The US is pushing for defence companies to “dramatically” accelerate weapons production as the Iran war drains through their missile supplies, it is understood.
Deputy defence secretary Steve Feinberg gave companies three weeks to lay out how they would “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities.”
“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Mr Feinberg added in the memo, which was obtained by The Washington Post.
“We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”
It comes as the head of Iran’s supreme national security council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, said the Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until the US meet six conditions, including ending the war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq forever.
It comes as the UAE condemned an Iranian missile attack on its carrier as it passed through the Strait yesterday.
State news agency WAM initially reported ADNOC as saying one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early on Saturday and that the situation was under control.
Key Points
- US military pushes companies to ‘dramatically accelerate’ weapons production
- The six demands Iran has for Strait of Hormuz to be opened
- UAE oil tanker attacked by missile in Strait of Hormuz
- Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign new defence agreement
- Tehran issues warning to Saudi Arabia amid Nato-style defence pact
US military pushes companies to ‘dramatically accelerate’ weapons production as Iran war burns through supply, memo says
09:43 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
With the Iran war draining U.S. weapons stockpiles, the Pentagon is reportedly leaning hard on defense companies to bump up production — and fast.
In a memo on Wednesday, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg gave companies three weeks to lay out how they would “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities.”
“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg added in the memo, which was obtained by The Washington Post. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”
Pentagon pushes to ‘dramatically’ speed production as Iran war burns through weapons
What compensation does Iran want from the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
09:00 , Arpan Rai
The head of Iran’s supreme national security council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, has said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until the US meets six conditions.
In comments carried by Iran’s IRNA news agency on Saturday, Zolghadr laid out his terms.
Included in full, in his words, these were:
- Never threaten Iran with any language or insult the sanctities of this nation
- End the war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq forever
- Lift the naval blockade and withdraw its military forces (naval and air) from around Iran
- Pay the damages of the two wars of aggression and imposition on Iran without any reduction or reduction
- Lift the cruel and illegal sanctions against the Iranian nation
- Unconditionally release the frozen and stolen assets of the Iranian people
Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs seeking ‘off-ramp’ from Iran war, report says
08:35 , Arpan Rai
President Donald Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dan Caine, is seeking an “off-ramp “ from the ongoing war in Iran, according to a new report.
Caine has privately told other top administration officials that the country needs to find a way to exit the war, according to CNN, which cited three sources familiar with the matter.
Despite Trump claiming throughout the war that a peace deal, which would include his demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon, was within reach, fighting has continued for more than five months.
Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs seeking ‘off-ramp’ from Iran war, report says
Iran says strait won't open until the US ‘corrects’ behaviour
08:29 , Arpan Rai
Iran's politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States “corrects its behavior," issuing new demands that could shake up talks on a deal to manage the waterway and traffic on it.
Iran's state broadcaster published the statement by the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
The U.S. must never threaten Iran again, the statement said, and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region.
The U.S. must lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It also must “completely compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release frozen assets.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S., which has wanted an acceptable deal first on the strait before ending the blockade.
Fire extinguished at Aramco refinery in Jazan, Saudi Arabia says
08:13 , Arpan Rai
Firefighters extinguished a fire that broke out early on Sunday at a facility at Aramco's Jazan refinery in southwestern Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Energy Ministry said, adding that there were no injuries.
Aramco's industrial security teams had brought the fire under control and the relevant authorities were completing procedures to deal with the incident, the ministry said on X. It did not say what caused the fire.
Jazan is on the Red Sea near the border with Yemen.
The Jazan refinery processes 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day and produces refined products including gasoline and ultra-light sulfur diesel.
Aramco shut down the refinery on 27 July following an attack by Yemen's Houthi militants that damaged the plant's Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) complex and tank farm area, according to a note from consultancy IIR seen by Reuters.
The Houthis said at the time they had struck Aramco sites in Jazan and Yanbu.
Iraq discusses oil export arrangement with Iran, minister says
07:54 , Arpan Rai
Iraq is in talks with Iran on an arrangement to allow Iraqi oil exports, but the mechanism has not yet been activated, the country's oil minister Basim Mohammed said on Saturday.
He gave no details on the proposed route, expected volumes, or a timeline for the arrangement.
Iraq currently produces about 2.7 million barrels per day and exports roughly half of that amount, the minister said during a press conference, adding that export capacity this month is capped at 1.5 million to 1.75 million bpd.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
07:43 , Arpan Rai
As the US, Iran and Oman edge towards an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, months of insecurity and disruption are leaving millions more vulnerable to hunger in Yemen.
The economic fallout from the regional conflict has driven up food and fuel prices, while more than four months of conflict with Iran has driven renewed escalation in Yemen, compounding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
More than half the population were already facing hunger, but slow progress from world leaders to re-open the Strait has caused months of disruption to global food and energy supplies, disrupting humanitarian aid operations.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia's defence pact technically same as Nato Article 5, Turkish minister says
07:13 , Arpan Rai
A defence pact signed between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is technically the same as Nato's Article 5 mutual defence agreement, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday, adding the accord was not targeting Iran.
Fidan also said Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to see the alliance expand, and that Egypt was a potential candidate to join, among others.
The regional powers signed the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" on Friday, wedding Sunni Muslim US allies alarmed at a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters.
In a joint statement, they said the accord intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all.
UAE oil tanker attacked by missile in Strait of Hormuz
06:56 , Arpan Rai
The United Arab Emirates condemned an Iranian missile attack on its carrier as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz today, accusing Tehran of "acts of piracy".
State news agency WAM initially reported ADNOC as saying one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early on Saturday and that the situation was under control.
The UAE Foreign Ministry later condemned what it called "the hostile Iranian attack" on an ADNOC vessel.
Neither statement gave details on the tanker, its cargo or possible damage. No injuries were reported.
The ministry said the attack violated a U.N. Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of "acts of piracy" by targeting commercial shipping and using the waterway as a tool of economic pressure.
It called on Iran to halt the attacks and reopen the strait fully and unconditionally.
Turkey says its defence deal with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is not aimed at any third country
06:15 , Arpan Rai
A defence agreement that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed on Friday is not aimed against any third country, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said.
It says an attack on one would be considered an attack on all three.
Fidan told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency on Saturday that the countries do not view any state as an adversary unless it takes hostile action against them: “We don’t have anything written down — nothing we’ve signed – that defines a common threat.”
Asked how the mutual defense mechanism would work, Fidan said a member would formally request help and the two countries’ assistance could range from intelligence-sharing to logistics support or the deployment of military units.
The mechanism would establish a secretariat to be based in Saudi Arabia, Fidan said.
He said other nations, which he did not name, have expressed interest in joining the agreement, adding that he expects Egypt, which he described as a “natural partner,” to participate “at the next stage.”
What compensation does Iran want from the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
05:40 , Arpan Rai
The head of Iran’s supreme national security council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, has said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until the US meets six conditions.
In comments carried by Iran’s IRNA news agency on Saturday, Zolghadr laid out his terms.
Included in full, in his words, these were:
- Never threaten Iran with any language or insult the sanctities of this nation
- End the war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq forever
- Lift the naval blockade and withdraw its military forces (naval and air) from around Iran
- Pay the damages of the two wars of aggression and imposition on Iran without any reduction or reduction
- Lift the cruel and illegal sanctions against the Iranian nation
- Unconditionally release the frozen and stolen assets of the Iranian people
Pentagon urges defence industry to hurry up making weapons
05:26 , Arpan Rai
The Pentagon has asked the US defence industry to ramp up production of weapons amid reports of depleted stockpiles due to the war in Iran, according to a memo.
The Washington Post reports that secretary Steve Feinberg told industry leaders on Wednesday that they had 3 weeks to bring together plants to “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities”.
“We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now,” he was reported to have said.
Iran says deal on Strait of Hormuz is close but not enough to open the waterway
04:53 , Arpan Rai
Iran said on Saturday that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, and the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were "very close" to an agreement on a new shipping route through the strait, but reopening it would depend on other conditions, including US compensation to Iran.
The secretary of Iran's top national security body, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, listed other demands including ending US threats against Iran, stopping aggression against Iran and its Lebanese, Palestinian, Yemeni and Iraqi allies, lifting a blockade and sanctions on Iran and freeing Iranian assets.
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating global biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
04:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The economic ramifications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are much discussed. But so far, the risk of ecological damage following a long blockade of ships has been overlooked.
Our recent research shows that the more than 1,500 commercial vessels that have been laid up in the Persian/Arabian Gulf since February pose a significant environmental threat because they have been accumulating marine biofouling species on their hulls.
As the strait reopens, these ships may spread these organisms to ports they visit, potentially causing an international biosecurity “super-spreader” event.
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
US military pushes companies to ‘dramatically accelerate’ weapons production as Iran war burns through supply, memo says
04:14 , Arpan Rai
With the Iran war draining U.S. weapons stockpiles, the Pentagon is reportedly leaning hard on defense companies to bump up production — and fast.
In a memo on Wednesday, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg gave companies three weeks to lay out how they would “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities.”
“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg added in the memo, which was obtained by The Washington Post. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”
Pentagon pushes to ‘dramatically’ speed production as Iran war burns through weapons
Fire extinguished at Aramco refinery in Jazan, Saudi Arabia says
04:02 , Arpan Rai
Firefighters extinguished a fire that broke out early on Sunday at a facility at Aramco's Jazan refinery in southwestern Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Energy Ministry said, adding that there were no injuries.
Aramco's industrial security teams had brought the fire under control and the relevant authorities were completing procedures to deal with the incident, the ministry said on X. It did not say what caused the fire.
Jazan is on the Red Sea near the border with Yemen.
The Jazan refinery processes 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day and produces refined products including gasoline and ultra-light sulfur diesel.
Aramco shut down the refinery on 27 July following an attack by Yemen's Houthi militants that damaged the plant's Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) complex and tank farm area, according to a note from consultancy IIR seen by Reuters.
The Houthis said at the time they had struck Aramco sites in Jazan and Yanbu.
Iran says strait won't open until the US ‘corrects’ behaviour
04:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Iran's politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States “corrects its behavior," issuing new demands that could shake up talks on a deal to manage the waterway and traffic on it.
Iran's state broadcaster published the statement by the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
The U.S. must never threaten Iran again, the statement said, and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region.
The U.S. must lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It also must “completely compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release frozen assets.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S., which has wanted an acceptable deal first on the strait before ending the blockade.
Two Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon explosion as military announces first deaths since fragile Hezbollah truce
03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in southern Lebanon on Thursday, marking the first Israeli fatalities since a fragile truce between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah was implemented in June.
Four additional soldiers sustained serious injuries, the military said. The deaths had been reported by Israeli media the previous day.
An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously in line with army policy, stated that "an explosion was detonated" as the soldiers entered a site in the village of Majdal Zoun, adding that the nature of the explosive device was under investigation.
Two Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon explosion after fragile Hezbollah truce
UAE oil tanker attacked by missile in Strait of Hormuz
02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The United Arab Emirates condemned an Iranian missile attack on its carrier as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz today, accusing Tehran of "acts of piracy".
State news agency WAM initially reported ADNOC as saying one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early on Saturday and that the situation was under control.
The UAE Foreign Ministry later condemned what it called "the hostile Iranian attack" on an ADNOC vessel.
Neither statement gave details on the tanker, its cargo or possible damage. No injuries were reported.
The ministry said the attack violated a U.N. Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of "acts of piracy" by targeting commercial shipping and using the waterway as a tool of economic pressure.
It called on Iran to halt the attacks and reopen the strait fully and unconditionally.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
As the US, Iran and Oman edge towards an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, months of insecurity and disruption are leaving millions more vulnerable to hunger in Yemen.
The economic fallout from the regional conflict has driven up food and fuel prices, while more than four months of conflict with Iran has driven renewed escalation in Yemen, compounding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
More than half the population were already facing hunger, but slow progress from world leaders to re-open the Strait has caused months of disruption to global food and energy supplies, disrupting humanitarian aid operations.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Watch: Trump says he would rather make deal to end Iran war because he 'doesn't want to kill people'
Sunday 9 August 2026 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Pentagon urges defence industry to hurry up making weapons
Saturday 8 August 2026 23:56 , James Reynolds
The Pentagon has asked the US defence industry to ramp up production of weapons amid reports of depleted stockpiles due to the war in Iran, according to a memo.
The Washington Post reports that secretary Steve Feinberg told industry leaders on Wednesday that they had 3 weeks to bring together plants to “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities”.
“We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now,” he was reported to have said.
Trump says voters are angry with Republicans – but not him – as midterms near
Saturday 8 August 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
President Donald Trump acknowledged that the odds are stacked against him in the upcoming midterm election, saying voters are angry with Republicans – yet still maintained that he was exempt from their growing frustrations.
With roughly three months until the midterms, the president and his allies are stumping for Republican candidates and tearing down Democratic policies in the hopes of maintaining the GOP’s narrow majority in Congress. But it’s an uphill battle for Trump – who can no longer appear on the ballot – as he faces record-low approval ratings and blame for higher costs due to the unpopular war with Iran.
“The question is, will they vote? Because a lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you,” Trump told Punchbowl News in an interview that aired Friday.
Trump says voters are angry with Republicans – but not him – as midterms near
Editorial: A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears – but Iran now holds all the cards
Saturday 8 August 2026 22:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
As far as can be judged, there have been no direct talks between the United States and Iran for at least a month. But peace, of sorts, may shortly be at hand again.
In recent weeks, highly motivated and constructive talks between Iran and Oman, the two nations on either side of the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway, have been taking place. These discussions have been brokered by another party with vested interests, Qatar, which relies on gas exports through the Strait.
Read more here:
A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears – but Iran now holds all the cards
Iran says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until US meets six demands
Saturday 8 August 2026 21:59 , James Reynolds
Iran’s top security official has said the Strait of Hormuz would remain shut until the US meets six demands, including compensation for the war.
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday that the US must end all of its military interventions across the region before the strait can reopen fully to traffic.
He also demanded that all US forces pull back from around Iran, that Washington should compensate Tehran for “the two wars of aggression”, and that it should lift its sanctions.
Iran says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until US meets six demands
Iran's president says now is best time for an agreement- Iranian media
Saturday 8 August 2026 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Iran president Masoud Pezeshkian said now is the best time for an agreement because Iran is “strong and united and seen as victorious in war,” Iranian media reported.
What compensation does Iran want from the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 8 August 2026 18:50 , James Reynolds
The head of Iran’s supreme national security council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, has said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until the US meets six conditions.
In comments carried by Iran’s IRNA news agency on Saturday, Zolghadr laid out his terms.
Included in full, in his words, these were:
1 - Never threaten Iran with any language or insult the sanctities of this nation.
2- End the war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq forever.
3- Lift the naval blockade and withdraw its military forces (naval and air) from around Iran.
4 - Pay the damages of the two wars of aggression and imposition on Iran without any reduction or reduction.
5 - Lift the cruel and illegal sanctions against the Iranian nation.
6- Unconditionally release the frozen and stolen assets of the Iranian people.
The latest: Iran says Hormuz deal is close... but will not reopen the waterway
Saturday 8 August 2026 18:23 , James Reynolds
Iran said on Saturday that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, while the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there.
Agreement between Iran and Oman over the strait is seen as vital to a wider deal to end the war that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
A US official had said on Friday that Washington anticipated an agreement soon between Iran and Oman so that normal oil traffic could resume.
And Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and Oman were "very close" to agreement on a new shipping route, but that it depended on other conditions, including US compensation.
Meanwhile the UAE said on Saturday that Iran had attacked a carrier affiliated with its state oil company as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, with no injuries reported.
Yemen's military attacks Iran-backed Houthis
Saturday 8 August 2026 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The attacks were in response to the Houthis’ recent strikes in central and eastern Yemen. Col. Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for Yemen’s military, said the attacks targeted the rebels’ “sites and capabilities” on multiple front lines, without elaborating further.
He said the attacks were aimed at defending the military's security, marking a major escalation since a truce in 2022 largely halted fighting.
The country’s civil war pits the Iran-backed Houthis against a Saudi-led coalition allied with Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
On Friday, United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg urged the parties to exercise restraint.
“Yemen today faces a greater risk of renewed large-scale conflict than at any point since the UN-brokered truce of April 2022,” he said in a statement.
US to lift Iran blockade once deal is announced, official says
Saturday 8 August 2026 17:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has repeatedly signaled that a deal to open the strait could be close, only to have Iran deny that talks are under way. It was unclear whether the latest flurry of negotiations would yield a more lasting arrangement.
"There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon," a US official told Reuters on Friday.
"Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports.
"As always, U.S. actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments," the official said.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said on Saturday that re-opening the Strait of Hormuz depended on Washington accepting Iran's conditions and was not related to the Iran-Oman negotiations.
Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi did not specify the conditions but said Washington must stop interfering in the regional negotiation process.
"Whenever the United States accepts Irans conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be reopened," he said, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.
A deal to open the Strait this week would give Iran some control, sources say
Saturday 8 August 2026 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman to help end five months of war between Iran and the US would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the strait, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
US officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world's most important trade route for energy supplies.
It was not clear whether they had sought to change the parameters of the deal.
Iran has used the hostilities to justify charging a toll on oil tankers.
That, and the firing on ships that attempt to cross the strait without its permission, has badly disrupted global shipments, causing energy prices to surge and fueling inflation.
Iran says deal on Strait of Hormuz is close but will not open the waterway by itself
Saturday 8 August 2026 16:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Iran said on Saturday that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, and the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there.
A US official, who declined to be identified, said on Friday that Washington anticipated an agreement soon between Iran and Oman, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume.
Agreement between the two countries over control of the strategic waterway is seen as crucial to a wider agreement to end the conflict that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were "very close" to agreement on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz but that reopening the strait depended on other conditions, including US compensation to Iran.
The previous shipping traffic separation scheme through the strait was no longer acceptable to Tehran, he said, adding that Iran was discussing a temporary route with Oman while technical and legal issues surrounding a permanent route were resolved.
Vessel struck by unknown projectile off Oman's Khasab
Saturday 8 August 2026 15:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile 18 nautical miles east of Oman's Khasab, causing a fire that was extinguished, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday.
UKMTO said the vessel and crew were reported safe with no reported environmental impact from the incident.
Watch: Trump says Strait of Hormuz is 'sort of open'
Saturday 8 August 2026 15:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs seeking ‘off-ramp’ from Iran war, report says
Saturday 8 August 2026 14:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
President Donald Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dan Caine, is seeking an “off-ramp “ from the ongoing war in Iran, according to a new report.
Caine has privately told other top administration officials that the country needs to find a way to exit the war, according to CNN, which cited three sources familiar with the matter.
Despite Trump claiming throughout the war that a peace deal, which would include his demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon, was within reach, fighting has continued for more than five months.
Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs seeking ‘off-ramp’ from Iran war, report says
How does Oman-Iran deal give Tehran an upper hand
Saturday 8 August 2026 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Iran says it is close to reaching a deal with Oman to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between the two countries.
But it would be conditional on the US lifting its blockade on the crucial waterway.
It would formalise its control over what had been an open international waterway before the war, one that carried a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas.
Abdolreza Davari, an analyst who once advised former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Iran's effective control of the strait has given it leverage with the US and regional countries that can help guarantee its security.
“More than revenue from the strait, Iran wants to confirm its management and sovereignty over the strait,” he said by phone from Tehran.
Formal control over even part of the strait would be a clear win for Iran and a loss for the US, which has yet to accomplish some of its various and shifting goals in the war.
It would also deal a blow to global norms on freedom of navigation and set a precedent that much of the world would find disturbing — that nations can shut down trade choke points at will.
China, which buys oil from Iran and has influence over it, said as recently as May that “normal and safe
UAE oil tanker attacked by missile in Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 8 August 2026 13:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The United Arab Emirates condemned an Iranian missile attack on its carrier as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz today, accusing Tehran of "acts of piracy".
State news agency WAM initially reported ADNOC as saying one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early on Saturday and that the situation was under control.
The UAE Foreign Ministry later condemned what it called "the hostile Iranian attack" on an ADNOC vessel.
Neither statement gave details on the tanker, its cargo or possible damage. No injuries were reported.
The ministry said the attack violated a U.N. Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of "acts of piracy" by targeting commercial shipping and using the waterway as a tool of economic pressure.
It called on Iran to halt the attacks and reopen the strait fully and unconditionally.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Saturday 8 August 2026 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
As the US, Iran and Oman edge towards an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, months of insecurity and disruption are leaving millions more vulnerable to hunger in Yemen.
The economic fallout from the regional conflict has driven up food and fuel prices, while more than four months of conflict with Iran has driven renewed escalation in Yemen, compounding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
More than half the population were already facing hunger, but slow progress from world leaders to re-open the Strait has caused months of disruption to global food and energy supplies, disrupting humanitarian aid operations.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating global biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
Saturday 8 August 2026 12:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The economic ramifications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are much discussed. But so far, the risk of ecological damage following a long blockade of ships has been overlooked.
Our recent research shows that the more than 1,500 commercial vessels that have been laid up in the Persian/Arabian Gulf since February pose a significant environmental threat because they have been accumulating marine biofouling species on their hulls.
As the strait reopens, these ships may spread these organisms to ports they visit, potentially causing an international biosecurity “super-spreader” event.
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
Tehran on brink of deal with Oman to open Hormuz that could finally pave way for Trump peace talks
Saturday 8 August 2026 11:43 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Iran believes that a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is “on the verge of being finalised”, potentially paving the way for a return to diplomacy with the United States.
Deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said talks had finally “reached fundamental understandings” after both sides agreed on shipping routes following months of disruption in the vital waterway.
There was no immediate comment from Washington on the proposal, but president Donald Trump late on Wednesday portrayed ongoing talks positively and said a deal on Hormuz was imminent.
Iran edges closer to Hormuz deal that could pave way for peace talks
Trump makes his feelings clear about Pete Hegseth after ‘treasonous leakers’ rant over weapons stockpile
Saturday 8 August 2026 10:44 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
President Donald Trump felt the need to defend his embattled Pentagon boss, former Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth, after a series of bombshell reports indicating that the Department of Defense has blown through nearly all the precision-guided rockets in its inventory and could take years to replenish those stocks.
In a 148-word post on Truth Social Thursday, Trump accused news organizations of “spreading false and completely unfounded rumors” about his relationship with the defense secretary and insisted he’s “very happy” with Hegseth’s job performance.
“Everything has been extraordinary, including our attack on Venezuela, where the result was accomplished in less than one day, allowing us to bring one of the worst criminals anywhere in the World, Nicolas Maduro, to Justice! Likewise, Iran, where the country has been decimated for the purpose of NOT ALLOWING IT TO EVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, is going very well,” Trump wrote.
Trump speaks out about Pete Hegseth after ‘treasonous leakers’ rant over weapons
Tehran issues warning to Saudi Arabia amid Nato-style defence pact
Saturday 8 August 2026 10:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that Saudi Arabia’s Nato-style defence agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not guarantee the kingdom’s security.
Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, wrote on X: “Saudi rulers must know that just as America’s bases could not bring them security, clinging to America’s lackeys will not bring them security either.”
A Turkish official, who has not been named, told CNN that the the pact is “purely defensive”.
حاکمان سعودی باید بدانند همانطور که پایگاههای آمریکا نتوانست برایشان امنیت بیاورد، آویزان شدن به نوکرهای آمریکا هم برایشان امنیت نخواهد آورد #امنیت_اجاره_ای#پاکستان #ترکیه
— سیدمحمود نبویان (@nabaviantwt) August 7, 2026
British pound drops against euro and dollar on Friday
Saturday 8 August 2026 09:30 , Arpan Rai
The British pound has dropped against both the euro and U.S. dollar on Friday, as markets weigh the talks in the Middle East.
Sterling was 0.1 per cent lower against the dollar at £1 - $1.3438. Against the euro, the pound was similarly lower at one euro per 85.76 pence.
Investors are cautious about diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, especially as tensions flared up again in the Middle East, Reuters news agency reports.
An attack by Yemen's Houthis on southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians on Thursday, a military official said, as the kingdom warned that coordinated attacks by the Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias were imminent.
Brent crude futures were last slightly lower on the day at $82.16 per barrel.
US military leader is looking for off-ramp from Iran war: report
Saturday 8 August 2026 09:15 , Arpan Rai
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine has privately told other top US officials that the country needs to find an off-ramp from the Iran war, according to CNN, which cited three sources familiar with the matter.
Caine’s talks with advisers to US President Donald Trump are just to make clear the limitations and pitfalls of different military options, according to the sources.
Joseph Holstead, a spokesperson for Caine, told CNN, “We do not discuss the Chairman’s confidential conversations with the President, the Secretary, or other senior leaders, nor do we comment on anonymous, agenda-driven characterizations of those conversations by sources who were not privy to them”.
A White House official praised Caine, telling the outlet: “The General always provides accurate, unbiased information and a host of options to the Commander-in-Chief, who ultimately makes decisions based on what he feels is best for US national security”.
The Independent has reached out to the White House and Pentagon for comment.
US military says it's redirected over 50 ships during blockade
Saturday 8 August 2026 08:55 , Arpan Rai
US Central Command said it has redirected 51 ships during its blockade of Iranian ports.
American forces have also disabled two ships and boarded two more.
A U.S. sailor stands watch in the combat information center aboard USS Mason (DDG 87) as the guided-missile destroyer sails in regional waters supporting the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas. As of Aug. 7, CENTCOM forces have redirected 51 commercial vessels,… pic.twitter.com/fOO8O95UYT
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 7, 2026
Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia sign a mutual defence agreement
Saturday 8 August 2026 08:35 , Arpan Rai
Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have signed a mutual defense agreement, at a time the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks on Saudi-linked targets.
Oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear power Pakistan and Turkey, which has Nato’s second-largest army and a rapidly growing defence industry, signed a mutual defense agreement on Friday.
The deal stipulates that an armed attack on either of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against them all.
It was signed during a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.
“The Agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression,” the ministry said in a statement.
The deal comes at a time when Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its defense partnerships.
Watch: Trump meets mining CEOs as US pushes critical-minerals agenda
Saturday 8 August 2026 08:11 , Arpan Rai
Iran feels time is on its side as negotiations with US continue
Saturday 8 August 2026 07:30 , Arpan Rai
To borrow a phrase from Donald Trump's own theory of geopolitics, Iran believes it holds the cards.
“They started the war, but its end was never with them. We always decide for ourselves when it ends," Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran's chief negotiator, posted on social media. “Iran is going after the enemy’s defeat — not an agreement.”
He said a surprise Iranian attack on Jordan in July “compensated” for a drop in oil prices. That contributed to the collapse of an interim agreement reached in June that had offered significant concessions to Iran, including a US waiver to sell oil internationally and the promise of broader sanctions relief.
Iran has repeatedly said the Strait of Hormuz will not go back to being an open waterway, and that it will keep attacking ships trying to transit without its permission. Iran's joint military command has called it an “unbreakable red line.”
“For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has become a strategic lever for deterrence, maintaining the regional balance of power, and reshaping the security rules in the Persian Gulf," said Mostafa Najafi, a Tehran-based security analyst.
That poses a major obstacle to ending the war, much less resolving the even more complex, long-standing dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
"The atomic issue, because of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, has been pushed to the side, and in reality, that is in Iran’s interests,” said Rahman Ghahremanpour, an Iran-based analyst. Control of the strait would give Iran leverage if the nuclear talks resume, he added.
Abu Dhabi oil company says it is impacted by unprovoked attacks
Saturday 8 August 2026 06:52 , Arpan Rai
An oil company in Abu Dhabi has hit out at what it called unprovoked attacks on its vessels.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Friday it continued to be significantly impacted by the attacks, but was taking measures to protect its people, assets and operations while meeting customer requirements as much as possible.
ADNOC said in a statement that 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict, including three this week, leaving one crew member dead and 20 injured.
Trump hosts mining CEOs amid worries over depleting weapons stockpiles
Saturday 8 August 2026 06:25 , Arpan Rai
US president Donald Trump yesterday convened executives from leading mining companies at the State Department to strengthen domestic and allied supplies of critical minerals, a key component of the nation's security and industrial strategy.
The administration seeks to replenish weapons stockpiles, depleted during the Iran conflict, and reduce US dependence on Chinese supply chains for essential minerals like rare earths, tungsten, and germanium, which are vital for advanced military systems.
The White House needs critical minerals to replenish weapons stockpiles depleted during the Iran conflict and reduce US dependence on Chinese supply chains.
The gathering included approximately 200 participants, featuring executives from companies such as Resolution Copper, MP Materials, and Century Aluminum, alongside high-ranking officials including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Several executives came with gifts for Trump. Tom Albanese, chairman of deep-sea mining firm American Ocean Minerals, gave Trump a gold replica of a nodule that the company hopes to mine from the Pacific seabed. Trump last year said he may bypass the UN-backed International Seabed Authority and issue international seabed mining licenses.
Jim Litinsky, CEO of rare earths firm MP Materials, which is financially supported by the Pentagon, gave Trump magnets that had been produced for General Motors in the company's Texas plant.
Watch: Trump says Strait of Hormuz is 'sort of open'
Saturday 8 August 2026 06:06 , Arpan Rai
British pound drops against euro and dollar on Friday
Friday 7 August 2026 23:29 , Alex Croft
The British pound has dropped against both the euro and U.S. dollar on Friday, as markets weigh the talks in the Middle East.
Sterling was 0.1 per cent lower against the dollar at £1 - $1.3438. Against the euro, the pound was similarly lower at one euro per 85.76 pence.
Investors are cautious about diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, especially as tensions flared up again in the Middle East, Reuters news agency reports.
An attack by Yemen's Houthis on southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians on Thursday, a military official said, as the kingdom warned that coordinated attacks by the Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias were imminent.
Brent crude futures were last slightly lower on the day at $82.16 per barrel.
Trump says ‘we may have to’ send oil prices 'up again' as Iran war continues - ICYMI
Friday 7 August 2026 22:31 , Alex Croft
Amnesty says Gaza mass funeral highlights 'chilling' destruction of entire families
Friday 7 August 2026 21:30 , Shweta Sharma
Amnesty International says a mass funeral for 112 members of the al-Hasayna and Abu Sharia families in Gaza City underscores a pattern of Israeli attacks that have wiped out entire multi-generational families.
Writing on X, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International's senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said the victims' remains were recovered months after an Israeli strike on 23 November 2023 that reportedly killed more than 300 Palestinians.
She said recovery efforts had been delayed by Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy equipment needed to clear rubble, with thousands of bodies still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
“Israel must urgently allow access to Gaza for UN bodies and independent human rights investigators to preserve evidence, in line with the ICJ’s orders,” she added, using the acronym for the International Court of Justice.
Deal on Hormuz expected soon, says US official
Friday 7 August 2026 21:18 , Harriette Boucher
Progress is being made between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz and “we expect a deal soon,” a US official told Reuters.
Once a deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift its blockade of Iranian ports, the official said.
“There is progress between Oman and Iran on the Strait, and we expect a deal soon.
“Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports.
“As always, U.S. actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments.”
Oil climbs as market awaits possible US-Iran Hormuz deal
Friday 7 August 2026 20:30 , Alex Croft
Brent crude rose $1.31 on Friday to trade at $83.80 per barrel, after settling up more than $3 in the previous session.
The dollar was mostly flat as of the Asian afternoon on Friday, trading little changed at 158.365 yen, after gaining 0.4 per cent on Thursday.
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating global biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
Friday 7 August 2026 19:31 , Alex Croft
The economic ramifications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are much discussed. But so far, the risk of ecological damage following a long blockade of ships has been overlooked.
Our recent research shows that the more than 1,500 commercial vessels that have been laid up in the Persian/Arabian Gulf since February pose a significant environmental threat because they have been accumulating marine biofouling species on their hulls.
As the strait reopens, these ships may spread these organisms to ports they visit, potentially causing an international biosecurity “super-spreader” event.
Such incursions of alien marine plants, animals, parasites and diseases affect native ecosystems and wild fisheries as well as aquaculture stocks and coastal industries. They can lead to significant environmental damage and economic losses.
Chad Hewitt, Gregory Ruiz , Ian Davidson & Mario Tamburri write:
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
US Treasury targets crypto exchanges in new Iran sanctions
Friday 7 August 2026 19:20 , Harriette Boucher
The US treasury has targeted two major cryptocurrency exchanges with sanctions on Friday as it seeks to dismantle illegal financial networks funding Iran's IRGC and other groups.
It said it was also sanctioning the ringleader of a network of front companies operating across multiple jurisdictions, facilitating illicit cryptocurrency activity and sanctions evasion.
The treasury said Iranian actors “exploited unlicensed or lightly regulated digital currency exchange platforms to transfer large volumes of digital assets.”
Secretary of the treasury Scott Bessent said: “The Iranian regime’s reliance on digital assets and shadow banking networks is further evidence that Economic Fury is working.
“We will continue to increase the economic pressure. Whether in dollars, rials, or crypto, Treasury will hunt down and dismantle the illicit financial networks that keep the regime afloat.”
Abu Dhabi oil company says it is impacted by unprovoked attacks
Friday 7 August 2026 18:29 , Alex Croft
An oil company in Abu Dhabi has hit out at what it called unprovoked attacks on its vessels.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Friday it continued to be significantly impacted by the attacks, but was taking measures to protect its people, assets and operations while meeting customer requirements as much as possible.
ADNOC said in a statement that 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict, including three this week, leaving one crew member dead and 20 injured.
