Why a new Houthi threat could widen the Iran war and cut off another key oil supply

While Saudi Arabia, a host nation for US forces, has not yet formally requested military assistance from Washington, Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that any Houthi obstruction of shipping in the Red Sea – a crucial corridor for global trade – could draw the United States into the conflict. "If something like that happens, we'll take care of it. We've done that with the Houthis before," he told reporters.

Maira Butt26 July 2026 11:00

The four Iranian nuclear plants in Trump’s sights after president’s threat to hit Pickaxe Mountain

With the US-Iran ceasefire in tatters, Donald Trump has issued new threats against Tehran’s nuclear facilities in what would represent a significant escalation in the conflict.

Named Operation Midnight Hammer, the countries launched a series of attacks on several nuclear and military facilities more than one year ago. as part of a long-running ambition to thwart Tehran’s nuclear weapons programme.

Maira Butt26 July 2026 10:30

Wes Streeting declines to say whether he trusts Donald Trump

Maira Butt26 July 2026 10:00

Britain would be target if it supports US in war, Iran's Revolutionary Guards say

A spokesperson for Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Britain would become a "definite and legitimate target" if it supported the US in any war with Tehran, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

The spokesperson said any country, including Britain and Gulf states, that backed the US in a conflict would be considered a legitimate target, adding that US bombers had recently used British airfields.

Maira Butt26 July 2026 09:30

Iran war spreads to Red Sea and Caspian, Gulf quiet as US forgoes strikes

The Iran war broadened over the weekend despite a pause in US strikes, as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast and Iran accused Ukraine of targeting one of its vessels in the Caspian Sea.

The U.S. military said on Saturday its naval blockade against Iran "remains in full effect" but did not explain why it halted a streak of 13 nights of escalating strikes.

There were also no weekend reports of attacks by Iran on neighbours, similar to its daily rejoinders to the US attacks.

Asked about the pause, a senior official in President Donald Trump's administration said Trump "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way."

Maira Butt26 July 2026 09:00

US military boards tanker in Arabian Sea

The US military said it boarded a tanker in the Arabian Sea on Saturday as part of its naval blockade of Iranian ports, according to reports.

The US Central Command (Centcom) said US forces have so far redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to bypass the blockade, disabled two vessels that failed to comply, and boarded two ships for verification.

Namita Singh26 July 2026 08:15

Oman-Iran talks over Strait of Hormuz were 'productive', says Tehran

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson has said that Tehran has discussed operation of the Strait of Hormuz with Oman this weekend and that the talks were “productive”.

They added that “technical and political consultations between the two sides are ongoing”.

Maira Butt26 July 2026 07:45

CNN says Vance, Caine raised concerns about escalating war in Iran

US vice president JD Vance and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, both raised concerns about escalating the war in Iran during a White House meeting on Friday, the CNN reported, quoting a source familiar with the matter and a US official.

Gen Caine raised concerns about the US munitions stockpile and other potential negative implications, according to CNN.

Namita Singh26 July 2026 07:30

War threatens to spread to Yemen

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group struck sites belonging to Saudi state oil company Aramco in the cities of Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday.

A large column of smoke rose from the direction of the Aramco refinery in Jizan, near the Yemeni border, video on social media verified by Reuters showed.

The refinery can process up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily. Two Asia-based trading sources said they had been informed of potential damage to fuel and oil storage sites at Jizan. Aramco did not respond to requests for comment.

In Yanbu, two missiles aimed at oil installations were intercepted. Yanbu, Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil port, has become a key route for Saudi oil skirting the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded.

In Yemen, officials said the air ​force of the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government, which has opposed the Houthis for more than a decade, struck Houthi sites in the ‌Marib and al-Jawf provinces.

The officials said both sides in Yemen's civil war were mobilising forces along the front. Saudi Arabia has led an Arab coalition battling the Houthis since the Iran-aligned fighters captured Yemen's capital, ⁠Sanaa.

Namita Singh26 July 2026 06:45

Iran accuses Ukraine of attacking its commercial vessel in Caspian Sea

Iran's foreign ministry accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, saying one sailor was killed and another injured.

The ministry summoned Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in Tehran to protest over an attack it described as "hostile and criminal", state news agency IRNA said.

The Iranian denunciation coincided with comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv had noted Russia was passing on to Iran its satellite observations in ‘the Middle East, to enable it to direct strikes in the region.

Namita Singh26 July 2026 06:00