President Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz as US territory in a new post on Truth Social.
Sharing a crude map of the region with a large blue circle over Hormuz, the picture declared the vital shipping route as “NEW US territory”.
“The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” he continued. “The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.”
However, data shared by Kpler with The Independent shows that only ten vessels passed through on Monday, compared to 130 to 140 before the outbreak of war.
Trump earlier confirmed that there are “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled” with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran had earlier said the shipping route is to remain closed until the US meet the conditions agreed in an interim deal, according to Iran’s top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf in comments shared by state media.
Conditions include lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as freeing Iran’s frozen assets.
Read MoreTrump again threatens to ‘bomb the s*** out of’ ally Oman over Strait of Hormuz
Kim-praising Trump asks South Korea, ‘Why are we helping you?’
Israeli minister calls for killing of ‘30 to 40’ people in Gaza every night
Key Points
- Trump declares Strait of Hormuz as US territory
- Trump threatened to bomb Oman because he's unhappy with country's deal with Iran, officials say
- US oil reserves are so low amid Trump’s Iran war the caverns holding them could be damaged
- Trump is threatening to bomb Oman, but why?
Recap: Trump declares Strait of Hormuz as US territory
23:34 , Daniel HaygarthPresident Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz as US territory in a new post on Truth Social.
Sharing a crude map of the region with a large blue circle over Hormuz, the picture declared the vital shipping route as “NEW US territory”.
“The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” he continued. “The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.”
However, data shared by Kpler with The Independent shows that only ten vessels passed through on Monday, compared to 130 to 140 before the outbreak of war.
Trump earlier confirmed that there are “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled” with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran had earlier said the shipping route is to remain closed until the US meet the conditions agreed in an interim deal, according to Iran’s top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf in comments shared by state media.
Conditions include lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as freeing Iran’s frozen assets.
Trump threatened to bomb Oman because he's unhappy with country's deal with Iran, officials say
23:12 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump threatened to bomb Oman because he is unhappy the country is close to a deal with Iran to manage ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, two regional officials said on Tuesday, a day after Trump leveled the threat.
The officials said the Trump administration has told Oman it is opposed to parts of the yet-to-be-announced deal, including the joint Iranian and Omani management of the exit route out of the passage that's critical to global supplies of oil and natural gas. The officials were briefed on the U.S. position and how the administration views Oman's position.
Meanwhile, a projectile hit a ship as it sailed out of the strait, and a cargo vessel was rendered a "constructive total loss" by multiple projectiles off the coast of Yemen, according to the British military's maritime monitoring agency. The defense ministry of the United Arab Emirates said two ballistic missiles were launched from Iran toward the UAE.
An Iranian official said the strait would not reopen until the United States meets Iran's conditions.
Iran says it rejects UAE statement on missile launches
22:03 , Dan HaygarthIran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected a statement by the UAE that said Iran was behind missiles launched against the Gulf country.
He said in a statement the UAE's "accusations" were "baseless."
France to expel two Iranian diplomats in coming days, foreign minister says
21:15 , Dan HaygarthFrance will expel two Iranian diplomats in the coming days in response to an incident in July involving two staff of the French embassy in Tehran.
"I had announced that this intolerable act would have consequences. And so it has. Two Iranian diplomats in France will be expelled in the very near future," foreign mMinister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a post on X.
Last month, the French ministry said the two French embassy staff had been detained and physically intimidated by Iranian security services in Tehran.
Barrot had summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Paris in protest following the incident on 19 July.
Barrot's comments came one day after the Iranian ministry said two French embassy employees, who were involved in July in a diplomatic dispute in Tehran, would not be allowed to return to Iran.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the two French staff had violated the Vienna Convention — which defines the rules and privileges of diplomatic missions — by engaging in activities supporting Iranian civil society.
French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said in a statement that "the Iranian authorities have chosen to make completely false accusations against our agents and to fabricate a case of interference to justify their actions."
France to expel two Iranian diplomats in coming days, foreign minister says
21:15 , Dan HaygarthFrance will expel two Iranian diplomats in the coming days in response to an incident in July involving two staff of the French embassy in Tehran.
"I had announced that this intolerable act would have consequences. And so it has. Two Iranian diplomats in France will be expelled in the very near future," foreign mMinister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a post on X.
Last month, the French ministry said the two French embassy staff had been detained and physically intimidated by Iranian security services in Tehran.
Barrot had summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Paris in protest following the incident on 19 July.
Barrot's comments came one day after the Iranian ministry said two French embassy employees, who were involved in July in a diplomatic dispute in Tehran, would not be allowed to return to Iran.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the two French staff had violated the Vienna Convention — which defines the rules and privileges of diplomatic missions — by engaging in activities supporting Iranian civil society.
French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said in a statement that "the Iranian authorities have chosen to make completely false accusations against our agents and to fabricate a case of interference to justify their actions."
Comment - Donald Trump has found exciting new ways to embarrass America – can this one man stop him?
20:45 , Daniel Haygarth
Donald Trump has found exciting new ways to embarrass America
Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, drawing Turkish condemnation
20:15 , Dan HaygarthIsrael bombed an airbase in Syria on Tuesday, Syrian state media said, carrying out what appeared to be its first strike on Syrian government assets since March and drawing condemnation from Turkey and criticism from a US envoy who called it an "unnecessary escalation".
Syria's state-run Ekhbariya, citing a military source, said Israel carried out eight airstrikes on the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur base, while a separate military source and a civilian who lives near the base said there were no casualties.
The Israeli military declined to comment on the strikes, while the Syrian defence ministry did not respond.
"We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability," ambassador Tom Barrack, the US special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, said on X.
"The United States continues to believe that restraint and engagement offer the more constructive course. We encourage all parties to prioritize logical discourse over further military incidents," he added.
Syrian foreign minister Assad al-Shibani called for the attacks to stop, saying Israel should recalculate its position toward Syria because it faced not only Damascus, but also its allies through its strikes.
Trump is threatening to bomb Oman, but why?
19:45 , Dan HaygarthExplainer by the Associated Press
Oman has played a relatively low-profile role since the Iran war began, including as a mediator.
But its geography has thrust it into the uncomfortable position of negotiating with Tehran over management of the strait while facing Trump's threats.
Trump this week told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst that the U.S. would bomb Oman if it "gets in the way," using an expletive for emphasis. It's not the first such threat he's made. Oman has not commented.
Trump is not happy about the emerging Oman-Iran deal
Trump threatened Oman because he's not happy that it's close to a deal with Iran over the strait, two regional officials said Tuesday.
US-Iran negotiations have dried up.
This week ended the 60-day period that launched when the US and Iran signed an interim agreement. It had been meant to open the way for more detailed talks.
There's no sign of it being extended. Trump now says there are no planned talks with Iran.
So the only confirmed discussions happening now are between Iran and Oman about shipping on the strait.
These have been going on for weeks. Oman hasn't said much about them publicly.
Tehran says they're finalising a joint statement.
Trump has made plenty of threats against Iran. Now he's venting his frustration at Oman, too.
Now Oman is in discussions that appear to be driven by Iran, which has described the talks as aiming to "develop mechanisms to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights and sovereignty of both coastal states, as well as Iran's security and national interests."
The mechanisms might include fees.
How the Iran war is forcing families to choose between schooling and survival
19:15 , Maira ButtSou Sreynich dreams of becoming a teacher. But she knows she's far behind.
The 13-year-old first entered a classroom at 10, an age when most Cambodian children already have been in school for years. Her mother waited until she was old enough to swim, fearing the boat to school could capsize — a decision familiar to many parents on Cambodia's Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
Now, the price of gasoline has spiked because of the Iran war, an additional burden. Unlike outright school closures during Covid-19, the Iran war’s impact on education is less visible.
How the Iran war is forcing families to choose between schooling and survival
From America’s ‘oldest ally’ in the Middle East to a bombing target: Trump is trying to wreck the US-Omani relationship
18:45 , Maira ButtOn Monday, President Donald Trump made yet another unprecedented and violent threat against a country in the Middle East.
But this time the target of his ire was unexpected. Oman, an American ally for almost 200 years, would be bombed “to s***” if it interfered with a potential US-Iran peace deal, Trump told a FOX News reporter.
It was not the first time that Trump had threatened Oman, previously warning the country in May to “behave” or face potential military action.
Throughout the US-Israeli war in Iran, Muscat has endured retaliatory strikes across its ports and energy infrastructure but has nevertheless taken part in negotiations towards a resolution.
How Trump wrecked relationship with America’s ‘oldest ally’ in the Middle East
Watch: Netanyahu puts NYC mayor Mamdani alongside Iran’s Ayatollah on enemies list
18:15 , Maira ButtUAE says Iran launched two missiles at it
18:15 , Dan HaygarthThe UAE's defence ministry said on Tuesday that it detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran against the Gulf country. It said one fell inside territorial waters, while another fell outside, and stressed the UAE's readiness to deal with any threats.
There was no immediate comment from Iran.
Earlier on Tuesday, the UAE's interior ministry sent a phone alert stating that the situation was safe and people should resume normal activities after an earlier alert warning of a missile threat.
US oil reserves are so low amid Trump’s Iran war the caverns holding them could be damaged
17:45 , Maira ButtAmerica’s emergency oil stockpile has dropped to its lowest level in 40 years, with experts warning that ongoing withdrawals for the war with Iran could permanently damage the underground caverns holding the crude.
The warnings arrive as American drivers face unprecedented gas prices for late summer. Today’s AAA National Average for a gallon of regular gasoline sits at $4.07, marking the highest levels on record for mid-August.
Concerns over the physical limits of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve center on the unique geology of its storage network. The crude is held within 60 salt caverns thousands of feet below ground at four sites across Texas and Louisiana.
To extract crude, operators pump fresh water into the bottom of a cavern to force oil up to pipeline intakes. However, petroleum engineering professor Siddharth Misra of Texas A&M University told CNBC that repeated rapid drawdowns wash away salt walls.
Trump’s Iran war leaves US oil reserves so low caverns risk damage
Trump's crude Hormuz map includes parts of Iran
17:28 , Sam RkainaDonald Trump has posted a map identifying the Strait of Hormuz as “new U.S. territory”, echoing a threat he made last week under the continued pressure of the key waterway’s contested nature.
In a captionless post on Truth Social, the president circled the strait and labeled it “new U.S. territory.”
U.S. forces, however, have been unable to guarantee safe passage for ships through the strait thus far and the circle depicted on Trump’s map actually includes quite a bit of Iranian land on the northern borders of the strait.
That would imply a partial U.S. occupation of Iranian soil.
Click here for the full story.
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
17:15 , Maira ButtBoth sides blame the other for violations of a ceasefire agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz is made up of two shipping corridors. One is a southern passage that runs along the Omani coast, which was traditionally used for inbound ships.
The second lane, generally for outbound vessels, runs along the Iranian coast. Throughout the conflict, the corridors have been used for both inbound and outbound commercial traffic.
In the days leading up to Iran’s attacks this week, tensions had been mounting as commercial traffic appeared to increase through the route along the Omani coast.
Iran said that any ships not using its approved route would face an “immediate and powerful response” and the IRGC has used various techniques, including small boats “swarming” commercial vessels.
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US meets deal conditions, says Ghalibaf
17:13 , Maira ButtThe Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US is able to meet the conditions agreed in an interim deal, Iran’s top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf has said.
The conditions include lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as freeing Iran’s frozen assets.
President Trump, meanwhile, has continued to insist the key shipping route is open and operating
UAE says situation safe after detecting missile threat
17:11 , Dan HaygarthThe UAE's interior ministry sent a phone alert on Tuesday that the situation was currently safe and to resume normal activities after an earlier alert warning of a missile threat.
Asia shares decline as worries about rising oil prices outweigh perks from strong earnings
16:45 , Maira ButtAsian shares declined in early Tuesday trading, as rising oil prices and worries about inflation worked as a dampener on some markets, countering the optimism that had come from robust corporate earnings reports.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 dipped 1.6% to 68,098.54. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.2% to 9,088.60. South Korea's Kospi reversed course after surging earlier to drop 0.6% to 6,933.60. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.6% to 25,289.88, while the Shanghai Composite shed 0.5% to 3,963.53.
Analysts said robust earnings reports in Asia, following those from the U.S., are helping counter worries about what the war in Iran will do to the global flow of crude and its impact on energy prices. Japan, for one, imports almost all its oil.
Asia shares decline as worries about rising oil prices outweigh perks from strong earnings
Watch: Trump casts doubt on Iran deal, says Tehran ‘cannot have a nuclear weapon’
16:15 , Maira ButtTurkey condemns Israeli airstrikes on Syrian base, calls for international response
15:46 , Maira ButtTurkey on Tuesday strongly condemned Israeli air strikes on the Abu al-Duhur air base in northwestern Syria, and called on the international community to ensure Israel is held accountable for actions which it said violated international laws.
"We call on the international community to take a more decisive stance to end Israel's escalating aggression against Syria," the ministry said in a statement.
In focus: The creation of a ‘Muslim Nato’ shows Trump is losing his grip in the Middle East
15:00 , Maira ButtAs Donald Trump continued his attacks on Iran earlier this month, a deal that could radically reshape security in the Middle East was quietly being done in Saudi Arabia.
On 7 August, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence agreement, a Nato-style mutual defence pact that states an attack on any one of the group will be considered an attack on all.
The timing is significant. All three countries have been the target of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Middle East since US-Israeli strikes killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February.
Why new ‘Muslim Nato’ shows Trump’s authority in the Middle East has collapsed
Trump says 'no talks' taking place with Iran after ceasefire ends
14:34 , Maira ButtPresident Trump has announced that “there are no talks or conversations going on or scheduled” with the Islamic Republic of Iran in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
“The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” he wrote, the day after a 60 day ceasefire agreement with Tehran expired.
“The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.”
Trump declares Hormuz as US territory
14:06 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz as US territory in a new post on Truth Social.
Sharing a bizarre map of the region with a large blue circle over Hormuz, the picture declared the vital shipping route as “US territory”.
Trump’s approval rating falls to the lowest of his presidency, new poll finds
13:50 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to the lowest level of his presidency, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday.
Just 33 percent of respondents in the four-day survey, down from 35 percent, said they approved of Trump's performance in the White House, while 64 per cent disapproved.
Trump's approval rating, which is now lower than at any point in his current term, has tied the lowest level of his prior term reached in December 2017.
Trump’s approval rating falls to the lowest of his presidency, new poll finds
Qatar provides update on Iranian pilots and Omani talks
13:20 , Maira ButtQatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson says that mediators are waiting for Oman and Iran to reach a bilateral agreement on Hormuz, according to Reuters.
The country was accused of capturing three Iranian pilots after downing fighter jets, which it denies.
On Tuesday it reiterated its invitation for an Iranian delegation to visit Qatar to discuss the issue and said its appeal for the Red Cross to get involved is a “media ploy”.
The spokesperson added that agreement over the Strait of Hormuz would make it much easier to resume US-Iran talks.
In pictures: Netanyahu votes in Likud primary elections ahead of general election in October
12:50 , Maira Butt
Mapped: Where is the Strait of Hormuz
12:20 , Maira ButtWatch: Kim-praising Trump asks South Korea, 'Why are we helping you?' in tiff over Iran aid
11:50 , Maira ButtIsraeli minister calls for killing of ‘30 to 40’ people in Gaza every night
11:20 , Maira ButtAn Israeli politician has publicly advocated for killing “30 to 40” people in Gaza every night.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security in prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, made the comment while speaking on the first episode of the podcast The 8 October.
The podcast is hosted by Rom Braslavski, a survivor of the 2023 Nova Music Festival attack who spent two years as a Hamas hostage.
Mr Ben-Gvir criticised Israel’s recent decrease in strikes on Gaza and said he disagrees with Mr Netanyahu’s approach.
“I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night,” he said.
Israeli minister calls for killing of ‘30 to 40’ people in Gaza every night
Netanyahu puts NYC mayor Mamdani alongside Iran’s Ayatollah on enemies poster
10:50 , Maira ButtBenjamin Netanyahu’s Likud’s party has cast New York mayor Zohran Mamdani alongside Iranian and Hezbollah leaders in a campaign advert for the forthcoming Israeli elections.
The billboard seen in the country’s capital TV features the new Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hezbollah’s security-general Naim Qassem against a jet black background.
“They want Netanyahu to lose, don’t let them win,” reads a caption alongside it.
Netanyahu reposted the image saying: “Don’t let them win.”
Netanyahu puts NYC mayor Mamdani alongside Iran’s Ayatollah on enemies poster
Asia shares decline as worries about rising oil prices outweigh perks from strong earnings
09:50 , Maira ButtAsian shares declined in early Tuesday trading, as rising oil prices and worries about inflation worked as a dampener on some markets, countering the optimism that had come from robust corporate earnings reports.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 dipped 1.6% to 68,098.54. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.2% to 9,088.60. South Korea's Kospi reversed course after surging earlier to drop 0.6% to 6,933.60. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.6% to 25,289.88, while the Shanghai Composite shed 0.5% to 3,963.53.
Analysts said robust earnings reports in Asia, following those from the U.S., are helping counter worries about what the war in Iran will do to the global flow of crude and its impact on energy prices. Japan, for one, imports almost all its oil.
Asia shares decline as worries about rising oil prices outweigh perks from strong earnings
Traffic through Strait of Hormuz rises to six vessels
09:20 , Maira ButtCommodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has risen from two ships a day to six, according to shipping data reported by Reuters.
Houthis attack Saudi refinery, says group's news agency
08:50 , Maira ButtYemen’s Houthi news agency Saba is reporting that the group has attacked Aramco’s Jazan refinery in Saudi Arabia using drones, according to a military source.
Saudi Arabia is yet to respond to the reports.
Watch: Trump casts doubt on Iran deal, says Tehran ‘cannot have a nuclear weapon’
08:24 , Maira ButtGaza will not be rebuilt until Hamas disarms, says Kushner after four-hour Netanyahu meeting
07:51 , Maira ButtIsrael will continue strikes on Gaza after four-hour discussions on a Gaza Peace Plan between prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“We have a plan to rebuild Gaza, but we will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until the demilitarisation occurs,” Kushner told Fox News on Monday.
“Nobody wants to put more money into a place that’s gone on for so long if it’s just going to be taken over by terrorists or blown up again.”
Trump again threatens to ‘bomb the s*** out of’ ally Oman over Strait of Hormuz
07:20 , Maira ButtDonald Trump has threatened to launch an attack on Oman – a Middle East ally – over control of the Strait of Hormuz, which remains largely blocked amid the ongoing conflict between Washington and Iran.
A 60-day period to negotiate a ceasefire deal expired on Monday with no news of an extension and talks deadlocked in the same position as two months ago.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s**t out of them,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News, after reports Oman and Iran are working out their own solution to control the strategic waterway.
Trump told the outlet that the US had a backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, adding: “They should put up the white flag of surrender.”
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Trump again threatens to ‘bomb the s*** out of’ ally Oman over Strait of Hormuz
Turkey urges Trump to continue talks with Iran
06:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarTurkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told his American counterpart Donald Trump that it was important to continue talks with Iran to pursue diplomacy.
The two leaders discussed the Iran and Gaza wars, bilateral ties and the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement during a phone call yesterday.
Erdogan reportedly told Trump that Turkey was ready to contribute to the peace talks between Washington and Tehran.
Hormuz crossings rise slightly from weekend
06:38 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarShip crossings through the Strait of Hormuz were still in the single digits, despite a slight rise from the weekend, according to preliminary shipping data.
Six commodity ships transited the strait yesterday, of which three were exiting the Gulf and three were entering, Kpler ship-tracking data showed, compared with the 10-day average of 11 ships. Three ships transited on Saturday while two moved through the waterway on Sunday.
There were no very large crude carriers or tankers carrying liquefied natural gas passing through.
Five ways Trump could target Iran’s economy
06:27 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarU.S. President Donald Trump pledged on Friday to inflict severe economic damage on Iran following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement that Washington plans to levy unprecedented restrictions on Tehran as early as next week.
Trade embargoes, asset freezes, and sanctions have been imposed by the United States, European Union, and United Nations since the late 1970s, citing Tehran's nuclear ambitions, human rights abuses, and backing of militant factions.
More here.
Five ways Trump could target Iran’s economy from ‘teapot’ sanctions to land blockade
Israeli minister calls for killing of ‘30 to 40’ people in Gaza every night
06:02 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAn Israeli politician has publicly advocated for killing “30 to 40” people in Gaza every night.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security in prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, made the comment while speaking on the first episode of the podcast The 8 October.
More here.
Israeli minister calls for killing of ‘30 to 40’ people in Gaza every night
Watch: Trump says US has ‘total control’ of Strait of Hormuz
05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSyrian military airport attacked
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Abu al-Zuhour military airport in northern Syria has been hit by at least four airstrikes this morning, according to Al Jazeera.
The attack in the Idlib province, allegedly carried out by Israel, hit the airport's runway, causing material damage, it said.
Syria has so far not issued any official statement on the strikes.
Oil crosses $90 a barrel
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices rose this morning as a deal to end the Middle East war seemed further out of sight with Iran saying it will adopt a more offensive stance and the US ruling out extending a ceasefire agreement, heightening worries about energy supply.
Brent crude futures climbed 27 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $91.14, after rising to their highest since 30 July.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 42 cents to $85.04 a barrel, after gaining more than 1 per cent earlier in the session to $85.37, their highest since 31 July.
"Oil has jumped to start the week as U.S.-Iran relations look increasingly shaky. A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz still does not appear to be in sight, and shipping numbers remain at a trickle," said chief market analyst at KCM, Tim Waterer.
One dead as vessel struck by projectile in Strait of Hormuz
04:35 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said this morning.
The UKMTO said it received a report that the attack damaged the engine room and caused a crew casualty, with the remaining crew being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard.
ICYMI: JD Vance says keeping gas prices low is 'goal number one' of Iran war
04:00 , Rachel DobkinFury erupts at Fox host who blasted ‘weak’ sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln
03:30 , Jasmine FernándezFox News presenter Joey Jones is under fire following a three-minute on-air outburst targeting service members deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln who recently voiced concerns about deteriorating shipboard conditions.
“How weak are you?” Jones asked while co-hosting Fox News’s The Big Weekend Show, reacting to a segment that originally aired Thursday on CNN.
On social media, critics immediately turned the host’s own framing against him.
“Put him on that ship for the same length of time under similar conditions”, one X user posted.
Read on...
Fury erupts at Fox host who blasted ‘weak’ sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln
Watch: Kim-praising Trump asks South Korea, 'Why are we helping you?' in tiff over Iran aid
03:00 , Dan HaygarthFull story: Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
02:00 , Dan Haygarth
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Trump says Iran won't make deal he thinks is needed, threatens to bomb Oman
01:00 , Dan HaygarthPresident Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would not make the deal he thinks is needed to end a war with the US and should surrender as talks between the countries remained stalled.
"They're not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary. Look, we're in there for one reason: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Asked whether the US was seeking to extend an interim deal with Iran, Trump said "no."
The interim deal agreed to in June declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly unraveled, with Trump saying it was "over" on 7 July and Iran's foreign ministry declaring it "suspended" a week later.
Under that memorandum of understanding, Iran and the US committed to negotiating a final deal — covering broader issues such as the fate of Iran's nuclear programme — in a maximum of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
Monday marks 60 days since the MOU was signed. Hours before, Trump told a Fox News reporter during a phone interview that Iran "should put up the white flag of surrender."
Separately, Oman and Iran have been in talks to try to reach an agreement to restore commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which carried 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began in late February.
"If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them," Trump told Fox.
When asked later in the Oval Office if he was out of patience with Oman, Trump told reporters: "No, I don't think they behaved very well, but we'd handle them very easily, just like we do other things."
The dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up fuel prices and put pressure on Trump to end a war that is unpopular at home ahead of the November midterm elections that will decide control of the US Congress.
