Iran has flatly denied that negotiators plan to meet with their US counterparts on Monday in the latest blow to Donald Trump’s hopes of an imminent end to the war.
Iranian 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.
Baghaei added that reaching an agreement with Oman is not sufficient to reopen the strait, as the situation will remain unchanged while U.S. “aggression” continues.
The comments came after the US president announced on Saturday that talks would resume today, after he said he had called off a major attack in order to give diplomacy another change.
Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal that would lead to "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening of the strait and "an end to Iran's nuclear threat" but that Tehran must "rapidly make a DEAL."
That apparent de-escalation followed days of threats of new attacks from each side. Attacks have spread across the Gulf to the Red Sea and even a Mediterranean facility in Egypt.
Read MoreTrump says canceled Iran attack would have been biggest ‘since World War II’
Inside Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, the secret nuclear site Trump has threatened to bomb
US general warns Pentagon he doesn’t have military resources to protect Israel: report
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Key Points
- Donald Trump says 'there's a deal' on Hormuz
- Blast near tanker off Oman coast
- Minister says Israel closely coordinating with US
- Iranian minister calls Saudi and Pakistani officials
- Oil slumps to $82 a barrel
Recap: Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been biggest ‘since World War II’
08:30 , James ReynoldsPresident Donald Trump said Sunday that the strike on Iran he ultimately called off would have been the largest of its kind in decades.
“It was going to be a massive attack,” the Republican president told reporters aboard Air Force One. “It was going to be an attack that would have been, by far, the biggest attack since World War II.”
His comments followed a Truth Social post on Saturday in which Trump wrote that the U.S. military was “locked and loaded” for what he cast as an unprecedented campaign against Iran.
But, he said, he decided to hold back after appeals from Iran and several Middle Eastern allies, who suggested a deal was within reach.
Read the full story:
Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been biggest ‘since World War II’
Watch: Trump says there ‘will be a deal on Hormuz’ as peace talks to resume
07:50 , James ReynoldsProlonged Iran war can tip UK into recession next year - report
07:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBritain’s economy could be sent into a recession next year if the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains closed into 2027 amid a prolonged Iran war, according to a report.
The latest EY economic outlook warned that gross domestic product could slow sharply to 0.5 per cent this year and contract by 0.2 per cent next year if the Middle East conflict is not resolved and the vital waterway – through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas is normally carried – remains shut until early or mid-2027.
This adverse scenario could see inflation soar to 6.4 per cent by the end of 2026 due to surging oil and energy prices, the report cautioned.
But if the Strait of Hormuz reopens by the end of the third quarter of this year, EY’s base case forecast suggests growth will remain fairly resilient, with EY upgrading its outlook to 0.9 per cent expansion in 2026 and maintaining its prediction for 1.2 per cent growth in 2027.
£200,000 of fuel stolen from UK forecourts every day since Iran war began
07:09 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDrivers have stolen an average of nearly £200,000 worth of fuel from UK forecourts every day since the start of the Iran oil crisis, according to analysis.
Fuel theft prevention company Forecourt Eye said incidents of fuel taken without payment soared by 20 per cent in the five months after the conflict began on 28 February, compared with the preceding five months.
The increase in pump prices driven by the war means the value of stolen fuel rose by 48 per cent over the same period, reaching an estimated daily average of £194,000 across the UK’s 8,359 forecourts.
Israeli strikes kill 18 across Gaza
06:55 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli airstrikes struck Gaza for a second consecutive day on Sunday, killing at least 18 Palestinians, medics reported. The renewed violence unfolded despite an announcement from US president Donald Trump of a breakthrough in efforts to implement last year's ceasefire agreement.
From dawn, Israeli warplanes targeted Gaza City in the north, the central city of Deir al-Balah, and the southern area of Khan Younis, marking the highest daily death toll in weeks, according to Palestinian health officials.
President Trump's assertion on Thursday, claiming Palestinian Hamas militants and other armed groups had agreed to disarm, had previously raised hopes of a turning point in efforts to end the conflict.
More here.
Israeli strikes kill 18 across Gaza despite Hamas agreeing to disarmament deal
Iran executes two people accused of working for Israel
06:39 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran executed two Iranian nationals this morning after accusing them of sending sensitive military and security location coordinates to Israel during the Iran-war, the Fars news agency reported.
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
06:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRiyadh has previously said it will only seek to acquire a nuclear weapon if its rival Iran develops one. With Trump’s war failing to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme, experts tell Suha Kidwai the new agreement could plunge the region into further instability.
More here.
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Trump says 'there's a deal' on Hormuz
06:08 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump said a deal will be reached with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz and an agreement to denuclearise Tehran will follow.
He said Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar had asked him to call off the strikes.
"When the allies ask to call it off, you’ve got to sort of say, well let's see," he said.
"The reason they asked is they think there's a deal, there's a deal on Hormuz and there will be a deal on the nuclear – or you might call it the denuclearisation of Iran, I call it the denuclearisation of Iran."
Saudi prince played role in Trump's decision to halt Iran strikes – report
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
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
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
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
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
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
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'
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'
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
03:00 , Alex CroftHere’s what Trump said about Iran aboard Air Force One
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
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
Inside Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, the secret nuclear site Trump has threatened to bomb
Sunday 2 August 2026 22:00 , Holly EvansDonald Trump has issued threats to bomb a secretive under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain.
The site, known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, or “Pickaxe Mountain,” lies on the south side of Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment site, which was bombed by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer in 2025's 12-day war between Iran and Israel. But Pickaxe Mountain has remained untouched as Iran continues to dig at the site.
It remains unclear just what has been placed at Pickaxe Mountain, as the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has never gained access to the site.
Read the full article here:
What is Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain? The secret nuclear site Trump threatens to bomb
Palestinians in Gaza hope Hamas will disarm but fear Israeli forces won't withdraw
Sunday 2 August 2026 21:00 , Holly EvansFor Palestinians in Gaza, President Donald Trump's announcement that Hamas had agreed to disarm was a small sign of hope that Israel's attacks might end, allowing them to rebuild their lives and what remains of their homes.
But it also clashed with the reality on the ground, where Israeli strikes have continued since Trump first touted the deal late Thursday in Washington, and where few steps have been taken to advance a broader ceasefire agreement that went into effect in October.
Most of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians are still displaced or live in tent camps, where poor conditions and overcrowding have led to rodent infestations and outbreaks of infectious diseases such as chickenpox.
Read the full article here:
Palestinians in Gaza hope Hamas will disarm but fear Israeli forces won't withdraw
Saudis concerned about Iran retaliation
Sunday 2 August 2026 20:00 , Holly EvansSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone Saturday and raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to the Saudi press agency.
The Saudis, according to a person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorized to comment publicly, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.
The call happened before Trump's social media announcement, the person said.The crown prince sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing to take against Iran, the person said.
Iran-Oman negotiations over Strait of Hormuz in final stages, says Tehran
Sunday 2 August 2026 18:29 , Alex CroftNegotiations between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz are in their “final stages”, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, according to official news agency IRNA.
His comments come after the US said it had called off an attack on Iran to give room for diplomacy.
Finding a deal between Oman and Iran to allow the resumption of traffic through the strait has been frustrating peace efforts for more than a month.
In a memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June, Iran and the US agreed to extend an April truce for 60 days to allow more time for a deal to be found.
Latest proposal would bring sides back to negotiating table
Sunday 2 August 2026 18:00 , Holly EvansA regional official says the proposal announced by Trump over the weekend calls for the US and Iran to return to negotiations and continue working out many of the issues that have stymied prior progress on the deal.
The official, who is involved in the mediation efforts, said the proposal calls for reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks across the region, including by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on the Arab Gulf countries and Jordan.
The US, in exchange, will end its naval blockade on Iran and allow Tehran to export its oil as stated in the tentative ceasefire deal, he said.
No deal has been reached yet, but mediation efforts are underway, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to the media.
Trump’s Iran war is becoming a political disaster, new poll shows
Sunday 2 August 2026 17:00 , 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
Watch: Trump says Middle East allies have reached outline of deal to end Iran war
Sunday 2 August 2026 16:00 , Holly EvansHow Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Sunday 2 August 2026 15:00 , Holly EvansIn 2018, Mohammad bin Salman was asked whether Saudi Arabia would ever develop a nuclear weapon.
“We do not want to develop a nuclear bomb. But without doubt, if Iran developed one we would follow suit as soon as possible,” he told CBS, in an interview that sparked alarm across the Middle East.
Eight years later, Saudi Arabia announced a historic deal with President Donald Trump to use American technology and expertise to develop a civilian nuclear programme.
Read the full analysis here:
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Cost of living crisis places pressure on Trump to end war
Sunday 2 August 2026 14:00 , Holly EvansAs an April ceasefire in the war unravelled last month, benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 24 per cent and analysts polled by Reuters expect prices to rise further this year.
Trump has argued that his stated goal of keeping Iran from gaining nuclear weapons justifies higher fuel costs in the near term, but the economic pain has put political pressure on him to find a way to end the war.
Adding to the energy industry's concerns, Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen in recent days began threatening the Bab el-Mandeb, the strait at the other end of the Red Sea from the Suez Canal, another export route for Saudi crude.
Iran accuses US of 'psychological warfare'
Sunday 2 August 2026 13:52 , Holly EvansIran’s acting defence minister, Brigadier General Majid Ebn Al-Reza, said Tehran viewed recent US threats as “psychological and cognitive warfare” and remained prepared.
He added that they treated them seriously, adding that Iran would boost preparedness and deterrence rather than be caught off guard or remain passive.
He added that Tehran would use threats as a basis to increase its military readiness and enhance its military capabilities.
Iran have repeatedly said they will counter any “aggressive” action from the US.
John Healey warns supermarkets not to ‘rip off’ Britons as Iran war fuels cost of living crisis
Sunday 2 August 2026 13:00 , Holly EvansChancellor John Healey has said he will be “watching closely” to protect the public from price gouging at the petrol pump and in supermarkets as the war in Iran continues to hit prices.
Mr Healey conceded that “we can’t completely stop the squeeze” on families and businesses, amid prime minister Andy Burnham’s efforts to show he will focus on tackling the cost of living since taking office two weeks ago.
But he signalled he would be ready to intervene to protect consumers from unfair price rises at home.
Read the full article here:
John Healey warns supermarkets not to ‘rip off’ Britons
Israeli airstrikes continue despite Trump's ceasefire breakthrough announcement
Sunday 2 August 2026 12:13 , Holly EvansIsraeli airstrikes continued in Gaza for a second straight day on Sunday, killing at least nine Palestinians, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a breakthrough in efforts to implement last year's Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on Sunday that there was no deal to halt attacks on Gaza and that he saw a need for Israel, which already controls 70 per cent of the Strip, to take full control of it.
Cohen is a member of Prime Minister Netanyahu's security cabinet, a small circle of ministers that oversees security and diplomatic policy.
Palestinian health officials said Israeli warplanes carried out separate strikes across the enclave in the northern Gaza City, central city of Deir al-Balah, and the southern area of Khan Younis.
A man and his wife were killed and four people were wounded in an airstrike on an apartment in Deir al-Balah, while two more people, including a child, were killed in a strike on an apartment in Gaza City, medics said.
A father, mother, and their 9-year-old son were killed around dawn after a strike on a house in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Another person was killed near Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Saudis concerned about Iran retaliation
Sunday 2 August 2026 12:00 , Holly EvansSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone Saturday and raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders' discussion.
The call happened before Trump's social media announcement.
The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authourised to comment publicly, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.
The crown prince sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing to take against Iran, the person said.
A White House official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity, confirmed the leaders spoke Saturday but did not offer any detail.
Iran has repeatedly attacked vessels attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz without its authorisation as part of its ongoing conflict with the US.
Inside Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, the secret nuclear site Trump has threatened to bomb
Sunday 2 August 2026 11:00 , Holly EvansDonald Trump has issued threats to bomb a secretive under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain.
The site, known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, or “Pickaxe Mountain,” lies on the south side of Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment site, which was bombed by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer in 2025's 12-day war between Iran and Israel. But Pickaxe Mountain has remained untouched as Iran continues to dig at the site.
It remains unclear just what has been placed at Pickaxe Mountain, as the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has never gained access to the site.
Read the full article here:
What is Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain? The secret nuclear site Trump threatens to bomb
State department issues warnings for US citizens
Sunday 2 August 2026 10:00 , Holly EvansThe State Department issued new security alerts on Saturday urging US citizens in the region to prepare for the possibility of flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and other travel disruptions.
The warnings covered Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Iran sees every threat from adversaries as "real and credible", acting defence minister says
Sunday 2 August 2026 09:00 , Holly EvansTehran views every threat from its adversaries as "real and credible" even if made as part of psychological warfare, Iran's acting defence minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, said on Sunday according to state media.
"We will neither be caught off guard nor remain passive," he said, adding that Iran would use threats as a basis to increase its military readiness, strengthen deterrence and enhance its military capabilities.
Saudi crown prince tells Trump dialogue needed to de-escalate Middle East tensions
Sunday 2 August 2026 08:29 , Holly EvansSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed in a phone call with Donald Trump the "necessity of prioritizing dialogue to de-escalate tensions" in the Middle East, according to Saudi Arabia's state news agency.
