US plans new Iran strikes as Trump warns, Tehran prepares response

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The Israeli military has been placed on high alert ahead of a possible major US strike on Iran, according to Israeli media reports, as Washington intensified security warnings for its citizens across the Middle East amid mounting regional tensions.

The heightened alert came after US embassies across the region urged Americans to consider leaving the countries where they are based, while the US Embassy in Jerusalem advised citizens to remain in secure locations with essential supplies. The US State Department also issued a regional travel advisory urging Americans to exercise heightened caution and prepare for possible flight disruptions.

US President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that his administration's policies are "destroying Iran's currency", sharing a chart on his Truth Social platform that appeared to show the Iranian rial losing more than half its value against the US dollar since the start of 2025.

The chart indicated that the rial had weakened from about 900,000 rials per US dollar in January 2025 to nearly 1.9 million rials per dollar by July 2026, illustrating the sharp depreciation of Iran's currency.

Iran's currency has been under sustained pressure in recent years, weighed down by international sanctions, high inflation, economic uncertainty and regional tensions. The rial's decline has eroded purchasing power and fuelled concerns over rising living costs, with currency volatility remaining one of the most visible indicators of the country's broader economic challenges.

The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the Iranian hostile attack targeting the brotherly State of Kuwait with drones.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this hostile attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Kuwait and a threat to its security and stability.

The Ministry expressed the UAE’s full solidarity with the State of Kuwait and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding its security and stability.

The Israeli military said Saturday that it killed three Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, despite an ongoing ceasefire.

"The soldiers struck the terrorists and eliminated them in order to remove the threat," the military said in a statement.

The United Nations on Saturday expressed concern over Israel's ongoing demolitions in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire in its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

"The scale of the detonations and demolitions taking place in south Lebanon is deeply concerning, with a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure, cultural heritage, and the collective memory of communities," the UN said in a statement.

The statement comes a day after the Israeli military carried out large overnight detonations near a UNESCO-listed castle in Lebanon.

The Israeli military said one of its soldiers was moderately injured during a "close-quarters encounter" with Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon overnight on Saturday, despite a ceasefire.

"Overnight (Saturday), an IDF officer was moderately injured during operational activity in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement, specifying to AFP that the soldier was "injured during a close-quarters encounter with terrorists" in the area.

US embassies in several Middle Eastern capitals warned American citizens to beware an "unforeseen escalation" in the regional conflict and urged them to be ready to leave.

"Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation," said a security alert, versions of which were posted on social media by the US missions in Amman, Jerusalem, Muscat, Baghdad and Beirut.

The messages urged citizens to check flight details and to follow safety advice from local authorities.

"Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions," it said.

"The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt)," said a post on the US Embassy Jerusalem site.

The US embassy in Beirut said that the mission remained on "ordered departure status", meaning that non-emergency US government personnel were still relocated outside of Lebanon.

Bahrain condemned repeated Iranian attacks on civilian and vital facilities in Kuwait Saturday, calling them a serious violation of the country’s sovereignty, security and stability.

The Bahraini foreign ministry said the attacks threatened civilians and residents and breached international law, the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

The ministry also called for an immediate end to “unjustified attacks” by Iran and its proxies across the region.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said authorities rushed to announce Ali Khamenei’s death and call supporters onto the streets after “overseas media” broke the news, fearing the situation on the streets could otherwise “take a completely different turn.”

By “overseas media,” Ghalibaf was referring to Persian-language outlets based outside Iran, a term Iranian officials sometimes use to refer to such broadcasters. Iran International was the first outlet to announce Khamenei’s death.

Ghalibaf said officials had initially decided to wait until 8 a.m. the following morning, when they planned to announce his death alongside the formation of a new Leadership Council.

“At 12:30 at night, the television channels abroad announced the martyrdom,” Ghalibaf said, adding that he and Ali Larijani re-established contact around 1 a.m. and decided the original plan could no longer stand.

Ghalibaf said officials instead decided to announce Khamenei’s death around dawn, while people were eating their pre-dawn Ramadan meal, and immediately call supporters onto the streets.

“We decided that we absolutely had to announce it at dawn, when people were at the suhoor table, and at the same time say: whether you’ve eaten or not, everyone come out into the streets,” he said.

“Otherwise, believe me, the situation in the streets could have taken a completely different turn,” Ghalibaf added.

He described the street as one of four fronts that authorities needed to manage alongside the military, diplomacy and government services. “The military front is one front, diplomacy is one front, services are another, and the street is also a front,” he said.

Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei warned on Saturday of sweeping retaliation across the region if the United States attacks Iran’s energy infrastructure.

“If Iran is struck, we will send the entire region and its facilities back to the Stone Age,” Rezaei, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, wrote on X. “It is in your interest not to do anything foolish.”

Rezaei said Washington believed it could deliver a swift blow over the weekend and force Iran to surrender, calling that an “illusion” he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had planted in US President Donald Trump’s mind.

The US Department of State has urged Americans in the Middle East to exercise heightened caution amid ongoing regional tensions, warning of possible flight disruptions, airspace closures and security risks.

In an updated advisory posted on its official TravelGov account on X, the State Department said US citizens in the region should be prepared for flight cancellations and changing airline schedules, noting that some carriers have delayed the resumption of normal operations while others have cancelled selected routes.

The department advised Americans already in the Middle East to consider departing the region or be prepared to leave if the security situation deteriorates further. Those planning to travel to or through the Middle East were urged to seriously reconsider their plans and closely monitor updates from airports and airlines.

The advisory also warned that US diplomatic facilities, including some outside the Middle East, have been targeted, adding that Iran and Iran-aligned groups could target other US interests overseas, including American businesses and institutions.

Kuwait strongly condemned and denounced the continued "heinous Iranian aggression" against its territory, following attacks that targeted several vital installations, including a government facility in northern Kuwait and civilian vehicles belonging to a private company on Boubyan Island using hostile drones.

In a statement carried by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attacks as a flagrant violation of Kuwait's sovereignty, a direct threat to its security and stability, and a grave breach of international law, the United Nations Charter, the principles of good neighbourliness, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), strongly condemned and denounced the Iranian attacks targeting a government facility and civilian vehicles belonging to a private company on Boubyan Island in Kuwait.

In a statement, Albudaiwi said, "These sinful Iranian attacks represent a continuation of Iran's hostile approach to destabilising security and stability in the region."

"They constitute a blatant assault, a flagrant violation of the State of Kuwait's sovereignty, a direct threat to its security, stability, and the safety of its citizens and residents, as well as a grave violation of the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter," he said.

Albudaiwi reaffirmed the GCC's full solidarity with Kuwait and its support for all measures the country takes to safeguard its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The US Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert on August 1, 2026, warning that due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. The embassy urged Americans currently in the Middle East to exercise caution and heightened vigilance, and to be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. It noted that some airlines in the region have postponed the resumption of earlier flight schedules, while others have cancelled certain routes.

The US Embassy in Amman, Jordan, has issued a security alert urging American citizens across the Middle East to remain on heightened alert, warning that the regional situation remains “fluid” and Iran’s government is “unpredictable”.

The embassy advised US citizens in the region to “exercise caution and heightened vigilance”, while preparing for possible flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and travel disruptions.

It said Iran’s recent actions, including attacks on locations across the region and expansion of targets to areas not previously affected, highlight the unpredictable nature of the security environment.

“Americans should remain vigilant, as merely because US interests or businesses have not been attacked in a country in the past does not ensure their safety,” the embassy said.

Iran has warned the UK against allowing the United States to use British military bases for attacks against Iran, stating that it constitutes an act of aggression that entitles Tehran to resort to "self-defence."

According to Press TV, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with his British counterpart Ed Miliband on Friday.

Araghchi deemed any cooperation with the aggressors, including under the pretext of previous "defense agreements," to be "unacceptable."

He noted that, under international law and the Definition of Aggression resolution, allowing an aggressor party to use a country's territory and facilities to launch an unlawful attack against another country constitutes an act of aggression and entitles the country under attack to resort to "self-defense," Press TV reported.

As reported by Press TV, Araghchi condemned as "unjustified" Britain's inappropriate approach towards Iran, including the move targeting the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, as well as London's complicity in the two previous unprovoked wars targeting the Islamic Republic. He stressed the need for the British government to reconsider its approach in this regard.

The foreign minister also underlined Iran's resolve to confront any American violation targeting the Islamic Republic, again cautioning against third-party contribution to such breaches.

For his part, the British foreign secretary alleged that his country "is not part of the war with Iran."

"We believe in diplomacy to resolve issues," Miliband said, and emphasised the need to maintain diplomatic engagement with the Islamic Republic in order to improve bilateral relations and reduce tensions in the region, per Press TV.

Iran's military accused the US of "escalating tensions" in the Middle East on Saturday and warned countries in the region against cooperating with Washington during the ongoing conflict.

"The United States is rapidly moving down the path of escalating tensions in the region," said Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran's military central command.

"Any country serving as defensive shield for criminal and aggressive America will be engulfed by the flames of war," he said in a statement read on state television.

The remarks came after Trump reiterated threats to hit Iran "very hard".

US media reported he was considering renewed heavy attacks as soon as this weekend, including against energy infrastructure targets.

This week, Iran and the US resumed overnight exchanges of fire after a days-long lull in fighting although there were no reported strikes overnight Friday to Saturday.

The Middle East war broke out on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the region.

Kuwait’s armed forces detected and intercepted hostile drones that entered the country’s airspace early on Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said.

The ministry’s official spokesperson, Colonel Saud Al-Atwan, said air defence systems responded to the drone threat and successfully dealt with the attack.

Al Atwan said the Iranian attack targeted several vital locations, including a government facility in northern Kuwait and civilian vehicles belonging to a private company on Bubiyan Island.

The attacks caused material damage due to falling debris, but no injuries were reported, he added.

The armed forces said they remain on high alert and continue to carry out their duties in coordination with relevant authorities to protect Kuwait’s sovereignty, security and stability.

Authorities said measures are being taken to ensure the safety of citizens and residents.

A merchant vessel has safely transited the Red Sea under the protection of an Italian frigate, the European Union’s maritime security operation EUNAVFOR Aspides said.

EUNAVFOR Aspides said its operations focus on accompanying vessels, maintaining maritime situational awareness and protecting ships against multi-domain attacks across key waterways.

The mission covers the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf.

Kuwait’s General Staff said its air defence systems are currently intercepting hostile drones following what it described as continued Iranian attacks targeting the country.

In a statement, the Kuwaiti Army said any explosion sounds heard in the area were the result of air defence systems engaging the incoming threats.

Authorities urged residents to follow security and safety instructions issued by official agencies and remain alert for further updates.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Gulf countries closely monitoring developments linked to the ongoing Iran conflict.

A tanker reported seeing a large splash and explosion close to the vessel off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The incident occurred around 21 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, according to a UKMTO advisory issued on Saturday.

The vessel’s master reported that no damage had been caused to the tanker at the time of the report. Authorities are investigating the incident.

UKMTO has advised vessels operating in the area to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.

The warning comes amid heightened security concerns in regional waters, with shipping operators closely monitoring developments across the Gulf and nearby maritime routes.

A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported.

The incident occurred about 11 nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman, damaging the vessel’s engine room and leaving it unable to manoeuvre.

UKMTO said regional coast guard authorities have been notified and an investigation is underway. No casualties or environmental impact have been reported.

Vessels operating in the area have been advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.

Iran has warned that it stands fully prepared to target key Israeli infrastructure and American energy installations throughout the region should it come under attack, following reports that Washington and Tel Aviv may be coordinating new military operations against the Islamic Republic.

A senior Iranian security official told Tasnim News Agency on Friday that Western media reports regarding prospective strikes on Iranian infrastructure represented "a kind of madness".

According to Tasnim, the official stated that Tehran has formulated comprehensive retaliatory strategies encompassing strikes on critical installations in Israel and US energy assets across the Middle East, asserting that Iran maintains complete readiness to execute these measures if provoked.

The Iranian official added that the nation's armed forces had evidenced their capability and resolve to carry out such operations during the 40-day war and subsequent engagements.

Indian-origin US Army Sergeant Angel Rampersad, who was killed in action in the Iran war, was given a hero's farewell at her funeral here.

"My daughter was a real hero", her mother Carol Acevedo said at her funeral, surrounded by officials, soldiers and several hundred mourners who shared the sentiment.

Rampersad, who immigrated to the US as a two-year-old from Trinidad, was killed last month in an Iranian missile strike on a US Army base in Jordan.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who ordered the flags to be flown half-staff across the state to mourn her, said, "Staff Sergeant Rampersad lived a life of courage and selflessness. New York, and our nation, are safer because of brave Americans like her who answer the call to serve".

The city and state rallied to honour her on her final journey, which was televised live by some stations. A motorcade led by dozens of New York Police on motorcycles accompanied her body to the funeral services at a church and to the burial at a Long Island cemetery with military honours.

New York Mayor Zohair Mamdani, who is against President Donald Trump's Iran War, joined the mourners at the church, and said in a statement, "Sgt. Rampersad's courage and sacrifice will be remembered" across the city that was her home.

"For so many New Yorkers, wars overseas are never distant, they are felt here at home", he added.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth received her body with military honours when it was brought from Jordan to the Dover Air Force Base on July 22.

Trump stated that he was "losing faith" in Tehran, alleging that Iranian authorities routinely breach commitments even as bilateral discussions persist between both nations.

Addressing a televised Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump asserted that Iran lacked credibility due to its recurrent failure to abide by its pledges.

"They do lie, and they do misrepresent," Trump said. "They always want to talk, but they break their word so often."

Notwithstanding his sharp rebuke, the US President confirmed that top-level American officials maintain active lines of engagement with Iranian counterparts. He identified Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as key members of the negotiating team.

"We have great people talking," Trump said.

Highlighting regional security challenges, Trump pointed to a strike on an American military facility situated in Jordan, noting that the incident occurred whilst dialogue was actively underway.

"Instead, I got a call from Pete that they just shot five missiles at one of our bases in Jordan," Trump said, referring to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

In response to queries regarding whether further hostile actions could follow, Trump declined to discount additional attacks.

"I think I'm going to be foolish to say no. You always have to keep your guard up," he said.

Evaluating Iran's long-term capabilities, Trump remarked that Tehran's capacity to sustain such momentum would wane over time.

"They get weaker. They get a little stronger, maybe now, but they'll get weaker, and then they peter out," he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised Britain’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state threat and accused London of involvement in US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.

During a call with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Araghchi blamed US and Israeli actions for regional instability and said Iran had pursued diplomacy before Washington allegedly breached previous agreements.

He also said Iran was working with Oman to establish arrangements for managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, warning against outside interference.

Miliband said the UK was not involved in the war with Iran and reaffirmed London’s focus on diplomacy to reduce regional tensions.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday called the agreement for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw from Gaza the “only good news in recent days”.

Speaking to reporters, Guterres urged both sides to follow the roadmap announced under the deal and warned that the region cannot afford further conflict.

“The fighting must stop on all fronts in the region,” he said, calling for the agreement to be implemented “without any questions, skepticism or determination to undermine it.”

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday that, as of 31st July, US forces had rerouted 30 commercial vessels, disabled two ships, and boarded two others to verify full compliance with the naval blockade imposed on Iran.

In a statement, CENTCOM said US forces have continued to strictly enforce the naval blockade on Iranian ports since mid-July, adding that around 30 vessels had been allowed to pass through the blockade zone to deliver humanitarian assistance.

US forces resumed the naval blockade on vessels bound for, or departing from, Iranian ports and coastal areas on 14th July, in response to attacks on commercial shipping and the disruption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump is considering launching air strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure within days in an attempt to compel Tehran to accept Washington's ceasefire terms, according to a report by Axios.

Citing an American official, Axios reported that while President Trump has yet to reach a final determination, internal discussions remain focused on attacks targeting Iranian infrastructure and energy facilities. The report stated that the contemplated campaign aims to intensify pressure on Tehran amidst ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

Axios further reported that Israel could join the operation, marking its first direct participation in strikes on Iran in several weeks. The report noted that such joint action could trigger renewed Iranian missile attacks against Israel.

According to the report, US officials assess that Iran has become "very aggressive" in recent days following attacks executed against American forces stationed in the region.

The developments align with a report by The Wall Street Journal stating that President Trump has ordered preparations for a renewed military campaign intended to pressure Tehran into surrendering, with potential operations launching as early as this weekend.

President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard," as US media reported he was considering renewed heavy attacks as soon as this weekend, including against energy infrastructure targets.

After more than five months of war, which began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, there is seemingly no end to the conflict, with resumed tit-for-tat attacks.

"We'll be hitting him very hard and, you know, at some point they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore'," Trump said Friday as he hosted a cabinet meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.

The Wall Street Journal later reported that Trump had ordered a fresh attack aimed at convincing Tehran to surrender, which could begin as soon as this weekend, citing unnamed US officials.

CBS News meanwhile reported that the United States and Israel were planning joint strikes on energy-related targets, possibly throughout the weekend. Such targets would likely be oil refineries and power plants.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran's vital infrastructure throughout the war, vowing last week to destroy a bridge or power plant plant every time ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz are attacked.

The president had not yet given the green light for the campaign, but Israel and the US were coordinating, CBS said, citing multiple unnamed sources.

The report comes just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington and met with Trump and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Some White House aides voiced strong objections to the plan at the cabinet meeting, the CBS report said.

If the plan went forward, it would mark the first time that Israel has joined in attacks on Iran since the initial phase of the war.

The US military says the Iranian government’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz is closed is “false”. “The Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Iran does not control it. Thousands of ships have sailed through the international waterway over the past four months,” the US military’s Central Command said in a post on X.

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