US vice president JD Vance has claimed that China is “willing to play ball” in efforts to economically isolate Tehran, despite Beijing previously declaring that US sanctions would not disrupt their trade with the country.
“I’m not saying they’re doing everything that we’ve asked them to do, but I think that the PRC has been much more responsible, certainly than the Iranians, and much more responsible than a couple of other nations as well,” he told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
He also claimed that the conflict between Washington and Tehran is “not a war”, in comments to reporters on Thursday.
“I wouldn’t call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting,” he said at a White House press briefing. “I recognise there have been places where this has flared up. Major combat operations… lasted for about six weeks.”
Meanwhile, president Donald Trump insisted he had done the “right thing” with the war.
It comes amid fears Trump is planning to extend Washington’s war on Iran, after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon was extending the presence of troops in the Middle East into next year.
Read MoreIran accuses US of killing four in strike on wedding ceremony and vows ‘devastating’ response
Trump doesn’t understand the forever war he’s created with Iran – and Russia
Trump’s infamous plane swap gets the Neflix documentary treatment just weeks after it happened
Key Points
- Three Iranian army pilots killed in US strikes - state news agency
- US embassies issue security alerts after reported Iranians strikes
- Trump hits out at reports of weakening US military power
- JD Vance faces backlash over response to alleged wedding gathering strike
- Full report: Russia is secretly helping Iran to develop supersonic cruise missiles
EU officially joins economic pressure campaign against Iran, Scott Bessent says
06:20 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe US treasury secretary says the EU has joined America’s campaign to put pressure on Iran’s economy.
In a post on X, Scott Bessent wrote: “The European Union has officially joined Operation Economic Outcast and we appreciate their strong and early stance. The United States stands firm with our allies in ensuring the murderous Iranian regime cannot exploit the global financial system to fund its nuclear ambitions, weapons programs, and terror proxies.”
He added: “The world is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime: We will not stop until every remaining financial lifeline has been severed.”
The European Union has officially joined Operation Economic Outcast and we appreciate their strong and early stance. The United States stands firm with our allies in ensuring the murderous Iranian regime cannot exploit the global financial system to fund its nuclear ambitions,…
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) September 3, 2026
Earlier, the EU said in a statement that it would “work closely with the United States and other G7 and international partners to maintain pressure on Iran and contribute to de-escalation and regional stability”.
Oil prices rise as US-Iran tensions fuel supply concerns
06:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarOil prices rose on Friday as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran raised concerns over possible disruptions to energy supplies.
Brent crude futures climbed 15 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $95.67 a barrel by 01:00 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 26 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $91.56.
Both benchmarks were on track for their strongest weekly gains since mid-July.
Brent has risen 7.1 per cent over the past week, while WTI is up 9.8 per cent, according to Reuters.
JD Vance faces backlash over response to alleged wedding gathering strike
05:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarJD Vance has faced backlash after appearing to dismiss reports that a US strike killed five people, including two children, at a wedding gathering in southern Iran.
When asked about whether a US strike was responsible, he said “sometimes things happen”.
He said: “I will say that the Iranian state media has not been a very good scribe about what’s happened in the conflict thus far, so I’m extremely sceptical of this.”
The toll was confirmed not by the Iranian government but by the Iranian Red Crescent, a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
“What I can say with 100% confidence is that, unlike the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] IRGC, the United States never targets civilians in combat,” Vance said.
JD Vance says he “wouldn’t call it a war,” but Donald Trump says “we’re winning the war.”
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) September 3, 2026
A totally incoherent administration without any strategy.
Here is what I know: We must end this war. https://t.co/zxpo5UndM9 pic.twitter.com/8FKAcO8AS1
“We never will do that. We never have done that, and unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen.”
Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, posted on X: “It’s unbelievable gaslighting.“This is war,” he added.
“You know who understands it’s a war? Donald Trump. He claims that we’re winning the war.”
US Congresswoman says ‘can’t continue to turn a blind eye on Trump and Hegseth’s war crimes’ in Iran
05:20 , Maroosha MuzaffarUS Congresswoman Delia Ramirez has criticised US military action in Iran and Palestine, saying American bombs are killing civilians.
She urged Congress to pass the “Block the Bombs Act” and accused the Trump administration of war crimes.
Responding to the Iranian claim that US strikes killed at least five people at a wedding party, she wrote on X: “A day that should be filled with celebrations for a couple’s new beginning turned into devastation. From Palestine to Iran, our bombs are killing innocent women and children.
“Congress can’t continue to turn a blind eye on Trump and Hegseth’s war crimes. The time to hold warmongers accountable is now. Congress must pass Block the Bombs Act, reclaim our power, and put an end to this endless war.”
A day that should be filled with celebrations for a couple’s new beginning turned into devastation. From Palestine to Iran, our bombs are killing innocent women and children.
— Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (@repdeliaramirez) September 3, 2026
Congress can't continue to turn a blind eye on Trump and Hegseth's war crimes. The time to hold… https://t.co/ZfHtPDnBwJ
Seoul weighing military measures for Strait of Hormuz navigation
05:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarSouth Korea is considering military options to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, as Seoul pushes back against claims that it has offered no assistance over navigation through the key waterway.
A presidential Blue House official also said security talks between South Korea and the US were “not currently progressing”.
Several South Korean media outlets, including JTBC and MBC, reported late on Thursday that Seoul was preparing to deploy military assets by the end of the year and could seek parliamentary approval as early as this month.
Reuters reported that the South Korean president Lee Jae Myung could discuss options for supporting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz with French president Emmanuel Macron next week.
The talks come after Donald Trump claimed Seoul had declined to help the US in its war against Iran, prompting him to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea.
Vance refuses to give a deadline to end US war on Iran
04:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarJD Vance has declined to give a timeline for ending the US war on Iran, while downplaying the conflict by saying there was no active shooting and major combat had lasted only about six weeks.
“I wouldn’t call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting,” Vance said. He added: “I recognise there have been places where this has flared up.”
“When you ask, ‘When will this end?’, you’re asking me a question like: When will the Iranians stop shooting at ships?” Vance told reporters.
“I think the reality is, I don’t know the answer to that question. You’d have to ask the Iranians.”
His remarks come after days of intense fighting between the US and Iran.
Two children killed in US strikes in Kuhestak along Strait of Hormuz, Iran says
04:21 , Maroosha MuzaffarA funeral was held on Thursday for a child that Iran says was killed in a US strike on a wedding in Kuhestak on the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran says five people, including two children, were killed in the strike.
The Iranian Red Crescent has called for the International Criminal Court to investigate the incident as a war crime.
‘I wouldn’t call it a war’: JD Vance’s jaw-dropper after reporter asks about Iran timeline
04:00 , Maira ButtMore than six months after President Donald Trump announced the start of a war against Iran that has claimed the lives of 18 service members, injured at last 750 more, and cost between $71 billion and $118 billion, Vice President JD Vance now says the war is not a war at all.
The vice president was taking a turn at the lectern in the James Brady Briefing Room on Thursday — the first White House press briefing since former press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s departure — when he was asked to offer a timeline as to when the Trump administration would consider the war to be over and whether that point would be reached before the November midterm elections.
JD Vance says Iran war ‘not a war’ when pressed on timeline for end
Bab el-Mandeb Strait sees highest number of transiting vessels since 24 August
03:00 , Alex CroftThe Bab el-Mandeb strait, the waterway between Yemen and the horn of Africa, has seen the highest number of vessels transiting since 24 August.
A total of 31 commodity vessels crossed that waterway on Wednesday, above the 10-day average of 25 vessels, Kpler data showed.
On Tuesday, 17 vessels transited the waterway, the data showed.
As we reported earlier, six commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from 11 a day earlier and well below the 10-day average of about 13, the Kpler data showed according to Reuters news agency.
Full report: Russia is secretly helping Iran to develop supersonic cruise missiles, says report
01:29 , Alex CroftRussia has been helping Iran to develop supersonic cruise missiles in secret for years, including through the US-Iran war, according to a report.
Moscow has enlisted some of its most experienced specialists to help Iran to develop a new class of missile capable of threatening US aircraft carriers and warships stationed in the Middle East, according to an investigation by the Financial Times.
The programme’s central objective was to help Iran to develop a special ‘ramjet’ propulsion system that would allow its cruise missiles to fly at several times the speed of sound, the report said.
Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iranian missiles, framed the programme as a major transfer of sensitive technology from Moscow that Tehran had been after for decades and would require authorisation “from the very top”.
Senior foreign reporter James Reynolds writes:
Russia is secretly helping Iran to develop supersonic cruise missiles, says report
Full report: Oil prices edge lower, while Asian shares rise, tracking Wall Street gains
Friday 4 September 2026 00:00 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, oil prices slipped Thursday after recent gains, with Brent crude trading near $95 a barrel, while Asian shares advanced.
U.S. futures edged higher.
Renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran pushed oil prices sharply higher earlier in the week. U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he doesn’t expect the U.S. bombing campaign to last “much longer.”
Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.4% to $95.26 per barrel. Benchmark U.S. crude shed 0.1% to $90.84 a barrel.
Read the full report here:
Oil prices edge lower, while Asian shares rise, tracking Wall Street gains
King Charles to host Oman's Sultan at Windsor Castle next month
Thursday 3 September 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftKing Charles and Queen Camilla will host Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Windsor Castle for a state visit next month, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.
The visit, scheduled for 20 to 22 October, will come against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East as the Iran war rages on.
Donald Trump has also threatened to bomb Oman - which has been in talks with Iran aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - if it "gets in the way".
So far this year, the British royals have hosted state visits by Trump in April and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in March.
Three Iranian army pilots killed in US strikes - state news agency
Thursday 3 September 2026 22:03 , Alex CroftThree Iranian Army pilots were killed in US strikes conducted on Tuesday night, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.
We’ll bring you more on the update as we get it.
US embassies issue security alerts after reported Iranians strikes - ICYMI
Thursday 3 September 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftMultiple US embassies in the Middle East issued a security alert to American citizens in the region on Wednesday.
The security environment "remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation", the embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said.
The US embassy in Riyadh advised Americans to prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions.
A similar alert was issued by the US mission in the UAE.
The warnings came after Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran “at a much harder and higher level” and leave “very little left” of the country if it retaliated. Iran launched retaliatory attacks overnight.
US airstrike hits home where wedding celebration was taking place, Iran says - ICYMI
Thursday 3 September 2026 20:00 , Alex CroftUSS Abraham Lincoln sailors finally reach steady land - and are warned against engaging in Thailand's sex tourism
Thursday 3 September 2026 19:02 , Alex CroftThe USS Abraham Lincoln has docked after nearly nine months at sea, allowing sailors to finally hit the town in Pattaya, known as Thailand’s “Sin City.”
These roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines have been on the aircraft carrier since it left its home port of San Diego on November 21. While the ship briefly docked in Guam and Oman, American service members have spent virtually all of their time on the ship, reportedly facing food shortages and mental health challenges as their deployment dragged out amid the ongoing Iran war.
A trip to Pattaya will be a much-needed reprieve for sailors, where they can enjoy the seaside resort’s beaches and nightlife.
“He’s so excited to get on land, he’s never been outside of the United States before. He wants to eat pizza or McDonald’s. I’m so happy for him,” the mother of one of the sailors on the USS Lincoln told MS NOW.
Pattaya has been rebranded as a more family-friendly destination in recent years following a history of sex tourism. The USS Lincoln’s commanding officer warned service members against engaging in prostitution, a person familiar with the matter told MS NOW.
Prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, but the law is rarely enforced. Paying for sex is also a punishable offense in the U.S. armed forces.
During the Vietnam War, American service members flocked to Pattaya, once a quiet fishing village, "and it turned into a raunchy seaside playground,” Elizabeth Becker wrote in "Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism,” according to the Associated Press.
Iran's rial drops to new low of 2.2 million to the dollar, tracking websites show
Thursday 3 September 2026 18:01 , Alex CroftIran's currency has dropped to a record low of more than 2.2 million rials per U.S. dollar, two websites tracking the free market rate showed on Wednesday, amid renewed military strikes.
The rial has dropped about 10 per cent in the past week. The troubled currency has lost about half of its value in a year of tightening U.S. sanctions and U.S. and Israeli attacks that began in February.
Trump hits out at reports of weakening US military power
Thursday 3 September 2026 17:34 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDonald Trump has hit out at reports of weakening US military power with a lengthy social media post.
He wrote in a post on Truth Social: “For the treasonous SCUM that refuses to accurately report on our Military Operation in Iran, we have virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition, far more than we could ever use for this, or for any other War (which is highly unlikely!), that could improbably take place.
“In addition, we are producing Munitions at levels never seen before. We are stockpiling and preparing for any contingency that could happen. We are taking them for ourselves, the U.S.A., rather than selling them to others, but the sales to Allies will soon again, begin. Also, please let it be known, that the Biden Administration gave far more Munitions away to Ukraine, at no cost to them, whatsoever, than we have used in Iran.
“Hundreds of Billions of Dollars was given to Ukraine and NATO, free of charge, that Europe would have paid for — If they were only asked, but we will be asking for that money, though somewhat belatedly! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Russia is secretly helping Iran to develop supersonic cruise missiles, says report
Thursday 3 September 2026 17:00 , Alex CroftRussia has been helping Iran to develop supersonic cruise missiles in secret for years, including through the US-Iran war, according to a report.
Moscow has enlisted some of its most experienced specialists to help Iran to develop a new class of missile capable of threatening US aircraft carriers and warships stationed in the Middle East, according to an investigation by the Financial Times.
The programme’s central objective was to help Iran to develop a special ‘ramjet’ propulsion system that would allow its cruise missiles to fly at several times the speed of sound, the report said.
Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iranian missiles, framed the programme as a major transfer of sensitive technology from Moscow that Tehran had been after for decades and would require authorisation “from the very top”.
Watch: US Central Command releases video showing wave of strikes on Iranian military targets
Thursday 3 September 2026 16:31 , Alex CroftWith his eye on reelection, Israel's Netanyahu turns his focus to his divided base
Thursday 3 September 2026 16:00 , Alex CroftAs Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks reelection, his main concern these days isn’t his political rivals. It’s some of his biggest supporters.
A series of small, pro-Netanyahu parties are competing in the run-up to the Oct. 27 vote. But instead of strengthening the Israeli leader, these parties — including hard-line blocs led by polarizing Cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich — risk weakening his chances for reelection by splitting the vote among Netanyahu’s base.
The election is largely a referendum on Netanyahu’s nearly uninterrupted 17-year rule and his handling of a turbulent period marked by mass protests, Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and nearly three years of war. A victory would mark a stirring comeback for the embattled leader, while a loss would likely end the reign of a man who has shaped Israeli politics for three decades.
Read more here:
With his eye on reelection, Israel's Netanyahu turns his focus to his divided base
Reported wedding attack draws UN condemnation
Thursday 3 September 2026 15:29 , Alex CroftUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply alarmed” by reports of civilian casualties, including the reported strike on a wedding ceremony in Iran.
His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said he called for an immediate cessation of military action.
"The Secretary-General condemns all attacks against civilians. He recalls that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution," Dujarric said.
Tehran accused Washington of hitting a wedding in Sirik, killing five people and wounding dozens.
Tehran warns it will respond forcefully to Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon
Thursday 3 September 2026 15:00 , Alex CroftIran has warned the US that it would respond forcefully to an Israeli offensive on a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are holed up alongside Hezbollah fighters, three officials briefed on the message told Reuters.
The message, delivered last month, highlights Iran's continued direct involvement in the ground fighting in southern Lebanon and its readiness to retaliate against Israeli attacks there as the regional war enters its seventh month.
Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command center and weapons stores within the Ali al-Taher ridge, which has a commanding view of southeastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese security sources, and has become one of the most contested pieces of ground in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Hezbollah has said in public statements that it controls the hill and will confront any Israeli advances. Its officials have referred to a "facility" there, but have declined to provide details.
The Israeli military has occupied swathes of territory to Ali al-Taher's south and has identified the ridge as one of its "primary operational focuses" in public statements.
With Reuters
Israel warns it will strike Iranian civilian infrastructure if attacked by Tehran
Thursday 3 September 2026 14:30 , Alex CroftIsraeli defence minister Israel Katz has warned Israel will strike Iran's energy and civilian infrastructure if the country came under attack by Tehran.
Fears of renewed escalation gripped the Middle East this week after the US and Iran exchanged their biggest barrage since July, with Washington striking Iran's southern coast and Tehran firing at US bases across the region.
Israel, which with the US launched a joint air war against Iran in February, has not been involved in the latest rounds of fighting. Speaking to defence ministry employees on Thursday, Katz said that an "Iranian attack on Israel would free Israel from any existing limitations on attacking Iran."
Katz added: "We will cripple all of Iran's national military and civilian infrastructure - including energy infrastructure - and return Iran deep into the Stone Age and darkness."
Full report: Oil prices edge lower, while Asian shares rise, tracking Wall Street gains
Thursday 3 September 2026 14:01 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, oil prices slipped Thursday after recent gains, with Brent crude trading near $95 a barrel, while Asian shares advanced.
U.S. futures edged higher.
Renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran pushed oil prices sharply higher earlier in the week. U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he doesn’t expect the U.S. bombing campaign to last “much longer.”
Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.4% to $95.26 per barrel. Benchmark U.S. crude shed 0.1% to $90.84 a barrel.
Read the full report here:
Oil prices edge lower, while Asian shares rise, tracking Wall Street gains
King Charles to host Oman's Sultan at Windsor Castle next month
Thursday 3 September 2026 13:29 , Muvija MKing Charles and Queen Camilla will host Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Windsor Castle for a state visit next month, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.
The visit, scheduled for 20 to 22 October, will come against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East as the Iran war rages on.
Donald Trump has also threatened to bomb Oman - which has been in talks with Iran aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - if it "gets in the way".
So far this year, the British royals have hosted state visits by Trump in April and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in March.
Three Iranian army pilots killed in US strikes - state news agency
Thursday 3 September 2026 13:00 , Alex CroftThree Iranian Army pilots were killed in US strikes conducted on Tuesday night, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.
We’ll bring you more on the update as we get it.
