The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked several cities in Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people and knocking operations at energy facilities offline, the Saudi-led coalition said on Tuesday in a further sign of the conflict spreading as diplomacy stalls.
The coalition vowed a firm response to attacks on the southern cities of Abha, Khamis, Mushait, Jazan and Najran, as the country’s energy ministry said a number of facilities had been hit, causing fires and temporarily halting some operations.
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea said that the Yemeni group would soon announce a broad military operation “deep” into Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the north, have been launching attacks towards Saudi Arabia since they declared a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, with strikes targeting its vessels in the Red Sea.
Iran meanwhile threatened the US with “economic warfare” on Tuesday and said that it had fired an advanced missile at US warships.
Tehran has vowed to announce a new restricted zone in the Gulf in the coming days in an effort to further squeeze shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up oil prices and piling pressure on US president Donald Trump to end the war.
Read MoreIran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Shares edge down as Iran tensions push oil higher
Iran says improved ballistic missile shows it will take preemptive action against threats
US airman’s widow was told Iran conflict ‘is not technically a war’ in battle over benefits
Key Points
- Houthi attack injures 73 and disrupt Saudi energy facilities
- Hormuz traffic slows after Iran threatens retaliation
- Iran raises gas price again for its heaviest users
- Oil rises as Mideast conflict heightens supply worries
- Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon kill at least 12
Watch: Smoke billows from burning trucks on Yemen-Saudi border after claimed Houthi attack
13:00 , James ReynoldsTrump latest: Anxious Republicans watch from the sidelines as Trump keeps tight grip on cash and spotlight
12:30 , James ReynoldsChanneling a western persona, President Donald Trump is heading to Dallas for this week's Republican convention to rescue his party's prospects ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The unprecedented gathering begins Wednesday, with Trump aiming to rally his base by transforming the Nov. 3 vote into a direct assessment of his own record. Although his name will not appear on the ballot, he created the event to help GOP candidates.
However, with his approval ratings at record lows, uncertainty remains about whether his presence will energize Republican voters or mobilize the opposition.
Here’s what to expect:
Republicans watch from the sidelines as Trump holds back campaign cash
Iraq in talks with US, Qatari firms on Basra-Baniyas pipeline
11:40 , ReutersIraq is negotiating with a consortium of U.S. and Qatari companies over the proposed Basra-Baniyas oil pipeline, Iraq's oil minister said on Tuesday.
The minister added that Baghdad remained committed to its OPEC production quota and would not exceed output of 4.2 million barrels per day.
Russia offers to mediate in Middle East crisis
11:20 , James ReynoldsRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Moscow on Tuesday that Russia was ready to help resolve the situation in the Middle East.
Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia was keen to deepen cooperation with Russia, including within the OPEC+ alliance, during talks between the two countries' top diplomats.
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
10:40 , James ReynoldsThe US war with Iran is likely to last another six months, according to former defence secretary Leon Panetta.
Mr Panetta, who was defence secretary under President Barack Obama and has also served as director of the CIA, said in an interview that Donald Trump’s war in Iran risks becoming another “forever war in the Middle East”.
He told The Guardian: “It’s no mystery that the United States and Iran are caught in a terrible stalemate, in which there really are very few options available to bring this war to an end.”
He added: “I think the likelihood is this war is going to continue for another six months without being resolved.”
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Iran War is costing Americans $100B in extra energy costs
10:00 , James ReynoldsThe war in Iran is costing Americans $100 billion in extra energy costs — and that number is going up by $1 million every two minutes, according to an estimate from Brown University.
The Iran War Energy Cost Tracker from Brown’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs has tracked the price paid for gasoline and diesel since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.
That added cost boils down to about $763 per household, based on an estimated 131 million households nationwide.
The figures in full:
Iran War is costing Americans $100B in extra energy costs
Catch up: Iran says improved ballistic missile shows it will take preemptive action against threats
09:20 , James ReynoldsIran state media on Monday said a ballistic missile with improved capabilities was demonstrating a new doctrine: Tehran “will take action against any threat, even before it is carried out.”
The report by Iran’s state news agency repeatedly cited comments aired on state TV the day before by the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, who boasted of new missile capability and claimed it had been “tested” against a U.S. warship.
But it was not clear whether what was tested was the missile the new report described, the solid-fueled Qassem Basir.
Read the full story:
Iran says improved ballistic missile shows it will take preemptive action against threats
In pictures: Houthi attack on trucks coming from Saudi territory
08:40 , James Reynolds
Recap: Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says 73 people injured in Houthi attacks
08:00 , James ReynoldsIran-backed Houthi militia attacked several cities in Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Tuesday, in a further sign that the conflict risks spreading into a wider regional war as diplomatic progress stalls.
Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said that a number of energy facilities and utilities in the kingdom's southern region had also been attacked by Yemen's Houthis, causing fires at several sites and temporarily halting some operations.
A spokesperson for the Saudi coalition said they would respond firmly to the attacks that targeted civilian and economic entities.
Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed'
07:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarNeveen and Mohammed had recently married and were hoping to get their life back on track after nearly three years of Israeli attacks. But in the space of just minutes, those hopes were once again shattered, Alex Croft reports.
More here.
‘Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed’
Yemeni Houthis to announce 'broad military operation' into Saudi territory
07:17 , James ReynoldsThe military spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthi rebels says the group will announce a broad military operation deep into Saudi territory.
More as we have it...
Smoke rises from a burning truck during what the Houthis say was an attack targeting trucks coming from Saudi territory
07:07 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHouthi attacks injure 73 and disrupt Saudi energy facilities
07:06 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOperations at some energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, were halted this morning following attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis that wounded more than 70 people, Saudi authorities said.
Fires erupted at the sites and several people were injured as firefighting and other emergency teams rushed to the scenes to contain the blazes and assess the damage, the Saudi energy ministry said.
"The concerned authorities are dealing with the repercussions of the attacks," the ministry added.
"The needed measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the facilities and workers and the continuation of work according to the approved operational plans."
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said in an earlier statement that at least 73 people were injured in Houthi attacks on the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.
Congressman says Iran war 'absolute quagmire'
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS Congressman Jason Crow said that the US has been drawn into a predictable Middle East quagmire.
"It was as predictable on day one as it is today," Crow said in a video posted on X.
“This is the most predictable thing that we could’ve imagined: you get involved in another war in the Middle East, that it would be a quagmire, that our adversaries will try to draw us out."
https://x.com/RepJasonCrow/status/2097066428947984631
Senator says Iran war costing Americans $1m every two minutes
06:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDemocratic Senator Mark Warner has claimed that the US war on Iran has cost Americans $100bn and was adding another $1m every two minutes.
“It has now been documented that the Iran war of choice that Donald Trump started has cost Americans a hundred billion dollars,” Warner said in a video posted on X.
He said the US was “nowhere” in terms of achieving the goals Trump had laid out for the war as he pointed to record-high fuel prices.
“This is what happens when you start a war of choice with no plan, no strategy, no allies, and no way to get out,” Warner said.
Iran hints at preemptive action as it touts ballistic missile
06:21 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIranian state media said a ballistic missile with improved capabilities demonstrates Tehran's shifting stance toward taking preemptive action against threats.
A senior Iranian official earlier said the new missile capability had been "tested" against a US warship over the weekend. But it was not clear whether what was tested was the missile the new report described, the solid-fueled Qassem Basir.
On Saturday, the US said it struck Iranian oil tankers in response to ballistic missiles launched at US warships.
Iran's messaging in recent days has become more assertive, and yesterday's report said the Qassem Basir marks "a turning point in Iran's defense strategy."
It described the missile as having greater range and accuracy and a half-ton warhead.
UAE says 'no single state' should control Hormuz
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA UAE senior official has said that "no single state" should control the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran said it plans to announce a new "exclusion zone" near the waterway aimed at vessels intending to transit.
"Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity," Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said at a forum of world leaders in Abu Dhabi.
Gargash said Iran should face consequences for threatening oil tankers and commercial vessels in the strait with mines, drones or missiles.
"Using an international waterway as an instrument of coercion is unacceptable," he added. The UAE, a close US ally, has repeatedly come under Iranian missile and drone fire throughout the war.
Hormuz traffic slows after Iran threatens retaliation
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarShipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed at the start of this week, after Iran threatened on Monday to retaliate for any new US attacks.
The number of commodity vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz totalled seven yesterday, compared with eight on the previous day, Kpler data showed this morning.
Iran had warned that energy infrastructure across the Gulf, including US oil and gas interests, was vulnerable.
Oil rises as Mideast conflict heightens supply worries
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices extended gains today as risks of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East grew after Iran threatened to retaliate against any new U.S. attacks on its assets, heightening worries over supply disruption.
Brent crude futures climbed 34 cents, or 0.35 per cent, to $97.34 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $92.63 a barrel, up $1.15, or 1.26 per cent.
Iran raises gas price again for its heaviest users
05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran introduced a higher price for its heaviest gasoline users, state media reported, the second such increase since December.
Gas price hikes can be sensitive, as seen in 2019 when an increase led to nationwide protests and a deadly crackdown.
The government did not specifically mention the war with the US as the reason for this latest increase but cited the "current situation."
Under the new system, people buying more than their quota of 110 liters of gasoline a month now must pay 100,000 rials (about 7 cents) per liter, or twice as much as they have been paying since December.
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon kill at least 12
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael carried out airstrikes on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Rumman, killing at least 12 people, including a paramedic, four women and two children, the health ministry said.
The strikes came during a new round of escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel's military said it struck several Hezbollah militants it accused of transferring weapons to Kfar Rumman.
The military also said it was reviewing the claim that "several uninvolved civilians were harmed" in overnight strikes across southern Lebanon, which it said were in response to Hezbollah militants launching explosive drones against soldiers in the area of the Ali Taher ridge.
Iran threatens US with maritime exclusion zone
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran has threatened the US with "economic warfare" and said it had fired an advanced missile at US warships, underscoring the risks of further escalation in the war only days after both sides traded blows again.
Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, reissued dual economic and military threats on X.
"In recent days, Washington has received a clear warning from Iran’s new missiles. Economic warfare will be met by a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf to the blockade perimeter. The operational posture toward US warships and bases has been fundamentally recalibrated," Rezaei said.
Rezaei was likely referring to the Qassem Basir ballistic missile that Iranian media reported was fired at US warships near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said its warships evaded any missile attacks.
Houthis say Saudi Arabia struck Yemen prison, killing child and 6 others
04:31 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHouthi rebels in Yemen accused Saudi Arabia of striking a prison in the country's north, killing seven, including a child, as tensions escalate between the Iran-backed group and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.
The strike on the Central Corrective Facility in the strategic city of Hazm in Jawf province also wounded at least seven people, including a woman, said Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry.
The prison's warden told the Houthi al-Masirah news channel 35 prisoners and a woman who was visiting her husband were trapped under the rubble.
Strait of Hormuz shipping drops, Trump claims the waterway is 'open'
03:00 , Suha KidwaiCommercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz dropped by 28 per cent last week, falling to 77 vessels as security concerns continue to disrupt Persian Gulf trade routes, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
Beyond declining overall traffic, Kpler observed a distinct shift in navigation patterns. Between September 4 and September 6, 21 out of 28 transiting ships bypassed international corridors to use Iran’s unilateral routing scheme.
The data contradicts claims from US president Donald Trump, who has repeatedly asserted that the waterway is "open" and under total US control following mine-clearing operations earlier last week.
Maritime monitors note that while international shipping lanes are technically navigable, traffic remains severely depressed compared to pre-war levels, with commercial operators increasingly forced onto Iranian-managed routes to avoid security risks.
Iraqi diplomat urges trade and tourism boost with Iran’s Ilam province
02:00 , Suha KidwaiIraq’s consul general in Kermanshah, Saadoun al-Saedi, has called for expanded commercial and tourism links with Iran’s Ilam province, citing strong geographical and cultural ties.
Speaking with Ilam Governor Ahmad Karami on Monday, al-Saedi emphasised that shared border heritage provides a strong framework to deepen economic, trade, and security cooperation.
The diplomatic push comes despite mounting US financial pressure on Iraqi banks aimed at curbing cross-border capital flows to Tehran.
Al-Saedi noted that efforts are underway to expand cross-border trade, urging regional officials from both nations to leverage proximity to drive commercial growth and regional stability.
Houthis threaten retaliation against Saudi Arabia following air strikes
01:00 , Suha KidwaiContinued Saudi military strikes against the country "will not go unanswered," Yemeni Armed Forces general Yahya Saree has said,
Speaking on Monday, Saree accused Saudi Arabia of ramping up its military campaign alongside an ongoing naval and air blockade.
He pointed to recent bombardments in Al Jawf governorate, alleging that Saudi forces are arming local proxies and conducting widespread aerial surveillance.
Alongside the warnings follow a sharp rise in regional hostilities following months of fragile truce.
Riyadh has not officially commented on the retaliation threats.
Tehran accuses IAEA of bias over calls for strategic nuclear data during war
Tuesday 8 September 2026 00:00 , Suha KidwaiState-linked Iranian outlet Nournews has launched a fierce attack on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, accusing the agency of taking sides by demanding sensitive nuclear data while refusing to condemn US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian facilities.
Grossi told a Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Monday that the IAEA’s inability to verify safeguards obligations stems from a severe lack of information and access.
However, Nournews has argued that the loss of access was caused directly by enemy bombardment.
Tehran maintains that demanding peacetime transparency without providing security guarantees or acknowledging the physical destruction of safeguarded infrastructure reveals systemic bias within the UN watchdog.
Republicans in battleground states are ditching Trump from their campaign websites: reports
Monday 7 September 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsA number of Republican candidates facing tight races in November’s midterm elections have dropped mentions of President Donald Trump from their campaign websites, according to reports.
The president’s approval rating stands at just 33 percent in the latest Financial Times/Focaldata survey, with respondents again expressing concern over the state of the economy and the impact of Trump’s ongoing war with Iran on domestic gas prices.
Read the full report:
Republicans removing Trump from midterms campaign websites: reports
The latest: Tehran sets up potential clash with US Navy through ‘exclusion zone’ in Strait of Hormuz
Monday 7 September 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsIran has said it will unveil new sanctions for ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following a weekend of renewed exchanges with the United States, casting fresh doubt on progress towards an end to the six month conflict.
Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, told state TV on Sunday that Tehran will announce a new ‘exclusion zone’ outside of the waterway in the coming days.
He said any ship seen entering the new restricted zone would be added to a sanctions list, reiterating that the waterway would only fully open again once the Americans “stop the sabotage, threats and attacks on Iran”.
Iran and the United States traded fire again over the weekend, forcing oil prices back up to $93 per barrel and driving Hormuz traffic down to its lowest since May.
The US claimed strikes on three Iranian oil tankers, including one off the coast of Kharg Island, after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two American naval vessels.
What happened in suspected US strike which hit Iran wedding?
Monday 7 September 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsAt least five people were killed in a suspected US attack that hit a wedding in Iran after Tehran and Washington exchanged the heaviest strikes between them since July.
The Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate the incident, calling for “an independent, impartial, thorough, and effective investigation” due to the “civilian character of the location”.
Iran has accused the US of “war crimes”, but the US maintains that it does not target civilians. Below we look at how the attack took place and what both parties have said about it.
Here’s what we know so far:
What happened in suspected US strike which hit Iran wedding killing five people?
In focus: ‘Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed. I’m lucky to be alive’
Monday 7 September 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsNeveen and Mohammed had recently married and were hoping to get their life back on track after nearly three years of Israeli attacks. But in the space of just minutes, those hopes were once again shattered, Alex Croft reports
‘Israel’s military gave me just minutes to leave my apartment before it was bombed’
In depth: Iranian death row prisoner smuggles out desperate plea to the world: Do not forget about us
Monday 7 September 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsExclusive: From behind the bars of a brutal Iranian prison, a political dissident awaiting execution describes life behind bars – and says the war with the US has made carrying out executions easier for the regime. Alex Croft reports
Iranian death row prisoner smuggles out plea to the world: Do not forget about us
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Monday 7 September 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsThe US war with Iran is likely to last another six months, according to former defence secretary Leon Panetta.
Six months after US-Israeli strikes against Iran, the war has reached a stalemate after a preliminary ceasefire plan unravelled. Little progress has been made in diplomatic efforts to get the peace process back on track, after negotiations broke down in June.
Mr Panetta, who was defence secretary under President Barack Obama and has also served as director of the CIA, said in an interview that Donald Trump’s war in Iran risks becoming another “forever war in the Middle East”.
He told The Guardian: “It’s no mystery that the United States and Iran are caught in a terrible stalemate, in which there really are very few options available to bring this war to an end.”
In full:
Iran war will continue for another six months, former US defence secretary says
Goldman Sachs warns oil could hit $120 a barrel amid Hormuz attacks
Monday 7 September 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsOil prices could surge as high as $120 per barrel if attacks on Middle East shipping do not stop, Goldman Sachs has warned.
This would be the highest oil prices have hit since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on 28 February. Brent crude, the international benchmark, peaked at $114 per barrel on 4 May.
“Events over the last few days do suggest that the risk of shipping disruptions broadening and intensifying is an important one,” said Daan Struyven, co-head of global commodities research at the investment banking firm, in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Monday.
Goldman Sachs warns oil could surge to $120 a barrel if attacks on Hormuz continue
'Small potatoes': Trump says Iran conflict isn't a 'big thing' for US
Monday 7 September 2026 16:20 , James ReynoldsTrump dismisses criticism, vows to win midterms 'BIG'
Monday 7 September 2026 16:05 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump insisted on Monday that the GOP was "going to win the Midterms, BIG, and SAVE AMERICA" in a post on Truth Social.
His comments followed a string of AI posts showing explosions from sea, Iran’s navy at the bottom of the ocean - a regular talking point - and a petition to rebrand New Mexico, ‘New America’.
Analysis: Trump’s sinking popularity could cost Republicans control of Congress
Monday 7 September 2026 15:40 , James ReynoldsWith Labor Day marking the traditional start of the fall campaign, Republicans are fighting to protect narrow congressional majorities, writes Joseph Ax:
Trump’s sinking popularity could cost Republicans control of Congress
Saudi Aramco's Jizan oil facilities hit in strikes, FT reports
Monday 7 September 2026 15:00 , James ReynoldsThe Jizan oil refinery, owned by the world's biggest oil company Saudi Aramco, was attacked on Monday and the damage is being ascertained, the Financial Times reported, citing two people with knowledge of the matter.
The Jizan refinery is home to a 400,000 barrel per day refinery, among the largest in the country.
It was unclear where the attack came from. The Yemeni Houthi rebels have not claimed any new attack on Saudi Arabia, following weeks of attacks on Saudi ships in the Red Sea.
UAE working on new routes for energy exports to avoid being 'held hostage' by war
Monday 7 September 2026 14:20 , ReutersThe United Arab Emirates is building alternative routes for its energy exports and trade to ensure they are not "held hostage" by the ongoing war between the US and Iran, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said on Monday.
The conflict has had a significant impact on Gulf Arab states, including the UAE, after Tehran fired missiles at the country and attacked its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity," Gargash told the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE has been expanding port capacity along its eastern coast, as well as developing pipelines, railways and trade routes for alternative corridors, he said.
While acknowledging that relations with Iran could eventually recover, Gargash warned that rebuilding trust after the attacks could take decades.
He also criticised Gulf Arab states for failing to mount a coordinated response to Iran, saying they had been unable to translate shared concerns into a unified strategy.
Iran war hits Americans at the pump as gas prices smash record
Monday 7 September 2026 13:40 , James ReynoldsMotorists across the U.S. are encountering record prices to fill their tanks for one final summer getaway over Labor Day weekend.
The average price for regular fuel stood at $4.14 a gallon entering the holiday—nearly a dollar higher than last year and far above the previous Labor Day record of $3.82 set in 2012, according to the AAA motor club.
Nicole Collins had planned a trip from Philadelphia to South Carolina to visit friends, but explained that her family spent most of the summer near home, skipping their routine weekend travel because driving became too costly.
In full:
Iran war hits Americans at the pump as Labor Day gas prices smash record
Trump approval rating drops to record low in new poll
Monday 7 September 2026 12:40 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to a record low in a major poll, presenting a headache for Republicans in the lead up to the midterm elections.
Less than two months before November’s elections, a Financial Times poll carried out by Focaldata found that only 33 percent of registered voters approve of Trump’s performance as president.
This is the lowest number recorded since the newspaper began asking the question in May and a three-point decrease from the previous month.
In full:
Trump approval rating drops to record low in new poll
Iran warns South Korea against joining Gulf operations
Monday 7 September 2026 12:00 , James ReynoldsIran's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that South Korea's military participation or presence in operations in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz would be regarded as support for US "aggression" and would have serious consequences.
A South Korean official said last week that Seoul was reviewing practical options, including military measures, for supporting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz - but that South Korea-US security talks were “not currently progressing”.
Iran war shows strategic alliance with the US is not enough, Qatari official says
Monday 7 September 2026 11:20 , James ReynoldsA spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry on Monday admitted openly that the Iran war has shown that Gulf Arab countries should not depend exclusively on their partnership with the US for their security.
Majed al-Ansari told a panel at the Hili forum in Abu Dhabi: “We need to realise in the Gulf that having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the US is very important but is not enough.
“Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward,” he said.
Hormuz traffic dips to lowest since May following renewed strikes on ships
Monday 7 September 2026 10:40 , James ReynoldsAn average of 10 commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz per day over the past 10 days, the lowest since May, according to shipping data on Monday, after US and Iranian strikes on tankers.
The 10-day moving average was 10 on Sunday, down from more than 15 on Friday and nearly 13 on Saturday, data from analytics firm Kpler found.
Only two vessels passed through the strait on Saturday while six went through on Sunday, mostly using the Iranian route.
US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, Central Command said, including one off Kharg Island, Iran's key oil export hub, following attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on US warships in the region.
In retaliation, the IRGC navy said on Saturday it targeted three oil tankers travelling unauthorized routes in the strait as well as three additional U.S. vessels in other areas.
'Not a big thing': Trump still defiant that Iran is going to plan
Monday 7 September 2026 10:00 , James ReynoldsPresident Donald Trump has backed up comments from his vice president and insisted the Iran conflict is a relatively minor operation, rather than a full-on war.
"I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us,” the president told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. “It’s not a big thing.”
When pressed by Rachel Scott of ABC News about the record-setting deployments of certain service members as part of the fight, the president lashed out, repeatedly asking, “How long were we in Vietnam?”
President Trump claimed the U.S. had successfully stopped Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and alleged U.S. satellite intelligence would spot any future threats from the country the moment they arose. The U.S. had “essentially taken over” Iran, the Republican said.
Read the full story:
Trump calls Iran war ‘small potatoes’ amid questions about prolonged campaign
Catch up: Iran fuel tanker explosion leaves 11 dead and seven injured
Monday 7 September 2026 09:20 , James ReynoldsAt least 11 people have been killed and seven injured after a fuel tanker exploded in western Iran, state media said.
State news agency IRNA reported late on Saturday that the vehicle suffered a brake fault and struck several cars before catching fire near a traffic police station outside Sanandaj, a Kurdish city roughly 400 kilometres (248 miles) west of Tehran.
The injured were taken to hospital. A similar collision involving a fuel tanker and a passenger bus near Sanandaj in 2018 killed 15 people and injured four.
Iran fuel tanker explosion leaves 11 dead and seven injured
At least 11 killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, state news agency reports
Monday 7 September 2026 08:40 , James ReynoldsIsraeli strikes on a southern Lebanese town early on Monday killed at least 11 people including two children and two medics, Lebanon's state news agency said.
Israel has intensified its bombardment of south Lebanon in recent days despite a June ceasefire that was meant to halt fighting between the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. At least seven people were killed in Israeli strikes on Sunday.
Just after midnight, Israeli warplanes hit a residential building in the town of Kfar Rumman in southern Lebanon, killing nine people including two children, and wounding five more, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
A separate Israeli drone strike on a civilian vehicle in the town killed two medics inside the car, it said.
The strikes on the town came without an online evacuation warning from the Israeli military.
Muslim nations condemn Israeli proposal to empty Gaza
Monday 7 September 2026 08:00 , Shweta SharmaAny Israeli plan or action to remove Palestinians from Gaza would violate international law and undermine the US-backed plan for drawing down the war, eight Muslim nations said in a statement.
Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, last week published a plan to encourage Palestinian migration from Gaza. Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, has said Israel is prepared to facilitate the removal of Palestinians by sea, air or other means, and that plans remain under discussion.
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and five other governments called the statements "inflammatory" and said they threatened the "legitimate and inalienable rights" of Palestinians and the future establishment of a Palestinian state.
The ministers warned of “grave consequences of transforming calls for forced displacement into declared policy or practical measures.”
“Such measures directly challenge international efforts to achieve peace, particularly president Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, which includes a firm rejection of forced displacement,” they added, referring to the US-backed October 2025 peace plan for Gaza.
Iran's government to raise fuel price for heavy users
Monday 7 September 2026 07:30 , Shweta SharmaIran will raise the price of gasoline for users surpassing 110 litres per month starting on Tuesday, a government spokesperson said, as it steps up efforts to tackle problems created by the war and crippling US economic sanctions.
Motorists can still buy up to 60 litres at 15,000 rials (about one pence) per litre and an additional 50 litres at 30,000 rials per litre.
But the price for amounts above that will be raised to 100,000 Iranian rials (about 5 pence) per litre, Fatemeh Mohajerani said in comments carried by state media.
The increase in Iran's gasoline price, which is one of the lowest in the world, was discussed by the government and postponed amid concerns it could trigger new protests.
Iran experienced widespread protests in 2019 over the same issue.
The higher fuel price will only affect consumers who require more than 110 litres per month and is due to "current conditions", Mohajerani said.
In December, Iran partially raised the price of its subsidised gasoline for most users, as the OPEC member sought to control rising fuel demand.
Pictures: Mass funeral in Gaza after 70 children among 110 killed
Monday 7 September 2026 07:00 , Shweta SharmaBodies wrapped in white shrouds and draped with Palestinian flags were laid out for the mass funeral after 110 people were killed.
Some shrouds bore images of the deceased.
"We are witnessing a painful, heartbreaking scene," said Mustafa Quzghat, a relative.
Over 73,650 Palestinians have been killed since the war in Gaza began, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Strait of Hormuz shipping falls to lowest level since May
Monday 7 September 2026 06:54 , Shweta SharmaAn average of just 10 commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz each day over the past 10 days, the lowest level since May, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
It came as US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, US Central Command said, including one off the coast of Kharg Island, near Iran's key oil export hub.
The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday it targeted three oil tankers that were travelling through unauthorised routes in the Strait of Hormuz as well as three additional US vessels in other areas.
However, Centcom denied that US vessels were struck by Iran.
