JD 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. “We never will do that. We never have done that, and unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen.”
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 MoreIranian strikes on Jordan test the bonds between the US and one of its staunchest Mideast allies
‘I wouldn’t call it a war’: JD Vance’s jaw-dropper after reporter asks about Iran timeline
JD Vance took over the White House press briefing — and took it in a very unexpected direction
Key Points
- JD Vance faces backlash over response to alleged wedding gathering strike
- Vance refuses to give a deadline to end US war on Iran
- Oil prices rise as US-Iran tensions fuel supply concerns
- Two children killed in US strikes in Kuhestak along Strait of Hormuz, Iran says
- EU officially joins economic pressure campaign against Iran, Scott Bessent says
Araghchi defends Iran over strikes on Jordan
11:31 , James ReynoldsIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi takes to social media to respond to his Jordanian counterpart’s recent comments criticising Iran for strikes on Jordan and neighbouring countries.
The Jordanian minister Ayman Safadi said that attacks on his country came within two hours of the start of the war, in February, suggesting the attack was not reactionary.
Araghchi writes: “How much time does the Jordanian Foreign Minister believe Iran should wait before responding to an aggressor that respects neither Arab sovereignty nor Iranian sovereignty?”
He adds: “And is he truly unaware that Arab airspace, lands, and waters were used in the initial American attacks that resulted in the killing of innocent Iranians?”
Evidence points to US weapon in deadly strike on Iran wedding celebration
11:00 , James ReynoldsThe United States is investigating a deadly strike on a wedding gathering in southern Iran after weapons experts reviewing verified images and video concluded the blast was likely caused by a direct hit from a U.S. munition, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday.
Five people have died following Tuesday's strike on a home hosting the celebration, according to Iranian state television, which reported Thursday that a 22-year-old woman had died from her injuries. Iranian officials said nearly 70 others were wounded.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Vance confirmed U.S. authorities were examining what happened.
"We're investigating it because obviously we care. We want to know," Vance said.
Evidence points to US weapon in deadly strike on Iran wedding celebration
Trump claims US has ‘unlimited’ munitions amid Iran war concerns
10:31 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has denied persistent reports that the Iran war has dangerously depleted the U.S. weapons stockpile, blasting the media for what he claimed was false reporting on the state of the American arsenal.
“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,” he wrote Thursday on Truth Social.
“In addition, we are producing Munitions at levels never seen before,” he added. “We are stockpiling and preparing for any contingency that could happen.”
Trump claims US has ‘unlimited’ munitions and slams media for reporting low stockpile
In focus: Sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln describe ‘the worst deployment’
10:00 , James ReynoldsUS service members assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln are speaking out about their record-long, nearly nine-month deployment at sea, during which they supported the ongoing Iran war.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier — some of whose crew had reportedly suffered from deteriorating mental health — laid anchor off Thailand this week, affording its 5,000 sailors and Marines their first port call in 286 days.
While on shore in the resort town of Pattaya, some service members spoke with MS NOW Pentagon Correspondent Priya Sridhar, who recounted her discussions with them during a subsequent on-camera interview.
Read the full report:
Sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln describe ‘the worst deployment’ as they dock
Watch: White House launches arcade games based on Trump's agenda
09:26 , James ReynoldsThis morning: Asian benchmarks mostly rise after tech stocks lead rally on Wall Street
09:00 , James ReynoldsAsian shares were mostly higher in early Friday trading, as regional market sentiment got a boost from the rally on Wall Street, mostly from big technology stocks.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.6% in morning trading to 64,622.33. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.9% to 6,635.67. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was little changed, slipping less than 0.1% to 9,011.80. Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 2.1% to 25,751.26, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.8% to 3,973.27.
Stocks on Wall Street closed higher Thursday as a recent run-up in bond yields eased further and big technology companies rallied. The S&P 500 rose 1.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite closed 1.4% higher.
The latest:
Asian benchmarks mostly rise after tech stocks lead rally on Wall Street
Shipping traffic through Hormuz well below normal, Kpler data says
08:20 , Maroosha MuzaffarShipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained well below normal on Thursday, with only four commodity vessels crossing the key waterway, according to preliminary Kpler data cited by Reuters.
That was down from nine crossings the day before and well below the 10-day average of about 15.
The vessels included two medium-range tankers, a Kamsarmax tanker and a Handysize vessel.
Vance refuses to give a deadline to end US war on Iran
08:00 , 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.
Israel says economic pressure on Iran could push the regime to take ‘desperate steps’
07:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarIsrael’s defence minister has warned that growing economic pressure could push Tehran to take more desperate measures.
“We see signs indicating that the heavy economic pressure they are under, and the fear of an uprising and the collapse of the regime, may push them to desperate steps,” Israel Katz said.
Earlier, Iran had claimed that it had the capability to manufacture more missile stockpiles and maintained enough in its war against the US“Initially, some believed that Iran had only a limited number of missiles and that its stockpiles would eventually be depleted as the war continued,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Brig Gen Hossein Mohebbi said.
“However, that assumption proved incorrect, as Iran’s missile capability has remained sustained and its missile production has continued.”
Trump rejects reports of US weapons stockpiles running low
07:20 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump has rejected reports that US military stockpiles of weapons are running dangerously low as the war with Iran enters its seventh month.
In a post on his Truth Social platform he wrote that the US was producing munitions at “levels never seen before” and has “far more than we could ever use”.
“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,” Trump wrote.
“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.”
Kuwait says their air defences intercepted ‘blatant Iranian aggression’
07:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarIran fired missiles and drones towards Kuwait yesterday, with Kuwaiti air defences intercepting the attacks.
The Kuwait defence ministry wrote on X that their air defences intercepted missiles and drones during a “blatant Iranian aggression”.
Bahrain and Jordan also reported intercepting Iranian attacks.
Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping have ‘less effect day by day’ on global energy markets
06:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarJD Vance said Iran’s attacks on commercial ships were having “less effect day by day” on global energy markets and added that the US efforts to protect shipping were preventing a wider energy crisis.
“When will the Iranians shooting at ships stop having an effect on world energy markets? The answer is it has less effect day by day.”
He also chided allies for not doing enough to contribute to the war.
“What we’re doing right now is protecting commercial shipping in order to ensure that we don’t have a worldwide energy crisis.
“The only reason we don’t have an energy crisis is because of the leadership of the president (Trump) but also because of the fine work of our military.”
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”.
