Donald Trump has said his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was making progress in negotiations with Iran, but suggested that reaching a deal was not his preferred outcome.
He said: “I think the deal isn’t really something that I want to do, but they’re willing to offer us anything to stop,” Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in San Antonio.
NBC News reported that Trump and his national security team have discussed the possibility of restarting large-scale US military operations in Iran in the coming weeks, including potential strikes ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
Meanwhile, three people were killed and more than 30 were injured in strikes on airports across Saudi Arabia, the country’s civil aviation authorities said on Wednesday, amid a flare up in clashes with the Yemeni Houthi rebels.
One person was killed and eight were injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while two were killed and 28 were injured in an attack at Abha airport, a statement read.
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Houthi attacks: What we know about strikes on Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Aden airport
Key Points
- Trump says Iran deal is not his preferred outcome as special envoy negotiates
- US military prepares new Iran war options ahead of midterm elections - report
- US and Iran hold indirect nuclear talks in New York
- Lebanon's Hezbollah 'gets $200 million from Iran' to help displaced
- Three killed in attacks on two Saudi airports and over 30 injured
Trump repeats claim that Iran could destroy LA or San Diego
09:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump once again claimed that the war against Iran was necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and potentially attacking US cities such as Los Angeles or San Diego.
However, US intelligence assessed in 2025 that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that its weapons programme had been suspended in 2003.
Iran also does not have missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.
Despite this, Trump said: “We’re not going to let that happen” and repeated that Iran “would use it” if it obtained a nuclear weapon.
India condemns strikes on Riyadh airports
08:52 , Adam WithnallIndia says it condemns the attacks this week by Houthi rebels on two airports in Riyadh.
Saudi officials say two people were killed and 28 wounded in one attack at Abha International Airport, and one person was killed and eight wounded in a separate strike on King Khalid International Airport.
“The targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. We wish speedy recovery for those injured. We express solidarity and stand with the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war – report
08:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarAttacks on oil and gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest weekly level since the Iran war began, according to maritime security sources cited by Reuters.
At least 12 tankers were attacked between 28 September and 5 October, while the International Maritime Organization recorded nine incidents.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have also continued drone surveillance, radio harassment and attempted attacks on vessels.
The escalation comes as Gulf producers increase oil exports, while India said 12 crew members were injured after a projectile struck a Panama-flagged oil tanker travelling through the strait.
Oil prices climb past $101 a barrel
07:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarOil prices rose above $101 a barrel on Thursday as markets remained concerned about potential supply disruptions in the Middle East. Brent crude climbed $1.33, or 1.33 per cent, to $101.53 a barrel by 01:16 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $1.11, or 1.26 per cent, to $89.39.
The gains came amid heightened tensions over attacks on shipping in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz.
US military prepares new Iran war options ahead of midterm elections - report
06:01 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump and his national security team have reportedly discussed the possibility of restarting large-scale US military operations in Iran in the coming weeks, including potential strikes ahead of next month’s midterm elections, according to a US official and another person familiar with the discussions.
A defence department official told NBC News: “The department’s job is to develop and present military options to the president.”
A White House official said the US “is in a very strong position”.
“Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way,” the official said.
“President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States.”
Trump says Iran deal is not his preferred outcome as special envoy negotiates
05:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump says Steve Witkoff, his special envoy to the Middle East, is “doing very well” while he works on a potential agreement with Iran.
But he added that “I think the deal isn’t really something that I want to do, but they’re willing to offer us anything to stop,” Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in San Antonio.
“That war ends – it’s going to be very soon. It’s got to be very soon,” Trump said.
He also called Iran “a failed nation” with “a little spunk left, but not much.”
Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon”, he said and praised Witkoff as “a great negotiator”.
US and Iran hold indirect nuclear talks in New York - report
03:56 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe US and Iran have held indirect nuclear talks in New York this month, according to NBC News, as Washington pushes for a broader agreement to address Iran’s nuclear programme.
According to the report, the Trump administration wants any agreement with Tehran to address what it describes as outstanding critical issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Trump administration has rejected Tehran’s proposal for a seven-day deal focused first on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, in which the US would lift sanctions and unfreeze Iranian funds while nuclear talks were postponed.
Instead, Washington wants the nuclear issue included in any agreement rather than handled separately at a later stage.
The bereaved families hoping for peace three years after October 7: ‘We don’t fight with weapons. We believe in love’
03:00 , James Reynolds“After three years, my worst fear is that my kids’ memory will fade away,” Sigal Manzuri says, on the eve of the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks that claimed her two daughters’ lives.
“I just ask from others to really please remember that behind every picture they see, every story they hear, there is a soul, there are so many dreams cut short. And just remember them.”
Sigal, a US-Israeli mother and activist from Hod HaSharon in central Israel, today dedicates her time to preserving the memory of her daughters, Norelle, 25, and Roya, 22, who were both killed at the Supernova music festival in 2023.
Some 1,200 people were killed that day as the Palestinian terror group led an armed incursion across the border, rampaging through towns and taking 251 hostages back into Gaza.
Read the full story:
Bereaved Israeli families still hoping for peace three years after October 7 massacre
02:00 , James ReynoldsUS vice president JD Vance told Reuters that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries’ seven-month war.
Vance, a longtime skeptic of US involvement in foreign wars, has taken a leading role in negotiating a settlement to the conflict and brokered a provisional peace agreement in June that quickly fell apart. The war has jolted global energy markets and become a political liability for US president Donald Trump ahead of November midterm elections.
Vance told Reuters on Monday after a campaign trip in Alaska that any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity, rather than offer assurances of future nuclear drawdowns.
"If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel? And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don't build highly enriched fuel. That's a very basic threshold issue," Vance said.
"I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity."
Lebanon's Hezbollah 'gets $200 million from Iran' to help displaced
01:00 , James ReynoldsHezbollah has received $200 million from Iran to help Lebanese displaced by this year’s war with Israel, two people with direct knowledge of the transfer said, the first significant aid from the group to supporters who bore the brunt of the conflict.
Hezbollah received the cash last month despite a tightening US economic chokehold on Iran and increasing difficulties in getting funds to Tehran's Lebanese ally, said the people.
Intermediaries who moved the money charged a 20% fee, reflecting the risks of dealing with the group, they said. One said this was four times the normal fee.
Asked for comment, a Hezbollah official said an amount had been secured and a plan for distributing it would be announced in the coming days, without elaborating on the source of the funds.
Jimmy Kimmel slams Trump for suggesting Iran could bomb California
Thursday 8 October 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsJimmy Kimmel wasted no time condemning President Donald Trump over his viral remarks about Iran destroying American cities.
At a rally in Nebraska on Monday, Trump discussed rising prices tied to the ongoing Iran war, calling them “a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.”
“They could take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles; let them take out San Diego,” he said next, drawing cheers from the crowd. “This is a very small price to pay. And it’s gonna be over with very soon.”
Read the full story:
Jimmy Kimmel slams Trump’s ‘truly appalling’ suggestion Iran could bomb California
Three killed in attacks on two Saudi airports, over 30 hurt, Saudi civil aviation says
Wednesday 7 October 2026 23:34 , James ReynoldsOne person was killed and eight injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh, and two were killed and 28 injured in an attack on facilities at Abha airport, Saudi civil aviation authorities said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
One of the attacks was on Wednesday and the other on Tuesday, it said, without saying which attack had occurred on which day.
The Longer Read: Netanyahu has no interest in an investigation into October 7 – he fears what it would find
Wednesday 7 October 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsThe Israeli government refuses to commemorate the date of the greatest murder of Jews since the Holocaust, and wants to remove the word ‘massacre’ from how it is discussed in an official capacity.
It is because a reckoning is coming for Netanyahu and the era over which he has presided, writes Gary Cohen:
Netanyahu doesn’t want an investigation into October 7 – he fears what it would find
Tanker struck by multiple projectiles north of Qatar's Madinat ash Shamal, reports UKMTO
Wednesday 7 October 2026 22:45 , James ReynoldsA tanker was struck by multiple projectiles in an incident 51 nautical miles north of Qatar's Madinat ash Shamal, with casualties reported, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Wednesday.
Syria 'considering sending troops to Yemen to fight Houthis'
Wednesday 7 October 2026 22:33 , James ReynoldsSyria is considering sending troops to Yemen to help Saudi Arabia and its partners fight the Houthi rebels, according a report.
Three US officials told US outlet Axios that Riyadh and Damascus are weighing Syrian involvement in a counteroffensive, but are yet to make a final decision.
The official Syrian Response page on X responded to the reports saying they supported Saudi Arabia were not interested in opening new fronts.
“Our priority is Syria: rebuilding the country, strengthening its institutions, working with our partners on reconstruction and improving the lives of Syrians. Any military cooperation with partner countries would take place only through official channels and existing bilateral frameworks,” they wrote.
Iraq devalues its currency as Iran-U.S. war disrupts oil shipping routes
Wednesday 7 October 2026 22:30 , James ReynoldsIraq devalued its currency Wednesday, changing the official exchange rate from around 1,300 dinars to the U.S. dollar to 1,500 dinars to the dollar.
The country’s central bank said in a statement that the new exchange rate had been decided at a meeting of Iraq’s Cabinet the night before “to meet the relevant financial, economic and monetary requirements.”
The previous exchange rate was set in 2023. In practice, there has always been a gap between the official rate and the market rate used by exchange shops.
At the new official rate, Iraq's Finance Ministry will sell dollars at 1,500 dinars to the dollar, while consumers purchasing from banks will pay 1,520 dinars to the dollar.
Trump says he should win the Nobel Prize despite Iran war
Wednesday 7 October 2026 22:29 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump, who waged war with Iran and has yet to broker peace in Ukraine, said on Wednesday that he should win the Nobel Peace Prize but acknowledged doubt about his chances.
"I don't know what their decision is going to be," Trump said of the 2026 award, which the Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce on Friday. "They have a reputation for maybe not giving it to people like me."
Since his return to the White House last year, Trump has repeatedly said he deserves what may be the world's most prestigious award.
"It is about that time," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "But I was very honored to receive it indirectly last time by the recipient, who said nobody in history deserves it more than President Trump."
Comment: October 7 attacks have led to an apocalyptic reality in Gaza – the violence must stop
Wednesday 7 October 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsIn the aftermath of Hamas’s bloody attacks on southern Israel three years ago today, the resounding emotion was horror, grief and, in some quarters, revenge.
And so I expected rage and despair when I interviewed relatives, including Yonatan Zeigen, just days after his mother, peace activist Vivian Silver, had been killed in Kibbutz Be’eri, one of over 1,200 people killed by militants that day.
But what he said at the time silenced me. “Vengeance is not a strategy,” the father-of-three warned. Still drowning in personal grief, he urged the world to instead “invest in peace”.
Read the full story:
October 7 attacks have led to an apocalyptic reality in Gaza – the violence must stop
Trump: ‘Dozens of Iran’s leaders have been blown out of existence’
Wednesday 7 October 2026 21:30 , James ReynoldsFive arrested for inciting racial hatred at pro-Palestine protest on October 7 anniversary
Wednesday 7 October 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsFive people have been arrested outside the Board of Deputies of British Jews in London during a protest on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
The Metropolitan Police said five people were arrested for inciting racial hatred, involving allegedly shouting or chanting slogans calling for intifada in what police described as a “spontaneous protest” outside the venue in Camden.
Wednesday marks the third anniversary of the attacks on October 7 which saw Hamas-led militants invade Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 250 others hostage.
Read the full story:
Five arrested at pro-Palestine protest on October 7 anniversary
