US-Iran nuclear standoff and Trump escalation threats

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the fourth battlefield is the street, naming the other three elements as military operations, diplomatic talks, and economic services to the people.

Iran's national currency hit a new all-time low of more than 2.25 million rials per US dollar when Tehran's market opened on Saturday.

Police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan ordered continuous monitoring and readiness of forces under his control to prepare for unrest.

Bessent said the public would see more bank sanctions every week.

Iran's Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Ali Madanizadeh rejected the latest U.S. sanctions, saying they will fail.

Bessent told Reuters the next step may be cutting off an institution entirely from the dollar-based financial system.

Esfandyar Batmanghelidj said digital assets and gold are how ordinary Iranians protect their savings from inflation.

Petrochemical workers in Bandar-e Mahshahr protested their layoffs.

A labor ministry official estimated that more than 1 million jobs had been lost by late May.

Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran and Oman agreed on a new temporary route for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz handled one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the US-Israel war on Iran began in February.

Sheikh Mohammed is also Qatar's foreign minister.

Iran has published a list of 45 vessels it says are failing to comply with the rules it seeks to impose on Hormuz shipping.

Around half a ton of highly enriched uranium remains buried inside Iran, with US intelligence assessing that Tehran has escalated efforts to seal off the cache.

Over the course of the war, Iran has struck 11 countries, mostly in the Gulf region.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it gets in the way of American efforts to reopen the strait.

China's Foreign Ministry said China-Iran cooperation should not be disrupted or undermined and that it has conformed with international law.

Among those killed in the hospital strike were Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri and Mariam Dagga, a visual journalist who worked for The Associated Press and other news organizations.

Kazem Gharibabadi told state television that commercial shipping traffic into the Persian Gulf would pass through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would pass partly through Iranian waters and partly through Oman's waters.

Gharibabadi said the shipping routes would be temporary, and that Iran and Oman must discuss a permanent maritime traffic plan within 30 to 60 days.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way,' as his administration opposes parts of the evolving deal.

The nuclear agreement was finalized on July 22 and signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

The agreement was struck under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act.

The Trump administration formally transmitted a proposed U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement to Congress on Monday, August 25, 2025.

International benchmark Brent crude futures for October delivery declined 2.52% to $86.35 a barrel.

Iran and Oman were discussing a joint temporary shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz and mind clearing mission.

Dan Coatsworth said US sanctions on Iran were less severe than anticipated.

According to US officials, the new sanctions will target five vital sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping.

President Donald Trump is urging US allies to support the new sanctions against Tehran.

According to US officials, the new sanctions target oil revenue and 60 entities, vessels, and individuals accused of enabling the regime.

US consumers pay about 40 percent more at the petrol pump than before the war.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he did not want to "blow up the global financial system" when asked why the US did not immediately announce sanctions on Chinese entities facilitating oil trade.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 31 percent of Americans support the war and 33 percent approve of President Trump's performance.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the prospect of further American strikes in the Middle East remained on the table.

Lin Jian said China firmly opposes illicit unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or the authorization of the UN Security Council.

Brent crude oil futures were last seen trading 3.4% lower at $89.05 per barrel, its lowest since Aug. 13.

Bessent declined to identify countries that could face future secondary sanctions or when those penalties would take effect.

The US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on nearly 60 individuals and entities related to Iran.

Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iran's oil trade were omitted from the sanctions list.

Organisations engaged in the suspended sanctioned activities have until September 8 to wind down their operations.

The average price for a gallon of petrol in the US is $4.09, up from $2.98 on February 28.

The price of gold jumped by 0.8 percent to $4,639.49 per ounce in midday trading.

The Treasury has frozen Iranian assets around the world, cracked down on the regime's shadow banking networks, and sanctioned the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Bessent described the economic offensive as an 'economic D-Day' and the single greatest financial offensive ever marshaled against an adversary.

The US Treasury has been targeting Iran financially through its 'Operation Economic Fury' initiative.

Abbas Araghchi said the new U.S. sanctions package is like watching the same movie playing over and over again.

Scott Bessent warned that any nation serving as a financial artery for Iran's regime should expect to share in its isolation.

Iran's state-controlled Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned that vessels violating transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz could face fines, seizure, or confiscation.

China's purchases of Iranian oil account for about 90 percent of Iran's oil sales, according to the US Treasury Department.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned in an op-ed in the Financial Times that countries fearful of breaking ties with Iran should not discount the cost of testing Washington.

Trump visited Beijing in May.

The US dubbed its latest sanctions "Operation Economic Outcast."

China's foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China was firmly opposed to "illegal unilateral sanctions" and would take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its rights.

Bessent said President Trump would be phoning world leaders with specific requests to cease their interactions with the Iranian regime.

The US economic pressure campaign against Iran aims to 'sever every economic lifeline'.

Ali Madani-Zadeh said 'You will fail this time, too.'

Iran's Minister of Economy Ali Madani-Zadeh responded to the US announcement of a new economic pressure campaign against Iran.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts that Iran's gross domestic product will contract more than 5%.

Oman's foreign minister was set to visit Iran on Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was not ruling out resuming strikes against Iran during a lull in hostilities.

Bessent said the US would start by sending timelines to individual countries to shut down identified activities rather than immediately imposing sanctions.

Bessent said no one is above the reach of US sanctions, including China.

Bessent said any entity that facilitates money laundering on behalf of Iran will be removed from the US dollar system.

President Donald Trump announced his administration is embarking on what he called the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.

Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels violating Iranian protocols for the Strait of Hormuz shall face restrictions including fines, detention, or confiscation.

Mohsen Rezaee said that if the U.S. economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported from the Strait of Hormuz or anywhere in the Persian Gulf.

The United Arab Emirates announced the suspension of all trade and financial transactions with Tehran until further notice.

France and Saudi Arabia formed a taskforce on energy and logistics connections between the Middle East and Europe.

Mohsen Rezaei warned that Iran would target oil-shipping routes out of the Gulf if neighbouring countries participate in the US economic war against Iran.

Attempts to reach an agreement to end the war have stalled.

President Donald Trump said Washington will carry out a "crushing economic operation" against Iran.

The US is calling on other countries to join what it calls the greatest coordinated economic isolation in history.

Pezeshkian stated that Iran has not become Venezuela despite war and sanctions.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran has stood firm despite facing what he described as a full-scale economic, military, and security war.

The Statistical Center of Iran reported in July that prices were 88 percent higher compared to the same month last year.

The International Monetary Fund predicts that Iran's GDP will contract by 5.4 percent in 2026.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said his administration pays 1.3 million rials per litre of petrol produced by refineries.

Rezaei stated that any nation taking part in imposing economic restrictions on Iran would be viewed as an enemy.

China purchases more than 80 percent of Iran's oil shipments.

The UAE placed a trade embargo on Iran following accusations of a missile attack against it.

Stephen Walt told host Steve Clemons that the Iran war has reached a "hurting stalemate" in which neither side wants to escalate.

Stephen Walt is a professor of international relations at Harvard University.

Stephen Walt stated that President Donald Trump promised to make the US stronger, but many of his policies are making it weaker.

US President Donald Trump reposted a map on Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz as "NEW US Territory" after previously claiming at a rally that the strait is American territory.

Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei stated that any nation joining US sanctions against Iran will be treated as an enemy and face retaliatory targeting of their interests.

According to Kpler, approximately 80% of ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz over a two-week period traveled with transponders off.

Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela collectively added more than 1 million barrels per day of additional oil production.

According to the US Department of Energy, oil traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz has averaged between 8 million and 9 million barrels per day.

Gordon Sondland previously served as the United States Ambassador to the European Union.

The United Arab Emirates made the decision to suspend trade and financial transactions with Iran.

Gordon Sondland called on Congress to establish a bipartisan "Naughty and Nice List" to identify entities isolating or aiding Iran.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated that any country taking part in imposing economic restrictions on Iran will be regarded as an enemy.

Mohsen Rezaei stated that Iran will target the interests of countries that do not distance themselves from the United States.

Abbas Araghchi said he had a call with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

China purchases more than 80 percent of the oil shipped by Iran.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, warned that any country joining the US in imposing economic restrictions on Iran would face retaliation and be regarded as an enemy.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that US secondary sanctions lack any foundation in international law.

As of Friday, US Central Command reported that American forces have redirected 68 commercial vessels to comply with the blockade.

Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed Trump's comments regarding the Strait of Hormuz as "delusions".

Donald Trump stated that he views the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory.

Mohsen Rezaei was promoted to secretary of Iran's supreme national security council.

Donald Trump threatened in a Fox News interview to attack Oman if it interfered with efforts to end the conflict with Iran.

Donald Trump appeared at the Nassau County police academy in Garden City, New York, on August 14.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the plan to crush Iran's economy would likely eliminate the need for major U.S. military operations against Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the new U.S. sanctions declaration as an assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over UN member states.

Vice President JD Vance identified economic pressure as the United States' most effective tool against Iran.

The Iranian foreign minister stated on social media that Donald Trump's economic warfare plans are bound to fail.

US President Donald Trump repeated claims that Iran is economically and militarily weakened and would love to make a deal with the US.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told an event in Baghdad that Muslim countries need to plan how to overcome sanctions.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that economic pressure is the United States' most effective tool against Iran.

Data from Kpler showed 10 crossings on Monday and two transits on Sunday through the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korea scheduled the PanStar Acro container ship to sail from Busan New Port to Europe via the Arctic.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed Iranian-Omani talks concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Ministers from Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Portugal, and Spain sent a joint letter to Ireland's finance minister calling for a windfall tax on oil companies.

China responded to US President Donald Trump's threat of an "economic D-Day" against Iran, stating that sanctions do not fit the interest of any party.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that anyone ordering or implementing the levies would be liable to prosecution and punishment.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Oman's top diplomat in the United States following threats by President Trump to bomb the country.

Bessent said the planned economic pressure campaign on Iran would minimise the need for a "large-scale kinetic restart" of the conflict.

Bessent said he would hold a news conference on 24 August to provide further details about the plan.

Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.

Trump continues to assert that the U.S. has complete control of the strait despite ongoing attacks and reduced commercial shipping traffic.

Trump said on July 7 that the U.S. would hit Iran 20-1 for every attack.

Since the last reported U.S. strike on Iranian targets on July 29, there have been 11 commercial vessels hit in the Strait of Hormuz or the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Trump stated that US demands remain focused on preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Trump said Washington may resume talks with Tehran at some point.

Erickson called punitive steps against Chinese banks that do business with Iran the most consequential lever Trump could pull.

The US and Israel began the conflict at the end of February.

The conflict has significantly disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up global energy prices.

China's Ministry of Commerce said US sanctions were 'in violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations.'

The reported missile attack is the first on the UAE since May.

Iran launched more than 530 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones toward targets in the UAE.

The UAE's exports to Iran in 2023 were about $5.8bn, with imports of about $450m.

Iranian officials have said Tehran and Washington were not negotiating

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that "Nothing that China has done has in any way changed the trajectory" of the conflicts with Iran

The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz intended to deny Iranian exports through the strait

The plan was approved during a remote parliamentary session on Sunday.

Ansari said the plan would impose 'serious restrictions' on scientific work and obstruct Iranian academics' access to international colleagues.

Hardline lawmakers have dominated Iran's parliament since 2020 after elections marked by historically low turnout and candidate disqualifications.

Sou Sreynich misses school lessons on some days in order to work.

Fuel prices have risen, making it more difficult for low-income Cambodian families to afford school, according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera reported that the US war on Iran is threatening education for children from low-income families in Cambodia.

The DoJ said the campaign started in approximately 2013 and continued until at least December 2017.

The DoJ said Mabna targeted the accounts of 100,000 academics worldwide and compromised 8,000 professor email accounts at 144 US universities and 178 academic institutions internationally.

Nine of the 17 members charged had previously been charged in a seven-count indictment in March 2018.