US-Israel war on Iran widens: Trump says Iran can’t ‘go on much longer’; Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan sign defence pact

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Turkey said that its new defence agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia did not contradict its commitments to the NATO alliance.

"The agreement is not in contradiction with the commitments of Turkey's existing international alliances, including those at the heart of NATO," the government's anti-disinformation service said in a post on X.

In fact, it was an additional cooperation mechanism that supported regional security, the statement added.

"Turkey's development of regional partnerships is not an alternative to its NATO membership," it said.

The service said it was responding to "baseless claims and manipulative posts" criticising the new agreement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran does not seek war or territorial expansion but will not yield to what he described as “coercion”.

Speaking to Iran’s IRIB broadcaster, Pezeshkian said the country’s actions are focused on strengthening its defence capabilities and security.

He repeated Iran’s claims that the US has used military bases in Gulf countries to target Iran, accusing Washington of trying to create divisions between Tehran and its regional neighbours.

Pezeshkian said Iran has resolved many issues with neighbouring states, adding that tensions could ease if pressure and threats against Tehran come to an end.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi praised the country’s armed forces, saying they had demonstrated their “readiness, capability and might” in facing what he described as the world’s most expensive military.

In a post on X, Araghchi said Muslim countries could overcome challenges by standing together and called for greater self-reliance and unity.

“Time to rely only on ourselves and embrace true brotherhood,” he said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al Zaidi met Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan as Iran-backed militias in Iraq postponed planned retaliatory attacks following deadly US-Saudi strikes on the country, CNN reported.

“We call on those whose pursuit of power has blinded them to the need to safeguard blood and violated sovereignty to reconsider their positions,” the group said in a statement.

The US government said it has taken steps to dismantle what it described as a network of currency exchange houses and shell companies used by Iran to evade sanctions and move “hundreds of millions of dollars” covertly.

US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Treasury Department had acted against the alleged illicit networks, without identifying specific entities.

He said the move reflected the Trump administration’s continued “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran by targeting financial resources that Washington says support regional activities, terrorism and military development.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said regional security issues should be handled by countries in the region without foreign intervention.

Speaking to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Gharibabadi said conditions appeared to be developing for renewed security talks with Gulf countries.

He said Iran had submitted records of attacks launched from the territory of some neighbouring countries to the UN Security Council, including what he described as a limited number of “direct attacks”.

Gharibabadi added that Iran believes regional countries recognise that further escalation or prolonged military action could threaten their own security.

Yemen’s naval forces have said they thwarted an attempted attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea using an explosives-laden boat.

According to military-linked media, naval patrols detected the boat near the Mocha power plant and took action. The boat reportedly detonated before reaching its intended target.

The naval forces attributed the attempted attack to Yemen’s Houthi group.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey reflects the three nations’ shared commitment to peace, security and cooperation.

Sharif said the pact, signed alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, would serve as a “shield of peace” and strengthen ties among the three countries. He also praised Pakistan’s military leadership for its role in advancing the agreement.

Saudi Arabia said the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Turkey and Pakistan is not intended to create a military alliance or sectarian bloc and is unrelated to any nuclear ambitions or arms race.

Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Dr. Rayed Krimly said the agreement is designed to strengthen sustainable defence capabilities and collective deterrence without affecting the Kingdom's existing Gulf, Arab and international partnerships.

He said the pact does not target any country or increase regional tensions and does not replace existing bilateral or multilateral defence agreements.

Signed in Mecca by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the agreement states that an armed attack on one member will be considered an attack on all three, while expanding defence cooperation and promoting regional security and stability.

At least two civilians were killed and 14 others injured in Houthi strikes in eastern Yemen’s Marib province, according to Yemen’s Health Minister Qasim Buhaibeh.

The minister said the shelling targeted residential areas and displacement camps, causing injuries of varying severity.

Yemen’s Health Ministry condemned the attack, describing it as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” and warning against further escalation. The strikes come as the Houthi group has stepped up attacks in several Yemeni provinces in recent days.

Iranian lawmakers are awaiting “final approval” for a proposed framework agreement with Oman on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

CNN reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said the broad framework has been “more or less agreed” with Oman, citing a spokesperson for Iran’s parliament National Security Commission.

However, the spokesperson said the agreement still requires approval from higher authorities before it can be finalised, adding that details would be announced after a final decision is reached.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route that previously carried around one-fifth of global oil supplies, has become a key flashpoint amid regional tensions. Iran has used control over the waterway as leverage in its negotiations with the United States.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said 15 of its vessels have been targeted by missiles and drones since the start of the conflict while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as the company addressed recent media reports on attacks affecting its operations.

In a statement issued on Friday, ADNOC said three vessels were attacked this week alone, resulting in one crew member being killed and 20 others injured.

The company said it is taking all necessary measures in coordination with relevant authorities to protect its people, assets and operations while continuing to meet customer requirements as much as possible.

ADNOC said it remains committed to supporting customers despite ongoing regional challenges and stressed that freedom of navigation and the safe, uninterrupted passage of commercial shipping through international waterways must be respected and protected from threats, harassment and attacks.

The dollar fell sharply after the US economy shed thousands of jobs in July, reducing the risk of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve that could slow growth in the world's biggest economy.

Stock markets gained on the report that showed 23,000 jobs were lost last month, well below expectations that 80,000 to 100,000 new jobs would be added and raising fresh worries about the US outlook.

Wall Street indexes rallied on the report in opening deals, flirting again with record highs for the Dow and S&P 500, while European stocks added to earlier gains following a mixed session in Asia.

Combined with steep downward revisions to US jobs readings in May and June, the data is "likely to revive concerns among Fed officials about the health of the labour market and make them less inclined to commit to near-term tightening", said Thomas Ryan, an economist at Capital Economics.

For Bret Kenwell at trading platform eToro, "This is the kind of report that could revive Wall Street's 'bad news is good news' reflex".

"Inflation remains a concern, but today's data may give policymakers more reason to remain patient - and investors more room to lean into risk," he said.

The UAE has strongly condemned the attack launched by the Houthi group on the Najran region of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability.

The ministry reaffirmed the UAE's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the Kingdom's security and stability.

Turkey insisted on Friday that its joint defence pact signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan amid the US-Iran war was "not aimed at any particular country".

"The Mecca Agreement, which is not aimed at any particular country, will strengthen the shared security and collective deterrence of the three nations... thereby making significant contributions to the preservation of peace and stability in our region," Burhanettin Duran, the Turkish presidency's communications director, posted on X.

US stock futures added to their gains after the government reported that employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month.

Futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.5% while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.33%.

Bond yields dropped sharply. A weaker job market can be seen as putting less upward pressure on inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.60% from 4.67% just before the government issued the report.

Global shares were mixed Friday while the price of crude oil edged lower.

In midday European trading, Germany's DAX rose 1%.

Selling of computer chipmakers and other stocks linked to the boom in artificial intelligence appeared to taper off a bit as Tokyo's Nikkei 225 lost 0.1% to 65,606.71.

The Kospi in South Korea dropped 0.6% to 6,258.77 and Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.4%.

The price of Brent crude fell 0.7% after rising nearly 4% on Thursday as progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, vital to securing stable oil supplies, remained unclear.

The US Department of War has published its fifth release of declassified and historical files related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), as part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE).

The latest collection has been made available through the department’s official UFO files archive at WAR.GOV/UFO, with additional releases expected on a rolling basis.

In a statement, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said the department and its partner agencies are continuing work on the next release of UAP files.

The department said the initiative aims to provide access to historical and declassified records on reported unexplained phenomena.

Yemen's Houthis late Thursday wounded 11 people in an attack on southern Saudi Arabia, a Riyadh-led coalition said, the highest toll in the kingdom from an attack by the rebels in years.

The attacks come as Yemen is increasingly drawn into the US-Israeli war with Iran, with the rebels stepping up attacks against both Yemen government forces and neighbouring Saudi Arabia, a key US ally and supporter of the internationally recognised Yemeni government.

Casualties in Thursday's attack included seven Saudis, including a four-year-old who sustained second-degree burns, and a woman, two Egyptians, a Yemeni and a Pakistani, coalition spokesman General Turki al-Maliki said in a statement carried by the official Saudi news agency.

The attack was carried out in the Najran region, on the border with Yemen, he added.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition supporting Yemen's government against the Houthis since 2015.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a defense agreement on Friday, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, deepening cooperation between the three regional powers at a time of growing security concerns.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia.

"The Agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all. It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three States," the ministry said in a statement.

A source close to the Saudi military said on Friday that the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government since 2015 would not "stand idly by" as the Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Yemeni troops. 

"The Coalition does not seek escalation, but we will not allow the current balance of power on the ground to be changed," the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan were set to sign a joint defence agreement on Friday, sources told AFP, amid violence in the region from Houthi attacks and the US-Iran war.

Riyadh is looking to strengthen its security ties against the backdrop of war between the United States and Iran, which has drawn in surrounding nations and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea.

The war has emboldened Iran and its Houthi allies in Yemen, both of which have attacked Saudi Arabia, while analysts say Washington is now seen as an increasingly unreliable partner.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Saudi Arabia's city of Jeddah on Friday, Saudi media reported, where he is expected to sign a defence agreement with the kingdom and Pakistan, sources have told AFP.

Saudi Arabia's Alekhbariya television reported that the Turkish president had arrived in the Red Sea port city.

A Houthi drone attack on Yemen's Marib province killed three members of government forces on Friday, a Yemeni military source told AFP, as rebels ramped up the conflict a day after the deadliest Houthi attack in years.

"Three killed and four wounded in a preliminary toll from the Houthi drone attack on the Harib area, in the south of Marib," the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The official had earlier told AFP that artillery exchanges and clashes were taking place in Sirwah and on the Al-Kasara front, north of Marib city, where Houthi drones were spotted.

Oil prices extended gains and most stocks fell further on Friday amid fading optimism over a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as reports said Iran was planning to block US and Israeli ships from the waterway as part of a deal with Oman.

Markets had enjoyed a healthy run-up at the start of the week as US President Donald Trump called off strikes on the Islamic republic and said an agreement was close, even though Tehran denied talks had taken place.

At the same time Iran said it was close to a pact with Muscat on managing the key waterway -- which has been choked off for most of the Middle East war -- but that the United States would need to end its own naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Air travel from the UAE remains largely stable this week, with the majority of flights operating as scheduled despite continued geopolitical tensions across the Gulf.

However, selected routes to Bahrain, Kuwait and Doha continue to face cancellations and delays as airlines adjust schedules around operational requirements and regional airspace restrictions.

Travellers are also being advised to arrive early at airports and check flight statuses before leaving home.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan will sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday, sources close to the Saudi military and government told AFP.

Regional powers are looking to strengthen security ties against a backdrop of war between the United States and Iran, which has drawn in Gulf states and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

"It was under discussion for a long time but the latest developments in the region expedites it," the source said on condition of anonymity.

A second source close to the Saudi government confirmed also on condition of anonymity that the agreement would be signed on Friday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is due to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Red Sea city. 

Oil prices extended gains and stocks fell further on Friday amid fading optimism over a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as reports said Iran was planning to block US and Israeli ships from the waterway as part of a deal with Oman.

Markets had enjoyed a healthy run-up at the start of the week as US President Donald Trump called off strikes on the Islamic republic and said an agreement was close, even though Tehran denied talks had taken place.

At the same time Iran said it was close to a pact with Muscat on managing the key waterway -- which has been choked off for most of the Middle East war -- but that the US would need to end its own naval blockade of Iranian ports

Two explosions were heard on Iran's southern Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province late on Thursday night as a result of the Iranian armed forces' confrontation with "hostile enemy targets" at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Tasnim cited informed sources as saying that the explosions were heard at around 21:40 local time (1810 GMT, 10:10 PM Gulf Standard Time), adding that the "achievements" of the Iranian naval forces' confrontation will be announced in the coming hours.

US President Donald Trump insisted the US has "massive" munitions reserves, especially certain types, with defence production ramping up at historic levels. The Washington Post reported he confronted US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp David over concerns that heavy use of ATACMS missiles, THAAD interceptors, and Patriots had reduced inventories, potentially limiting options against Iran.

White House officials dismissed the account as "fake news", while Hegseth publicly backed the administration's readiness claims. The exchange highlights tensions in the debate over sustaining US military supplies during the conflict.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the story “100% fake news” and said it “literally never happened,” while Hegseth publicly dismissed parallel reporting on depleted interceptors as “NOT TRUE,” posting on X: “Shame on you.” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell similarly told CNN the military has “everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing.”

Israel has refused in talks to withdraw from more areas of south Lebanon unless the Lebanese army had full control of an initial two "pilot zones", a Lebanese presidential source told AFP.

The seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel was held in Rome under US auspices, aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah that have become a second front in the Middle East war. The Lebanese source told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the talks had "not yielded definitive results regarding the pilot zones".

While the outlook from Beirut was dim, a US State Department spokesperson told AFP that the talks were "productive".

US President Donald Trump late on Thursday expressed confidence that the conflict involving Iran would end "pretty soon," saying that he believes the Islamic Republic "can't go much longer".

He also voiced optimism over ongoing negotiations related to the Strait of Hormuz, while reaffirming the commitment to prevent Iran from posessing a nuclear weapon.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said, "When I started the very important excursion into the Islamic Republic of Iran, it was a very important excursion because they can't have a nuclear weapon, otherwise the whole world would get blown up. We're not gonna let that happen. Not only us, not only the Middle East, the whole world would have been... It would have been catastrophic. We had no choice... We will see those days pretty soon again, based on everything I see, as soon as the war ends. And I think the war's got to end pretty soon. I don't think they can go much longer."

An attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels late Thursday wounded 11 civilians in southern Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh-led coalition said, an unprecedented toll in the kingdom in over four years of hostilities.

They include seven Saudis, two Egyptians, a Yemeni, and a Pakistani, coalition spokesman General Turki al-Maliki said in a statement carried by the official Saudi news agency, adding that the attacks had taken place in the Najran region, on the border with Yemen.

This marks another step in the recent escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces are continuing to enforce the naval blockade of Iran.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said that, as of August 6, US forces had redirected 49 vessels, disabled two and boarded two others as part of the maritime enforcement mission.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Saudi Arabia Friday for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, Erdogan's office announced.

Pakistan has been acting as a mediator to try to end the US-Iran war that has drawn in several Gulf countries and paralysed maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Day 157: Iran says Oman deal alone won’t reopen Hormuz

Day 156: Iran says new Strait of Hormuz shipping route agreed with Oman

DAY 155: Resolving US-Iran conflict in 'progressive stages'

Day 154: Trump says Iran talks ongoing as IRGC warns of readiness

Day 153: Trump pauses strikes as Iran demands US honour deal

Day 152: Trump announces Hamas disarmament deal

Day 151: GCC condemns renewed Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Jordan

Day 150: US, Saudi forces strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq

Day 149: Trump holds 'positive' talks with Zelenskyy, Netanyahu

Day 148: Saudi air defences foil drone attack on oil facilities

Day 147: Iran says military ready as Netanyahu heads to US

Day 146: Iran says it earned $11.5b in oil sales during the war

Day 145: US-Iran war escalates as Tehran targets US bases in Gulf