The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claims it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests most Americans expect the U.S. conflict with Iran to be prolonged, with 79% saying military involvement will continue for an extended period, up from 65% in late March.
The survey found that 37% approve of U.S. strikes on Iran, while 60% expect the war to drive up gasoline prices over the next year. Half of respondents said they believe the conflict has not been worth its costs.
The nationwide poll of 1,019 U.S. adults was conducted over three days and has a margin of error of approximately four percentage points.
The findings come as President Donald Trump reinstated a blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf following renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian state television, citing the country's army, says Iranian forces targeted a "hostile" U.S. vessel with cruise missiles in the latest escalation of the conflict.
The report did not identify the vessel or provide details on the location of the alleged strike.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said U.S. President Donald Trump was "absolutely right" in suggesting that those ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated.
U.S. Central Command said American forces struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran on Sunday using one-way attack drones.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Central Command said the operation was aimed at degrading Iran's maritime capabilities.
“Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping,” the command said.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, and follows a series of U.S. military operations targeting Iranian assets.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and announced plans to reimpose what he called an "Iranian blockade," saying restrictions would apply only to Iranian vessels and customers.
In a statement, Trump said all other countries would continue to have "fair and open use" of the strategic waterway and declared that the United States would be known as the "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait."
Trump also said the U.S. should be reimbursed for securing the route, proposing a 20% charge on all cargo shipped through the strait to cover the costs of providing safety and security. He said the process would begin immediately.
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has warned that it will not allow the United States to intervene in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the military command said any attempt by U.S. forces to direct or manage shipping through the strategic waterway outside routes designated by Tehran and without coordination with Iran's armed forces would face a strong response.
The warning comes after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Washington could effectively oversee security in the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy shipments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States could take control of the Strait of Hormuz and should be compensated for securing the strategically important waterway.
“We're going to keep the strait, and we'll probably run it,” Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News. “We'll become the guardian of the strait. Maybe we'll call it the guardian angel of the strait. And we should be reimbursed for that.”
The comments come amid heightened tensions in the Gulf and ongoing concerns over the security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas exports.
A tanker transiting the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) south of Yemen's Aden reported being approached by six small boats, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Monday.
According to UKMTO, one of the boats closed to within five cables of the vessel, prompting the armed security team on board to fire warning shots. The incident occurred about 50 nautical miles south of Aden.
UKMTO said it is monitoring the situation. No reports of injuries or damage were immediately available.
An Indian crew member remains missing after a Cyprus-flagged container ship was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, prompting an ongoing search operation, Cyprus's Deputy Ministry of Shipping said.
The vessel, GFS Galaxy, was hit by what Cypriot authorities described as an "unidentified projectile" while transiting the strategic waterway. The crew abandoned ship and 23 crew members were later rescued by the Oman Navy.
The missing sailor, identified as the vessel's third engineer, is being sought by a towing team as the damaged ship is moved toward a safe anchorage at the UAE port of Khor Fakkan. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf following recent confrontations involving Iran and commercial shipping.
Yemen's Defence Ministry said its armed forces targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport on Monday in an effort to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing.
The airport is located in the Yemeni capital, which remains under the control of the Iran-aligned Houthis. Yemen's internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, operates from the southern city of Aden.
No immediate details were provided on damage to the airport or the fate of the aircraft.
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked group using new state-threat powers following a series of antisemitic incidents in the country.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the measures would make it easier for authorities to prosecute individuals acting on behalf of the groups in Britain.
The government also targeted the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, which British authorities said had claimed responsibility for several attacks linked to Jewish and Israeli communities. Russia's GRU military intelligence agency was also designated under the new powers.
The measures still require parliamentary approval before taking effect.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency, citing an official, reports that a U.S. projectile struck the southwestern Iranian city of Abadan on Monday, injuring one person. The report has not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate comment from U.S. authorities.
Iran's Mehr News Agency reports that explosions were heard around the southern port city of Bandar Abbas and nearby Qeshm Island. The cause of the reported explosions was not immediately clear, and there has been no official confirmation of any damage or casualties.
Iran's ISNA news agency reports that one person was killed and seven others injured in a reported U.S. attack near Nain County in Iran's central Isfahan Province. The reported casualty figures have not been independently verified.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson says mediators have continued efforts to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States, including in recent days, signaling that diplomatic engagement remains active despite ongoing tensions.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said mediators have continued efforts in recent days to facilitate dialogue and help resolve tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran would not implement its obligations under the memorandum of understanding with Washington while the United States fails to fulfil its own commitments, stressing the principle of reciprocal compliance.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it targeted U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and destroyed radar systems in Oman during its latest retaliatory attacks. The claims have not yet been independently verified.
The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to a five-week low on Sunday as renewed U.S.-Iran strikes and attacks on ships in the region heightened security concerns. Shipping data showed just six vessels passed through the strategic waterway, while no LNG tankers were seen entering the strait over the weekend.
Jordan's military says it intercepted and shot down four missiles that entered the country's airspace from Iran.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say the retaliatory operation against the United States is continuing. The IRGC says it struck the U.S. base at Sheikh Isa in Bahrain as part of the second phase of its response to U.S. attacks on Iranian coastal bases. Meanwhile, Kuwait's army says it is engaging "hostile aerial targets" in Kuwaiti airspace.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say the IRGC Navy conducted an operation overnight to stop two vessels it said were violating regulations and endangering shipping in the Strait of Hormuz by disabling their systems.
U.S. Central Command says U.S. forces remain postured and prepared to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial shipping. The statement comes after CENTCOM said it carried out a new wave of offensive strikes against Iran on July 12, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision-guided munitions.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims it launched missiles and drones at Jordan's Prince Hassan Air Base, saying the attack ignited fuel storage tanks and ammunition depots.
The claim has not been independently verified, and Jordanian authorities have not yet confirmed the reported damage.
The renewed violence has cast serious doubt on the interim U.S.-Iran agreement signed last month, with both sides indicating that ceasefire efforts and negotiations are deteriorating.
Several Gulf countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, and Kuwait, have been affected by attacks or missile threats, increasing fears of a broader regional conflict.
Meanwhile, the United States has pledged to continue military operations to protect commercial shipping, while Iran has warned that it will respond forcefully unless its demands are met.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 1st of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen's Houthi-run maritime coordination body on Saturday denied reports that it planned to charge commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It said no such decision had been made and that passage through the strategic waterway remains free.
Wildfires driven by strong winds spread across several parts of Greece on Saturday, including areas near Athens. Large-scale firefighting efforts and emergency evacuations were underway as wildfire conditions also deteriorated in parts of Spain and France.
The death toll from the migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has risen to 72, while more than 48,300 migrants have returned to Morocco, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported Sunday.
Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least two people and damaged targets in regions along Russia’s Volga River overnight, Russian regional officials said on Sunday, 2 August.
Iraq and Türkiye have signed a one-year agreement to transport and load Iraqi crude oil through the Iraq–Türkiye pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said.
Residents of Muzaffarabad have expressed concern that renewed violence could overshadow the second phase of regional elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said wildfires that swept across France were now under control. Authorities warned that risks remained as Greece and Spain continued battling active blazes across parts of Europe.
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