WAR Iran/ US/mideast war thread - 2/28/26 Open Hostilities (Thread for Off Topic discussion started, see post #13,751, page 344)

PEPE EXPOSES: Iran's Mid-August Red Line- SPR at Its LOWEST Since 1983-Why Mid-August Decides​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg4jO_9ta44

Run time - 40:15
Jul 31, 2026

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve just hit its lowest level since 1983, Washington signals it won’t tap further, and the Strait of Hormuz remains contested — and this briefing examines why the next two weeks may decide the US–Iran war.

Recorded July 31 as Saudi Arabia’s new Red Sea coalition drew a “full escalation” warning from Yemen.

In this special Friday briefing, Pepe Escobar reads a just-received intelligence report on-air: the claimed mid-August decision window, a systematic campaign against US Gulf basing, the reported China–Pakistan–Iran supply corridor via Gwadar and Chabahar,

Kataib Hezbollah’s reported August 6 deadline, and Pakistan’s balancing act inside the Saudi coalition — including a sourced claim the hosts themselves debate on-air. Claims are labeled throughout as confirmed, developing, or unverified.
 

U.S., Israel preparing to bombard energy-related targets in Iran, sources say​


Washington — The United States and Israel are planning what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure targets in Iran, multiple sources told CBS News, with strikes possible throughout the weekend.

There was some discussion about trying to conclude by the time financial markets open Monday because of concern about how the bombings will affect the U.S. and global economy, but an end point wasn't locked in.

The Israelis have been notified and are coordinating with the United States, according to multiple U.S. sources. The president has yet to give the final 'go' orders for the strikes, the sources said.

A joint operation would mark Israel's return to combat operations which it had halted during the U.S.-brokered truce. Iran has not hit Israel since the memorandum of understanding fell apart and the U.S. restarted combat operations in early July.

An Israeli official told CBS News: "Israel is unaware of a decision to restart full military operations, nor has been requested of Israel to join any military actions against Iran."

The military strike plan came up during President Trump's cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, according to sources briefed later. Some White House aides who focus on politics were strongly opposed, one of the sources said.

While reporters were in the room, Mr. Trump said: "We'll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore.'"

"I think we just want to win," he told the press when asked about reviving diplomacy.

Energy infrastructure including power plants and refineries would likely be targeted, two of the sources said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to CBS News, "As President Trump said at his cabinet meeting today, the United States will win, and Iran will not have a nuclear weapon under his watch."

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the Pentagon would not comment on targets before the president makes a final decision.

"The Department of War is locked and loaded, ready to execute the President's directives at a moment's notice," Parnell said in a statement.

A former U.S. military official told CBS that the value of hitting energy infrastructure would be to impact the Iranian military's ability to provide services and effectively govern.

When Mr. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met earlier this week, Netanyahu briefed him on three options for the war, including military strikes focused on land resupply routes, a senior Israeli official said. Netanyahu also met with Defense Secretary Hegseth.

The U.S. has already struck bridges in this conflict that were dual-use — used by the military and civilians — a U.S. official said.

There were high-level U.S. discussions Friday about cutting electricity across Tehran, but no decision had been made as of Friday afternoon.

Last week, Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social that he would bomb and destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for every attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

www.cbsnews.com

U.S., Israel preparing to bombard energy-related targets in Iran, sources say

The U.S. and Israel plan to hit Iran's energy infrastructure as soon as this weekend, although no final decision has been made, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
 
OSINTdefender @sentdefender
The commander of U.S. European Command has privately warned the Pentagon that he does not have enough naval forces to continue defending Israel against Iranian ballistic missile attacks and may soon have to prioritize defense of the U.S. homeland unless another Navy destroyer is assigned.

The warning from Gen. Alexus Grynkewich underscores the growing strain the Iran war has placed on U.S. military resources. The Washington Post reports that near-daily operations have stretched the Navy's destroyer fleet, while previous reporting from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Reuters has detailed mounting concerns over dwindling stocks of Patriot and other air defense interceptors needed to protect U.S. forces and allies.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the correspondence, but officials told the Post the warning reflects the military's process for alerting senior leaders when operational risks begin to exceed available resources.

Source: washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
 
https://twitter.com/visionergeo/status/2083639270406058389

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A source within the U.S. Department of Defense told Fox News that the United States is fully prepared for a large-scale war against Iran and that President Donald Trump has approved a new series of high-intensity strikes against IRGC forces. "We are prepared for a large-scale war against Iran. In the past few hours, President Trump has approved a number of lethal and dangerous attacks against the forces of the IRGC," the source said. ccording to the report, the newly authorized strikes are expected to target Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assets as part of an expanded U.S. military campaign. The reported authorization suggests Washington is continuing to increase military pressure on Iran while preparing for the possibility of a broader confrontation. If additional strikes are carried out against IRGC targets, they would represent another step in an increasingly sustained campaign aimed at degrading Iran's military capabilities and limiting its ability to project force across the region. See the latest updates with us:
@visionergeo











0:11 / 0:30














2:41 PM · Aug 1, 2026
 
Open Source Intel @Osint613
Message from President Donald Trump to His Majesty the King Mohammed VI on Throne Day

1 AUGUST, 26

Your Majesty King Mohammed VI:

On behalf of the United States of America, I send my congratulations to Your Majesty and to the great people of Morocco on Throne Day. This year, we celebrate 250 years of American history and enduring friendship with Morocco – a bond forged in trust and mutual respect.

The United States has been clear: we recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, and we support Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution. Any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable. This urgently needed solution will not only bring peace to the region but prosperity and greater integration for all of Africa. This dispute must end now, and the United States will continue to drive progress toward that end.

Your Majesty’s wise leadership has been a cornerstone of stability. Morocco’s steadfast focus on advancing peace, combating extremism, and protecting American and Moroccan security, including through its vital role in the Abraham Accords, reflects a valuable partnership for the United States. To this end, we will also work together to secure the Sahel region. Your vision for growth opens doors to good fortune for both our people and economies. I have directed my teams to encourage economic and social development with Morocco, including in the Western Sahara territory. American trusted technology and innovation across strategic sectors from energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and defense will continue to serve as your partners for the next 250 years.

Together, we are building a new era. It is one that puts the interests of both our peoples first. I look forward to even greater success for our two nations as we continue to work together.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump
 
Open Source Intel @Osint613 Iranian FM Araghchi to his Saudi counterpart: Any aggression or hostile act by the U.S. and Israel, or participation by regional states, will meet a decisive response from Iran's armed forces. Those responsible will bear all consequences.
 

U.S. general warns Pentagon he lacks sufficient forces to protect Israel​


The top U.S. general in Europe privately warned the Pentagon this week that he lacks sufficient naval forces to continue protecting Israel from incoming ballistic missiles, officials said, illustrating how the ongoing Iran war has imposed constraints on the military.

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. European Command, sent written notification to senior Pentagon officials saying that without another Navy destroyer he will be forced to choose defense of the United States “homeland” over that of Israel, said the officials, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the correspondence.

A U.S. defense official said Grynkewich’s notification appears consistent with past outreach to the Pentagon from the military’s top generals when they see certain risks that require Washington’s consideration. This can occur, the official said, as commanders compete for finite resources and weapons.
The Pentagon declined to comment. U.S. European Command did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington could not be reached for comment.
The general’s warning comes at a tenuous moment in the five-month conflict, as near-daily attacks have resumed following the collapse of peace talks between Washington and Tehran and the operation’s intensity has drained U.S. supplies of key defensive weapons.
The Navy has been particularly taxed, as the Trump administration has directed a blockade of Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The standoff has stymied the movement of Middle Eastern oil and other commodities through the narrow waterway, upending the global economy.

U.S. naval destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea have been employed as a part of Israel’s defense for many years. The vessels, equipped with powerful radar and armed with an array of missiles, have downed missiles aimed at Israel not only by Iran, but by Houthi militants in Yemen that are equipped by Tehran.

European Command is central to this mission, as it coordinates military operations in the Mediterranean. At the same time, its forces must remain ready for any Russian incursion into territory protected by the NATO military alliance. Russia also poses a ballistic missile threat to the United States, with missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
The Navy has five destroyers that deploy from a U.S. port in Rota, Spain, with a sixth expected to arrive there later this year, Pentagon officials have said. But maintenance issues have piled up due to the Iran war’s tempo, complicating matters for Grynkewich, officials said. The Washington Post withheld specific details about the ships’ availability at the request of military officials, who cited security concerns.

As The Post reported in May, Pentagon assessments conducted earlier in the war showed that U.S. forces have shouldered the brunt of defending Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles. The assessments found that American weapons, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and naval interceptors launched from the eastern Mediterranean, were used far more frequently than Israeli air defense weapons.

Two destroyers, the USS Paul Ignatius and the USS Roosevelt, were in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, a U.S. official said. Three destroyers were in Rota: the USS Arleigh Burke, the USS Bulkeley and the USS Oscar Austin.

Closer to Iran, an armada of additional vessels was in the Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers, the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln, and at least 15 other warships, this official said. Eleven are destroyers.
The fleet has been central to the Trump administration’s blockade of Iranian ports. It also has been involved in an effort called “Project Freedom,” in which the U.S. military has helped protect vessels in the contested Strait of Hormuz.

Another destroyer, the USS Gonzalez, is in the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis have attempted to enforce their own blockade of commercial shipping in a bid to further the economic pressure facing the U.S. and its allies in the region. Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. partner, has sought to thwart the Houthis, a longtime adversary, by developing a military coalition to ensure freedom of navigation.
The Iran war is increasingly unpopular among the U.S. public, and members of Congress — from both political parties — have grown frustrated with the administration as top officials struggle to articulate a plan for ending the conflict on terms deemed favorable to the United States. There is a deepening worry among many Republicans, particularly, that the war’s impact on the price of gas, food and other goods will cost the party in November’s midterm elections.

Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank, said the warning issued by Grynkewich highlights the scope of the Pentagon’s challenges.
“Being on a wartime footing is going to take a toll in terms of readiness and munitions inventory levels,” he said. “Now the question is: What’s the strategy here?”

 
truthsocial.com

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of...
truthsocial.com truthsocial.com

The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II.

Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.

This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

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.

The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment.

Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

President DONALD J. TRUMP
 
The Hormuz Report:

BREAKING: Iran has rejected the latest U.S.-backed Qatari proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and denied Israeli Channel 12's report that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accepted the deal, calling the claim false, per Fars News Agency.

Citing military sources, Fars said no changes have been made to Tehran's policy, insisting the Strait remains closed and that any vessel seeking passage must still obtain authorization and coordination with the IRGC Navy.

Iran's Defense Minister said every U.S. threat is treated as real, adding that Tehran is not backing down and is instead raising combat readiness and strengthening deterrence for any scenario.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2083848460625908035
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/2083848460625908035
 
www.navytimes.com

US helps defend Israel from Iranian missile attack

The attack follows Israel's airstrikes on Iran's nuclear program and military leadership Thursday.
www.navytimes.com www.navytimes.com

US helps defend Israel from Iranian missile attack​

By Noah Robertson
Jun 13, 2025


The U.S. military helped defend Israel from Iranian-fired missiles Friday, a day after Tel Aviv launched a massive air attack on Iran’s military leadership and nuclear program.

A U.S. defense official, who confirmed the news, did not say what American assets were used and how many interceptors were required.

Earlier in the day, U.S. European Command deployed two destroyers to the eastern Mediterranean Sea ahead of the attack, which could help defend against guided missile strikes, another defense official said.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

The Israel Defense Forces said that Iran had launched “dozens” of missiles, including at civilian sites, Friday in retaliation for an attack the day before.

On Thursday, without U.S. assistance, Israel targeted senior Iranian military leaders and scientists involved in Tehran’s nuclear program in massive airstrikes across the country. Tel Aviv called the attacks a “preemptive” strike on Iran’s nuclear program, which had accelerated despite the Trump administration’s attempts to negotiate a deal and avoid such a confrontation.

President Donald Trump urged Iran to keep pursuing negotiations, hours before the retaliatory strike. Still, he has said that Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon is unacceptable to Washington.

“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal,” Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform Friday morning.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump by phone Friday, the White House confirmed.

The U.S. military normally has around 30,000 troops in the Middle East, including equipment in Israel. Amid heightened tensions in the region, though, that posture has increased to around 40,000 personnel.

During an earlier airstrike campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, a terrorist group in Yemen, the U.S. moved military assets and air defense batteries to the Middle East to better protect its forces in case of an Iranian strike.

This week’s dueling strikes come after a year of unprecedented attacks between Iran and Israel — including previous missile attacks by Iran last April and October.

U.S. forces helped defend Israel in both cases, and Israel later retaliated for the October strike, destroying Iran’s most advanced air defense systems.

The direct Israeli operation, which Tel Aviv has said will continue, now threatens an even further escalation between the two countries, risking an all-out war that could drag in the U.S. military.

It has also concerned U.S. analysts and former defense officials that Israel’s true aim is regime change in Iran.

“More is on the way,” Netanyahu said in remarks Friday.



www.navytimes.com

Watch the USS Bulkeley help shoot down Iran’s missile attack on Israel

The Navy destroyers Bulkeley and Cole put in work Tuesday, playing a role in stopping Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to the Pentagon.
www.navytimes.com www.navytimes.com

Watch the USS Bulkeley help shoot down Iran’s missile attack on Israel​

By Geoff Ziezulewicz
Oct 3, 2024

As Iran’s massive ballistic missile salvo headed for Israel Tuesday, the Navy destroyers Bulkeley and Cole helped that barely any of those missiles struck successfully.

The Navy has released video footage of Bulkeley’s role in defending Israel as the U.S. warship steamed in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

AEGIS weapons systems aboard both warships are designed for ballistic missile defense, and “multiple missiles are believed to have been successfully engaged,” the Navy said.

The sky lit up over central and southern Israel Tuesday evening as ballistic missiles collided with air defense interceptors. Both the Pentagon and the Israel Defense Forces said launched around 200 missiles and there had been no recorded casualties.

Pentagon officials said Wednesday that “initial reports indicate that Israel was able to intercept the majority of incoming missiles and that there was minimal damage on the ground.”
 
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Summerthyme
 
IRAN REJECT TRUMP CLAIM

Iranian Military Officials: "The terrorist claims by the U.S. President that Iran has asked to halt the attacks are merely a new lie and a desperate attempt to extort the rulers of the Persian Gulf and pressure them with threats.

Whether he continues his aggression or retreats from it, our forces are at the highest level of readiness and are prepared for any eventuality. If confrontation becomes inevitable, the battlefield will be the decider, and at that time, everyone will understand who holds the power and who will speak the final word."

Via Iran's Mehr News

https://twitter.com/x/status/2083770196565659791
View: http://twitter.com/ShaykhSulaiman/status/2083770196565659791


en.mehrnews.com

Iran by no means asked US to not strike: FM Spox

TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that Iran asked Washington not to attack it as part of Trump's war rhetoric.
en.mehrnews.com en.mehrnews.com
 
EndGameWW3 @EndGameWW3
Around and around we go, seems like we tried this before...

Israel's Channel 12 reported, citing informed sources, that efforts are underway to bring the United States and the Islamic Republic back to the agreement they signed last month. According to the report, the agreement under negotiation includes keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for 60 days without tolls, as well as extending the ceasefire between the two sides
 

IRGC mulling preemptive strikes if talks with US fail — report​

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is weighing launching preemptive strikes if diplomatic efforts with the United States fail, an Iranian diplomat tells the Wall Street Journal.

The report does not specify if this would include attacks on both US assets in the region and Israel.


Gulf States Pressed Trump to Hold Off on Iran Strikes and Pursue Talks​

President Trump held off on a new attack on Iran as mediators made fresh progress on a plan to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz and some Gulf states pressed the president to pursue dialogue with Tehran, people familiar with the matter said.

Trump’s abrupt announcement on social media, posted early Sunday in the Middle East, that he had called off the strikes eased tensions between the U.S. and Iran—at least for the moment.

His pivot was the latest in a pattern by the president, who has swung between dire threats against Tehran and soothing claims that a peace deal is within reach.

Regional mediators have worked to push the U.S. and Iran into a new ceasefire. Qatari mediators presented Iran on Saturday with a fresh proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian diplomats reacted positively to it, raising hopes that a compromise may be near, mediators said.

An Iranian diplomat confirmed Tehran had expressed openness to a proposal from mediators, though it wasn’t clear if Iran would ultimately agree to it.

The proposal would create new traffic patterns for ships transiting the strait, which is bordered by Iran on the northern shore and Oman on the southern. Iran insisted last week that it control at least part of both lanes through the strait, which usually carries 20% of the world’s oil trade.

It was unclear Sunday how the new proposal addresses a key sticking point—Iran’s stated desire to collect fees or tolls from ships passing through the strait, a position the U.S. has strongly opposed.
Iranian diplomats also presented new ideas Friday to open the strategic waterway and lift sanctions on their country’s oil, regional officials said.

Just a few hours before Trump’s announcement, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a call with the U.S. president urging dialogue to reduce escalation in the region, according to Saudi state media and Saudi officials familiar with the matter.
“Such efforts pave the way for diplomatic solutions that yield positive results, preserving the region’s security and stability while preventing a slide into a broader conflict with repercussions for regional and international security and stability,” the Saudi government said Sunday.

The crown prince also asked for clarity over U.S. strategy on Iran and the planned strikes, the officials familiar with the matter said.

Behind the scenes, Gulf countries are frustrated with what they see as a lack of a clear strategy from the U.S. as the war drags on, subjecting their territories to frequent Iranian attacks, people familiar with the matter said. Gulf allies have asked the U.S. in recent weeks for more air-defense interceptors and continued guarantees that the U.S. military will protect them if the tit-for-tat fighting drags on, officials have said.

On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke to counterparts in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. He told the ministers that if the U.S. or Israel attacked, Tehran would react forcefully to defend itself and Washington would bear the consequences, according to a readout released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

Not all Gulf countries are pushing for de-escalation. Some, such as the United Arab Emirates, have lobbied Trump in recent days to take more decisive action against Iran, according to senior Gulf officials familiar with the discussion. The officials have suggested Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps won’t compromise until the U.S. escalates, takes control over the strait and perhaps considers ground operations.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has been consistently in favor of de-escalation. The kingdom has previously blocked a U.S. military effort to open the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a widening diplomatic rift between the two countries. Saudi Arabia ultimately backed down, but U.S. officials said at the time that the damage to relations wouldn’t easily be undone.

While U.S. escalation is still a possibility, Israeli officials understand that Trump prefers a deal to a return to a full-scale war, which would be costly to Middle East countries, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Polling shows that the war with Iran is deeply unpopular in the U.S. and is a drag on Republican hopes in November’s midterm elections.

Iranian officials are aware of Trump’s political vulnerability and looking to exploit it if necessary, according to the Iranian diplomat. Should diplomacy fail, the IRGC is considering pre-emptive strikes even if the U.S. doesn’t attack, the diplomat said.

While Israel had the upper hand in terms of influencing Trump to launch the war on Feb. 28 despite Gulf warnings, the situation has now flipped, said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence official and now senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. Gulf countries are now holding more sway with the president, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pull is eroding, he said.

“They basically prefer stability over everything else,” Citrinowicz said, referring to Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

“Everyone knows what will happen if [Iranian] infrastructure will be attacked—they will attack infrastructure in the Gulf states,” Citrinowicz said. “They created the understanding especially around the Gulf states that there is a huge price to pay if something like that could happen.”

 

Diplomatic window reopens as shadow of Iran war lingers​

Diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz accelerated on Sunday after US President Donald Trump called off a planned attack on Iran, with Tehran saying negotiations with Oman were nearing completion and mediators outlining a proposal to revive US-Iran talks.

“We must strive to compel the enemy to honor what it signed,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on X Sunday, referring to the Iran-US memorandum of understanding signed in June. “This memorandum enhances the security of our country, the region and our allies.”

Trump said on Saturday that he had canceled the attack after Iran and other Middle Eastern countries requested a pause, saying the sides had agreed on the broad “perimeters” of a deal that would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran’s nuclear threat.

The Associated Press, citing a regional official involved in mediation efforts, reported that a proposal announced by Trump over the weekend calls for the US and Iran to resume negotiations and work through the remaining obstacles to a deal.

The proposal would reopen Hormuz and halt attacks across the region, including attacks by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on Persian Gulf countries and Jordan, the official said. In exchange, Washington would end its naval blockade and allow Tehran to export oil under the tentative ceasefire arrangement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman over the strait were nearing completion.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the talks were bilateral and aimed at agreeing a mechanism for the strait, adding that they did not concern any other party.

“The understanding with Oman over a new transit route has nothing to do with whether the Strait of Hormuz remains open or closed,” Baghaei said. “The strait was closed because the US reneged on its commitments and imposed a blockade.”

Push for de-escalation

Regional governments continued diplomatic outreach on Sunday. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged dialogue and de-escalation in his call with Trump, while the kings of Jordan and Bahrain discussed efforts to restore security and stability in the region.

Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister also urged implementation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, including guarantees for freedom of navigation through Hormuz, during separate calls with the Saudi and Jordanian foreign ministers.
Military preparations nevertheless continued. Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing senior US officials, that CENTCOM had prepared strikes against Iranian energy and infrastructure targets, with Israel expected to participate.

Qatar asked Trump for another 24 hours for negotiations, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned that military action could trigger wider regional escalation and damage oil facilities in Persian Gulf states, the report said.

Channel 12 said negotiators were close to a proposed Hormuz arrangement that included renewing the ceasefire, opening the strait toll-free for 60 days, establishing new shipping routes and resuming US-Iran negotiations based on the memorandum of understanding

War clouds linger

But not all Persian Gulf states backed the diplomatic push. The United Arab Emirates had pressed Trump to take more decisive action against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing senior officials from Persian Gulf states familiar with the discussions.

The officials suggested the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not compromise until the US escalated, took control of Hormuz and perhaps considered ground operations.

An Iranian diplomat told the newspaper that the IRGC was considering preemptive strikes even if the US did not attack, should diplomacy fail. The Israeli military remained on high alert despite Trump's decision, assessing that Tehran could still spring surprises, Channel 12 reported.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who sits on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, said there was close security and intelligence coordination between Israel and the United States on developments across the region.

"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," Cohen added.

Iran’s acting defense minister said Tehran treated every threat from its adversaries as credible and used it to strengthen military readiness and deterrence.

www.iranintl.com

Diplomatic window reopens as shadow of Iran war lingers

Diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz accelerated on Sunday after US President Donald Trump called off a planned attack on Iran, with Tehran saying negotiations with Oman were nearing completion and mediators outlining a proposal to revive US-Iran talks.
www.iranintl.com www.iranintl.com
 

BREAKING PEPE Breaks:Trump Halts Iran Attack-REAL STORY WHITE HOUSE LIED of Iran's 10-to-1 Warning​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JocrS8mJo0

Run time - 37:53
Aug 2, 2026

BREAKING — Iran has responded to the US military stand-down, and insiders say it is not a peace signal. In this Transition Protocol briefing, Pepe Escobar reveals Iran's warning of a 10-to-1 retaliation against Gulf energy infrastructure and a secret 40-minute call between UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Iran's Foreign Minister.

This episode covers Tehran's read on the US stand-down, the upgraded Chinese BeiDou-linked targeting systems reportedly routed through Pakistan's Gwadar port, Saudi Arabia's reported pressure on Trump to stand down, and Iran's readiness posture including a reported 2,000-vessel rapid-response fleet.

Analysis by Pepe Escobar, veteran geopolitical correspondent. Hosted by Zulfiqar Ali on Transition Protocol (Power Shift).

All claims are attributed and framed according to verification status.
 

Trump Says "Perimeters Of A Deal Reached" With Iran To Reopen Hormuz After Call With Saudi Crown Prince<!-- --> | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

Trump Says "Perimeters Of A Deal Reached" With Iran To Reopen Hormuz After Call With Saudi Crown Prince​

by Tyler Durden
Sunday, Aug 02, 2026 - 03:00 PM
The past few days have been tense. Although no US strikes were launched from Friday night into Saturday morning and the Gulf region remained quiet early Sunday, anticipation surrounding President Trump's next move is keeping energy traders and Gulf governments on edge. The big concern is that another round of strikes could trigger a wider regional conflict, particularly as the Iranian-backed Houthis have reactivated offensive operations in the southern Red Sea in recent weeks.

The Trump administration and Department of War may pursue de-escalation from here after Trump wrote on Truth Social late Saturday night: "We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to."

"Tonight from 9:36 PM to 9:37 PM the S&P 500 price on Hyperliquid spiked bigly, and I couldn't figure out why... ...then Trump posted his TACO @ 10:05 PM. THEN I understood why," X user Stanphyl Capital wrote.

That de-esclation pathway was followed by a new signal early Sudnay from Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Arabia's official state news agency, stating that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a call with President Trump, discussing the "necessity of prioritizing dialogue to de-escalate tensions and the importance of exerting all possible efforts to achieve a truce that paves the way for diplomatic solutions that yield positive results for preserving the security and stability of the region and prevent it from being drawn into a wider conflict whose repercussions would affect regional and international security and stability."

The MbS-Trump call was first reported by Axios, which got the scoop on Saturday evening:

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to President Trump on Saturday and expressed concern over his plans for massive new strikes against Iran, according to two U.S. officials and a third source with knowledge of the call.
. . .
Such an attack could lead to an unprecedented escalation in the five-month war, which has repeatedly paused as Trump opened the door to negotiations — only to resume when those diplomatic efforts failed.
Iran has threatened to retaliate by launching attacks against energy and infrastructure facilities in Israel and the Gulf countries
  • The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action," one U.S. official told Axios.
  • A second source with knowledge of the call said MBS urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching the strikes.
Click to expand...
Why the MBS-Trump conversation matters is that Saudi Arabia remains one of Washington's top Gulf region allies. Riyadh has heavily influenced Trump's Iran policy at previous inflection points and appears to have exerted similar influence in delaying or narrowing the next phase of US military action.
 
Plain Jane said:

Trump Says "Perimeters Of A Deal Reached" With Iran To Reopen Hormuz After Call With Saudi Crown Prince<!-- --> | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

...
Iran has threatened to retaliate by launching attacks against energy and infrastructure facilities in Israel and the Gulf countries
  • ...
Click to expand...

John Hussain
@johnhussainpres

Please be advised:

Ghawar Oil Field in Saudi Arabia
⤴️ Ghawar is the backbone of Saudi Arabia's production, and any disruption to it puts more than 5% of the world's total oil supply at risk.

Abqaiq and Khurais Facilities in Saudi Arabia
⤴️ These are the heart of Saudi Arabia's export machine, stabilizing and preparing crude oil from the Ghawar, Khurais, and Safaniya fields for export.

⤴️ Abqaiq is the only facility through which more than 7 million barrels of oil pass per day, and any damage to it, in addition to creating a crisis in Saudi Arabia's oil exports, disrupts the supply chain for petrochemical plants, power plants, and even desalination plants.

Ruways Refinery and Zakum Oil Field in the UAE
⤴️ Zakum is the second-largest offshore oil field in the world and has a daily export of more than 1 million barrels of crude oil.

North Ghadir Gas Field and Ras Laffan LNG Facilities in Qatar
⤴️ This is the world's largest gas field, with 25% of the world's proven reserves. Ras Laffan is the world's most important LNG export terminal and is responsible for approximately 20% of global LNG trade.

Burgan Oil Field in Kuwait
⤴️ Burgan is Kuwait's largest oil field, with reserves of approximately 67 billion barrels. Burgan is one of the key fields that, during the recent crisis, took 2 million barrels of Kuwait's production offline.

Sitrah Refinery and Al-Mihaj Facilities in Bahrain
⤴️ Bahrain is the most vulnerable country in the Gulf Cooperation Council to energy disruptions due to its heavy reliance on these facilities.

Leviathan and Tamar Gas Fields in Israel
⤴️ Leviathan is Israel's largest gas field, and Tamar is the second-largest in the region.

(List released by Fars)

https://twitter.com/x/status/2083327456644411880
View: https://twitter.com/johnhussainpres/status/2083327456644411880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
 

Iran says no deal to reopen Hormuz, denies asking Trump to pause strikes: What we know so far​

Trump had written on Truth Social that the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran” but agreed to cancel the planned attack after being asked by Iran and other regional countries to hold off.​

Written By Ravi Hari
Published2 Aug 2026, 06:41 PM IST

Iran on Sunday (August 2) rejected US President Donald Trump's claims that Tehran had agreed to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and had asked Washington to hold off on fresh military strikes, insisting the strategic waterway would remain closed as long as the United States continued what it called "hostile actions."

The twin denials came a day after Trumpsaid the United States and Israel had agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iran after Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries requested time to finalize a diplomatic agreement.

Iran rejects Strait of Hormuz reopening claim​

Tehran first pushed back against Trump's assertion that a prospective agreement would include the "Immediate, Complete and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT."
Fars News Agency, citing a source close to Iranian negotiators, said no such agreement had been reached.

"As long as the United States maintains its hostile actions, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed," the source said.
Since the conflict began, Iran has imposed strict controls over the strategic shipping lane, requiring vessels to obtain authorization and pay transit fees before transiting the waterway. Iranian forces have also repeatedly targeted ships attempting to pass through Hormuz without permission.

Tehran dismisses Trump's strike-pause claim​

Iran also denied Trump's assertion that it had asked the United States to refrain from launching fresh military strikes.
Mehr News Agency, citing military officials, described Trump's allegation as "nothing but a new lie" and said Iran's armed forces were "on high alert and ready for any eventuality."
Trump had said on Truth Social that the US was "locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran" but agreed to cancel the planned attack after Iran and other regional countries requested more time for negotiations.

"Based on this request, I have agreed... to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump wrote.

Saudi Arabia pushes diplomacy​

Even as Tehran denied Trump's claims, regional diplomatic efforts gathered pace.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump before the US president announced the pause in strikes.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the crown prince emphasized "the necessity of prioritising dialogue to reduce tensions and the importance of exerting all possible efforts to achieve a truce that paves the way for diplomatic solutions."
People familiar with the conversation said Riyadh was concerned that renewed US military action could trigger Iranian retaliation against Saudi and Gulf energy infrastructure.
Iran also held diplomatic contacts with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, with Iranian state media saying the discussions focused on "the risk of escalating tensions and insecurity in the region."

Iran says it remains prepared for conflict​

Iran's defence minister said that the country was "neither surprised nor passive" following Trump's announcement and remained prepared to respond to any US military action.

Meanwhile, the US State Department issued fresh security alerts across the Middle East, urging American citizens in Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to prepare for possible flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and other travel disruptions as tensions remain elevated.

www.livemint.com

Iran says no deal to reopen Hormuz, denies asking Trump to pause strikes: What we know so far | Today News

Trump had written on Truth Social that the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran” but agreed to cancel the planned attack after being asked by Iran and other regional countries to hold off.
www.livemint.com www.livemint.com
 
Tousi put out a short program in a temporary studio. Only three things of interest. The attack was called off because someone leaked it to Iran. Kinda hard to have a surprise attack when the enemy knows where and when you’re coming. He’s also saying the call from SA, request for negotiations, fear of IRGC reprisals are part of a cover for calling it off. Finally a few vid’s of people burning the koran, a girl with loose uncovered hair in western dress using the burning pages to light a cigarette. One guy, setting it on fire wasn’t enough. Shall we say he turned his back to to camera, lowered his zipper and made a poor and useless attempt to put fire out. In one case the gov. took a news film crew to have a look at the brave fighting men defending the desert near the straits. Um… for those who know, out of uniform and not appearing entirely sober are the first things that come to mind. He also mentioned people there are telling him, the next time they come out in large numbers, they are coming out armed.
 
Last edited:
abc11.com

Most traumatic brain injuries in Iran war involve US Army troops, report says

653 U.S. troops have been wounded since the conflict began, according to the Defense Department.
abc11.com abc11.com

Most traumatic brain injuries in Iran war involve US Army troops, report says​

ByPenelope Lopez WTVD logo
Thursday, July 30, 2026

​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kpgIuwAUBU

Run time - 2:04
3 days ago

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The war in Iran is now entering its sixth month, and the number of wounded U.S. service members continues to climb.

According to the Defense Department, 653 U.S. troops have been wounded since the conflict began.

A new report reviewed by ABC News details how those troops were injured during the early weeks of the war. The findings, first reported by The War Horse, show that traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have emerged as the leading injury, with Army soldiers accounting for most of the casualties.

"Our men and women on those lines. They know what they've signed up for. But when they get home, they expect to be supported," said Aleta Chambers, adjutant and treasurer of Disabled American Veterans in Fayetteville.

That support is at the heart of the Fayetteville chapter's mission. "We help them file their paperwork. We help them make sure they have all the supporting documents so that they have a fully developed claim and then it goes through the system as quickly as possible," Chambers said.

Chambers, an Air Force veteran who volunteers three days a week, has witnessed how combat injuries can follow veterans long after they leave the battlefield. "It's very painful to watch the veterans actually going through these issues and trying to heal. And then they also have to fight for their benefits through a different window. So that's why we're here to advocate and support for them."

The report details troop injuries from the start of the war through the second week of April, when the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Data from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that veterans with TBIs are nearly twice as likely to die by suicide.

Casualties by Military Rank​

More than 270 of the roughly 400 casualties were Army soldiers.

Among them, 64 Army officers, including 20 captains and 13 lieutenant colonels were wounded

Records show that in the opening hours of the war on March 1, there were 91 casualties with another 70 on March 18, far above the daily average of roughly 14 wounded

Those two incidents account for 40 percent of the casualties in the dataset.

The March 18 spike came a day after the U.S. killed Ali Larijani, Iran's top security official, in an airstrike. The records also reveal that two generals suffered head injuries on March 1. Notably, casualties in this conflict are skewing older than in other wars.

What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?​

Dr. Scott Klenzak, program director of psychiatry at Cape Fear Valley, explained, "A traumatic brain injury is when the brain is injured through trauma. And so the brain can be injured in lots of ways in the military with the big bombs going off on the military bases over there in the Middle East during the Iran war, depending on how close you are to the bomb going off, you can have a blast injury and sometimes you get shrapnel and get a physical injury.Depending on how close you are to the bomb going off, you can have a blast injury, and sometimes you get shrapnel and get a physical injury. But oftentimes it just affects the brain. And so you can't see it, but you can definitely feel it."

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury​

Dr. Scott Klenzak said, "The immediate symptoms are very similar to a concussion. And so you're going to have confusion, disorientation, you're going to have one."

The effects of TBI can be long-lasting. "It's very silent. You don't know it, but the accumulates people can get what we call frontal lobe damage or damage to their executive functions. They can have personality changes. It can be subtle or it can be very stark."

Recovery from a traumatic brain injury can take up to a year, according to Dr. Klenzak. He said the best treatment is rest and avoiding a second head injury during recovery.

Eighteen U.S. troops have been killed in action during the war in Iran so far.
 

Iran says it is in talks with Oman but not the US after Trump says negotiations to resume​

Iran says it is negotiating with Oman to reach "an understanding" over a temporary route through the Strait of Hormuz to allow commercial shipping to resume.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump said new talks on ending the war in Iran would begin on Monday - and that he had called off "massive" strikes on the country for this purpose.

Trump did not specify who would take part in the talks. Iran, however, said it was not negotiating with the US - and had no plans to do so.
Tehran's denial appears to have enraged the US president, who later wrote on his Truth Social media platform that Iran's leadership was "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.'," Trump wrote.

At the weekend, Trump had said the "perimeters" of a deal had been agreed - and would include reopening Hormuz, the vital waterway whose closure by Iran has sent oil prices soaring.

Tehran has repeatedly closed off the strait since the US and Israel started attacks on the country in February.

But Trump insisted on Monday that the strait was controlled by the US and no ships would be allowed to reach Iran "unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished".

Speaking on board Air Force One on Sunday, he said Iran "knew the extent" of the planned US strikes "because they saw it forming", adding: "We're talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon."

Trump declined to outline a deadline for a deal to be struck with Tehran, adding: "We'll just see how it is. We're ready to go anytime we want... I'm not looking to kill people."

Trump added that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman - as well as US partners such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar - had urged him against conducting strikes over the weekend.
"We were all set to go," Trump said. "The reason they asked is [that] they think there's a deal," he said. "There's a deal on Hormuz, and there will be a deal on the nuclear."

Global oil prices fell on Monday morning in Asia trading after Trump's announcement. Brent Crude oil was down by 4.5% at $83.98 (£62.26), while US-traded oil was 4.6% lower at $80.74 (£59.85).

Energy prices have fluctuated since the conflict started on 28 February as traders reacted to disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Around 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually flows through the strait.

Vessel-tracking data from trade intelligence company Kpler suggests commercial shipping through the strait has slowed - with 51 vessel crossings between 30 July and 2 August. This is a drop of around 28% compared to the previous 4 days, in which 71 crossings were recorded through the strait.

Talks to end the conflict - mostly facilitated by mediators - collapsed last month, ending a ceasefire agreed in April.

Trump has repeatedly vowed that a negotiated end to the war is near, only for tit-for-tat strikes to resume.

While it is unclear what negotiations may - or may not - be happening away from the public eye, Trump and the White House have often accused Iran of saying one thing privately and another publicly.
Back on 7 April, the US president warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight" if Iran refused to engage in peace talks.

That threat did result in historic face-to-face talks in Pakistan, led by Vice-President JD Vance. However, those negotiations did not result in a deal.

The following month, he again said that he had withheld planned military operations at the behest of regional allies amid "serious negotiations", which he followed by a promise to hit Iran "very hard".

In the latter instance, he claimed that positive negotiations with Iranian leaders had prompted the operation to be called off.
At times, the White House has suggested that Iran's public statements are also aimed at a domestic audience that includes hardline members of the government and the powerful military who are opposed to making concessions to the US.

Any escalation could prove politically tricky for President Trump's Republican allies.

The Trump administration has been largely dismissive of data showing the war - and its economic impact - are broadly unpopular with Americans, including with many Republicans.

Polls showing widespread dissatisfaction with the handling of the war have prompted alarm among some conservative strategists ahead of the coming November midterms.

One poll, released by Reuters/Ipsos at the end of last week, found that only a third of Americans support the conflict, the lowest total since the war began, with the bulk of respondents pointing to unclear or shifting objectives.

www.bbc.com

Iran says it is in talks with Oman but not the US after Trump says negotiations to resume

Iran's remarks that there were no talks with the US prompts Donald Trump to issue a strong condemnation of its leadership.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com

Iran in talks with Oman over shipping but US negotiations on hold, says Tehran​

Iran has been in discussion with Oman about the creation of a new temporary route through the strait of Hormuz that would allow commercial shipping to resume, but is not yet reviving talks with the US, Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Esmail Baghaei was responding to claims by Donald Trump that talks between the two sides covering all the major disputes between them could restart as early as Monday. “We are not currently negotiating with the United States,” he said.

Trump claimed he had held off from launching the biggest strike on any country “since world war two” over the weekend after Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, rang him to urge diplomacy. Trump said the cancellation was conditional on Iran reaching a deal quickly.

It is thought to be the 12th time in the war between the US and Iran that Trump has called off threatened strikes.

On Monday, the US president called the Iranian leadership “unbelievably duplicitous” in a post on social media.

“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’.”

Trump demanded “a Deal, or Total Surrender” from Iran.

Baghaei’s discussion of a new middle route through the strait of Homuz would represent progress. Iran is claiming full sovereignty over the strait and has been making demands over the routes and future management of the strait, including the possibility of charging fees in return for providing ships with maritime services.

One proposal is to create an Omani-Iranian joint company that would provide all the services that insurance companies used to provide at high costs, but at lower prices, and with preferential tariffs for some countries.

Unlocking a mutually acceptable route through the strait is the precondition to unlocking all the other agreements laid out in the memorandum of understanding, the ceasefire document both sides signed on 18 June. Disagreements about the memorandum’s obligations has led to a resumption of the war, which has spread to the Red Sea and to Iraq.

Last week, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said Iran was demanding that ships entering the strait take a route to the north close to Iran, but that some ships could take a southern route. Iran rejected the traffic being divided evenly between the two routes, and also that a third country could start de-mining the routes.

Baghaei told a press conference in Tehran: “We are now talking about a corridor that will have a round trip route, not two or three separate routes. This intermediate route is to be used temporarily until a decision is made on a fixed route”.

He framed the route as an alternative to the transport separation scheme, the previous longstanding prewar route overseen by the UN’s International Maritime Office. He said maps had been exchanged by the two sides.

Baghaei stressed that the talks with Oman were bilateral and did not involve the US, adding that the negotiations with Oman had lasted seven to eight days. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, was not due to hold any talks with the US on Monday, he said.

He said: “We are focused on reaching an understanding on a route that will ensure safe shipping traffic through the strait of Hormuz. Our effort is to determine a route at the earliest opportunity, with Oman’s consultation and cooperation; a route that will usually be temporary and based on which we can provide shipping in the strait of Hormuz.”

He said an agreement on a route would not solve all the problems, pointing to the continuing US naval blockade of Iran’s ports, and that unless the US approach changed, there would be no significant improvement in the situation in the strait.

Baghaei implied the talks with Oman would extend beyond a safe route to include future management of the strait. He said: “As a rule, in any understanding regarding shipping traffic between two coastal states, all issues related to the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the two countries, as well as issues of national security, national interests, and issues related to maritime services, are definitely considered and examined.”

Recently there had been gloom in Omani circles about reaching an agreement with Iran on routes, leading to a revival of preparations for Oman’s European allies to start to clear the southern route of mines, a step that might have provoked direct conflict between Iran and European powers.

Baghaei blamed the US for disregarding the memorandum of understanding by attempting to open up a southern route through Omani waters, arguing that article 5 of the memorandum specified that Iran alone within 30 days was required to return the level of shipping traffic to prewar conditions.

He said ships that passed through this Oman route “were moving under pressure from Centcom [US Central Command], and due to intimidation from the American side. Some of these ships were even carrying military equipment, and in the shelter of these large ships sometimes frigates also travelled.

“On 21 and 22 June, the US carried out widespread attacks against Iran and suddenly announced that everything was over under the pretext of the incident of seeing several ships in the strait of Hormuz,” he said.

In a sign of the pressure Tehran diplomats face, a statement from the Assembly of Experts, the body of clerics that elects the supreme leader, warned against investing any trust in the US, saying: “Hope for understanding and agreement with this bullying regime will lead nowhere.”

A section of the statement read: “It is incumbent upon all the free people in every corner of the world to keep aloft the banner of revenge and retribution for the martyred imam.”

But the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said he believed the “memorandum of understanding would prove to be the centre of gravity of our foreign relations in the future”.

Saudi intervention came in a week in which Riyadh attacked Iranian-backed forces inside Iraq and raised the temperature in its dispute with the Iranian-backed Houthis in northern Yemen, underlining the extent to which Saudi Arabia fears the consequence of an all-out US war against Iran spiralling out of control across the Middle East.

www.theguardian.com

Iran in talks with Oman over shipping but US negotiations on hold, says Tehran

Iran discussing creation of temporary route through strait of Hormuz with its neighbour, says spokesperson
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 

Global shipping is a disaster​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVbhZWpzP-M

Run time - 8:19
Aug 3, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz was closed in the early days of this year's War on Iran, with severe impacts on the the global energy trade.

Now maritime shipping faces its worst crisis in modern times, as other major chokepoints are shut off.

The Houthis have again sealed off the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The Panama Canal traffic is slowing, because of low rainfall. The Danube and Rhine Rivers in Europe are at record-low levels and shipping volumes are down 80%.

Shipping through the Turkish Straits is also threatened by the strikes on refineries and port facilities on the Black Sea.

We have no historical data to guide decision making, in the case of multiple failures in the maritime shipping industry.

Closing scene, Qinghai

Resources and links:

Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, data shows https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-...

What are the impacts of the Red Sea shipping crisis? https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/glo...

Commercial navigation in the Red Sea under attack https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/defaul...

El Niño Hits the Panama Canal https://www.wsj.com/wsjplus/dashboard...

Global Trade Faces Fresh Test as Panama Canal Curbs Bookings https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...

Rhine water level drops to around record lows, costs for industry rise https://www.reuters.com/business/envi...

Rhine water level close to record lows, cargo vessels keep sailing https://kfgo.com/2026/07/30/rhine-wat...

River Conditions in Manaus (Brazil) – Dry Season Period 2026 https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/...

Temporary Suspension of the Daily Auction – Panamax Locks https://nortonlilly.com.pa/temporary-...

The world's most strategic straits and channels https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje...

Ukraine's Black Sea ports lose a third of grain export capacity, farmers' union says https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine...
 
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