US-Iran war Highlights: Iran says Hormuz shipping route agreed with Oman, reopening hinges on US ending naval blockade
US-Iran War Highlights: Iran says it has agreed with Oman on the route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and is finalizing a joint framework to manage the strategic waterway. Tehran says reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on the US ending what Iran calls its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
US-Iran War Highlights: Iran has said that talks with Oman alone will not be enough to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and that broader conditions must be met before shipping in the strategic waterway could return to normal. As per Fars news agency, conflicting signals from US officials, delivered directly or through regional partners, had complicated the negotiation process, raising concerns in Tehran that outside interference could delay or derail the talks.
Trump says deal likely on Wednesday itself
US President Donald Trump has said that a deal to partially open up the Strait of Hormuz can be reached as early as Wednesday (local time). Iran and Oman are currently in talks to open up the strategic waterway and potentially help stop the war from escalating further.
Blasts in Dubai
Several blasts were reported in Dubai on Wednesday in the Jebel Ali industrial zone. Although no individual or group has not taken responsibility for the same, reports revealed some individuals were arrested for filming the blasts.
Hegseth denies reports of ‘dangerously low’ US critical missile stockpile
CNN reported that senior US military commanders have warned that the Pentagon's stockpile of critical munitions is "dangerously low," with air defence systems being significantly depleted during operations linked to the conflict.
However, the report has been denied by US War Secretary Pete Hegseth as ‘not true’.
Denuclearisation of Iran ultimate deal: Marco Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) said negotiations with Iran are currently focused on two key objectives, the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe maritime navigation, and the longer-term goal of the complete denuclearisation of Iran.
Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic engagement, Rubio said progress had been made in discussions mediated by Oman, although no final agreement had been reached.
US official says temporary routes through Strait of Hormuz will require 'no permits or fees
A United States official has said that any temporary shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz would not require permits, approvals or fees, asserting that no single party controls navigation through the strategic waterway, according to Al Jazeera.
The official told Al Jazeera that "any temporary routes through the Strait of Hormuz will be without obstacles, permits, approvals or fees," adding that no party has control over the shipping lanes or the ability of vessels to transit through the strait.
US-Iran war LIVE: Proposed Hormuz deal could hand Tehran control of inbound vessels - Report
A proposed agreement would give Iran control over ships entering the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian source and two regional officials cited by Reuters.
Details of Tehran's authority remain under negotiation.
The sources pushed back on President Donald Trump's claim that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is imminent, saying important issues remain unresolved.
US-Iran war LIVE: Yemen's Houthis say they targeted two Saudi oil tankers with missiles
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they launched missile attacks on two Saudi oil tankers.
The rebels said one tanker was attacked off the Red Sea port of Yanbu, while the second was targeted in the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi Arabia has not confirmed either of the reported attacks.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the attacks but did not specify when they occurred.
The Houthis have enforced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea since last month.
The group says the blockade is in response to what it describes as a Saudi "siege" on Yemen.
Riyadh has rejected the Houthi allegations, denying it has imposed a siege on Yemen.
The claimed attacks come amid escalating maritime tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, key global shipping routes.
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran says Hormuz shipping route agreed with Oman, but reopening hinges on US ending naval blockade
Iran says it has agreed with Oman on the route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and is finalizing a joint framework to manage the strategic waterway.
Tehran says reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on the US ending what Iran calls its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran, Oman agree Hormuz shipping route coordinates; joint announcement imminent
Iran and Oman have agreed on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.
A joint announcement by Tehran and Muscat is being finalized.
Baghaei said the announcement will proceed provided no third parties interfere.
The agreement is aimed at establishing an agreed shipping route through the strategically important waterway.
However, Baghaei cautioned that the Iran-Oman agreement alone would not guarantee security in the Strait of Hormuz.
He stressed that broader regional and international factors would continue to influence the safety of navigation through the strategic maritime chokepoint.
US-Iran war LIVE: Global shipping groups urge UN to reject Hormuz transit tolls amid Iran fee concerns
Eight of the world's largest shipping associations have urged the United Nations (UN) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to oppose any mandatory tolls or transit charges in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a joint letter dated August 3 to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, the groups warned that transit fees would undermine international maritime law.
The associations said compulsory charges could set a dangerous global precedent, encouraging similar tolls at other strategic maritime chokepoints and creating uncertainty for international shipping and global trade. (Bloomberg)
US-Iran war LIVE: Oil prices climb as Houthi attack on Saudi tanker rattles Middle East supply hopes
Oil prices climbed on Wednesday after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they attacked a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, raising fresh concerns over Middle East energy supplies.
Brent crude rose 74 cents (0.93%) to $80.10 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 16 cents (0.21%) to $75.93.
The Houthis said they launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the coast of Yanbu, a key Saudi crude export hub. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the claim.
The reported attack dampened optimism over a possible de-escalation in the Iran conflict after Qatar said mediators were making progress toward ending the war.
Brent crude had fallen 5% on Tuesday, closing below $80 a barrel for the first time since July 13, on hopes that diplomacy could restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US-Iran war LIVE: UN raises concerns over executions in Iran
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk criticised what he described as a sharp rise in executions and death sentences in Iran since March.
Türk said at least 56 people have been executed since March 19, including 27 convicted in cases linked to anti-government protests earlier this year. More than 100 others are reportedly at risk of execution.
He alleged that many convictions lacked fair trial guarantees, with some confessions obtained through torture or ill-treatment, and criticised reports of public executions carried out only weeks after arrests.
US-Iran war LIVE: Washington and Tehran acknowledge progress in talks
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said discussions with Oman are focused on establishing secure inbound and outbound shipping lanes that balance sovereign rights with the security concerns of both countries.
He said the final outcome would be announced once negotiations conclude.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed that progress had been made, while cautioning that no final agreement had yet been reached.
US-Iran war LIVE: Draft agreement outlines shared control
According to a report, the emerging agreement would see vessels entering the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and leaving through a route managed by Oman.
The proposal also includes service fees to cover maritime security and environmental protection.
The negotiations remain ongoing and the final arrangement could change. They added that any agreement would likely be linked to easing the US blockade on Iranian ports.
US-Iran war LIVE: Shipping attacks continue despite diplomatic progress
Shipping attacks continued despite signs of progress in negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting persistent security risks in the region.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they fired ballistic missiles at the Saudi oil tanker Wafa in the Red Sea near Yanbu, though they provided no evidence. Saudi Arabia has not commented.
The claimed strike comes amid escalating tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about a renewed escalation of Yemen's civil war.
In July, the Houthis declared the Bab el-Mandeb Strait closed to Saudi-linked shipping, increasing pressure on regional and global maritime trade.
An Indian-flagged commercial ship sank off Yemen's Red Sea coast after being struck by an explosive-laden boat. All 14 crew members, including 13 Indians, were rescued by Yemeni authorities.
A cargo ship also reported being hit by an unidentified projectile near the Omani port of Al Khasab in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre.
US-Iran war LIVE: Trump signals breakthrough on Hormuz negotiations
President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be announced as early as Wednesday, signaling progress in negotiations involving Iran and Oman.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters traveling with him in California, responding to a report that an announcement on the waterway could come on Wednesday.
"It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day. A lot of progress has been made," Trump said.
A reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could ease pressure on the global economy by restoring a key shipping route for oil and gas exports.
US-Iran War LIVE: Iran State Bank Freezes National Oil Company Accounts Over Debt
A state-owned Iranian bank has frozen accounts belonging to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) over outstanding debt, according to local media.
The move is notable because Iranian law reportedly extends NIOC's repayment deadline until March 2027, with no explanation given for the account freeze.
US-Iran War LIVE: Blast Injures Israeli Soldiers in South Lebanon, Airstrikes Follow
An explosive device wounded Israeli soldiers in the occupied village of Majdel Zoun in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli media. The incident was followed by Israeli airstrikes on the nearby village of Mansouri, escalating tensions along the border.
US-Iran War LIVE: Houthis Threaten More Red Sea Attacks as Saudi Shipping Blockade Escalates
Yemen's Houthi rebels say they will intensify attacks on Saudi-linked ships until Riyadh lifts its blockade on Houthi-controlled areas.
The group claims to have blocked 29 Saudi vessels since announcing a naval blockade on July 22, while analysts warn the campaign, seen by some as coordinated with Iran, could further disrupt global oil trade through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
US-Iran War LIVE: Rouhani Says Iran 'Sanctions Profiteers' Benefit From War and Chaos
Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said those who profit from sanctions may want war and instability to continue because they benefit financially from the turmoil. He also criticized people who believe Iran should impose its ideology on the rest of the world.
US-Iran War LIVE: UN Says Iran Executed 56 on Security Charges Since March
The UN says Iran has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges since March, including 27 linked to this year's protests. UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged Tehran to halt executions and abolish the death penalty, warning that more than 100 others remain at risk.
US-Iran War LIVE: Oil Prices Rise After Houthi Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker
Oil prices climbed after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed to have attacked a Saudi oil tanker near the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The strike raised fresh concerns over Middle East shipping disruptions, pushing Brent crude above $80 a barrel.
US-Iran War LIVE: Iran Backs Any Palestinian Decision in Hamas Talks, Pezeshkian Says
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran will support any decision made by Palestinian leaders in ongoing negotiations.
Speaking with Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya, Pezeshkian reaffirmed that Palestine remains a top priority in Iran's foreign policy, while Hamas said it is coordinating negotiations with other Palestinian factions.
US-Iran War LIVE: Iran MP Calls Strait of Hormuz Control a National Security Priority
An Iranian lawmaker has described maintaining the country's authority over the Strait of Hormuz as a core national security priority.
MP Ghasem Ravanbakhsh said parliament is reviewing measures to strengthen Iran's legal and strategic position in the vital shipping route while urging national unity and adherence to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's directives.
US-Iran War LIVE: Suspected Iran-Linked Cyberattacks Target US Water Facilities
Cyberattacks targeting water and wastewater facilities across at least seven US states appear to have been aimed more at spreading fear than causing major disruption, cybersecurity experts say.
While officials have not formally attributed the attacks, researchers say the tactics closely resemble previous Iranian cyber campaigns designed to project influence and create psychological impact.