U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are progressing and suggested an agreement with Iran could be reached “soon”.
Qatar's former prime minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani has welcomed the joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, calling it “an important agreement and a step that calls for optimism” in a post on X.
Israeli forces are intensively shelling the Ali al-Taher heights on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon, Lebanon’s National News Agency reports.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha has welcomed the signing of the Mecca Agreement on Joint Defence between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, describing it as a key pillar for strengthening security and stability across the region and the Muslim world.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has redirected 51 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others since the U.S reinstated its naval blockade of Iran on 14 July. CENTCOM made the announcement in a post on X.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended a June memorandum with the United States, accusing domestic critics of echoing Israel's narrative and saying Tehran had made no concessions that compromised its position.
Pezeshkian said Iran would honour the agreement as long as Washington upheld its commitments, while rejecting recent speculation that he could resign. “If I want to resign, I will announce it officially,” he said.
Progress is being made in talks between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, with a U.S. official saying Washington expects an agreement soon.
The official told Reuters that once a deal is reached to restore unimpeded commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, the United States will lift its blockade of Iranian ports.
"There is progress between Oman and Iran on the Strait, and we expect a deal soon," the official said. "Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports."
"As always, U.S. actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments," the official said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran's armed forces had proven their readiness and strength against what he described as the world's most expensive military, urging Muslim countries to unite and rely on themselves rather than "hostile outsiders".
His comments, posted on X on Friday, came just hours after Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca, bringing together three Sunni Muslim countries that are also U.S. partners amid heightened regional tensions.
Araghchi did not explicitly mention the new defence pact, and it was not immediately clear whether his remarks were intended as a response to the agreement.
The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on two major cryptocurrency exchanges, saying the move is aimed at disrupting financial networks that allegedly help fund Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other affiliated groups.
Washington said the exchanges were part of efforts to circumvent sanctions and facilitate illicit financial flows. The latest measures are part of a broader U.S. campaign to increase economic pressure on Iran and target sources of funding for organisations designated by the United States as terrorist entities.
Yemen's Houthi movement said it launched missiles and drones at the Sahn al-Jinn military camp in Marib, claiming to have targeted Saudi-backed forces, military vehicles and equipment.
The claim came after Yemen's state media reported that air defences had intercepted several Houthi drones over Marib, east of Sanaa.
Separately, the state news agency SABA, citing local authorities, said the Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at displacement camps and residential neighbourhoods in Marib on Friday morning. According to the report, two people were killed and 14 others wounded in the attacks.
The reports could not be independently verified.
The renewed U.S. naval blockade has effectively halted Iran’s crude oil exports, with no tankers loading at Kharg Island for at least a week, according to the Financial Times. Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, became inactive on 31 July, according to Kpler and Energy Aspects.
Satellite imagery showed all three loading berths at the terminal remained vacant for an extended period. Windward said only 16 vessels were anchored near the island on Tuesday, the lowest number since early July.
Nearly 90% of Iran’s crude exports are shipped from Kharg Island, making the disruption particularly significant for the country’s oil industry. Energy Aspects said the blockade appears effective in restricting tanker movements in and out of the area. However, analysts believe the economic pressure is unlikely to force Tehran into making rapid concessions in negotiations with Washington.
Modern wars are increasingly targeting not only military forces but also the infrastructure that keeps societies functioning.
The conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel has expanded beyond conventional targets to include power plants, pipelines, transport networks, industrial facilities and digital infrastructure.
Attacks on critical infrastructure can weaken an opponent’s ability to sustain military operations, while also disrupting daily life for civilians.
According to conflict monitor ACLED, Iran and allied groups have carried out at least 172 attacks on non-military infrastructure.
The targeting of economic and civilian infrastructure reflects a broader shift in modern warfare, where key systems supporting national security and the economy are increasingly seen as strategic assets.
Iran displayed the wreckage of U.S. and Israeli aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that it claims were shot down during the war.
Iranian state media released footage of a storage facility containing the remains of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, Israeli Hermes 900 UAVs, and military aircraft.
The footage showed an Israeli Hermes-900 drone with serial number 923, which Iran said was downed by “new air defence systems” and appeared largely intact.
The display also included debris from several U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones reportedly shot down since the start of the conflict.
Other items shown included parts of a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, cockpit remains from a fighter jet, and wreckage from other UAVs.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran wants to reach a deal with Washington, saying Tehran does not want to face another attack.
Trump said gasoline prices would rise only if a new strike against Iran took place, while otherwise he expected prices to continue declining.
He argued that Iran’s willingness to negotiate stems from its desire to avoid further military action.
Trump also criticised the U.S. election system, claiming elections have been “in chaos” and citing the 2020 vote as an example.
He defended the “SAVE America Act,” which would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when voting.
Trump predicted that Republicans would win control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November midterm elections.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement on Friday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said, as the three countries sought to deepen security cooperation amid heightened military tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.
The agreement says that any armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against them all, the statement from the ministry said.
The Houthis have reportedly launched at least 12 missile attacks on Yemen’s Hadramout and Marib provinces early on Friday morning, targeting areas considered strongholds of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. Houthi officials said the attacks would continue, accusing the government of coordinating with Saudi Arabia over a potential ground offensive against Houthi positions. The Yemeni government has maintained that the conflict can only end if the Houthi authorities in Sanaa relinquish their control.
Israeli forces have withdrawn from the Qalandiya refugee camp and the town of Kafr Aqab following a two-day military operation, according to sources on the ground. The Jerusalem Governorate said more than 50 Palestinians were injured and over 70 arrested during the operation, while several shops and facilities were demolished and dozens of homes were reportedly vandalised. Israeli forces also reportedly used houses as temporary military barracks and interrogation centres before withdrawing from the area.
Reports that U.S. ammunition stockpiles are running low amid the war with Iran could make Washington appear vulnerable and embolden Tehran, according to CNN analyst Alex Plitsas.
Plitsas said reports that the U.S. military has used nearly 80% of missiles for a key air defence system could encourage Iran to intensify its attacks.
He warned that replenishing ammunition takes time, leaving the U.S. with a short-term production and supply gap.
U.S. media reports suggest shortages of long-range guided missiles and air defence interceptors have influenced President Donald Trump’s strategy toward Iran.
CNN reported that the U.S. military had used around 80% of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile inventory, while Reuters said nearly all available Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles had been used during the conflict.
Trump rejected claims that the U.S. was running short of ammunition, saying production was continuing and condemning the leaks as “treasonous.”
An Israeli drone dropped a bomb near a Lebanese army bulldozer as it worked to open a road in the southern town of Mansouri, Lebanese state media reported. There was no immediate information on casualties or damage.
Global markets were mixed as investors weighed uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook and delays surrounding an anticipated Middle East agreement, while focus shifted to Friday’s US nonfarm payrolls report.
The absence of tangible progress toward a Middle East agreement has raised concerns over the risk of renewed attacks, despite US officials saying a deal is close.
US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Tehran were progressing well and talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz were nearing completion, although Washington and Tehran have yet to reach a full agreement on the key waterway.
Oil prices rose again following Trump’s remarks, underscoring persistent uncertainty over tensions in the Middle East.
Prices were also supported by reports that an Iranian parliamentary committee had reviewed a bill that would bar vessels linked to the US, Israel and other countries regarded by Tehran as adversaries from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Air defence systems operated by Yemeni government forces shot down drones belonging to the Iran-backed Houthis over the city of Marib, according to reports.
Yemen TV, citing a military source, said the Houthis targeted Marib, which is home to a large number of displaced people, with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The report said air defence systems belonging to government forces intercepted and neutralised the Houthi drones over Marib.
Yemen’s Defence Ministry says 17 soldiers and officers were killed in Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks on military positions in Marib and Hadramawt. Many other troops were wounded in the strikes, which targeted several army units and military camps.
The ministry said the attacks occurred while government forces were securing liberated areas, international roads and combating Houthi smuggling networks. Yemen’s Armed Forces said they would respond “at the appropriate time and place.”
The Houthis claimed that hundreds of government soldiers were killed, although that figure has not been independently confirmed. The Iran-backed Houthis have controlled Sanaa and other parts of Yemen since 2014, while a Saudi-led coalition has supported the Yemeni government since 2015.
Parliament speaker and chief negotiator in the ceasefire talks with the U.S., Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, described the recent threats by U.S. as “theater diplomacy on loop”, calling on Washington to fulfill its obligations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed in June.
Oil prices continued to rise on Friday, with Brent crude climbing 1.2 per cent to $83.48 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gaining 1.1 per cent to $78.84 per barrel. Prices were supported by renewed concerns over the Strait of Hormuz after Iran proposed tighter controls on navigation through the strategic waterway, raising fears of potential disruptions to global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are progressing and suggested an agreement with Iran could be reached “soon,” adding that he is personally involved in the talks.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the U.S. Navy continues to secure the strategic waterway but warned that threats such as naval mines remain a concern for commercial shipping. He also said the conflict with Iran could end “pretty soon” and dismissed concerns over U.S. ammunition supplies.
The comments come after weeks of military exchanges between Washington and Tehran, which disrupted negotiations over security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy and trade route.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 3rd of September, covering the latest developments.
The Iranian Army has again struck at U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for U.S. attacks on southern and western parts of Iran late on Tuesday, which reportedly killed 18 people and injured more than 100 others.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
The Iranian Army has again struck at U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for U.S. attacks on southern and western parts of Iran late on Tuesday, which reportedly killed 18 people and injured more than 100 others.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
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