infinitenewsno algorithms. no accounts. just news.
MenuClose

Iran war

Week of Aug 17–23, 2026

27 entries, newest first. Days are in U.S. Mountain Time.

Filter or jump to a week

Sunday, August 23, 20266 entries

  1. 12:30 AM in Beirut, Aug 24

    Israeli airstrikes and shelling hit residential area and heights in Nabatieh al-Fawqa

    ReportedMilitary & securityNabatieh al-Fawqa, Lebanon

    Israeli warplanes struck a house in the al-Deir neighbourhood of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and Israeli forces shelled the area around the Ali al-Taher ridge and the heights of Doha Kfar Remman, Lebanon's National News Agency said; casualties were unclear. The same area had been hit by overnight air strikes and shelling the night before.

    Why it matters Israel says Hezbollah keeps tunnels under the Ali al-Taher heights, which it has struck repeatedly since the June truce.

    Sources: Daily Beirut, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2)

  2. 5:23 PM in New York

    U.S. envoy Barrack walks back remark that Israel occupies the Golan Heights

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and envoy for Syria, said in a statement to AP on Sunday that "United States policy on the Golan was set by President Trump in 2019 and is unchanged," after saying in a podcast interview on Friday that Israel "still" occupies the Golan against U.N. resolutions.

    Why it matters The remark had come in answer to a question on whether Israel plans to annex parts of southern Lebanon, a live issue while Israeli troops hold a zone there.

    Sources: AP via PBS News, Al Jazeera

  3. 12:10 AM in Tehran, Aug 24

    Iran's Strait Authority lists dozens of ships for possible fines or seizure

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz

    Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels that violate 'Iranian protocols for the Strait of Hormuz shall face restrictions on future passages, including fines, detention, or confiscation,' and urged cargo owners to check its 'Non-Compliant Vessels' list before chartering ships.

    Why it matters The list turns Iran's claimed control into a standing threat to named ships, which can shape charter and insurance decisions before any vessel is stopped.

    Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera, CNN

  4. 11:40 PM in Tehran

    Rezaei says any country backing the U.S. 'economic war' on Iran commits 'an act of war'

    OfficialMilitary & securityTehran, Iran

    A day after his television interview, security council secretary Mohsen Rezaei wrote on X: 'If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf. Iran will regard any country's participation in or support for America's economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war.'

    Why it matters He posted it hours before Treasury was due to announce its new measures, putting Gulf states that enforce U.S. sanctions on notice.

    Sources: CNN, ANI, Al Jazeera

  5. 11:00 PM in Tehran

    Iranian parliament committee approves Hormuz service fees in draft strait law

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz, Iran

    The parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission approved Article 3 of its 'Strategic Action to Ensure the Security and Progress of the Strait of Hormuz' plan, under which ships from countries permitted to transit would pay for maritime, environmental, fuelling, insurance, safety and other services. Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said fees would be paid in rials or another currency Tehran designates.

    Why it matters The draft, first reported in early August, would also bar ships from 'hostile' countries; it still needs approval by the full parliament and Iran's other authorities.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

  6. 6:00 AM in New York

    Bessent warns 'economic D-Day' coming for Iran in Financial Times op-ed

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    In a Financial Times op-ed, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote that 'at dawn begins an economic D-Day — the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary,' aimed at severing 'every economic lifeline' of the regime, and warned countries that buy and ship Iran's oil or let their banks be used. He gave no details ahead of a news conference set for Monday at 2 p.m. ET.

    Why it matters Bessent also warned that if Iran answered economic measures militarily, Trump would 'respond swiftly and decisively.'

    Sources: CNN, Axios, CNN (2), CNN (3)

Saturday, August 22, 20263 entries

  1. 1:15 AM in Tehran, Aug 23

    Pezeshkian defends the U.S. memorandum as the best route out of the stalled war

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    President Masoud Pezeshkian said the June memorandum with the U.S. was the best way out of a state of 'neither war nor peace,' that 'there is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,' and that 'the supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.' He also said Iran 'cannot continue with war forever.'

    Why it matters Analyst Hamidreza Azizi said the heads of Iran's executive and legislative branches still appear to favour diplomacy, while the military-security establishment under Rezaei was threatening neighbours and Gulf oil.

    Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera, CBS News, CNN, CBS News (2)

  2. 12:20 AM in Tehran, Aug 23

    Iran's security chief says states joining U.S. sanctions are enemies, threatens Gulf oil

    OfficialMilitary & securityTehran, Iran

    Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said on state television that 'any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy' and that Iran would harm its interests. If neighbours joined the U.S. 'economic war,' he said, 'we will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Persian Gulf,' and he threatened the alternative routes Gulf states use to export around Hormuz.

    Why it matters Saudi Arabia and the UAE have expanded Red Sea and Gulf of Oman routes to get around Hormuz; Rezaei's threat covers those bypasses too.

    Sources: Associated Press, Tasnim News Agency, CBS News, Al Jazeera, CNN, CNN (2)

  3. 11:16 AM in Tehran

    Iran lets a number of Iraqi oil tankers pass through Hormuz

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz

    Iran granted a number of Iraqi oil tankers permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz, IRNA said, describing it as one of Baghdad's main requests during parliament speaker Ghalibaf's visit to Iraq. Neither government said how many ships passed or on what terms.

    Why it matters Selective passage shows Tehran applying ship-by-ship control rather than reopening the strait.

    Sources: Associated Press, CBS News, CNN

Friday, August 21, 20262 entries

  1. 8:13 PM in Beirut

    World Bank Forecasts 6.4 Percent Economic Contraction for Lebanon Amid War

    OfficialCivilian alertsBeirut, Lebanon

    The World Bank projected Lebanon's real GDP will shrink 6.4 percent in 2026, 'reflecting the collapse in tourism, weaker consumption, disrupted supply chains, heightened insecurity, and prolonged displacement,' with inflation rising to 17.5 percent.

    Why it matters Lebanon was still recovering from its 2019 financial collapse and the 2024 war when Hezbollah joined this one in March; Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people.

    Sources: World Bank Group, CBS News

  2. 8:00 PM in Tehran

    Iran and Oman foreign ministers discuss restarting Hormuz talks as Tehran seeks trade deals

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran, and Muscat, Oman

    Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and Iran's Abbas Araghchi discussed by phone 'ways to create favorable conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiations' and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's news agency said, after the Iran-Oman route talks had gone quiet. Iran's trade promotion body said it had finalized a preferential trade agreement with Oman, which Oman had not confirmed.

    Why it matters The call followed Trump's threat to bomb Oman over its planned arrangement with Iran; Tehran is courting neighbours' trade as Washington presses them to cut ties.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), CBS News, CBS News (2), Al Jazeera (3)

Thursday, August 20, 20265 entries

  1. 2:57 PM in New York

    U.S. sanctions a cash-courier network for Hezbollah and redesignates it as an IRGC-Qods Force proxy

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Treasury designated 10 people, including Turkish businessman Yunus Alper Yilmaz, in a network that uses couriers on commercial flights between Lebanon, Turkey, the UAE and Iran to move up to hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah outside the banking system. It also redesignated Hezbollah as acting for the Iranian regime under the command of the IRGC-Qods Force, which a State Department official said shows it is 'not a stand-alone operation.'

    Why it matters The redesignation treats Hezbollah's military and financing networks as an extension of the IRGC-Qods Force; Hezbollah called the sanctions an effort to shield Israel's 'expansionist projects.'

    Sources: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), CBS News, CNN, CBS News (2)

  2. 5:36 PM in Riyadh

    Houthis claim drone strikes on Saudi Aramco facility and Najran airport

    UnverifiedMilitary & securityNajran, Saudi Arabia

    Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said two drones hit a 'sensitive' target at Najran airport and a facility of Saudi Aramco in the same city, in response to Saudi drone flights over Yemen's Saada province. Saudi Arabia did not confirm any strike.

    Why it matters The claim came as Yemen's government said it had carried out 81 operations against the Houthis in a day.

    Sources: Shafaq News, CBS News, CNN

  3. 8:04 AM in New York

    USS George Washington arrives in Middle East to relieve USS Abraham Lincoln

    OfficialMilitary & securityU.S. Central Command area, Middle East

    CENTCOM said the USS George Washington carrier strike group was operating in the Middle East 'after arriving in the CENTCOM theater yesterday,' to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln after its nearly nine-month deployment. A U.S. official said later that day the Lincoln had begun heading home.

    Why it matters The swap keeps a carrier on station but leaves the U.S. without one in the Pacific; the Lincoln's long deployment had drawn complaints from families and lawmakers.

    Sources: Washington Examiner, The Guardian, CBS News, CNN, CBS News (2)

  4. 9:23 AM UTC

    Brent rises toward $94, its highest since late July, after Trump's 'economic warfare' threat

    ConfirmedShipping, energy & marketsGlobal energy markets

    Brent crude rose 2.4 percent to almost $94 a barrel early Thursday, its highest since late July, and WTI rose 2.5 percent to $86, after Trump promised a 'crushing economic operation' against Iran and penalties for countries doing business with it.

    Why it matters Prices were climbing even as more oil left the Gulf by other routes, because the strait itself remained effectively closed.

    Sources: BOE Report, CNN, CBS News

  5. 10:32 AM in Tehran

    Iran calls Trump's 'economic D-Day' a diversion that will backfire

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote that 'the so-called Economic D-Day is a diversion from America's own crisis' of debt, and that 'doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat.' The foreign ministry called the threat 'the other side of the coin of war' and said those who order or implement the measures 'are liable to prosecution and punishment.'

    Why it matters Tehran framed secondary sanctions as an act of war by other means, a line its security chief turned into threats against neighbouring states two days later.

    Sources: Associated Press, CBS News, CNN

Wednesday, August 19, 20262 entries

  1. 7:21 PM in New York

    Trump announces a 'crushing economic operation' against Iran, calling it an 'economic D-Day'

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. would begin 'the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY,' an 'economic D-Day,' and that any country letting its banks, businesses, airports or government entities give Iran 'any type of lifeline' would face 'TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences,' naming oil smuggling, swap lines, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies. He gave no details. Earlier that day he said the naval blockade had been 'extremely effective.'

    Why it matters Vice President Vance said the war had entered a 'new phase' of economic pressure; Brent rose about 2 percent the next morning.

    Sources: CBS News, Fox News, Institute for the Study of War, Iran International, CBS News (2), CNN, CBS News (3), CBS News (4), CBS News (5)

  2. 12:20 PM in Brussels

    FT: Iran weighed strikes on U.S. assets in Europe; NATO says it is ready to defend allies

    ReportedMilitary & securityBrussels, Belgium

    The Financial Times reported, citing two people close to Iran's leadership, that Iranian forces had assessed striking U.S. assets in Europe if Trump escalated, naming Bulgaria's Bezmer air base, used by U.S. refueling aircraft, as well as Cyprus and undersea cables in Hormuz. A NATO official said the alliance is 'prepared to address any threat,' noting it intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles heading to Turkey four times earlier this year.

    Why it matters It would carry the war into NATO territory; Iran had denied firing the missiles intercepted over Turkey in March.

    Sources: CBS News, CNN

Tuesday, August 18, 20265 entries

  1. 8:30 AM in Baghdad, Aug 19

    Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf visits Baghdad as Iraq seeks special Hormuz access for its oil

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBaghdad, Iraq

    Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf began a three-day visit to Iraq with a parliamentary delegation, praising Iran-backed militias as 'the resistance in Iraq' and a 'key component of the country's national power.' Iraq's parliament speaker said Baghdad was asking Iran to give Iraqi oil exports special status through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Why it matters Iraq relies on oil for about 90 percent of its budget and exports most of it through the strait; Iran said three days later that it had let a number of Iraqi tankers through.

    Sources: Kurdistan 24, Tasnim News Agency, CBS News, CNN

  2. 1:37 AM in Dubai, Aug 19

    UAE halts all trade and financial transactions with Iran after missile launches

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The UAE foreign ministry said 'all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice' in light of regional escalations, hours after it accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles at Gulf shipping. Iran denied firing the missiles.

    Why it matters The UAE is Iran's second-largest trading partner after China and a main channel for its trade and finance, so the halt removes a gateway that had kept expanding despite U.S. sanctions.

    Sources: Mansfield Energy, The Jerusalem Post, The Hindu, Las Vegas Review-Journal, AP News, CBS News, CNN

  3. 7:26 PM in Dubai

    UAE says Iran fired two ballistic missiles at Gulf shipping; Iran denies it

    ReportedMilitary & securityGulf waters off the United Arab Emirates

    The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran that were 'targeting maritime navigation,' one falling outside and one inside UAE territorial waters, with no damage or casualties reported. Iran's foreign ministry called the accusation 'baseless' and warned of 'false-flag operations.'

    Why it matters It was the first missile threat the UAE had reported since May; the UAE suspended all trade with Iran that night.

    Sources: ARN News Centre, Sharjah 24, The Hindu, Reuters, Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, CBS News (2), CBS News (3)

  4. 10:08 AM in New York

    Trump says the U.S. has no talks planned with Iran and that Hormuz is open

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C.

    Trump wrote that 'there are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled' with Iran, that the naval blockade 'remains in full force and effect,' that the strait 'is open and operating' and that all mines had been removed. The day before he had told Fox News there was a backchannel with the IRGC, and on Tuesday he also posted a map labeling the strait 'New US Territory.'

    Why it matters Traffic data contradicted the 'open and operating' claim; mediator Qatar said an Iran-Oman agreement on the strait would make it easier to resume U.S.-Iran talks.

    Sources: Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, CBS News (2)

  5. 1:03 PM in Tehran

    Ghalibaf says Hormuz stays shut until the U.S. meets the June deal

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a speech on state television that 'the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding are implemented,' listing the release of frozen assets, lifting of oil and gas sanctions, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade and military threats.

    Why it matters Ghalibaf is Iran's chief negotiator; his list echoed the security council's Aug. 8 conditions a day after the memorandum's 60-day window expired.

    Sources: Reuters, CNN, CBS News

Monday, August 17, 20264 entries

  1. 3:29 AM UTC, Aug 18

    Projectile hits the Minoan Dignity leaving Hormuz, killing a seafarer

    ConfirmedShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz

    UKMTO said an unknown projectile struck a vessel making an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz, damaging its engine room and causing a crew casualty, with the Omani coast guard assisting the rest of the crew. The International Maritime Organization lists the ship as the Minoan Dignity and records one seafarer killed and no pollution.

    Why it matters The IMO recorded a second fatal attack in the strait in three days, after the Riyan Star on Aug. 15, as traffic fell to a few ships a day.

    Sources: Reuters, International Maritime Organization, CNN, CBS News

  2. 11:45 AM in New York

    Hormuz crossings fall almost 20% in a week, to three on Sunday

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz

    MarineTraffic and Kpler counted 95 crossings of the Strait of Hormuz in the week to Aug. 16, down 19.5 percent, falling from 19 on Aug. 11 to three on Aug. 16; 51 used Iran's designated route and 44 other routes. Kpler counted five commodity vessels on Saturday and none on Sunday, against 31 the previous weekend, while Bab el-Mandeb transits rose to 254 from 238.

    Why it matters Traffic remains a small fraction of the roughly 130 ships a day before the war, even as both Washington and Tehran claim to control the strait.

    Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, CBS News, CBS News (2)

  3. 7:44 AM in New York

    Trump says the U.S. will bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' of reopening Hormuz

    OfficialMilitary & securityWashington, D.C., United States

    Trump told Fox News' Trey Yingst, 'If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s--- out of them,' hours after Iran said it had agreed a transit route map with Oman. Later in the Oval Office he said Oman had not 'behaved very well' but the U.S. would 'handle them very easily'; he had made a similar threat against Oman in May.

    Why it matters Oman is a U.S. ally mediating with Iran over the strait; two regional officials told CBS Trump opposes parts of the Iran-Oman deal, including joint management of the exit route and voluntary fees.

    Sources: the Guardian, Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, CBS News (2), CBS News (3)

  4. 1:36 PM in Tehran

    Iran says it has an understanding with Oman on a Hormuz transit-route map

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said 'an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route' with Oman and that the two were finalizing a joint statement, blaming 'malevolent parties' for delays. Iran discussed the strait the same day with China, where deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi met Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu, and with Turkey in a call between Abbas Araghchi and Hakan Fidan.

    Why it matters The map was not published and the joint statement was still pending; Trump threatened Oman within hours.

    Sources: Associated Press, Islamic Republic News Agency, Anadolu Agency, CBS News, CNN

Back to top