Donald Trump has accused Iran of being “unbelievably duplicitous” and says Tehran has a “last chance” to agree a peace deal, after the Iranian side denied any discussions were taking place.
The US president said Tehran had “begged” for negotiations and whether they admitted it or not, discussions were taking place to reach “a solution” to the current stand-off.“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said. “[The talks] are going on, they're going on right now.”Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz could be open “literally by tomorrow”. “The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearisation,” he said. “That’ll take a little while, but … we’re very strong on it.”
Iran flatly denied any plan for negotiators to meet with their US counterparts on Monday in the latest blow to Trump’s hopes of an imminent end to the war.Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that Tehran is not currently holding any talks with Washington, and is rather in discussions with Oman about securing a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz
Key Points
- Trump says Tehran has ‘last chance’ to make deal
- Trump accuses Iran of being ‘unbelievably duplicitous’ over peace talks denial
- Iran dismisses talks of restarting negotiations with Trump
- Trump says he cancelled Iran attack would have been the biggest 'since WWII'
- UK ‘at risk of recession’ if Strait of Hormuz remains closed into 2027
Trump says Tehran has ‘last chance’ to make deal
04:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump has insisted that talks with Tehran are happening after the Iranian side denied any discussions were taking place.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the US president told reporters that it was Iran’s last chance to make a deal.
“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said.
“[The talks] are going on, they're going on right now. “For some reason, when they're talking, they don't like saying that they're talking.
“So I say, ‘We're in talks’. Big deal, we're in talks. And they'll sometimes deny it, even though they spend hours and hours together talking.”
He said the Iranian side had asked for talks after the US had planned the biggest attack since the Second World War.
Syrian and Iraqi leaders discuss security concerns
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa and Iraq's Kurdish regional president met yesterday in Damascus to discuss ways of improving mutual cooperation and contributing to regional security.
The meeting between al-Sharaa and Nechirvan Barzani came amid regional tensions as Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups carried out multiple drone strikes targeting American interests across Iraq, including the country's Kurdish region.
Syrian state media reported last month that authorities at the country's border with Iraq thwarted an attempt in June to smuggle weapons believed to have been headed to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Hezbollah denied the charges.
Oil prices rise to $84 a barrel
04:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices rebounded slightly this morning on concerns that Middle Eastern supply remains at risk as a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran war that has disrupted shipments still seems unlikely.
Front-month Brent futures rose $0.62, or 0.7 per cent, to $84.39 a barrel as of 0055 GMT after dropping 7 per cent in the previous session to a three-week low.
US West Texas Intermediate crude was $0.61, or 0.7 per cent higher at $80.95 after falling over 5 per cent in the previous session to its lowest in nearly a week.
Trump’s Iran desperation is revealed in crowd-sourcing memo seeking ‘creative’ ways to punish the enemy: report
04:15 , Bruce Golding
The US military has asked combat experts to think outside the box in a desperate bid for new ideas to end President Donald Trump's war against Iran, according to a report Monday.
In an email last week, an officer in the intelligence branch of US Central Command asked a broad group of military analysts for suggestions, CNN said, citing an unidentified source.
"We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” the email reportedly read.
Military officials said the effort to crowdsource a solution to the war by email was highly unusual, CNN reported.
The move came as Trump is considering dramatic, "fireworks"-style airstrikes against Iran that could hit the same or similar sites that the US bombed last year when targeting the nation’s suspected nuclear weapons program, a source told CNN.
Read on...
Trump’s despair over Iran revealed in memo seeking new ideas for war: report
Cargo vessel 'hit' by projectile near Oman
04:03 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Al Khasab, after a cargo vessel broadcast over VHF channel 16 that it had been hit by an unknown projectile.
Watch: Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been the biggest 'since WWII'
04:02 , Rachel Dobkin
Recap: US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran after Trump’s ‘despair’ over strategy
03:00 , James Reynolds
The US military has been crowdsourcing ideas for “creative and unconventional” ways to “punish” Iran, according to a report, after both sides reached an impasse over how to end the unpopular five-month war.
A senior officer at the US Central Command’s intelligence branch is said to have written to military analysts last Wednesday asking for new ideas to “pressure and punish Iran”, according to CNN, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Centcom spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said: “US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. [Centcom commander] Admiral [Brad] Cooper, in particular, reaches out to members of our great team, regardless of rank, to achieve the highest levels of operational performance possible.”
In full:
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Trump’s Iran war is becoming a political disaster, new poll shows
02:00 , Holly Evans
A new AP-NORC poll suggests Americans are growing increasingly skeptical of the war with Iran, with about two-thirds saying the conflict has not been worth fighting and support for President Donald Trump's handling of the war slipping.
The survey, conducted July 23-27, found just 28% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of Iran, down from 34% last month. Support also dipped among Republicans, with 61% approving, compared with 71% in June, though the poll's margin of error means the decline is modest.
Read the full article here:
Trump’s Iran war is becoming a political disaster, new poll shows
In pictures: Iran's foreign minister attends Arbaeen commemoration in Iraq on Monday
01:00 , James Reynolds
The Arbaeen pilgrimage commemorates 40 days of mourning after the martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Recap: MTG and Tucker Carlson announce new ‘movement’ in photo packed with MAGA renegades
Tuesday 4 August 2026 00:00 , James Reynolds
Marjorie Taylor Greene announced a new political “movement” with a group of MAGA stalwarts who have broken with President Donald Trump over the ongoing Iran war.
On August 1, the former Georgia Republican posted a photo on X depicting her alongside media personality Tucker Carlson, Rep. Thomas Massie and Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center. Also pictured was conservative journalist Brian Glenn, whom Greene married in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“We said no more foreign wars and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise,” Greene wrote. “But he’s betrayed us all. Our commitment is America First for all Americans, right, left, and center,” she continued.”
In full:
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MTG and Tucker Carlson announce new ‘movement’ in photo packed with MAGA renegades
Recap: Trump says there ‘will be a deal on Hormuz’ as peace talks to resume
Monday 3 August 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Monday 3 August 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds
The US military has been crowdsourcing ideas for “creative and unconventional” ways to “punish” Iran, according to a report, after both sides reached an impasse over how to end the unpopular five-month war.
A senior officer at the US Central Command’s intelligence branch is said to have written to military analysts last Wednesday asking for new ideas to “pressure and punish Iran”, according to CNN, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Centcom spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said: “US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. [Centcom commander] Admiral [Brad] Cooper, in particular, reaches out to members of our great team, regardless of rank, to achieve the highest levels of operational performance possible.”
Military officials nonetheless told the outlet it was unusual to appeal for ideas like that by email. One of the sources told CNN that Centcom was reviewing all of its options, acknowledging the need to re-evaluate its current strategy.
Read the full story:
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Analysis: Trump’s whiny Truth Social tirade against Iran reads like a bitter breakup text
Monday 3 August 2026 21:46 , Harriette Boucher
Not even the president can answer why his latest efforts to reach a deal with Iran will go any differently. Monday’s outburst suggests that he’s too angry to care, writes John Bowden:
Trump’s whiny Truth Social tirade against Iran reads like a bitter breakup text
Senator tells Trump to ditch his ‘real estate buddy’ in Iran talks
Monday 3 August 2026 21:00 , James Reynolds
A Democratic senator and veteran once again took aim at the Trump administration over the Iran war on Sunday, claiming that the president’s chosen diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are not up to the task.
Sen. Mark Kelly was on CBS’s Face the Nation as he implored the president to put more experienced diplomatic representatives in charge and ditch his “real estate buddy” Witkoff, as well as his son-in-law.
Both men have helmed negotiations between the U.S. and Iran for months as the Trump administration has struggled to get out of a war it promised would only last for a few weeks.
"I would suggest to him, though, that the solution is not to do the same thing that he's been doing — not to have his real estate buddy and his son-in-law in charge of a negotiation,” said Kelly.
Read the full story:
Democratic senator tells Trump to ditch his ‘real estate buddy’ and Jared Kushner
Watch: Trump humiliated after Tehran denies his claim of new peace talks
Monday 3 August 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds
Trump says US and Iran are "in talks" while the Strait of Hormuz is set to open tomorrow
Monday 3 August 2026 19:22 , Harriette Boucher
Trump insists talks with Iran are 'going on right now'
Monday 3 August 2026 19:18 , Harriette Boucher
Donald Trump has insisted that talks with Tehran are happening after the Iranian side denied any discussions were taking place.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the US president told reporters that it was Iran’s last chance to make a deal.
“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said.
“[The talks] are going on, they're going on right now.
“For some reason, when they're talking, they don't like saying that they're talking.
“So I say, ‘We're in talks’. Big deal, we're in talks. And they'll sometimes deny it, even though they spend hours and hours together talking.”
He said the Iranian side had asked for talks after the US had planned the biggest attack since the Second World War.
“No, the talks are going along. We were going to hit them very hard yesterday, very, very hard, harder than any attack, I think I can say, from a point of knowledge, any attack since World War 2. That's pretty big.”
“We were set to go, and they called, and in addition, Saudi Arabia called, and, UAE called, Qatar called. [We] hot calls from numerous people. I don't want to use the word begging, but some were. In particular, Iran did not want to be hit.”
UK drivers steal almost £200,000 of fuel every day during Iran war
Monday 3 August 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
British motorists are stealing an estimated £200,000 worth of fuel from forecourts every day, a surge directly linked to the onset of the Iran oil crisis.
Analysis by fuel theft prevention firm Forecourt Eye reveals a 20 per cent increase in incidents of fuel taken without payment in the five months following the conflict's commencement on 28 February, compared with the preceding period.
The escalating pump prices, driven by the ongoing war, have seen the value of stolen fuel jump by 48 per cent over the same timeframe, reaching an average daily total of £194,000 across the UK’s 8,359 forecourts.
First-time offenders accounted for a 23 per cent rise in incidents and a 26 per cent increase in the volume of fuel stolen.
UK drivers steal almost £200,000 of fuel every day during Iran war
Monday: Life carries on in Tehran as war held to uneasy impasse
Monday 3 August 2026 18:00 , James Reynolds
Trump accuses Iran of being ‘unbelievably duplicitous’ over peace talks denial
Monday 3 August 2026 17:35 , Holly Evans
Donald Trump has accused Iran of being “unbelievably duplicitous” in denying talks aimed at ending the conflict were being held.
The US president said Tehran had “begged” for negotiations and whether they admitted it or not discussions were taking place to reach “a solution” to the current stand-off.
He also dismissed Iran’s claims to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway as “their usual blather”.
The president made the comments after Iran denied that peace talks were talking place on Monday.
In response, Mr Trump posted: “Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!
“They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg’, talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman’.
“They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our ‘Blockade’ or, as some say, ‘The United States Wall of Steel!’
“Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished.
“Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades.”
Trump demands lower gas prices from oil companies as his war goes on unresolved
Monday 3 August 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump again called on oil companies to lower gasoline prices for American consumers on Monday, chiding Chevron Chief Executive Mike Wirth for not crediting his administration's efforts to help the oil industry.
Trump admonished Wirth for failing to credit his administration - in a television interview - with helping oil companies, including creating a market in Venezuela.
“The only thing he conveniently forgot to mention is that, without the genius, foresight, strength, and stability, of the TRUMP Administration, the Oil Industry, and our Country itself, would be DEAD!” Trump wrote in a social media post.
“As an example, they threw Mike and Chevron out of Venezuela, but now they’re back, far bigger and stronger than ever before, expecting to make a fortune!”
“That goes for other Oil Companies as well…and get your consumer (retail!) Oil Prices DOWN, NOW!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Higher gas prices and cost-of-living concerns pose a political risk to Trump's Republican Party ahead of November's midterm elections, in which it risks losing its House majority and possibly its control of the Senate.
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Monday 3 August 2026 16:45 , James Reynolds
The US military has been crowdsourcing ideas for “creative and unconventional” ways to “punish” Iran, according to a report, after both sides reached an impasse over how to end the unpopular five-month war.
A senior officer at the US Central Command’s intelligence branch is said to have written to military analysts last Wednesday asking for new ideas to “pressure and punish Iran”, according to CNN, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Centcom spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said: “US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. [Centcom commander] Admiral [Brad] Cooper, in particular, reaches out to members of our great team, regardless of rank, to achieve the highest levels of operational performance possible.”
Military officials nonetheless told the outlet it was unusual to appeal for ideas like that by email. One of the sources told CNN that Centcom was reviewing all of its options, acknowledging the need to re-evaluate its current strategy.
Read the full story:
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Recap: US military accused of dropping 900kg bomb on civilian house in Iran
Monday 3 August 2026 16:15 , James Reynolds
The US military has been accused of killing a young family with a huge 907kg bomb during renewed strikes on Iran’s fortress Qeshm Island last week, according to a new analysis, raising more questions about its conduct in the five month conflict.
A mother, a father and their two-year-old son were reportedly killed as American forces dropped a Mark 84 bomb and hit a populated neighbourhood on Thursday, leaving a 30ft wide crater in the ground, according to evidence reviewed by the New York Times.
The newspaper said that the couple’s other two children were pulled from the rubble alive after a review of photographs, video footage and satellite imagery by weapons experts.
US military accused of dropping 900kg bomb on civilian house in Iran
In depth: How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Monday 3 August 2026 15:45 , James Reynolds
Riyadh has previously said it will only seek to acquire a nuclear weapon if its rival Iran develops one.
With Trump’s war failing to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme, experts tell Suha Kidwai the new agreement could plunge the region into further instability:
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
In focus: The seven times Trump threatened Iran before pulling back
Monday 3 August 2026 15:15 , James Reynolds
President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he had called off planned U.S. strikes on Iran, saying renewed negotiations had raised hopes of easing the conflict and reopening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement follows a familiar pattern in Trump's handling of the five-month conflict, with repeated threats of military action followed by abrupt pauses as diplomatic efforts resume.
Several previous ceasefires and negotiating windows have collapsed within days, leading to fresh rounds of U.S. strikes.
Here's a look at Trump's major announcements on pausing military action against Iran:
The seven times Trump threatened Iran before pulling back
Recap: Iran executes two people accused of spying for Israel
Monday 3 August 2026 14:45 , James Reynolds
Iran executed two of its citizens on Monday on charges of espionage and cooperation with Israel, Iranian state media reported, amid an increase in executions for offences relating to national security.
Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat were accused of sending Israel the coordinates of military and security sites as well as images and information during a brief war last summer and during the latest conflict, judiciary news outlet Mizan reported.
The executions come at a tense moment for Iran, which quelled a period of nationwide unrest in January by killing thousands of protesters, only for the U.S. and Israel to launch renewed strikes on it on February 28.
Watch: Trump humiliated after Tehran denies his claim of new peace talks
Monday 3 August 2026 14:15 , James Reynolds
US military accused of killing family after dropping 900kg bomb on civilian house in Iran - report
Monday 3 August 2026 13:45 , James Reynolds
The US military has been accused of killing a young family with a huge 907kg bomb during renewed strikes on Iran’s fortress Qeshm Island last week, according to a new analysis, raising more questions about its conduct in the five month conflict.
A mother, a father and their two-year-old son were reportedly killed as American forces dropped a Mark 84 bomb and hit a populated neighbourhood on Thursday, leaving a 30ft wide crater in the ground, according to evidence reviewed by the New York Times.
The newspaper said that the couple’s other two children were pulled from the rubble alive after a review of photographs, video footage and satellite imagery by weapons experts.
Read the full story:
US military accused of dropping 900kg bomb on civilian house in Iran
Brent crude down to $83.77 as Trump insists talks WILL happen
Monday 3 August 2026 13:15 , James Reynolds
US stock index futures edged higher on Monday as signs of de-escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed on crude prices, while investors prepared for another week packed with earnings and economic data.
Traders also weighed potential consolidation in the healthcare sector, after a report said Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca held preliminary merger talks, which could form one of the world's biggest drugmakers worth nearly $400 billion.
In geopolitics, Donald Trump said talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will happen sometime during the day but declined to set a deadline for an agreement.
Iran later said there were no such plans.
Brent Crude prices fell 5.7% to $83.77 a barrel, while the yield on the two-year Treasury note, reflecting short-term interest rate expectations, dipped four basis points to 4.291%.
Higher energy costs, since the start of the conflict, have fueled uncertainty over repercussions on the global economy.
Joe Rogan calls out Trump’s ‘terrible’ five-month Iran war
Monday 3 August 2026 12:45 , James Reynolds
Joe Rogan said that there is “no clear way” to end Donald Trump’s ongoing war with Iran, which he called an “unprovoked attack” by the United States.
The popular podcaster made the remarks during an episode of his show, released on Friday, with Annie Jacobsen, an investigative journalist, who was brought on to discuss her new book, Biological War: A Scenario.
After discussing the government’s handling of Covid-19 and the possibility of future pandemics, Rogan turned to the conflict in the Middle East, which has now dragged on for five months with no clear end in sight.
Read the full story:
Joe Rogan says Trump has ‘no clear way’ to end Iran war
Trump says he is ‘not looking to kill people’ as he claims Iran peace deal is ‘imminent’
Monday 3 August 2026 12:15 , James Reynolds
President Trump has insisted that he is not “looking to kill people” amid the war in Iran – claiming that a peace deal is “imminent.”
The president made the claims to reporters aboard Air Force One, as he revealed more about calling off further strikes on Iran. According to him, the strikes would have been the “biggest attack since World War Two.”
“Would I rather make a deal?” Trump said. “I’m not looking to kill people…because people die, a lot of people, and we don’t want that.”
Read the full story:
‘Not trying to kill people’: Trump says Iran peace deal is ‘imminent’
The latest: Iran dismisses talks of restarting negotiations with Trump today
Monday 3 August 2026 12:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump had hoped to rekindle negotiations with Iran on Monday following another breakdown in diplomacy and repeated threats from both sides.
The US president announced on Saturday that talks would resume, but declined to set a deadline for an agreement after earlier saying he had called off a major attack in a bid to give diplomacy another chance.
For its part, Iran did not confirm talks will go ahead. On Monday, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry said there is “no plan to receive a delegation or send an Iranian one” in the coming days.
Esmail Baghaei said plainly that Iran was not holding talks with the US and is, rather, in talks with Oman to work out a temporary safe round through the Strait of Hormuz, with a permanent resolution apparently no closer.
He added that reaching an agreement with Oman is not sufficient to reopen the strait, as the situation will remain unchanged while U.S. "aggression" continues.
Trump had claimed on his Truth Social platform that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal that would lead to "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening of the strait and "an end to Iran's nuclear threat" but that Tehran must "rapidly make a DEAL."
As he returned to Washington from a weekend in New Jersey, Trump told reporters on Sunday that a negotiation would begin on Monday afternoon but did not provide details of where it would take place or who would be involved.
Oil prices were down more than 4% in early trading on Monday.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held phone calls with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir to discuss diplomatic efforts, Iran's state media reported on Sunday.
Are the US and Iran any closer to ending the war... or are we stuck in a loop?
Monday 3 August 2026 11:45 , James Reynolds
The developments of the last few days appear to fit a pattern that has emerged over the last five months of war.
On several occasions, Donald Trump has threatened military action only to later cite diplomatic contacts as a reason for stepping back.
This time, he threatened a new “major attack” on Iran at the end of last week... but then said he had called it off following calls from regional allies and even Iran.
He later claimed that delegations from the US and Iran were heading for talks on Monday afternoon.
Iran said on Monday that it had no plans for talks in the coming days, however, having publicly rejected talks since a June interim agreement collapsed in early July.
Trump has yet to achieve the objectives he set out at the outset of the war: dismantling Iran's nuclear programme, curbing its ability to attack regional rivals and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers.
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz also remains a central point of contention.
Washington says the June memorandum required Iran to open the strategically vital waterway, while Tehran argues the text explicitly preserved its authority over shipping traffic. That would leave Tehran with greater leverage over the strait than before the war, a result that would likely be seen as a significant setback for Trump.
Watch: Trump humiliated after Tehran denies his claim of new peace talks
Monday 3 August 2026 11:22 , James Reynolds
US military accused of killing family after dropping 900kg bomb on civilian house in Iran - report
Monday 3 August 2026 11:15 , James Reynolds
The US military has been accused of killing a young family with a huge 907kg bomb during renewed strikes on Iran’s fortress Qeshm Island last week, according to a new analysis, raising more questions about its conduct in the five month conflict.
A mother, a father and their two-year-old son were reportedly killed as American forces dropped a Mark 84 bomb and hit a populated neighbourhood on Thursday, leaving a 30ft wide crater in the ground, according to evidence reviewed by the New York Times.
The newspaper said that the couple’s other two children were pulled from the rubble alive after a review of photographs, video footage and satellite imagery by weapons experts.
Read the full story:
US military accused of dropping 900kg bomb on civilian house in Iran
Recap: Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been the biggest 'since WWII'
Monday 3 August 2026 11:15 , James Reynolds
Mapped: Very little movement around the Strait of Hormuz on Monday
Monday 3 August 2026 10:19 , James Reynolds
UK ‘at risk of recession’ if Strait of Hormuz remains closed into 2027
Monday 3 August 2026 10:15 , James Reynolds
Britain’s economy could be sent into a recession next year if the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains closed into 2027, a new report has warned.
The latest EY economic outlook warns that if the Middle East conflict is not resolved and the vital waterway – through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas is normally carried – remains shut until early or mid-2027, gross domestic product (GDP) could grow by just 0.5 per cent this year and contract by 0.2 per cent next year.
This adverse scenario could see inflation soar to 6.4 per cent by the end of 2026 due to surging oil and energy prices, the report cautions.
Read the full story:
UK ‘at risk of recession’ if Strait of Hormuz remains closed into 2027
UK drivers steal almost £200,000 of fuel from petrol stations every day during Iran war
Monday 3 August 2026 09:45 , James Reynolds
British motorists are stealing an estimated £200,000 worth of fuel from forecourts every day, a surge directly linked to the onset of the Iran oil crisis.
Analysis by fuel theft prevention firm Forecourt Eye reveals a 20 per cent increase in incidents of fuel taken without payment in the five months following the conflict's commencement on 28 February, compared with the preceding period.
The escalating pump prices, driven by the ongoing war, have seen the value of stolen fuel jump by 48 per cent over the same timeframe, reaching an average daily total of £194,000 across the UK’s 8,359 forecourts.
Read the full story:
UK drivers steal almost £200,000 of fuel every day during Iran war
In pictures: Ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday with talks to resume
Monday 3 August 2026 09:30 , James Reynolds
The latest: Iran dismisses talks of restarting negotiations with Trump today
Monday 3 August 2026 09:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump had hoped to rekindle negotiations with Iran on Monday following another breakdown in diplomacy and repeated threats from both sides.
The US president announced on Saturday that talks would resume, but declined to set a deadline for an agreement after earlier saying he had called off a major attack in a bid to give diplomacy another chance.
For its part, Iran did not confirm talks will go ahead. On Monday, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry said there is “no plan to receive a delegation or send an Iranian one” in the coming days.
Esmail Baghaei said plainly that Iran was not holding talks with the US and is, rather, in talks with Oman to work out a temporary safe round through the Strait of Hormuz, with a permanent resolution apparently no closer.
He added that reaching an agreement with Oman is not sufficient to reopen the strait, as the situation will remain unchanged while U.S. "aggression" continues.
Trump had claimed on his Truth Social platform that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal that would lead to "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening of the strait and "an end to Iran's nuclear threat" but that Tehran must "rapidly make a DEAL."
As he returned to Washington from a weekend in New Jersey, Trump told reporters on Sunday that a negotiation would begin on Monday afternoon but did not provide details of where it would take place or who would be involved.
Oil prices were down more than 4% in early trading on Monday.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held phone calls with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir to discuss diplomatic efforts, Iran's state media reported on Sunday.
Recap: Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been biggest ‘since World War II’
Monday 3 August 2026 08:30 , James Reynolds
President Donald Trump said Sunday that the strike on Iran he ultimately called off would have been the largest of its kind in decades.
“It was going to be a massive attack,” the Republican president told reporters aboard Air Force One. “It was going to be an attack that would have been, by far, the biggest attack since World War II.”
His comments followed a Truth Social post on Saturday in which Trump wrote that the U.S. military was “locked and loaded” for what he cast as an unprecedented campaign against Iran.
But, he said, he decided to hold back after appeals from Iran and several Middle Eastern allies, who suggested a deal was within reach.
Read the full story:
Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been biggest ‘since World War II’
Watch: Trump says there ‘will be a deal on Hormuz’ as peace talks to resume
Monday 3 August 2026 07:50 , James Reynolds
Prolonged Iran war can tip UK into recession next year - report
Monday 3 August 2026 07:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Britain’s economy could be sent into a recession next year if the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains closed into 2027 amid a prolonged Iran war, according to a report.
The latest EY economic outlook warned that gross domestic product could slow sharply to 0.5 per cent this year and contract by 0.2 per cent next year if the Middle East conflict is not resolved and the vital waterway – through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas is normally carried – remains shut until early or mid-2027.
This adverse scenario could see inflation soar to 6.4 per cent by the end of 2026 due to surging oil and energy prices, the report cautioned.
But if the Strait of Hormuz reopens by the end of the third quarter of this year, EY’s base case forecast suggests growth will remain fairly resilient, with EY upgrading its outlook to 0.9 per cent expansion in 2026 and maintaining its prediction for 1.2 per cent growth in 2027.
£200,000 of fuel stolen from UK forecourts every day since Iran war began
Monday 3 August 2026 07:09 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Drivers have stolen an average of nearly £200,000 worth of fuel from UK forecourts every day since the start of the Iran oil crisis, according to analysis.
Fuel theft prevention company Forecourt Eye said incidents of fuel taken without payment soared by 20 per cent in the five months after the conflict began on 28 February, compared with the preceding five months.
The increase in pump prices driven by the war means the value of stolen fuel rose by 48 per cent over the same period, reaching an estimated daily average of £194,000 across the UK’s 8,359 forecourts.
Israeli strikes kill 18 across Gaza
Monday 3 August 2026 06:55 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israeli airstrikes struck Gaza for a second consecutive day on Sunday, killing at least 18 Palestinians, medics reported. The renewed violence unfolded despite an announcement from US president Donald Trump of a breakthrough in efforts to implement last year's ceasefire agreement.
From dawn, Israeli warplanes targeted Gaza City in the north, the central city of Deir al-Balah, and the southern area of Khan Younis, marking the highest daily death toll in weeks, according to Palestinian health officials.
President Trump's assertion on Thursday, claiming Palestinian Hamas militants and other armed groups had agreed to disarm, had previously raised hopes of a turning point in efforts to end the conflict.
More here.
Israeli strikes kill 18 across Gaza despite Hamas agreeing to disarmament deal
Iran executes two people accused of working for Israel
Monday 3 August 2026 06:39 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran executed two Iranian nationals this morning after accusing them of sending sensitive military and security location coordinates to Israel during the Iran-war, the Fars news agency reported.
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Monday 3 August 2026 06:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Riyadh has previously said it will only seek to acquire a nuclear weapon if its rival Iran develops one. With Trump’s war failing to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme, experts tell Suha Kidwai the new agreement could plunge the region into further instability.
More here.
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Trump says 'there's a deal' on Hormuz
Monday 3 August 2026 06:08 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump said a deal will be reached with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz and an agreement to denuclearise Tehran will follow.
He said Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar had asked him to call off the strikes.
"When the allies ask to call it off, you’ve got to sort of say, well let's see," he said.
"The reason they asked is they think there's a deal, there's a deal on Hormuz and there will be a deal on the nuclear – or you might call it the denuclearisation of Iran, I call it the denuclearisation of Iran."
Saudi prince played role in Trump's decision to halt Iran strikes – report
Monday 3 August 2026 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump suggested that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a particularly important role in him turning away from escalating the fight, according to reports.
The US president spoke by phone with the de facto leader of the kingdom on Saturday before announcing he was halting strikes that he later boasted would have one of the biggest US operations since World War II.
The crown prince conveyed that an escalation in fighting could have a severe impact on the global economy if Tehran responded to a new US bombardment by targeting some of the America's Gulf allies, according to a person briefed on the call who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity.
Saudi officials, the person added, have underscored in their engagements with the Trump administration that the kingdom is in a good position to defend itself against further potential Iranian strikes — as are fellow energy titans Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — but that Kuwait could be more vulnerable to attacks by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
Blast near tanker off Oman coast
Monday 3 August 2026 05:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said there has been an explosion in close proximity to a tanker off the coast of Oman.
The UKMTO yesterday said the incident took place about 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The ship and its crew were safe, the UKMTO added.
Minister says Israel closely coordinating with US
Monday 3 August 2026 05:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel's energy minister Eli Cohen said there was close security and intelligence coordination between Israel and the US on everything happening in the region.
But he added: "With or without an agreement, and regardless of any external commitments, if Iran attempts to renew its nuclear program or advance its ballistic missile industries, we will be there. We will take action, and we will strike.
"US president Donald Trump and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday in Washington, with an Israeli official saying they had explored all possible paths to curb Iran's nuclear program, including diplomacy, economic pressure and force. Tehran denies it is seeking a nuclear weapon
Iranian minister calls Saudi and Pakistani officials
Monday 3 August 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi held phone calls with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir to discuss diplomatic efforts, Iran's state media reported.
Local media reported earlier that negotiations between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were in their final stages, citing Iran's Araqchi.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations were focused on agreeing on a new route through the strait, adding that it had "no link to the Strait of Hormuz being opened or closed. That is a separate discussion."
Oil slumps to $82 a barrel
Monday 3 August 2026 04:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices skidded and stocks wobbled this morning as hopes of peace in the Middle East grew.
Brent crude futures sank more than 6 per cent to $82.41 after US president Donald Trump said talks with Iran will happen today. He had earlier called off an imminent attack on Iran to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resolve the impasse over Tehran's nuclear capabilities.
Trump says Gulf leaders' input weighed heavily in decision to hold off strikes
Monday 3 August 2026 04:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump said he decided to hold off on ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran at the urging of Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump added that a plan was in place for US forces to carry out "the biggest attack since World War II".
But he decided to scrap the plan and give diplomacy more time to play out after hearing from key Gulf leaders — including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — as well as at the request of unnamed Iranian officials.
"I said to the crown prince, 'What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?"' Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back to Washington. "They said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don't know where these attacks lead."
Trump declines to provide deadline for negotiations with Iran
Monday 3 August 2026 04:00 , Brendan Rascius
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump declined to provide a deadline for negotiations with Iran.
"We'll just see how it is. We're ready to go any time we want. Would I rather make a deal? I'm not looking to kill people,” Trump said. “We don't want that."
Iranian president says MOU will remain 'center of gravity'
Monday 3 August 2026 03:35 , Brendan Rascius
On Sunday, before President Trump announced negotiations would take place on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the June memorandum of understanding would be the focal point of Iran’s foreign policy.
“I believe this memorandum will be the center of gravity of our foreign relations in the future,” Pezeshkian wrote on X on Sunday, according to a translation. “We must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed. The security of the country, the region, and our allies will be enhanced by this memorandum.”
Pete Hegseth says US military remains 'ready to go'
Monday 3 August 2026 03:10 , Brendan Rascius
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military remains primed for action against Iran after President Trump called off this weekend’s planned attacks.
Writing on X on Sunday night, Hegseth said the Pentagon “was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2.”
Fact.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) August 2, 2026
The @DeptofWar was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2.
Locked and loaded. https://t.co/RzibCDfn05
Trump says Middle East allies have reached outline of deal to end Iran war
Monday 3 August 2026 03:00 , Alex Croft
Here’s what Trump said about Iran aboard Air Force One
Monday 3 August 2026 02:44 , Brendan Rascius
On Sunday, President Donald Trump said that peace talks with Iran would take place on Monday after calling off planned strikes this weekend.
On upcoming negotiations: “What we’re doing is we’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon.”
On why he called off the attacks: “I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, by UAE, and by Qatar, and by Iran…We were all set to go, but when the allies ask to call it off, you gotta sort of say ‘well let’s see.’ And the reason they asked [to call it off] is they think there's a deal. There's a deal on Hormuz and then there will be a deal on the nuclear — or you might call it the denuclearization of Iran…So, we’re holding it. We’ll just see.”
On whether or not he was prepared to hit energy targets: “I don’t want to say that; I can't say that. It was going to be a massive attack. It was going to be an attack that would have been by far the biggest attack since World War II. But they’ve asked us not to do it.”
A high-stakes test for Trump’s Gaza ceasefire board as Hamas disarmament looms
Monday 3 August 2026 01:30 , Holly Evans
Carrying out this week's agreement for Gaza on the disarmament of the Palestinian group Hamas, Israel’s withdrawal and the transition to a civilian body to run the war-ravaged region will be a major test for the international body established by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza.
The agreement announced by Trump late Thursday could pave the way for ending the latest Israel-Hamas war that broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, and which has seen continued violence despite a ceasefire last October. Few places in the Palestinian territory of over 2 million people have been left unscathed, and the United Nations, World Bank and European Union estimate that reconstruction will cost $70 billion.
Hamas officials said the group has agreed to the disarmament agreement. Israel has not commented.
Read the full article here:
A high-stakes test for Trump’s Gaza ceasefire board as Hamas disarmament looms
What has Trump said about the potential deal?
Monday 3 August 2026 00:00 , Holly Evans
Donald Trump says he will order American forces to hold off on new strikes against Iran, claiming Mideast allies have reached the parameters of a deal to end the 5-month old war.
The emerging deal "would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat," Trump wrote in a Saturday evening social media post.
"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump said.
Indian companies profited with weapons sale to Israel amid ongoing Gaza genocide, Amnesty report says
Sunday 2 August 2026 23:00 , Holly Evans
India has sold over 2500 shipments of weapons to Israel since the 7 October Hamas attacks despite risks that they could end up being used in genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Amnesty International said in a new report.
India has become one of the strongest allies of Israel under prime minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, marking a significant shift in its foreign policy as the South Asian nation has historically supported the establishment of a Palestinian state.
India did not establish full diplomatic ties with Israel until 1992 and Mr Modi in 2017 became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel.
Read the full article here:
India profited by supplying arms to Israel despite risk of use in Gaza, Amnesty says
Joe Rogan says Trump has ‘no clear way’ to end Iran war
Sunday 2 August 2026 09:00 , Holly Evans
Joe Rogan said that there is “no clear way” to end Donald Trump’s ongoing war with Iran, which he called an “unprovoked attack” by the United States.
The popular podcaster made the remarks during an episode of his show, released on Friday, with Annie Jacobsen, an investigative journalist, who was brought on to discuss her new book, Biological War: A Scenario.
After discussing the government’s handling of Covid-19 and the possibility of future pandemics, Rogan turned to the conflict in the Middle East, which has now dragged on for five months with no clear end in sight.
Read the full article here:
