US–Iran tension escalates: Trump says no talks planned; UAE detects Iranian missiles

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Turkey rejected on Wednesday Israeli allegations that it posed a threat by preparing to send troops to a base in Syria, which was hit in a strike that the United States blamed on Israel.

The UAE has strongly condemned Israeli raids on the Abu Al Duhur Military Airbase in Syria’s Idlib Governorate, reaffirming its rejection of any violation of Syria’s sovereignty or threats to its security and stability.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said continued Israeli attacks on Syrian territory constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel.

The ministry stressed that Israel is obliged to uphold the agreement.

The UAE reaffirmed its support for Syria’s stability and territorial integrity, expressing solidarity with the Syrian people and backing efforts to achieve security, peace, dignity, peaceful coexistence and development.

The UAE called on the international community to take immediate steps to halt repeated attacks on Syrian territory and prevent further escalation.

It warned that actions that heighten regional tensions could threaten regional and international peace and security.

Israel on Tuesday accused Turkey of posing a threat by preparing to send troops to a base in Syria, which was hit in a strike condemned by the United States which blamed its ally. The strike marks extraordinary defiance by Israel of the US, which has sought to support Syria's new government led by a former militant allied with Turkey. "Israel and Syria agreed to a status quo in security matters, which Syria was on the verge of breaching by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement after a day of official silence by Israel. "Israel repeatedly warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security. Syria chose to ignore these warnings," said the statement, which stopped short of acknowledging Israeli responsibility.

The US Department of Justice has announced charges against 17 members of Iran’s Mabna Institute over alleged cyber activity carried out on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iranian entities.

The department said the institute was involved in a widespread cyber campaign that targeted more than 100,000 university professors worldwide and successfully compromised about 8,000 accounts at US and foreign universities.

According to the Justice Department, the activities date back to at least 2013. A 14-count indictment includes eight additional defendants, joining nine individuals who were previously indicted in 2018.

The alleged campaign targeted:

• 144 US universities and 178 foreign universities

• At least 42 US companies and 11 foreign companies

• At least five US federal and local government agencies

• Two non-governmental organisations

The defendants allegedly stole more than 31 terabytes of academic and intellectual property, along with email accounts belonging to employees at targeted organisations.

The Justice Department said operations targeting companies and government agencies resulted in more than $20 million in costs related to investigating and addressing the breaches.

The UAE has ordered a halt to all activities, trade exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, according to the Strategic Communications Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The directive covers activities and commercial exchanges with Iran, as well as financial transactions, with further details expected from the authorities.

• Two missiles detected: UAE air defence systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the UAE.

• Target: The Ministry of Defence said assessments showed the missiles were targeting maritime navigation.

• Where they fell: The first missile fell outside UAE territorial waters, while the second fell within the country’s territorial waters. Both fell into the sea, with no impact on land.

• Trade and financial dealings halted: The UAE has ordered a halt to all activities, trade exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.

• UAE on high alert: The ministry said the UAE remains on high alert and fully prepared to respond to any threats targeting the country’s security or maritime navigation.

• Threat intercepted: UAE air defence systems responded to the threat and successfully intercepted multiple threats, authorities said.

• Situation is safe: A subsequent mobile alert confirmed that the situation was safe and normal activities could resume.

• Residents urged to rely on official sources: The ministry advised the public to obtain information from official authorities and avoid spreading rumours or misinformation.

The UAE Ministry of Defence clarified that assessments showed two ballistic missiles detected approaching from Iran were targeting maritime navigation.

The ministry said both missiles fell into the sea and did not hit land.

It confirmed that the UAE remains on high alert and fully prepared to respond to any threats targeting the country’s security or maritime navigation in the region.

The UAE Ministry of Defence has shared a video highlighting the operational readiness and capabilities of the UAE Air Force and air defence systems amid regional tensions.

In a social media post, the ministry said the UAE’s air force and defence systems continue to demonstrate their efficiency in protecting the country’s airspace and responding decisively to threats.

“In every mission, the UAE Air Force and its defence systems demonstrate their competence and capabilities, embodying a firm national strength capable of protecting the nation’s skies and responding decisively to safeguard its security and stability,” the ministry said.

A cargo ship was struck by multiple unidentified projectiles southeast of Al Mukha, Yemen, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

UKMTO said it received a report of the incident, which occurred about 40 nautical miles southeast of Al Mukha.

The cargo vessel was unmanned at the time of the incident. The attack caused damage that resulted in the vessel being declared a constructive total loss, according to local authorities.

Authorities are investigating the incident.

UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to the maritime security agency.

Paris will expel two Iranian diplomats posted in France in retaliation for Iran banning two French diplomats in the embassy in Tehran, the French foreign minister said.

"Two Iranian diplomats in France will be expelled in the coming days," Jean-Noel Barrot said on X, adding the move was a consequence of the "intolerable" treatment of the French diplomats who were briefly detained last month in Tehran over accusations of "interference".

The Iranian foreign ministry on Monday said it had informed France that the two French diplomats would not be allowed to return to Iran.

Barrot on July 20 said the pair - one of whom was the cultural attache - had the night before been targeted by Iranian officials, who detained and questioned them over several hours, "in flagrant violation of diplomatic immunity".

He said they had suffered "an extremely serious act of intimidation" at the hands of Iran's security service, with one of them physically abused.

"It is precisely because France stands shoulder to shoulder with the Iranian people, supporting their artists, scientists and researchers, that two French diplomats were scandalously and deliberately attacked on 19 July," Barrot said on Tuesday.

The Iranian authorities have denied any mistreatment, saying the diplomats had only been briefly questioned and that they had "interfered in Iran's internal affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society".

Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has criticised Washington’s strategy of increasing pressure on Tehran, saying the US is seeking concessions that were not part of previous agreements.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf said the US was “misplaced” in believing that putting more pressure on Iran would secure additional concessions.

He also criticised US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying they were “way out of their league”.

Ghalibaf accused the US administration of creating the current crisis and urged Washington to focus on resolving the situation rather than expecting further concessions from Tehran.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the UAE.

The ministry said the first missile fell outside the UAE’s territorial waters, while the second fell within the country’s territorial waters.

The Ministry of Defence said it remains on high alert and fully prepared to respond to any threats targeting the UAE.

It said the country’s forces are prepared to protect the UAE’s sovereignty, security and stability, as well as its national interests and capabilities.

The ministry urged the public to obtain news and updates only from official UAE sources and avoid rumours and false information.

Iran could face natural gas shortages in several provinces this winter after damage to its gas infrastructure during the US-Iran war, CNN reported.

Houshang Seydali of the National Iranian Gas Company warned that North Khorasan, Mazandaran and Golestan could face tougher conditions. Restrictions may also be imposed in eight other provinces, depending on pressure levels across the gas network, Iran’s state-run IRNA reported.

Seydali urged households and industries to cut consumption, particularly during extreme cold, to help maintain supplies.

Gas shortages could also affect electricity generation, as a significant share of Iran’s power supply depends on natural gas. Seydali called on households, industries and gas company employees to help reduce demand.

Gaza health officials said that an Israeli airstrike had killed five people in the port of Gaza City and wounded a dozen more.

The Israeli military said it had struck a target on the Gaza coast to hit several Hamas commanders with "a precise aerial strike to remove the threat".

The UAE Ministry of Interior has thanked residents for their cooperation and said the situation is currently safe.

Residents may resume their normal activities while remaining cautious, taking necessary precautions and following official instructions, the ministry said.

The UAE Ministry of Interior has urged residents, amid the current situation and potential missile threats, to immediately seek shelter in the nearest secure building and stay away from windows, doors and open areas.

Residents are advised to remain in a safe place and await further instructions from the authorities.

A bulk carrier was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to a late report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The incident was reported to UKMTO by a third party and occurred on August 15 at around 2200 UTC. The impact damaged the vessel’s starboard side and resulted in a crew casualty.

There was no reported environmental impact, and authorities are investigating the incident.

UKMTO has advised vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz with caution and report any suspicious activity.

Trump said no US talks with Iran are under way or planned and insisted the blockade of its ports remains in force.

"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received a phone call from US President Donald Trump.

During the call, His Highness and President Trump discussed cooperation between the UAE and the United States and ways to further strengthen ties in support of mutual interests.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East and ongoing efforts to address them.

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led negotiations with the United States to end the Middle East war, will travel to Iraq on Wednesday for talks, Iranian media reported.

Ghalibaf will head "a high-level parliamentary delegation to discuss regional developments, strengthen strategic cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad and explore joint solutions to contribute to stability and security in the Middle East," Iran's Fars news agency said.

The visit comes as Iraq faces pressure from Washington to disarm powerful Iran-backed armed factions, which have built considerable political and financial clout in the country.

Baghdad has given pro-Iran armed groups until September 30 to disarm, coinciding with the end of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition's mission.

Iran has been at war with the United States since US-Israeli attacks on the Islamic republic on February 28 triggered a conflict that spread across the Middle East.

Ghalibaf's visit also comes days after a drone attack on the office of the prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, which Kurdish authorities initially blamed on Tehran.

Iran denied involvement, saying the incident was a ploy to undermine bilateral relations.

Qatar, a key mediator in the stalled US-Iran talks, said that an agreement between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz would make it easier to resume negotiations to end the Middle East war.

"We are also awaiting an agreement between the Sultanate of Oman and Iran regarding the Strait, which would enable us to return to the framework of negotiations," Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters.

"The agreement over the Strait of Hormuz would make it much easier for us to resume the talks between the United States and Iran," he added.

A memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides in June effectively collapsed over management of the strait.

Trump posted an image on social media showing the Strait of Hormuz labeled as “New US Territory.”

The picture of a map includes a circle around the strategic waterway, which is located between Iran and Oman at the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, with the words “New US Territory” displayed over the area.

The president’s Truth Social post came one day after he said declaring the strait a US territory was a “great idea.”

“I mean we control it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked what he meant last week when he said he would soon declare the strait to be US territory.

“We control it with the blockade, and I like the idea of declaring it a territory,” the president added.

Donald Trump once argued that the quickest way for an American president to lose credibility was to draw a red line and then fail to enforce it.

Nearly six months into the Iran war, the US president risks confronting that test himself.

Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action, imposed deadlines and warned of devastating consequences if Tehran failed to meet his demands. Many of those threats have passed without the promised response — even as Iran continues to resist US pressure and the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily restricted.

Now Trump has turned some of his strongest language on Oman, threatening to bomb the Gulf country if it interferes with US efforts in Hormuz.

Read the full story here.

Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the United States meets Tehran's demands, including lifting a naval blockade.

"I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding... are implemented," Ghalibaf said in a speech broadcast on state television. He listed the removal of the blockade, the lifting of oil sanctions and unfreezing of Iran's assets abroad among the demands.

A ship was hit by a projectile early Tuesday as it was sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the British military's UK Maritime Trade Operations centre.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the attack highlights the ongoing danger of attempting to transit the waterway as Iran continues to throttle shipping traffic, even as it finalizes negotiations with Oman on a plan to manage the critical passage.

President Donald Trump threatened Monday to bomb Oman if it "gets in the way" of a US deal with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz and called for Tehran to surrender in a war that has become a growing political burden.

Control of the waterway, which Iran has effectively closed since the conflict began on February 28, remains at the heart of the deadlock between Tehran and Washington.

President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 33%, its lowest point of his presidency, as growing numbers of Americans fear his war with Iran could become a prolonged conflict and rising energy costs deepen pressure on the White House.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, completed Monday (August 17), found that 64% of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance.

His approval rating fell from 35% in an earlier August survey, matching the lowest level recorded during his first term, in December 2017.

The poll comes as Trump's administration faces mounting questions over a war that the president initially suggested could be resolved within weeks.

Iran is weighing three measures to curb petrol use as war, import problems and a widening supply-demand gap strain fuel supplies.

The options include capping daily deliveries to petrol stations at 121 million litres; tightening vehicle quotas while selling excess fuel at market rates; or replacing vehicle-based quotas with monthly allocations of about 30 litres per citizen that people could use or trade.

No decision has been made, and subsidised fuel prices will not immediately change, Vice President Esmail Saghab-Esfahani said on state television. He added that the public would be informed before any policy took effect, Iran Wire reported.

Under the third plan, about 30 million litres a day would be reserved for public transport, taxis and ride-hailing services to limit fare increases.

It would also include a three-year programme to electrify 400,000 motorcycles, convert 130,000 pick-up trucks to natural gas and add 7,300 buses, although officials have not disclosed the programme’s financing or timetable, as per Iran International.

Iran’s new ‘infiltration’ bill has sparked backlash as it could make ordinary contact a crime. The bill before Iran’s parliament would impose new restrictions on contacts with foreign media, universities and organisations has drawn widespread objections over its potential impact on routine academic, cultural and civil-society activity, London-based Iran International reported.

Four airstrikes hit the Abu al-Zuhour military airport in the eastern countryside of Idlib on Tuesday, marking the first reported attack on the strategic facility since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.

The aircraft involved have not been officially identified. The identity of the attackers remained unconfirmed. There were no immediate reports of casualties or the extent of damage at the base. The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions and continued Israeli military activity inside Syria. Israel has maintained positions in territory seized after Assad's overthrow and has carried out repeated strikes and incursions, citing security concerns.

During the initial months of the Iranian-US conflict, Washington’s primary objective was to weaken Tehran’s military capabilities and strengthen deterrence.

On the other hand, Iran sought to raise the costs of the conflict by targeting maritime navigation and energy infrastructure across the region, while demonstrating its ability to prolong the conflict.

Today, however, as the conflict enters its fifth month, the two opponents are faced with a different dilemma.

The United States has partially achieved its key military objectives, such as degrading Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, weakening Iran’s air defence network, reducing Iran’s naval threat and limiting Tehran’s ability to reconstitute its forces.

Day 166: Israel strikes Lebanon as Iran-US tensions rise; Oman holds Hormuz talks

Day 165: US-Iran tensions rise over Trump’s Hormuz claim

Day 164: Iran demands faster US exit from Middle East

Day 163: 2 ADNOC vessels attacked in Hormuz; no injuries

Day 162: Trump says US has ‘total control’ of Strait of Hormuz

Day 161: Tehran: Hormuz stays shut as US-Iran diplomacy push continues

Day 160: Tehran reshuffles military

Day 159: Netanyahu rejects Gaza plan

Day 158: Trump says Iran can’t ‘go on much longer’

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