Trump weighs resuming major U.S. attacks on Iran

Iran says IRGC targeted Togo-flagged tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said it targeted a Togo-flagged oil tanker after the vessel allegedly attempted to pass “illegally” through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

The IRGC said the tanker caught fire following the incident.

There was no immediate independent confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the incident or the condition of the crew.

Italy considers independent escorts for ships through Bab el-Mandeb

Italy is preparing a plan to escort its merchant vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait without waiting for an EU naval mission, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday.

Crosetto said around a dozen Italian-flagged or Italian-owned vessels were seeking escorted passage, while the Italian frigate Bergamini was currently in Djibouti.

He said disruptions to Red Sea shipping were delaying goods and driving up costs for businesses and households.

White House rejects UN findings of possible U.S. war crimes in Iran

The White House has rejected a UN fact-finding mission’s findings that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” the United States committed war crimes in two strikes in Iran on February 28.

The investigation examined attacks that killed at least 178 civilians, including a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab. The mission said the school was the intended point of impact and found no evidence it was being used for military purposes.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly dismissed the findings and said Iran was the party responsible for war crimes in the conflict.

Iran’s parliament speaker hails China, Russia UN vetoes

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf praised China and Russia for using their vetoes at the UN Security Council, saying the move rejected what he described as the “political abuse” of the council.

Ghalibaf said the era of a “unipolar order” based on force and coercion had ended and called for the defence of multilateralism.

“Unilateralism serves no one’s interests,” he said.

UKMTO reports security incident in Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received a report of a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, about 16 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Khasab.

The vessel’s crew was reported safe, while no environmental impact had been confirmed at the time of the report.

UKMTO did not immediately provide further details about the nature of the incident.

U.S. allows Iranian delegation to attend UN General Assembly

An Iranian delegation will be allowed to attend next week’s UN General Assembly in New York, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

A State Department spokesperson said the delegation would face travel restrictions and prohibitions on purchasing luxury and other goods.

The delegation will also be smaller than the one Iran sent last year, according to the spokesperson.

Trump weighs resuming major U.S. attacks on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump said he faces a “big decision” over whether to resume major military attacks against Iran.

“Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not? It’s a big decision,” Trump told Axios on Thursday.

Trump is expected to meet leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman in New York next Tuesday to discuss the next phase of the conflict.

Jordan, Saudi Arabia discuss efforts to ease regional escalation

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan discussed efforts to end regional escalation and restore calm during a phone call on Thursday.

Safadi reiterated Jordan’s condemnation of recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a drone attack on Taif that Saudi authorities said killed one person and injured two others.

He also expressed Jordan’s “absolute solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and its efforts to protect its security and stability.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi meets Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in Amman, Jordan, 5 August 2026.

Reuters

Iran downed at least two U.S. drones in recent days, officials tell CBS

Iranian forces have downed at least two U.S. MQ-1 unmanned aircraft in recent days, U.S. officials told CBS News.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the incidents publicly.

The report follows Iran’s claim on Wednesday that it had shot down another U.S. drone over Qeshm Island.

U.S. sanctions Iranian crypto exchange over Hormuz payments

The United States imposed sanctions on an Iranian cryptocurrency exchange on Thursday, accusing it of processing payments for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Treasury said the exchange was controlled by sanctioned Iranian financier Babak Zanjani and linked to payments associated with passage through the strategic waterway.

Washington has previously warned that payments to Iranian authorities for safe passage through the Strait could violate U.S. sanctions.

UN mission cites war crimes in U.S. Iran strikes

A UN fact-finding mission on Iran said on Thursday it had reasonable grounds to believe the United States was responsible for two military strikes on a school and a sports facility in Iran in February, describing the attacks as war crimes.

The mission also found that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during a deadly crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests that began in late December.

The findings are contained in a new report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which examined U.S. military conduct during the war and the Iranian government's response to the unrest. The report is due to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

The Iranian and U.S. missions in Geneva did not immediately respond to requests for comment. U.S. officials have previously said American military operations comply with the law of armed conflict, while Tehran has rejected allegations of systematic rights violations.

One killed as Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi drone

One person was killed and two others injured after a drone was intercepted over Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Taif governorate, Saudi state television reported on Thursday.

The victim was a Yemeni resident, according to the report. Saudi Civil Defence said the drone had been launched by Iran-backed Houthi forces in neighbouring Yemen.

Pakistan cuts official fuel use amid Gulf conflict

Pakistan announced a series of austerity measures on Thursday (17 September) to conserve energy as fuel prices rise amid the Gulf conflict, including cuts in fuel allocations for official vehicles and a ban on new vehicle purchases by the state.

The measures also include restrictions on foreign trips by government officials and official dinners as Islamabad seeks to reduce public spending and fuel consumption.

China urges Iran to help contain Houthi attacks in Red Sea

China has privately asked Tehran to use its influence over Yemen's Houthis to help contain the conflict and protect shipping and energy routes in the Red Sea, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the discussions.

The sources said Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing after Houthi forces made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, increasing risks to Saudi oil exports and commercial shipping.

Tehran's response, according to the sources, was that regional stability depends on ending what it called the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Chinese officials did not threaten economic pressure on Tehran.

In a statement to Reuters, China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing did not want regional tensions to spill over further into Yemen and the Red Sea, adding that escalating instability was not in the interests of any party.

Energy crunch hits households and businesses across South Asia

In Bangladesh, intermittent gas and power supplies are disrupting cooking, factories, hospitals and poultry farms, with some garment makers forced to air-freight orders to meet deadlines.

In Pakistan, rising fuel prices are squeezing households and workers. A new government subsidy offers 100 rupees (36 U.S. cents) a litre to some vehicle owners, but registration problems have frustrated many.

The energy crisis has been worsened by disruption to oil and LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, pushing Asian LNG prices sharply higher.

Macron to meet party leaders over Middle East crises

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet parliamentary party leaders on Friday to discuss the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and their impact on energy markets.

The 10.30am (0830 GMT) meeting will also include briefings from military and intelligence officials, Macron’s office said.

Iran orders Swedish diplomat to leave in retaliatory move

Iran has ordered a Swedish diplomat to leave the country in retaliation for a similar action by Sweden, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.

Türkiye condemns Houthi drone attack near Mecca

Türkiye has condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca, one of Islam’s holiest cities, and reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia’s security, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Saudi authorities said the drone was intercepted south of the city before entering its restricted airspace.

The incident comes amid renewed regional tensions. Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year.

The attack also comes as Türkiye continues to highlight the importance of dialogue and regional diplomacy, including the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan on 7 August, that includes a mutual defence clause.

Saudi-led coalition strikes telecom towers in Taiz

Saudi-led coalition warplanes have reportedly struck three telecommunications towers in Taiz province, according to Houthi-run Al Masirah TV.

The strikes reportedly targeted sites in al-Dhukra, al-Houban and al-Rahidah.

Houthi attacks damage Saudi oil pipeline, raising supply concerns

Houthi attacks have damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, raising fresh concerns over global oil supplies as the conflict spreads across the region.

The Houthis said they launched fresh drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea oil port of Yanbu and an airbase at Khamis Mushait, while footage released by the group showed fighting with Saudi-backed forces and large explosions.

Houthi fighters stand in front of what they say is a downed Saudi jet, at a location given as Yemen, 16 September 2026.

Reuters

Oil prices ease as Saudi supply offer calms disruption fears

Oil prices eased in early Thursday trade, with Brent crude down 1.2 per cent to $104.59 a barrel, after reports Saudi Arabia was offering extra cargoes via Oman, easing supply concerns.

U.S. diesel prices meanwhile hit a record above $6.30 a gallon, as higher energy costs become a key political issue for Republicans ahead of November’s midterms.

Hormuz vessel traffic falls to 3

Only three commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from 12 the previous day and well below the 10-day average of about 17, according to preliminary tracking data.

The figures exclude ships that may have switched off their tracking transponders to avoid detection.

South Korean, U.S. diplomats set for talks on Iran war and security

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has travelled to Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Iran, North Korea and bilateral economic and security issues expected on the agenda.

Seoul is also weighing whether to support efforts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump expected to meet Persian Gulf leaders over Iran war

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Persian Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday to discuss the next steps in the Iran war, Axios reported late on Wednesday, citing sources.

The talks are expected to focus on U.S. proposals for a post-war strategy, according to the report.

Araghchi hails talks with Beijing, endorses Xi’s principles for regional peace

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said talks with Chinese officials went well, stressing Tehran’s commitment to its strategic relationship with Beijing.

In a post on X, Araghchi warned that decisions being taken now could shape the region’s strategic balance for years to come, with potentially far-reaching consequences.

He also voiced support for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s four-point framework for promoting peace in the region, calling the principles “key”.

Xi’s framework emphasises peaceful coexistence between neighbouring states, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, compliance with international law, and maintaining a balance between security and economic development.

Trump hopes Iran war may be nearing end as Tehran dismisses remarks

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the war against Iran, which began on 28 February, was nearing an end, saying Tehran wanted to make a deal.

Tehran dismissed the comments as “mixed signals”, while Iran has previously said talks with Washington would not begin until its pre-conditions are met.

The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions, with Trump citing the weakening of Iran’s nuclear capabilities as one of the U.S. objectives.

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