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Middle East War: US signals restraint as Iran warns of retaliation

Strait of Hormuz tensions persist, and violence continues in Gaza

Last updated: November 14, 2026 | 07:12

Karishma H. Nandkeolyar, Assistant Online Editor ; Surabhi Vasundharadevi, Social Media Reporter and Huda Ata, Special to Gulf News

US-Israel-Iran war

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An aerial view of the Strait of Hormuz

he Middle East war heads into a tense weekend as Washington signals restraint but the region remains on edge. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said further military action against Iran was unnecessary, arguing economic pressure was weakening Tehran. Iran, however, warned the United Nations that renewed attacks would trigger retaliation and said nuclear monitoring cannot resume under military threats. American forces reported intercepting two Iranian drones heading towards Bahrain, disputing Tehran’s claim that it hit a US radar installation. Meanwhile, Iran claimed a tanker struck a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, while Israeli shelling killed three Palestinians in Gaza.

Highlights

07:07 AM, 14 November 2026

Iran's IRGC says two tankers hit sea mines in Hormuz

06:09 AM, 14 November 2026

Trump to discuss Iran, but not Ukraine, with Xi and Putin: US official

US President Donald Trump will discuss the Iran war with his Chinese and Russian counterparts in trilateral talks in China next week, but is not expected to talk about Russia's war on Ukraine, a senior US official said Friday.

"I think the president does intend to talk about Iran in the trilateral meeting with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin," the US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters on a call ahead of Thursday's meeting in Shenzhen.

But Washington has a "whole other track" of negotiations with Kyiv and Moscow, the official added. "China is not really a part of that track, so it doesn't seem appropriate to have the Ukraine discussion there."

06:01 AM, 14 November 2026