Iran has vowed retaliation against the US after president Donald Trump unveiled his “economic D-Day” sanctions against Tehran.
Iranian economy minister Ali Madanizadeh claimed Tehran was “fully prepared for the US sanctions”. “Our defence is no longer so defensive; the enemies should wait for an attack,” he told state media.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the pivot to economic measures did not mean American strikes against Iran were off the table, saying that "by no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran”.
It comes after US treasury secretary Scott Bessent vowed to “tighten the noose” with fresh secondary sanctions on Tehran's trade partners, declaring that “no nation should expect to enjoy the rewards of our system while working with a regime that seeks to destroy it”.He said that an unnamed financial institution could expect to be sanctioned by the end of this week.
The Trump administration is turning up the economic pressure on Iran as the conflict drags on for nearly six months and reports say that the US military’s weapons stockpile is dwindling. President Trump has refuted the reporting, saying his country has ‘massive amounts of ‘munitions’”.
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Key Points
- Iran vows heavy blows against US sanctions
- Hegseth refuses to rule out strikes against Iran
- Pakistan and Iran made 'significant progress' in talks on conflict
- Netanyahu claims Iran tried to kill one of his sons
- Bessent warns countries with economic ties to Iran will feel 'full reach of US power'
- Trump's approval holds at record low as US support for Iran war falls
Pakistan and Iran made 'significant progress' in talks on conflict
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPakistan and Iran made "significant progress" in talks that focused on the US-Israeli war on Iran and a path to peace, Pakistan's interior minister said following his visit to Tehran.
Talks between the two sides focused on measures to prevent further escalation, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an expedited termination of the conflict, a statement from the Pakistani military said about the meeting between the country's army chief, Asim Munir, and the Iranian leadership.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional peace and the way to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the dispute, the statement said.
"The Iranian President candidly shared his government's perspective and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved," interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied Munir to Tehran, said in a post on X.
Pakistan army chief holds talks with Iran
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPakistan's army chief Asim Munir held discussions with Iran that were focussed on measures including the prevention of a further escalation of the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the Pakistani military said today.
Munir discussed regional peace and ways to reach a negotiated settlement to disputes, the statement ad
Netanyahu claims Iran tried to kill one of his sons
05:05 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran tried to kill one of his sons.
However, he did not provide any details of the alleged assassination plot.
"As for my sons. Here, I think there is something quite unbelievable, yes. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons," Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 14.
It was not immediately clear which of his sons he was referring to. Netanyahu's elder son, Yair, lives in Miami.
Iran vows heavy blows against US sanctions
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran promised to retaliate against expanded US economic sanctions that the Americans said would cut off Iran's economic lifeline, with Tehran expressing confidence that major trading partners would resist Washington's pressure campaign.
Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, vowed heavy blows to the US's vital interests and energy chokepoints if Iran's infrastructure is threatened, Press TV reported.
Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the measures yesterday but stopped short of the most punishing sanctions, saying countries that continued trading with Iran risked being forced out of the dollar-based financial system.
Oil prices steady as investors weigh impact of sanctions
04:21 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices steadied this morning, after falling more than 2 per cent in the previous session, as investors assessed the impact of harsher US secondary sanctions against Iran.
Brent crude futures were down 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $92.16, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 1 cent at $85.02 a barrel.
Both contracts fell more than 2 per cent yesterday with US crude oil falling to a one-week low on profit-taking after prices rallied over the previous two weeks.
Iran claims there is a $10 million bounty on Barron Trump
03:59 , Brendan RasciusIranian state media has claimed there is a $10 million bounty on Barron Trump, President Donald Trump’s 20-year-old son, according to a new report nearly six months into the US war with Iran.
Footage broadcast on Channel 3, which is linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was titled “Where and how should we kill Barron Trump?” Euronews reported Monday.
It reportedly displayed the location of his university, as well as Secret Service positions and escort vehicles, while claiming his whereabouts were “fully monitored.”
The clip also claimed that an unnamed young woman had evaded Secret Service protection, met privately with Barron Trump and relayed information about him to the video’s creators. It also claimed he uses Xbox to communicate privately.
Read on...
Iran claims there is a $10 million bounty on Barron Trump
Watch: US Treasury chief Scott Bessent issues stern warning to Iran's 'enablers'
03:00 , Bryony GoochIsrael must face sanctions over its appalling campaigns in Gaza
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
Israel must face sanctions over the killing of journalists like Mariam Abu Dagga
Pictured: Scott Bessent reveals sanctions on Iran
01:00 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Trump administration announces 'economic onslaught' on Iran
Tuesday 25 August 2026 00:00 , Bryony GoochTrump's approval holds at record low as US support for Iran war falls, Reuters Ipsos poll finds
Monday 24 August 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochUS public approval of the war with Iran fell to its lowest level since the conflict's early days, helping to hold president Donald Trump's popularity at a record low, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday.
The four-day poll showed just 31 per cent of Americans support US military action against Iran, down from 37 per cent in a March Reuters/Ipsos poll and 34 per cent earlier this month. The decline was driven by fewer self-identified Republicans backing the conflict. Some 69 per cent of Republican respondents support the war, compared with 77 per cent in March.
The war has been dragging on Trump's public standing this year, and for the second survey in a row just 33 per cent of respondents said they approved of the Republican's performance in the White House, the lowest level in polls from Trump's first or second term.
Some 83 per cent of the country thinks the war will go on "for an extended period of time," the Reuters/Ipsos poll found, up from 80 per cent earlier this month.
The poll surveyed 1,215 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error of three percentage points in either direction.
Hegseth refuses to rule out strikes against Iran
Monday 24 August 2026 22:21 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that President Donald Trump's administration was not ruling out using military force against Iran, even as Washington unveiled an "economic D-Day" against Tehran.
"By no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran," Mr Hegseth told reporters, adding that Iran could not handle the economic pressure being put on it.
US holds off on penalties in threat to world leaders
Monday 24 August 2026 22:00 , Bryony GoochAs the war with Iran nears its six-month mark, treasury secretary Scott Bessent said the US was launching an "economic onslaught" against Iran's financial connections around the globe.
But he declined to say what specific countries would be targeted, or when those penalties would take effect. The Treasury department announced new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels but that list did not include any of the Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iran's oil trade.
"Why would I want to blow up the global financial system? We believe that it is important to level set and give people a cure period, but they should know that that will move very quickly and that we are serious," Bessent told a press conference.
Israel's Netanyahu says Iran tried to kill one of his sons
Monday 24 August 2026 21:00 , Bryony GoochIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iran had tried to kill one of his sons, but gave no details about when the alleged plot took place, which son was targeted or how close it came to being carried out.
Netanyahu's allegation underscores the heightened tensions since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in February, during which supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders were killed.
Netanyahu, whose coalition is trailing in opinion polls two months before an 27 October general election, made the claim in a telephone interview with Israel's Channel 14. He was responding to reports that one of Israel's security agencies had refused to provide protection for a political rival ahead of the nationwide vote.
"As for my sons. Here, I think there is something quite unbelievable, yes. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons," Netanyahu told the conservative channel known for its favourable coverage of the government.
"Iran tried to murder one of my sons, and therefore this security protection is not a luxury," he said, without providing any further details about the alleged plot or how close it came to being carried out.
It was not immediately clear which of his sons he was referring to. Netanyahu's elder son, Yair, lives in Miami.
Iran's mission at the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusation.
Hegseth: The US is not rulling out military force in Hormuz or elsewhere
Monday 24 August 2026 20:49 , Bryony GoochPete Hegseth has said the US is not ruling out use of military force in the Strait of Hormuz or anywhere else.
The Pentagon chief spoke after US treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced fresh sanctions against Iran.
Iran 'fully prepared' for US sanctions
Monday 24 August 2026 20:12 , Bryony GoochIran’s economy minister has told state TV that the country is “fully prepared” for US sanctions.
“We are fully prepared for the US sanctions; they cannot cut off our financial arteries,” said Ali Madanizadeh.
US sanctions to increase psychological pressure on Iranian people, state official says
Monday 24 August 2026 19:59 , Bryony GoochAn Iranian state official has reportedly said the US economic sanctions plan is a campaign to increase psychological pressure on the Iranian people, according to state media.
Scott Bessent announced plans on Monday to sanction Iran and isolate the nation further from the global economy.
Watch: Bessent warns countries with economic ties to 'murderous' Iran regime will feel 'full reach of US power' | IN FULL
Monday 24 August 2026 18:50 , Bryony GoochWorld leaders must choose between the US and Iran, says Bessent
Monday 24 August 2026 18:12 , Bryony GoochScott Bessent has declared “no nation should expect to enjoy the rewards of our system while working with a regime that seeks to destroy it” as he called on world leaders to make a decision between the US and Iran.
“It is now a time for world leaders to make a decision between prosperity and isolation, peace and terror, America and Iran. The campaign we begin today will gather force with every day that follows, and it will not end until this regime stands alone.”
Trump calling world leaders to cut ties with Iran
Monday 24 August 2026 18:09 , Bryony GoochDonald Trump is calling world leaders to cut economic ties with Iran, US treasury’s Scott Bessent has said.
He said that Trump would make specific requests to cease interactions with Iran.
Operation Economic Outcast launched
Monday 24 August 2026 18:08 , Bryony GoochScott Bessent has launched Operation Economic Outcast to foreclose options available to the Iranian regime to rejoin the global economy.
“Treasury has mapped every node, every facilitator, and every network that Iran has used to smuggle oil and evade sanctions.
“Beginning today, the actions of Treasury and other agencies will tighten the noose and block every potential source of revenue that funds the IRGC and the evil Iranian regime.
“We are enforcing a zero leakage approach, there will be no minimal breathing space for the regime to rebuild its capacity to inflict terror against America and the world. “
Bessent announces sanctions on nearly 60 Iran-linked entities
Monday 24 August 2026 18:06 , Bryony GoochScott Bessent is speaking now to unleash sanctions on nearly 60 Iran-linked entities, people and vessels across nuclear, missile, cyber and oil networks.
The US treasury secretary has suspended general licenses that allow remittence payments to Iran.
Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’ for Iran arrives in bid to break deadlock
Monday 24 August 2026 17:23 , Bryony Gooch
Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’ for Iran arrives - but he is running out of cards to play
Yemen's Houthis say they attacked ship off Saudi Arabia's Yanbu
Monday 24 August 2026 17:00 , Bryony GoochYemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked a vessel off Saudi Arabia’s port city of Yanbu in the Red Sea, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised speech on Monday.
Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri later said one of its vessels, the "Amzan", was involved in a maritime incident in the Red Sea earlier in the day, adding that all crew members were safe and no injuries had been reported.
The company said it remained in contact with the vessel and was closely coordinating with the relevant authorities.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu.
The UKMTO said all crew were safe and accounted for with no reported environmental impact.
Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil port, where millions of barrels a day are loaded, and it has become the main route out for Saudi oil skirting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded by Iran.
Shipping from Yanbu has itself faced disruption since the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea last month.
The Houthis have carried out other attacks on Saudi oil facilities and shipping in the Red Sea in recent weeks, and in July they claimed to have targeted Saudi oil giant Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
Watch: Tehran warns of ‘earthquake-like’ retaliation over Trump’s ‘economic D-Day’ threats
Monday 24 August 2026 16:45 , Bryony GoochRecap: US expected to broaden secondary sanctions to isolate Iran on 'economic D-Day'
Monday 24 August 2026 16:30 , Bryony GoochThe United States was set to warn countries to cut ties with Iran or risk their businesses being cut off from the dollar-based financial system when it unveils the "greatest financial offensive ever" on Monday.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent will outline measures at 5pm GMT (1pm US time) to broaden the scope of potential secondary sanctions on entities and countries that maintain economic ties with Iran, said the source, who was familiar with the plans but not authorized to speak publicly. Bessent previously urged cooperation from China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil for several years, although the US blockade of Iran's ports, renewed in mid-July, has already cut Iranian oil flows to China.
The US treasury has imposed secondary sanctions on smaller China and Hong Kong-based entities accused of processing billions of dollars in Iranian oil and helping to fund arms purchases and warned two larger banks against handling Iranian funds.
But experts say Washington is wary of Chinese retaliation ahead of expected talks next month between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with any curbs on China's exports of critical minerals a particularly sensitive issue.
The Chinese foreign ministry said sanctions and pressure tactics do not help and that Beijing would do what was necessary to protect China's interests.
