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Iran, Oman agree on temporary Strait of Hormuz corridor
Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on a temporary maritime corridor aimed at allowing commercial shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz after several weeks of consultations, Iranian armed forces outlet Defa Press reported on Thursday. The agreement does not mean the strategic waterway will immediately reopen, with Iranian officials saying a previous arrangement reached with Oman had effectively been rejected by the United States. Under the new proposal, vessels entering the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman would travel entirely through Iranian territorial waters, while part of the outbound route would also pass through Iranian waters. The temporary corridor would comprise two-way shipping lanes separated by about two nautical miles, with a total width of roughly seven nautical miles including the lanes and separation zone. Defa said the route was established following technical assessments by Iranian and Omani officials, with the eventual aim of replacing the temporary corridor with a permanent maritime traffic scheme after further negotiations between Tehran and Muscat. A key condition for Iran is the formal closure of the southern route through the strait in Omani internal waters, which the U.S
Middle East
Iran says it is ready for new US sanctions
Iran says it is prepared to withstand new United States sanctions, as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Tehran amid the nearly six-month war. Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Monday that "The government is and was ready and has a two-year plan to manage these events," adding that Tehran had been "waiting for these plans for a long time". China warned the U.S. on Tuesday against interfering in its business dealings with Iran, saying its trade with Tehran complies with international law. Bessent said Monday that Washington would seek to sever Iran's remaining ties with its trade partners as part of a new strategy aimed at breaking the stalemate by increasing economic pressure on Tehran. Pakistan's interior minister said there had been "significant progress" following a meeting with Iran's president on Tuesday focused on the U.S.-Iran war. Pakistan played a key mediating role in the memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran in June. Meanwhile, Bessent on Tuesday cited comments from Iranian political leaders as evidence that Tehran is "panicking" over the stepped-up sanctions announced by Washington on Monday. "Iran's leadership is admitting what the world can now see: the pre
Middle East
US unveils fresh sanctions on Iran
The United States has unveiled a fresh package of sanctions on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowing the measures would amount to "the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary". The move marks a shift in U.S. strategy in the nearly six-month war, with Washington seeking to intensify economic pressure on Iran's leadership in an effort to break the deadlock between the two countries. Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast, describing it as an expanded campaign to use economic measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring the war with Iran to an end. "Today, at President Trump's direction, the United States Treasury has begun Operation Economic Outcast, an unprecedented campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its enablers," Bessent said. "In the Second World War, D-Day marked the historic beginning of a campaign with our allies to target and drive the enemy from its positions, including those in third countries. Today, in that same spirit, we are launching an economic onslaught against Iran's financial connections around the globe." The operation broadens the scope of secondary sanctions on entities and countries conducting transactions with Tehran, while
Middle East
Iran says 'desperate' US sanctions threat will fail
Iran's Foreign Minister has dismissed the threat of new United States sanctions as a sign of desperation, saying further measures would fail to force Tehran to yield as the conflict with Washington and Israel continues. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is due to hold a press conference later on Monday, where he has threatened to announce what he described as "the toughest sanctions in history" against Iran. Iran's economy is already under severe pressure from international sanctions, while its infrastructure has suffered repeated attacks and thousands of people have been killed since the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against the Islamic Republic on 28 February. Despite the damage caused by the nearly six-month-old war, Tehran has remained defiant and effectively halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz by preventing unauthorised oil tankers from transiting the vital waterway. The disruption has contributed to higher global oil prices. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reportedly said in a video posted on Telegram that Washington's return to sanctions after military action demonstrated its lack of options. He said the U.S. should engage with Iran respectfully to reach a solution based on
Middle East
US ramps up economic pressure on Iran; blockade continues
The United States is intensifying economic pressure on Iran as the nearly six-month war enters a new phase, while the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt commercial shipping and raise concerns over regional security. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed President Trump's threat to wield "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale" as a diversion from the growing U.S. national debt and a "doubling down on failed policies". Trump had threatened Iran on Wednesday with "an economic D-Day." Trump said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. could return to talks with Iran "at some point", but argued the current "situation is so good" that negotiations were not immediately necessary despite the stalemate in the conflict. The Pentagon said the USS George Washington aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East on Wednesday. The carrier will replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for nearly nine months, with family members raising concerns over deteriorating mental health conditions among its crew.Vance says war has entered "new phase"Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the conflict had entered a "new phase" in which economic pressure was becoming the most effe

Middle East
Trump announces 'economic D-Day' against Iran
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States could impose further sanctions on Iran, while describing the U.S. Navy's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as "extremely effective". Asked about Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's warning last week that Washington could impose unprecedented sanctions on Iran, Trump said: "We have things that we could sanction … We have very draconian sanctions." "It will either be extremely good and oil prices are gonna drop like a rock, or we'll continue exactly what we're doing," the president said. Trump also announced an “economic D-Day” in a post on Truth Social: “Today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY! This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale. "Their navy is gone, their air force is destroyed, their military factories are now rubble, their currency is worthless, and their country is hanging by a thread. "Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences. "Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses
Middle East
Trump says no talks with Iran as standoff continues
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that there are no ongoing or planned talks with Iran to end the war, as the United States and Iran remain locked in a standoff over control of the Strait of Hormuz nearly six months after the conflict began. Trump said there were no discussions underway with Iran and no new talks had been scheduled, despite previously indicating that diplomatic contacts were taking place. "There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," he wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. "The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect," he continued. "The Hormuz Strait is open and operating." "All water mines have been removed or detonated," Trump added, repeating a claim he made last week. His comments came after his son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner told Fox News on Monday that Iran was "not showing any interest" in reaching a deal that "makes sense" for the United States. As recently as Monday, Trump had indicated there was still some level of communication between U.S. and Iranian officials, referring to "backchannel" contacts between Americans and members of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. While some tankers are repor
Middle East
Iran threatens offensive; US rules out ceasefire extension
Iran has threatened to shift to a "fully offensive" military posture after efforts to negotiate a permanent end to its war with the United States stalled, while Washington ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region if diplomacy fails, warning that Iran would launch a "timely and precise" military attack to break the U.S. naval blockade. The warning came as a 60-day deadline for a broader peace agreement expired on Monday. The memorandum of understanding, signed on 17 June, called for the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts" and set a framework for negotiations covering Iran's nuclear programme and U.S. sanctions. The agreement subsequently unravelled over disagreements about control of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway through which a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally passes. Shipping through the strait has since fallen sharply, adding to concerns about energy supplies and global trade. Asked on Monday whether Washington was seeking to extend the June agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump said no.
Middle East
CENTCOM chief praises USS Abraham Lincoln crew
Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), praised the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln after visiting the aircraft carrier on Saturday. In a statement shared on X, Cooper described his time aboard the Lincoln as "awe-inspiring". "I wish every American could see the crew in action," he said. "You would beam with absolute pride when witnessing their camaraderie, teamwork and resilience." The Lincoln, which has about 5,000 service members, arrived in the Middle East in January and has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran. The carrier deployed to the Pacific in November 2025 before moving to the Middle East and has spent a record-setting uninterrupted period at sea of more than 240 days. U.S. military vessels are normally deployed for about six months. Reports have emerged in recent weeks of mental health concerns among the crew and supply issues aboard the carrier. Cooper acknowledged those concerns but said the Lincoln has among the lowest numbers of mental health-related cases of the U.S. Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers. "This doesn't mean that all is perfect," he said. "Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that serv