Donald Trump has claimed the Strait of Hormuz is “sort of open” and predicted that the war with Iran will “end pretty soon”.
The US president said although the shipping route was under US control, there was a possibility that Tehran could still “shoot things” or “drop a mine.”
"I think it's going to end pretty soon. I don't think they (Iran) can go much longer," Trump said in the Oval Office.
Trump also denied the US was running low on key munitions amid its war with Iran, insisting the country has "massive amounts" of ammunition and threatened lengthy prison sentences for officials who leak information about US weapons stockpiles.
The president was responding to US media reports that he had reprimanded defence secretary Pete Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting in which low ammunition stockpiles were discussed.
Earlier, Iran claimed a deal with Oman to fully open up shipping through the strait was on the brink of being agreed, with negotiations now in their “final stages”. The proposed deal would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
Read MoreTehran on brink of deal with Oman to open Hormuz that could finally pave way for Trump peace talks
A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears – but Iran now holds all the cards
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Key Points
- Strait of Hormuz is 'sort of open' - Trump
- Trump denies US low on key munitions in war with Iran
- Saudi Arabia expects imminent attacks from north and south, senior official says
- US military says it redirected 49 ships, disabled 2 during blockade
Trump says Americans will see gas for $1.85 a gallon soon - but the national average is currently above $4
10:48 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has said Americans will see gas for $1.85 (£1.38) a gallon soon.
“We'll see those days pretty soon again, based on everything I see”, the US president told reporters Thursday. “As soon as the war ends, and I think it's going to end pretty soon”.
The national average price for a gallon of gas is currently above $4 (£2.98). It was below $3 (£2.23) at the start of the Iran war in late February.
Saudi Arabia expects imminent attacks from north and south, senior official says
10:33 , Alex CroftSaudi Arabia expects imminent coordinated attacks from the north and south by Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a senior Saudi official said on Thursday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said intelligence reports from Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional countries indicated civilian and economic sites could be targeted, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports.
Saudi Arabia had also observed drones and missiles being moved, suggesting coordinated operations from both directions, the official said.
The official said the reported threats were particularly alarming as Riyadh continued to pursue de-escalation and a negotiated settlement, adding that contacts with all parties, including Iran, and mediation efforts appeared to be moving "in the right direction." The official said the planned attacks could be intended to disrupt those diplomatic efforts.
The official said Saudi-US cooperation remained "very high" at all levels, including operationally with US Central Command, and said Saudi Arabia was prepared to take all necessary measures to respond to any aggression.
The Independent View | A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears – but Iran now holds all the cards
09:55 , Alex CroftIf all goes well, the Strait of Hormuz will be open again to civilian traffic in a few days.
Good news, in any case, but it is hardly a lasting solution. What’s more, there are many reasons to suppose it will collapse again soon enough. The 60-day period of renewed ceasefire is ominously ambiguous and temporary. Seizing a mutually advantageous opportunity to acquire significant geopolitical leverage and to make some money, the signs are that the Omanis and the Iranians will seek to exercise full sovereign control.
This is not the issue that led America into this quagmire, but it is now the one that has trapped President Trump. There is no more talk of regime change or unconditional surrender. Even if Iran renounces its nuclear programme and permits international inspections – which it has been committed to, de facto, since the JCPOA was signed during the Obama administration, ensuring that the US’s “war aim” is achieved – Iran has been gifted control of much of the world’s oil supplies.
This is a far more practical threat than any nuclear warhead. Gifted, that is, by President Trump’s foolish decision to join Israel’s campaign to destabilise and weaken the Iranian regime – now demonstrably a failure.
You can read The Independent’s full editorial here.
US military says it redirected 49 ships, disabled 2 during blockade
09:31 , Alex CroftUS Central Command said it has redirected 49 ships, disabled 2 and boarded 2 while enforcing its blockade of Iranian ports.
It shared some images of the operations in a post on X.
U.S. Marine Corps aviation assets and personnel embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) support ongoing enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 6, CENTCOM redirected 49 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2. pic.twitter.com/tbdPdKe7RH
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 6, 2026
Iran on brink of deal to open Hormuz as Trump denies munitions shortage
09:08 , Shweta SharmaTrump makes his feelings clear about Pete Hegseth after ‘treasonous leakers’ rant over weapons stockpile
08:49 , Shweta SharmaPresident Donald Trump felt the need to defend his embattled Pentagon boss, former Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth, after a series of bombshell reports indicating that the Department of Defense has blown through nearly all the precision-guided rockets in its inventory and could take years to replenish those stocks.
In a 148-word post on Truth Social Thursday, Trump accused news organizations of “spreading false and completely unfounded rumors” about his relationship with the defense secretary and insisted he’s “very happy” with Hegseth’s job performance.
“Everything has been extraordinary, including our attack on Venezuela, where the result was accomplished in less than one day, allowing us to bring one of the worst criminals anywhere in the World, Nicolas Maduro, to Justice! Likewise, Iran, where the country has been decimated for the purpose of NOT ALLOWING IT TO EVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, is going very well,” Trump wrote.
Trump speaks out about Pete Hegseth after ‘treasonous leakers’ rant over weapons
Shipping traffic through Strait of Hormuz dwindles this week
08:29 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is “sort of open”, after ship-tracking data showed traffic through the waterway had declined this week.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to 33 vessels from Monday to Thursday this week, compared to 50 in the same period one week ago, according to Kpler.
Four vessels, including a very large crude carrier, Nissos Kea, carrying about 2 million barrels of Basrah crude loaded in Iraq, transited the strait on Thursday.
Of the rest, two were laden with liquefied petroleum gas and one was a minor bulk carrier.
Just six crude oil tankers have exited the strait this week, Kpler data showed. A total of 21 vessels have entered it so far, mostly via the Iranian route.
Before the war began, around 130 to 140 ships would typically transit the strait before Iran closed the vital waterway.
Oil climbs as market awaits possible US-Iran Hormuz deal
08:15 , Shweta SharmaBrent crude rose $1.31 on Friday to trade at $83.80 per barrel, after settling up more than $3 in the previous session.
The dollar was mostly flat as of the Asian afternoon on Friday, trading little changed at 158.365 yen, after gaining 0.4 per cent on Thursday.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
07:30 , Shweta SharmaAs the US, Iran and Oman edge towards an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, months of insecurity and disruption are leaving millions more vulnerable to hunger in Yemen.
The economic fallout from the regional conflict has driven up food and fuel prices, while more than four months of conflict with Iran has driven renewed escalation in Yemen, compounding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
More than half the population were already facing hunger, but slow progress from world leaders to re-open the Strait has caused months of disruption to global food and energy supplies, disrupting humanitarian aid operations.
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Amnesty says Gaza mass funeral highlights 'chilling' destruction of entire families
07:20 , Shweta SharmaAmnesty International says a mass funeral for 112 members of the al-Hasayna and Abu Sharia families in Gaza City underscores a pattern of Israeli attacks that have wiped out entire multi-generational families.
Writing on X, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International's senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said the victims' remains were recovered months after an Israeli strike on 23 November 2023 that reportedly killed more than 300 Palestinians.
She said recovery efforts had been delayed by Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy equipment needed to clear rubble, with thousands of bodies still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
“Israel must urgently allow access to Gaza for UN bodies and independent human rights investigators to preserve evidence, in line with the ICJ’s orders,” she added, using the acronym for the International Court of Justice.
Trump’s Iran deal: Three scenarios for what could happen next
07:07 , Shweta SharmaAs Iran and Oman close in on a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, there is growing optimism that the main hurdle preventing peace talks to end Donald Trump’s war may be cleared.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, said an agreement is in its “final stages”, while US president Donald Trump said an "all-day negotiation" had taken place with Tehran on Tuesday.
Senior Trump administration officials, including secretary of state Marco Rubio and treasury secretary Scott Bessent, suggested a deal was imminent earlier this week – but an agreement had not been reached by Friday morning.
Trump’s Iran deal: Three scenarios for what could happen next
Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani leaders to meet in Jeddah amid Red Sea tensions
06:52 , Shweta SharmaThe leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are set to hold talks in Jeddah on Friday as tensions continue to rise across the Gulf and Red Sea.
It comes following Pakistan's recent decision to join a Saudi-led naval coalition aimed at countering Houthi attacks.
Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in the Saudi city for meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The visit marks Sharif's third trip to Saudi Arabia this year.
Iran authorities announce controlled explosions in southern province
06:43 , Shweta SharmaIranian authorities announced planned controlled explosions in the southern province of Bushehr on Friday, saying blasts could be heard near the city of Khormoj between Friday morning and noon.
Officials in Dashti county did not provide further details about the purpose of the controlled explosions.
Strait of Hormuz is 'sort of open' - Trump
05:50 , Shweta SharmaSaudi Arabia expects imminent attacks from north and south, senior official says
05:30 , Shweta SharmaSaudi Arabia expects imminent coordinated attacks from the north and south by Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a senior Saudi official said on Thursday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said intelligence reports from Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional countries indicated civilian and economic sites could be targeted, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports.
Saudi Arabia had also observed drones and missiles being moved, suggesting coordinated operations from both directions, the official said.
The official said the reported threats were particularly alarming as Riyadh continued to pursue de-escalation and a negotiated settlement, adding that contacts with all parties, including Iran, and mediation efforts appeared to be moving "in the right direction." The official said the planned attacks could be intended to disrupt those diplomatic efforts.
The official said Saudi-US cooperation remained "very high" at all levels, including operationally with US Central Command, and said Saudi Arabia was prepared to take all necessary measures to respond to any aggression.
Trump says Americans will see gas for $1.85 a gallon soon. The national average is currently above $4
05:03 , Rachel DobkinDonald Trump has said Americans will see gas for $1.85 a gallon soon.
“We'll see those days pretty soon again, based on everything I see”, the US president told reporters Thursday. “As soon as the war ends, and I think it's going to end pretty soon”.
The national average price for a gallon of gas is currently above $4. It was below $3 at the start of the Iran war in late February.
Trump denies shortage of key munitions in war with Iran
04:51 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump has denied reports that the United States is running low on key munitions amid its war with Iran, insisting the country has "massive amounts" of ammunition and threatening lengthy prison sentences for officials who leak information about US weapons stockpiles.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said: “Defence companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history.”
The president claimed more weapons were being manufactured and shipped to the region, though he did not provide evidence or specify which munitions he was referring to.
His comments followed reports that he confronted defence secretary Pete Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David last week over alleged shortages of critical weapons.
According to the Washington Post, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the discussion, Trump told Hegseth he felt misled because he believed the issue "had been fixed".
The newspaper reported that Hegseth defended his handling of the matter and sought to place responsibility on his deputy, Stephen Feinberg.
Trump later lashed out at the reports, accusing the media of publishing "treasonous statements".“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down,” he wrote. “Long term jail sentences will be sought!”
Dollar drifts higher as traders eye Iran talks
04:19 , Shweta SharmaThe dollar drifted higher against the yen and euro on Friday, building on the previous day's gains as doubts about an Iran peace deal buffed the US currency's appeal as a haven.
The greenback also drew support from higher Treasury yields after a Financial Times report citing sources close to Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh pointed to the potential for a September interest rate hike, depending on incoming data.
The monthly US payrolls report, due later on Friday, could provide more clues on the Fed's rate path.
The dollar rose slightly to 158.505 yen in the Asian morning, after gaining 0.4 per cent on Thursday, putting it on course to rise around 0.7 per centthis week as it recovered from a bout of joint Japan-US. intervention that sent the US currency tumbling from near a four-decade high above 163 yen on Thursday to a 13-week low of 155.20 on Monday.
Against the euro, the greenback edged up to $1.1521 after strengthening about 0.3 per cent in the prior session.
Brent crude rose a little over a dollar on Friday to trade at $83.55 per barrel, after settling up more than $3 in the previous session.
US military says it redirected 49 ships, disabled 2 during blockade
04:02 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command said it has redirected 49 ships, disabled 2 and boarded 2 while enforcing its blockade of Iranian ports.
U.S. Marine Corps aviation assets and personnel embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) support ongoing enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 6, CENTCOM redirected 49 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2. pic.twitter.com/tbdPdKe7RH
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 6, 2026
Houthi rebel attacks injure 11 people in Saudi Arabia
03:52 , Shweta SharmaAt least 11 civilians, including a four-year-old child, were injured after Yemen's Houthi rebels launched an attack on Saudi Arabia's southern Najran province, Saudi officials said.
The kingdom accused the Iran-aligned Houthis of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas.
A senior Saudi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Saudi, US and other Middle Eastern countries' intelligence found that the Houthis and Iraqi militias under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could soon launch coordinated attacks on Saudi civilian sites including energy infrastructure, ports and airports.
The Saudi official said the reported threats were alarming as Riyadh continued to support de-escalation and a negotiated settlement of the conflict with Iran, adding that mediation efforts appeared to be moving "in the right direction."
The official said the planned attacks could be intended to disrupt the diplomacy.
Trump says US has 'massive amounts of munitions'
03:00 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has said the US has “massive amounts of munitions” and was expanding domestic production, rejecting leaked claims about US stockpiles.
“Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!!”
His post came after US media reports suggested the US has used nearly all of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the war with Iran.
Iran threatens to strike critical energy infrastructure in response to US attacks
01:29 , Alex CroftIran has warned Gulf states that any fresh US attack on its territory would trigger retaliation against critical energy infrastructure across the region, according to five sources cited by Reuters.
"The Iranian warning was unequivocal: if America targeted Iran's infrastructure, they would retaliate by striking Gulf energy facilities and other regional targets," one Gulf source told Reuters.
The warning comes as Iran and Oman discuss a potential deal that could give Tehran a greater role in overseeing ships transiting the strategic waterway, though key issues remain unresolved, Reuters reported.
A source said that the proposed deal between Iran and Oman to help end five months of war between Iran and the United States would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
While president Donald Trump has said a deal reopening the strait is imminent, US officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world's most important trade route for energy supplies.
Trump’s Iran deal: Three scenarios for what could happen next
Friday 7 August 2026 00:01 , Alex CroftAs Iran and Oman close in on a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, there is growing optimism that the main hurdle preventing peace talks to end Donald Trump’s war may be cleared.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, said an agreement is in its “final stages”, while US president Donald Trump said an "all-day negotiation" had taken place with Tehran on Tuesday.
Senior Trump administration officials, including secretary of state Marco Rubio and treasury secretary Scott Bessent, suggested a deal was imminent earlier this week – but an agreement had not been reached by Thursday morning.
Alex Croft reports:
Trump’s Iran deal: Three scenarios for what could happen next
Americans believing US war on Iran will destabilise Middle East vastly outnumber those who don't: poll
Thursday 6 August 2026 23:01 , Alex CroftUS citizens widely expect the Middle East to continue sliding towards chaos as a result of ongoing war with Iran, a new poll by Reuters and Ipsos has found.
The poll concluded on Monday, as Donald Trump again backed away from his threatened "massive attacks" on Iran, underscoring uncertainty surrounding a conflict he initially predicted would bring a swift victory.
Half of the respondents said they believed military action in Iran would destabilise the Middle East in the coming year, around three times the 17 per cent who said it would lead to more stability.
Some 16 per cent said stability levels would remain around the same, and 17 per cent said they were unsure.
The majority of respondents (58 per cent) also believe has prices will continue to worsen, with only 15 per cent expecting them to improve.
Watch: Iran on brink of deal to open Hormuz as Trump denies munitions shortage
Thursday 6 August 2026 22:36 , Harriette BoucherWatch: Trump says ‘we may have to’ send oil prices 'up again' as Iran war continues
Thursday 6 August 2026 22:00 , Alex CroftTrump insists US has 'unlimited supply' of munitions
Thursday 6 August 2026 21:52 , Harriette BoucherThe US president has insisted that there are no munition shortages, denying reports about the state of the military’s arsenal.
He said America had “virtually unlimited supply”, but added that supply “was a bit tighter” for certain types of munitions.
It comes amid America’s supplemental request for $21bn to restock supply.
He said this was because the US “need more all the time,” adding: “We gave a tremendous amount of Ukraine. The Biden people did. And they were given free of charge
“Fortunately, I built up so much during my term, I rebuilt the military. I also loaded it up with a lot of stuff.
“We have certain types of munitions that are very powerful, we have virtually unlimited supply. We have other where it’s a bit tighter.”
Strait of Hormuz is 'sort of open'
Thursday 6 August 2026 21:41 , Harriette BoucherThe Strait of Hormuz is “sort of open”, but Iran still poses a threat to vessel, Donald Trump has said.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, he said that while the key shipping route was under US control, Iran still has the ability to “shoot things” or “drop a mine.”
Asked if a deal had be reached to reopen Hormuz, the US president said: “It's sort of open right now...And now we control it, but they can always shoot things. They always have something or drop a mine.
“And if you have one mine sitting out there, you sort of mess things up because people don't want to take their billion-dollar boats and accidentally get hit by a mine, but I think we're doing very well...I'm involved in the negotiation. I think we're doing fine. Could be, it could be soon.”
Trump thinks war will 'end pretty soon'
Thursday 6 August 2026 21:38 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has called reporters into the Oval Office, telling them he thinks the war in Iran is going to “end pretty soon”.
“When I started the very important excursion into the Islamic Republic of Iran, it was a very important excursion,” the president said.
He said the US had “no choice” but to invade Iran, saying it would have “catastrophic” for the world if it did not.
“We had oil down to less than two in many places like Iowa. Oil was down...gasoline was down at numbers that people hadn't seen in years.
“We'll see those days pretty soon again, based on everything I see.
“As soon as the war ends, and I think it's going to end pretty soon. I don't think they can go much longer.”
Oil prices slip as Iran-Oman talks fuel hopes for US-Iran peace deal
Thursday 6 August 2026 21:00 , Alex CroftOil prices dropped on Thursday as investors assessed whether progress in Iran-Oman talks could pave the way for a deal to end the US-Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures fell 37 cents, or 0.5 per cent to $79.08 a barrel by 12.24am GMT.
US West Texas Intermediate futures declined 53 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to $74.69 a barrel.
Brent settled up slightly on Wednesday, while WTI edged lower.
Trump confronted Hegseth at Camp David over Iran munitions shortage, report says
Thursday 6 August 2026 20:01 , Alex CroftDonald Trump confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp David last week over a munitions shortage that could limit the president’s military options in the Iran war, according to a new report.
During the exchange on the sidelines of Trump’s Cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump asked Hegseth to explain why he had apparently been misled on the dwindling weapons stockpile, saying that he thought the issue “had been fixed,” two people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.
Hegseth had blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for not making sure Trump was fully informed of the issue, according to the Post’s sources. The Trump administration has denied the reporting.
As the war drags into its sixth month, the Pentagon is reportedly running low on missile interceptors.
Rachel Dobkin reports:
Trump confronted Hegseth at Camp David over Iran munitions shortage, report says
UN rights chief expresses alarm over Iran executions
Thursday 6 August 2026 19:00 , Alex CroftAt least 56 people have been executed in Iran on national security-related charges since 19 March, including 27 in cases linked to protests at the start of the year, the UN human rights chief said on Wednesday.
Volker Türk added in the statement that there has been a rise in executions and death sentences since March and urged authorities to halt all executions and move towards abolition of the death penalty.
"I am alarmed by the rise in executions and death sentences issued in Iran since March, and that capital punishment continues to be used to instil fear among the population and suppress dissent," he said.
Over 100 others are at risk of execution on similar charges.
Executions for drug-related offences are also continuing at an alarming rate, he said.
Two Israeli soldiers killed and one person killed in Lebanon, say authorities
Thursday 6 August 2026 18:01 , Alex CroftTwo Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, before which Israeli retaliatory attacks killed at least one person, according to Israeli and Lebanese authorities.
It marks a flare-up in violence that coincided with the latest round of talks between the two countries.
The Rome talks, which began on Tuesday and are expected to continue through Thursday, come after the two countries agreed in June to a US-brokered security arrangement intended to ease hostilities along the border.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel declared a buffer zone in southern Lebanon where its troops continue to operate to eliminate what it says is the threat of the Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, on its border.
The two soldiers were killed and four others wounded by an explosion in a building they had entered as part of a security sweep, according to Israel's Army Radio on Thursday.
Saudi, Egypt and others issue joint statement condemning 'ongoing Israeli violations' in Gaza
Thursday 6 August 2026 17:00 , Alex CroftA joint statement by foreign ministers of several countries in Asia and the Middle East on Thursday strongly condemned "ongoing Israeli violations" in Gaza.
The joint statement was signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Jordan.
Ministers expressed their "strongest condemnation and denunciation of the ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip".
The statement specifically condemned Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities, medical infrastructure, civilian infrastructure, continued loss of civilian lives.
“These violations constitutes a clear breach of Israel’s obligations under international law and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, undermines international and regional efforts aimed at implementing the second phase of the Plan, particularly following the announcement by US President Donald Trump that the Palestinian factions accepted the roadmap,” the statement said.
‘US may accept Iran’s demand for fees to transit Hormuz’, experts tell The Independent
Thursday 6 August 2026 16:30 , Alex CroftWashington could, experts believe, agree to a deal negotiated between Iran and Oman - but it would likely see a major concession to Tehran.
A deal which could be acceptable to the US would be one which results in paid “service” fees being paid to Iran, under the guise of “environmental fees”, Dr Neil Quilliam, professor on the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, says.
This would ultimately be a win for Iran, who for months have been demanding a toll for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. For the US, it could only be seen as a concession.
Trump’s central concern is getting Hormuz open again, Dr Quilliam says. “Even with ‘environmental service fees’ he will claim it is a victory, and add that he has destroyed Iran’s nuclear programme, its navy and its airforce and so on.
“He just needs the Gulf Arab states to sign up and live with the service fees. And given the alternative is a continuous war of attrition, this looks increasingly likely now,” he adds.
Maziyar Ghiabi, the director for the Centre of Persian And Iranian Studies at the University of Exeter, says Trump, who has “attempted to play the role of kingmaker in diplomacy”, may see the ongoing negotiations as a way out from the quagmire in Iran.
“The US and much of the world need a steady flow of oil resources from that region, and we have reached the point where whatever arrangement guarantees that may be somehow reluctantly welcomed.”
In pictures: Israel strikes Burj al-Shamali village in southern Lebanon
Thursday 6 August 2026 16:01 , Alex Croft
Sterling struggles for direction before possible Hormuz deal
Thursday 6 August 2026 15:30 , Samuel IndykThe British pound was steady against both the euro and the dollar on Thursday as investors awaited updates on a possible deal between Iran and Oman that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Global financial markets are watching events in the Middle East closely, as expectations have risen that a deal that could potentially reopen the strait – one of the biggest sticking points in wider efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war – could be close.
"There was a clear intention from the latest de-escalation not to create too prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz," said Francesco Pesole, FX strategist at ING. "I think that's what markets are caring about at the moment."
Sterling was little changed against the dollar GBP= at $1.3460 on Thursday as markets bided their time before a possible announcement on a deal.
Against the euro, the pound EURGBP= was flat at 85.73 pence.
With Reuters
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Thursday 6 August 2026 15:03 , Alex CroftAs the US, Iran and Oman edge towards an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, months of insecurity and disruption are leaving millions more vulnerable to hunger in Yemen.
The economic fallout from the regional conflict has driven up food and fuel prices, while more than four months of conflict with Iran has driven renewed escalation in Yemen, compounding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
More than half the population were already facing hunger, but slow progress from world leaders to re-open the Strait has caused months of disruption to global food and energy supplies, disrupting humanitarian aid operations.
Fuel imports into Yemen’s sea ports declined sharply in the first quarter of this year, with the cost of a litre of petrol spiking by as much as 42 per cent in Aden and Lahj, according to analysis by Save the Children.
The Independent’s global health correspondent Liz Cookman reports:
Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger
Trump’s Iran deal: Three scenarios for what could happen next
Thursday 6 August 2026 14:30 , Alex CroftAs Iran and Oman close in on a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, hopes are growing that the main hurdle preventing peace talks to end Donald Trump’s war may be cleared.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, said an agreement is in its “final stages”, while US president Donald Trump said an "all-day negotiation" had taken place with Tehran on Tuesday.
Senior Trump administration officials, including secretary of state Marco Rubio and treasury secretary Scott Bessent, suggested a deal was imminent earlier this week - but an agreement had not been reached as of Thursday morning.
The contents of the current agreement remain unclear. Tehran says the proposed deal would give it control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait, in what would represent one of Trump’s biggest concessions yet.
Read more here:
Trump’s Iran deal: Three scenarios for what could happen next
JD Vance's message to critics of his negotiating efforts with Iran
Thursday 6 August 2026 13:59 , Alex CroftSpeaking on Wednesday, JD Vance told critics of his negotiating efforts with Tehran that “the Iranians are extraordinarily difficult people”.
The US vice president told Fox News Laura Ingraham that Iran has a “fractured system.”
“So there are people in their system who want the war to be over, and there are also people within their system who are crazy radicals who want the war to continue.
“Our job is to navigate through that and get the best outcome for the American people, but for the president of the United States as well”, Vance said.
Recap: Houthis claim to have attacked Saudi oil tankers
Thursday 6 August 2026 13:27 , Jane DaltonYemen's Iran-aligned Houthis say they have launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the coast of the kingdom's Red Sea port city of Yanbu and another missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.
There was no confirmation from Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, did not say when the attacks took place.
The Houthis have imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea since last month in response to what they described as a Saudi siege on Yemen, an allegation Riyadh has denied.
Watch: Trump says he would rather make deal to end Iran war because he 'doesn't want to kill people'
Thursday 6 August 2026 12:55 , Alex CroftAmericans believing US war on Iran will destabilise Middle East vastly outnumber those who don't: poll
Thursday 6 August 2026 12:22 , Alex CroftUS citizens widely expect the Middle East to continue sliding towards chaos as a result of ongoing war with Iran, a new poll by Reuters and Ipsos has found.
The poll concluded on Monday, as Donald Trump again backed away from his threatened "massive attacks" on Iran, underscoring uncertainty surrounding a conflict he initially predicted would bring a swift victory.
Half of the respondents said they believed military action in Iran would destabilise the Middle East in the coming year, around three times the 17 per cent who said it would lead to more stability.
Some 16 per cent said stability levels would remain around the same, and 17 per cent said they were unsure.
The majority of respondents (58 per cent) also believe has prices will continue to worsen, with only 15 per cent expecting them to improve.
Iran threatens to strike critical energy infrastructure in response to US attacks
Thursday 6 August 2026 11:59 , Alex CroftIran has warned Gulf states that any fresh US attack on its territory would trigger retaliation against critical energy infrastructure across the region, according to five sources cited by Reuters.
"The Iranian warning was unequivocal: if America targeted Iran's infrastructure, they would retaliate by striking Gulf energy facilities and other regional targets," one Gulf source told Reuters.
The warning comes as Iran and Oman discuss a potential deal that could give Tehran a greater role in overseeing ships transiting the strategic waterway, though key issues remain unresolved, Reuters reported.
A source said that the proposed deal between Iran and Oman to help end five months of war between Iran and the United States would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
While president Donald Trump has said a deal reopening the strait is imminent, US officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world's most important trade route for energy supplies.
Trump confronted Hegseth at Camp David over Iran munitions shortage, report says
Thursday 6 August 2026 10:38 , Alex CroftDonald Trump confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp David last week over a munitions shortage that could limit the president’s military options in the Iran war, according to a new report.
During the exchange on the sidelines of Trump’s Cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump asked Hegseth to explain why he had apparently been misled on the dwindling weapons stockpile, saying that he thought the issue “had been fixed,” two people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.
Hegseth had blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for not making sure Trump was fully informed of the issue, according to the Post’s sources. The Trump administration has denied the reporting.
As the war drags into its sixth month, the Pentagon is reportedly running low on missile interceptors.
Rachel Dobkin reports:
Trump confronted Hegseth at Camp David over Iran munitions shortage, report says
Oil prices slip as Iran-Oman talks fuel hopes for US-Iran peace deal
Thursday 6 August 2026 10:19 , Alex CroftOil prices dropped on Thursday as investors assessed whether progress in Iran-Oman talks could pave the way for a deal to end the US-Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures fell 37 cents, or 0.5 per cent to $79.08 a barrel by 12.24am GMT.
US West Texas Intermediate futures declined 53 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to $74.69 a barrel.
Brent settled up slightly on Wednesday, while WTI edged lower.
Vance says oil prices will 'come down and stay down' as Iran war drags on
Thursday 6 August 2026 10:19 , Alex CroftIt’s been a little over five months since the Iran war began, and oil prices remain high.
“Oil prices are going to come down and stay down. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and the United States will be in a stronger position”, US Vice President JD Vance told the American people on Fox News.
The national average for a gallon of gas in the US still sits above $4. It was below $3 a gallon at the start of the war.
