Donald Trump has accused Iran of being “unbelievably duplicitous” and says Tehran has a “last chance” to agree a peace deal, after the Iranian side denied any discussions were taking place.
The US president said Tehran had “begged” for negotiations and whether they admitted it or not, discussions were taking place to reach “a solution” to the current stand-off.“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said. “[The talks] are going on, they're going on right now.”Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz could be open “literally by tomorrow”. “The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearisation,” he said. “That’ll take a little while, but … we’re very strong on it.”
Iran flatly denied any plan for negotiators to meet with their US counterparts on Monday in the latest blow to Trump’s hopes of an imminent end to the war.Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that Tehran is not currently holding any talks with Washington, and is rather in discussions with Oman about securing a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz
Read MoreTrump’s whiny Truth Social tirade against Iran reads like a bitter breakup text
Trump accuses Iran of being ‘unbelievably duplicitous’ over peace talks denial
Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been biggest ‘since World War II’
Key Points
- Trump says Tehran has ‘last chance’ to make deal
- Trump accuses Iran of being ‘unbelievably duplicitous’ over peace talks denial
- Iran dismisses talks of restarting negotiations with Trump
- Trump says he cancelled Iran attack would have been the biggest 'since WWII'
- UK ‘at risk of recession’ if Strait of Hormuz remains closed into 2027
Trump says Tehran has ‘last chance’ to make deal
04:58 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump has insisted that talks with Tehran are happening after the Iranian side denied any discussions were taking place.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the US president told reporters that it was Iran’s last chance to make a deal.
“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said.
“[The talks] are going on, they're going on right now. “For some reason, when they're talking, they don't like saying that they're talking.
“So I say, ‘We're in talks’. Big deal, we're in talks. And they'll sometimes deny it, even though they spend hours and hours together talking.”
He said the Iranian side had asked for talks after the US had planned the biggest attack since the Second World War.
Syrian and Iraqi leaders discuss security concerns
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSyrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa and Iraq's Kurdish regional president met yesterday in Damascus to discuss ways of improving mutual cooperation and contributing to regional security.
The meeting between al-Sharaa and Nechirvan Barzani came amid regional tensions as Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups carried out multiple drone strikes targeting American interests across Iraq, including the country's Kurdish region.
Syrian state media reported last month that authorities at the country's border with Iraq thwarted an attempt in June to smuggle weapons believed to have been headed to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Hezbollah denied the charges.
Oil prices rise to $84 a barrel
04:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices rebounded slightly this morning on concerns that Middle Eastern supply remains at risk as a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran war that has disrupted shipments still seems unlikely.
Front-month Brent futures rose $0.62, or 0.7 per cent, to $84.39 a barrel as of 0055 GMT after dropping 7 per cent in the previous session to a three-week low.
US West Texas Intermediate crude was $0.61, or 0.7 per cent higher at $80.95 after falling over 5 per cent in the previous session to its lowest in nearly a week.
Trump’s Iran desperation is revealed in crowd-sourcing memo seeking ‘creative’ ways to punish the enemy: report
04:15 , Bruce GoldingThe US military has asked combat experts to think outside the box in a desperate bid for new ideas to end President Donald Trump's war against Iran, according to a report Monday.
In an email last week, an officer in the intelligence branch of US Central Command asked a broad group of military analysts for suggestions, CNN said, citing an unidentified source.
"We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” the email reportedly read.
Military officials said the effort to crowdsource a solution to the war by email was highly unusual, CNN reported.
The move came as Trump is considering dramatic, "fireworks"-style airstrikes against Iran that could hit the same or similar sites that the US bombed last year when targeting the nation’s suspected nuclear weapons program, a source told CNN.
Read on...
Trump’s despair over Iran revealed in memo seeking new ideas for war: report
Cargo vessel 'hit' by projectile near Oman
04:03 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Al Khasab, after a cargo vessel broadcast over VHF channel 16 that it had been hit by an unknown projectile.
Watch: Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been the biggest 'since WWII'
04:02 , Rachel DobkinRecap: US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran after Trump’s ‘despair’ over strategy
03:00 , James ReynoldsThe US military has been crowdsourcing ideas for “creative and unconventional” ways to “punish” Iran, according to a report, after both sides reached an impasse over how to end the unpopular five-month war.
A senior officer at the US Central Command’s intelligence branch is said to have written to military analysts last Wednesday asking for new ideas to “pressure and punish Iran”, according to CNN, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Centcom spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said: “US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. [Centcom commander] Admiral [Brad] Cooper, in particular, reaches out to members of our great team, regardless of rank, to achieve the highest levels of operational performance possible.”
In full:
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Trump’s Iran war is becoming a political disaster, new poll shows
02:00 , Holly EvansA new AP-NORC poll suggests Americans are growing increasingly skeptical of the war with Iran, with about two-thirds saying the conflict has not been worth fighting and support for President Donald Trump's handling of the war slipping.
The survey, conducted July 23-27, found just 28% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of Iran, down from 34% last month. Support also dipped among Republicans, with 61% approving, compared with 71% in June, though the poll's margin of error means the decline is modest.
Read the full article here:
Trump’s Iran war is becoming a political disaster, new poll shows
In pictures: Iran's foreign minister attends Arbaeen commemoration in Iraq on Monday
01:00 , James ReynoldsThe Arbaeen pilgrimage commemorates 40 days of mourning after the martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Recap: MTG and Tucker Carlson announce new ‘movement’ in photo packed with MAGA renegades
Tuesday 4 August 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsMarjorie Taylor Greene announced a new political “movement” with a group of MAGA stalwarts who have broken with President Donald Trump over the ongoing Iran war.
On August 1, the former Georgia Republican posted a photo on X depicting her alongside media personality Tucker Carlson, Rep. Thomas Massie and Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center. Also pictured was conservative journalist Brian Glenn, whom Greene married in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“We said no more foreign wars and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise,” Greene wrote. “But he’s betrayed us all. Our commitment is America First for all Americans, right, left, and center,” she continued.”
In full:
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MTG and Tucker Carlson announce new ‘movement’ in photo packed with MAGA renegades
Recap: Trump says there ‘will be a deal on Hormuz’ as peace talks to resume
Monday 3 August 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsUS military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Monday 3 August 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsThe US military has been crowdsourcing ideas for “creative and unconventional” ways to “punish” Iran, according to a report, after both sides reached an impasse over how to end the unpopular five-month war.
A senior officer at the US Central Command’s intelligence branch is said to have written to military analysts last Wednesday asking for new ideas to “pressure and punish Iran”, according to CNN, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Centcom spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said: “US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. [Centcom commander] Admiral [Brad] Cooper, in particular, reaches out to members of our great team, regardless of rank, to achieve the highest levels of operational performance possible.”
Military officials nonetheless told the outlet it was unusual to appeal for ideas like that by email. One of the sources told CNN that Centcom was reviewing all of its options, acknowledging the need to re-evaluate its current strategy.
Read the full story:
US military asks for ‘creative and unconventional ideas’ to punish Iran
Analysis: Trump’s whiny Truth Social tirade against Iran reads like a bitter breakup text
Monday 3 August 2026 21:46 , Harriette BoucherNot even the president can answer why his latest efforts to reach a deal with Iran will go any differently. Monday’s outburst suggests that he’s too angry to care, writes John Bowden:
Trump’s whiny Truth Social tirade against Iran reads like a bitter breakup text
Senator tells Trump to ditch his ‘real estate buddy’ in Iran talks
Monday 3 August 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsA Democratic senator and veteran once again took aim at the Trump administration over the Iran war on Sunday, claiming that the president’s chosen diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are not up to the task.
Sen. Mark Kelly was on CBS’s Face the Nation as he implored the president to put more experienced diplomatic representatives in charge and ditch his “real estate buddy” Witkoff, as well as his son-in-law.
Both men have helmed negotiations between the U.S. and Iran for months as the Trump administration has struggled to get out of a war it promised would only last for a few weeks.
"I would suggest to him, though, that the solution is not to do the same thing that he's been doing — not to have his real estate buddy and his son-in-law in charge of a negotiation,” said Kelly.
Read the full story:
Democratic senator tells Trump to ditch his ‘real estate buddy’ and Jared Kushner
Watch: Trump humiliated after Tehran denies his claim of new peace talks
Monday 3 August 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsTrump says US and Iran are "in talks" while the Strait of Hormuz is set to open tomorrow
Monday 3 August 2026 19:22 , Harriette BoucherTrump insists talks with Iran are 'going on right now'
Monday 3 August 2026 19:18 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has insisted that talks with Tehran are happening after the Iranian side denied any discussions were taking place.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the US president told reporters that it was Iran’s last chance to make a deal.
“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said.
“[The talks] are going on, they're going on right now.
“For some reason, when they're talking, they don't like saying that they're talking.
“So I say, ‘We're in talks’. Big deal, we're in talks. And they'll sometimes deny it, even though they spend hours and hours together talking.”
He said the Iranian side had asked for talks after the US had planned the biggest attack since the Second World War.
“No, the talks are going along. We were going to hit them very hard yesterday, very, very hard, harder than any attack, I think I can say, from a point of knowledge, any attack since World War 2. That's pretty big.”
“We were set to go, and they called, and in addition, Saudi Arabia called, and, UAE called, Qatar called. [We] hot calls from numerous people. I don't want to use the word begging, but some were. In particular, Iran did not want to be hit.”
UK drivers steal almost £200,000 of fuel every day during Iran war
Monday 3 August 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsBritish motorists are stealing an estimated £200,000 worth of fuel from forecourts every day, a surge directly linked to the onset of the Iran oil crisis.
Analysis by fuel theft prevention firm Forecourt Eye reveals a 20 per cent increase in incidents of fuel taken without payment in the five months following the conflict's commencement on 28 February, compared with the preceding period.
The escalating pump prices, driven by the ongoing war, have seen the value of stolen fuel jump by 48 per cent over the same timeframe, reaching an average daily total of £194,000 across the UK’s 8,359 forecourts.
First-time offenders accounted for a 23 per cent rise in incidents and a 26 per cent increase in the volume of fuel stolen.
UK drivers steal almost £200,000 of fuel every day during Iran war
Monday: Life carries on in Tehran as war held to uneasy impasse
Monday 3 August 2026 18:00 , James Reynolds
Trump accuses Iran of being ‘unbelievably duplicitous’ over peace talks denial
Monday 3 August 2026 17:35 , Holly EvansDonald Trump has accused Iran of being “unbelievably duplicitous” in denying talks aimed at ending the conflict were being held.
The US president said Tehran had “begged” for negotiations and whether they admitted it or not discussions were taking place to reach “a solution” to the current stand-off.
He also dismissed Iran’s claims to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway as “their usual blather”.
The president made the comments after Iran denied that peace talks were talking place on Monday.
In response, Mr Trump posted: “Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!
“They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg’, talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman’.
“They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our ‘Blockade’ or, as some say, ‘The United States Wall of Steel!’
“Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished.
“Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades.”
Saudi prince played role in Trump's decision to halt Iran strikes – report
Monday 3 August 2026 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump suggested that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a particularly important role in him turning away from escalating the fight, according to reports.
The US president spoke by phone with the de facto leader of the kingdom on Saturday before announcing he was halting strikes that he later boasted would have one of the biggest US operations since World War II.
The crown prince conveyed that an escalation in fighting could have a severe impact on the global economy if Tehran responded to a new US bombardment by targeting some of the America's Gulf allies, according to a person briefed on the call who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity.
Saudi officials, the person added, have underscored in their engagements with the Trump administration that the kingdom is in a good position to defend itself against further potential Iranian strikes — as are fellow energy titans Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — but that Kuwait could be more vulnerable to attacks by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
Blast near tanker off Oman coast
Monday 3 August 2026 05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said there has been an explosion in close proximity to a tanker off the coast of Oman.
The UKMTO yesterday said the incident took place about 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The ship and its crew were safe, the UKMTO added.
Minister says Israel closely coordinating with US
Monday 3 August 2026 05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael's energy minister Eli Cohen said there was close security and intelligence coordination between Israel and the US on everything happening in the region.
But he added: "With or without an agreement, and regardless of any external commitments, if Iran attempts to renew its nuclear program or advance its ballistic missile industries, we will be there. We will take action, and we will strike.
"US president Donald Trump and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday in Washington, with an Israeli official saying they had explored all possible paths to curb Iran's nuclear program, including diplomacy, economic pressure and force. Tehran denies it is seeking a nuclear weapon
Iranian minister calls Saudi and Pakistani officials
Monday 3 August 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi held phone calls with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir to discuss diplomatic efforts, Iran's state media reported.
Local media reported earlier that negotiations between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were in their final stages, citing Iran's Araqchi.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations were focused on agreeing on a new route through the strait, adding that it had "no link to the Strait of Hormuz being opened or closed. That is a separate discussion."
Oil slumps to $82 a barrel
Monday 3 August 2026 04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices skidded and stocks wobbled this morning as hopes of peace in the Middle East grew.
Brent crude futures sank more than 6 per cent to $82.41 after US president Donald Trump said talks with Iran will happen today. He had earlier called off an imminent attack on Iran to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resolve the impasse over Tehran's nuclear capabilities.
Trump says Gulf leaders' input weighed heavily in decision to hold off strikes
Monday 3 August 2026 04:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump said he decided to hold off on ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran at the urging of Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump added that a plan was in place for US forces to carry out "the biggest attack since World War II".
But he decided to scrap the plan and give diplomacy more time to play out after hearing from key Gulf leaders — including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — as well as at the request of unnamed Iranian officials.
"I said to the crown prince, 'What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?"' Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back to Washington. "They said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don't know where these attacks lead."
Trump declines to provide deadline for negotiations with Iran
Monday 3 August 2026 04:00 , Brendan RasciusWhile speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump declined to provide a deadline for negotiations with Iran.
"We'll just see how it is. We're ready to go any time we want. Would I rather make a deal? I'm not looking to kill people,” Trump said. “We don't want that."
Iranian president says MOU will remain 'center of gravity'
Monday 3 August 2026 03:35 , Brendan RasciusOn Sunday, before President Trump announced negotiations would take place on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the June memorandum of understanding would be the focal point of Iran’s foreign policy.
“I believe this memorandum will be the center of gravity of our foreign relations in the future,” Pezeshkian wrote on X on Sunday, according to a translation. “We must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed. The security of the country, the region, and our allies will be enhanced by this memorandum.”
Pete Hegseth says US military remains 'ready to go'
Monday 3 August 2026 03:10 , Brendan RasciusDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military remains primed for action against Iran after President Trump called off this weekend’s planned attacks.
Writing on X on Sunday night, Hegseth said the Pentagon “was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2.”
Fact.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) August 2, 2026
The @DeptofWar was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2.
Locked and loaded. https://t.co/RzibCDfn05
Trump says Middle East allies have reached outline of deal to end Iran war
Monday 3 August 2026 03:00 , Alex CroftHere’s what Trump said about Iran aboard Air Force One
Monday 3 August 2026 02:44 , Brendan RasciusOn Sunday, President Donald Trump said that peace talks with Iran would take place on Monday after calling off planned strikes this weekend.
On upcoming negotiations: “What we’re doing is we’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon.”
On why he called off the attacks: “I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, by UAE, and by Qatar, and by Iran…We were all set to go, but when the allies ask to call it off, you gotta sort of say ‘well let’s see.’ And the reason they asked [to call it off] is they think there's a deal. There's a deal on Hormuz and then there will be a deal on the nuclear — or you might call it the denuclearization of Iran…So, we’re holding it. We’ll just see.”
On whether or not he was prepared to hit energy targets: “I don’t want to say that; I can't say that. It was going to be a massive attack. It was going to be an attack that would have been by far the biggest attack since World War II. But they’ve asked us not to do it.”
A high-stakes test for Trump’s Gaza ceasefire board as Hamas disarmament looms
Monday 3 August 2026 01:30 , Holly EvansCarrying out this week's agreement for Gaza on the disarmament of the Palestinian group Hamas, Israel’s withdrawal and the transition to a civilian body to run the war-ravaged region will be a major test for the international body established by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza.
The agreement announced by Trump late Thursday could pave the way for ending the latest Israel-Hamas war that broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, and which has seen continued violence despite a ceasefire last October. Few places in the Palestinian territory of over 2 million people have been left unscathed, and the United Nations, World Bank and European Union estimate that reconstruction will cost $70 billion.
Hamas officials said the group has agreed to the disarmament agreement. Israel has not commented.
Read the full article here:
A high-stakes test for Trump’s Gaza ceasefire board as Hamas disarmament looms
What has Trump said about the potential deal?
Monday 3 August 2026 00:00 , Holly EvansDonald Trump says he will order American forces to hold off on new strikes against Iran, claiming Mideast allies have reached the parameters of a deal to end the 5-month old war.
The emerging deal "would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat," Trump wrote in a Saturday evening social media post.
"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump said.
Indian companies profited with weapons sale to Israel amid ongoing Gaza genocide, Amnesty report says
Sunday 2 August 2026 23:00 , Holly EvansIndia has sold over 2500 shipments of weapons to Israel since the 7 October Hamas attacks despite risks that they could end up being used in genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Amnesty International said in a new report.
India has become one of the strongest allies of Israel under prime minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, marking a significant shift in its foreign policy as the South Asian nation has historically supported the establishment of a Palestinian state.
India did not establish full diplomatic ties with Israel until 1992 and Mr Modi in 2017 became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel.
Read the full article here:
India profited by supplying arms to Israel despite risk of use in Gaza, Amnesty says
Joe Rogan says Trump has ‘no clear way’ to end Iran war
Sunday 2 August 2026 09:00 , Holly EvansJoe Rogan said that there is “no clear way” to end Donald Trump’s ongoing war with Iran, which he called an “unprovoked attack” by the United States.
The popular podcaster made the remarks during an episode of his show, released on Friday, with Annie Jacobsen, an investigative journalist, who was brought on to discuss her new book, Biological War: A Scenario.
After discussing the government’s handling of Covid-19 and the possibility of future pandemics, Rogan turned to the conflict in the Middle East, which has now dragged on for five months with no clear end in sight.
Read the full article here:
