every two minutes.
“It has now been documented that the Iran war of choice that Donald Trump started has cost Americans a hundred billion dollars,” Warner said in a video posted on X.
He said the US was “nowhere” in terms of achieving the goals Trump had laid out for the war as he pointed to record-high fuel prices.
“This is what happens when you start a war of choice with no plan, no strategy, no allies, and no way to get out,” Warner said.
Iran hints at preemptive action as it touts ballistic missile
Tuesday 8 September 2026 06:21 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iranian state media said a ballistic missile with improved capabilities demonstrates Tehran's shifting stance toward taking preemptive action against threats.
A senior Iranian official earlier said the new missile capability had been "tested" against a US warship over the weekend. But it was not clear whether what was tested was the missile the new report described, the solid-fueled Qassem Basir.
On Saturday, the US said it struck Iranian oil tankers in response to ballistic missiles launched at US warships.
Iran's messaging in recent days has become more assertive, and yesterday's report said the Qassem Basir marks "a turning point in Iran's defense strategy."
It described the missile as having greater range and accuracy and a half-ton warhead.
UAE says 'no single state' should control Hormuz
Tuesday 8 September 2026 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A UAE senior official has said that "no single state" should control the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran said it plans to announce a new "exclusion zone" near the waterway aimed at vessels intending to transit.
"Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity," Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said at a forum of world leaders in Abu Dhabi.
Gargash said Iran should face consequences for threatening oil tankers and commercial vessels in the strait with mines, drones or missiles.
"Using an international waterway as an instrument of coercion is unacceptable," he added. The UAE, a close US ally, has repeatedly come under Iranian missile and drone fire throughout the war.
Hormuz traffic slows after Iran threatens retaliation
Tuesday 8 September 2026 05:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed at the start of this week, after Iran threatened on Monday to retaliate for any new US attacks.
The number of commodity vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz totalled seven yesterday, compared with eight on the previous day, Kpler data showed this morning.
Iran had warned that energy infrastructure across the Gulf, including US oil and gas interests, was vulnerable.
Oil rises as Mideast conflict heightens supply worries
Tuesday 8 September 2026 05:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices extended gains today as risks of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East grew after Iran threatened to retaliate against any new U.S. attacks on its assets, heightening worries over supply disruption.
Brent crude futures climbed 34 cents, or 0.35 per cent, to $97.34 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $92.63 a barrel, up $1.15, or 1.26 per cent.
Iran raises gas price again for its heaviest users
Tuesday 8 September 2026 05:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran introduced a higher price for its heaviest gasoline users, state media reported, the second such increase since December.
Gas price hikes can be sensitive, as seen in 2019 when an increase led to nationwide protests and a deadly crackdown.
The government did not specifically mention the war with the US as the reason for this latest increase but cited the "current situation."
Under the new system, people buying more than their quota of 110 liters of gasoline a month now must pay 100,000 rials (about 7 cents) per liter, or twice as much as they have been paying since December.
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon kill at least 12
Tuesday 8 September 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel carried out airstrikes on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Rumman, killing at least 12 people, including a paramedic, four women and two children, the health ministry said.
The strikes came during a new round of escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel's military said it struck several Hezbollah militants it accused of transferring weapons to Kfar Rumman.
The military also said it was reviewing the claim that "several uninvolved civilians were harmed" in overnight strikes across southern Lebanon, which it said were in response to Hezbollah militants launching explosive drones against soldiers in the area of the Ali Taher ridge.
Iran threatens US with maritime exclusion zone
Tuesday 8 September 2026 04:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran has threatened the US with "economic warfare" and said it had fired an advanced missile at US warships, underscoring the risks of further escalation in the war only days after both sides traded blows again.
Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, reissued dual economic and military threats on X.
"In recent days, Washington has received a clear warning from Iran’s new missiles. Economic warfare will be met by a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf to the blockade perimeter. The operational posture toward US warships and bases has been fundamentally recalibrated," Rezaei said.
Rezaei was likely referring to the Qassem Basir ballistic missile that Iranian media reported was fired at US warships near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said its warships evaded any missile attacks.
Houthis say Saudi Arabia struck Yemen prison, killing child and 6 others
Tuesday 8 September 2026 04:31 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Houthi rebels in Yemen accused Saudi Arabia of striking a prison in the country's north, killing seven, including a child, as tensions escalate between the Iran-backed group and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.
The strike on the Central Corrective Facility in the strategic city of Hazm in Jawf province also wounded at least seven people, including a woman, said Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry.
The prison's warden told the Houthi al-Masirah news channel 35 prisoners and a woman who was visiting her husband were trapped under the rubble.
Strait of Hormuz shipping drops, Trump claims the waterway is 'open'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 03:00 , Suha Kidwai
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz dropped by 28 per cent last week, falling to 77 vessels as security concerns continue to disrupt Persian Gulf trade routes, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
Beyond declining overall traffic, Kpler observed a distinct shift in navigation patterns. Between September 4 and September 6, 21 out of 28 transiting ships bypassed international corridors to use Iran’s unilateral routing scheme.
The data contradicts claims from US president Donald Trump, who has repeatedly asserted that the waterway is "open" and under total US control following mine-clearing operations earlier last week.
Maritime monitors note that while international shipping lanes are technically navigable, traffic remains severely depressed compared to pre-war levels, with commercial operators increasingly forced onto Iranian-managed routes to avoid security risks.
Iraqi diplomat urges trade and tourism boost with Iran’s Ilam province
Tuesday 8 September 2026 02:00 , Suha Kidwai
Iraq’s consul general in Kermanshah, Saadoun al-Saedi, has called for expanded commercial and tourism links with Iran’s Ilam province, citing strong geographical and cultural ties.
Speaking with Ilam Governor Ahmad Karami on Monday, al-Saedi emphasised that shared border heritage provides a strong framework to deepen economic, trade, and security cooperation.
The diplomatic push comes despite mounting US financial pressure on Iraqi banks aimed at curbing cross-border capital flows to Tehran.
Al-Saedi noted that efforts are underway to expand cross-border trade, urging regional officials from both nations to leverage proximity to drive commercial growth and regional stability.
Houthis threaten retaliation against Saudi Arabia following air strikes
Tuesday 8 September 2026 01:00 , Suha Kidwai
Continued Saudi military strikes against the country "will not go unanswered," Yemeni Armed Forces general Yahya Saree has said,
Speaking on Monday, Saree accused Saudi Arabia of ramping up its military campaign alongside an ongoing naval and air blockade.
He pointed to recent bombardments in Al Jawf governorate, alleging that Saudi forces are arming local proxies and conducting widespread aerial surveillance.
Alongside the warnings follow a sharp rise in regional hostilities following months of fragile truce.
Riyadh has not officially commented on the retaliation threats.
Tehran accuses IAEA of bias over calls for strategic nuclear data during war
Tuesday 8 September 2026 00:00 , Suha Kidwai
State-linked Iranian outlet Nournews has launched a fierce attack on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, accusing the agency of taking sides by demanding sensitive nuclear data while refusing to condemn US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian facilities.
Grossi told a Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Monday that the IAEA’s inability to verify safeguards obligations stems from a severe lack of information and access.
However, Nournews has argued that the loss of access was caused directly by enemy bombardment.
Tehran maintains that demanding peacetime transparency without providing security guarantees or acknowledging the physical destruction of safeguarded infrastructure reveals systemic bias within the UN watchdog.
Republicans in battleground states are ditching Trump from their campaign websites: reports
Monday 7 September 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds
A number of Republican candidates facing tight races in November’s midterm elections have dropped mentions of President Donald Trump from their campaign websites, according to reports.
The president’s approval rating stands at just 33 percent in the latest Financial Times/Focaldata survey, with respondents again expressing concern over the state of the economy and the impact of Trump’s ongoing war with Iran on domestic gas prices.
Read the full report:
Republicans removing Trump from midterms campaign websites: reports
The latest: Tehran sets up potential clash with US Navy through ‘exclusion zone’ in Strait of Hormuz
Monday 7 September 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds
Iran has said it will unveil new sanctions for ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following a weekend of renewed exchanges with the United States, casting fresh doubt on progress towards an end to the six month conflict.
Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, told state TV on Sunday that Tehran will announce a new ‘exclusion zone’ outside of the waterway in the coming days.
He said any ship seen entering the new restricted zone would be added to a sanctions list, reiterating that the waterway would only fully open again once the Americans “stop the sabotage, threats and attacks on Iran”.
Iran and the United States traded fire again over the weekend, forcing oil prices back up to $93 per barrel and driving Hormuz traffic down to its lowest since May.
The US claimed strikes on three Iranian oil tankers, including one off the coast of Kharg Island, after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two American naval vessels.
What happened in suspected US strike which hit Iran wedding?
Monday 7 September 2026 21:00 , James Reynolds
At least five people were killed in a suspected US attack that hit a wedding in Iran after Tehran and Washington exchanged the heaviest strikes between them since July.
The Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate the incident, calling for “an independent, impartial, thorough, and effective investigation” due to the “civilian character of the location”.
Iran has accused the US of “war crimes”, but the US maintains that it does not target civilians. Below we look at how the attack took place and what both parties have said about it.
Here’s what we know so far:
What happened in suspected US strike which hit Iran wedding killing five people?
In focus: ‘Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed. I’m lucky to be alive’
Monday 7 September 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds
Neveen and Mohammed had recently married and were hoping to get their life back on track after nearly three years of Israeli attacks. But in the space of just minutes, those hopes were once again shattered, Alex Croft reports
‘Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed’
In depth: Iranian death row prisoner smuggles out desperate plea to the world: Do not forget about us
Monday 7 September 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
Exclusive: From behind the bars of a brutal Iranian prison, a political dissident awaiting execution describes life behind bars – and says the war with the US has made carrying out executions easier for the regime. Alex Croft reports
Iranian death row prisoner smuggles out plea to the world: Do not forget about us
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Monday 7 September 2026 18:00 , James Reynolds
The US war with Iran is likely to last another six months, according to former defence secretary Leon Panetta.
Six months after US-Israeli strikes against Iran, the war has reached a stalemate after a preliminary ceasefire plan unravelled. Little progress has been made in diplomatic efforts to get the peace process back on track, after negotiations broke down in June.
Mr Panetta, who was defence secretary under President Barack Obama and has also served as director of the CIA, said in an interview that Donald Trump’s war in Iran risks becoming another “forever war in the Middle East”.
He told The Guardian: “It’s no mystery that the United States and Iran are caught in a terrible stalemate, in which there really are very few options available to bring this war to an end.”
In full:
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Goldman Sachs warns oil could hit $120 a barrel amid Hormuz attacks
Monday 7 September 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Oil prices could surge as high as $120 per barrel if attacks on Middle East shipping do not stop, Goldman Sachs has warned.
This would be the highest oil prices have hit since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on 28 February. Brent crude, the international benchmark, peaked at $114 per barrel on 4 May.
“Events over the last few days do suggest that the risk of shipping disruptions broadening and intensifying is an important one,” said Daan Struyven, co-head of global commodities research at the investment banking firm, in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Monday.
Goldman Sachs warns oil could surge to $120 a barrel if attacks on Hormuz continue
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
