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US President Donald Trump said Thursday that while overall US ammunition stockpiles remain sufficient, supplies of some types are under increasing strain. Speaking at the White House Oval Office, Trump said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of some munitions, while others are “a little bit tighter,” without providing details. His remarks came two days after reports said the US military had used nearly 80 percent of interceptors for a key missile defense system during the war with Iran, with commanders warning that ammunition stocks were “dangerously low.” The Atlantic, citing current and former defense officials, reported that supplies of long-range weapons and advanced interceptors, including Patriot and THAAD missiles, had fallen to as low as 20 percent of desired levels. Five months into the war, US public support for the prolonged conflict has weakened. A media poll found Americans who expect greater instability in the Middle East outnumber those expecting more stability by three to one. A Marquette University Law School poll found inflation and cost of living were the top public concerns, followed by the economy and then the Iran conflict. Since January, 56 percent have cited inflation and living costs as a primary or secondary concern. Labor Department data showed inflation rose to 3.3 percent in March, 4.2 percent in May and 3.5 percent in June, above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target. Meanwhile, uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz continues to threaten energy security. US crude imports from Saudi Arabia fell to zero in July, the first full month without such imports since 1985. Trump said Thursday that no deal had been finalized to reopen the waterway, but negotiations with Iran were continuing and an agreement could be reached soon. Saudi-based  media, citing senior sources, reported that Iran and Oman had reached an understanding on reopening the Strait for 60 days, pending approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that negotiations with Iran will begin Monday afternoon, noting that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar had asked the United States to call off planned strikes because "they think there's a deal." "There's a deal on (the Strait of) Hormuz, and then there will be a deal on the nuclear, or you might call it the denuclearization of Iran," Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews. Claiming that Iran had also asked the United States to pull back the planned strikes, Trump said that "now what we're doing is we're talking to them in the form of a negotiation." Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud spoke on the phone with Trump on Saturday and "expressed concern and asked for clarity" about the proposed plan of action against Iran, a U.S. official told news outlet Axios. Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, Türkiye and other countries have also called on the United States and Iran to de-escalate tensions and avoid further conflict.    

The United States has suspended its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of escalating military operations, while diplomatic efforts have intensified in an attempt to prevent the conflict from returning to full-scale war. It remains uncertain, however, whether Washington and Tehran are moving toward a lasting breakthrough as the conflict approaches its fifth month on Tuesday. President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals, warning that further military action remains an option while also saying negotiations with Iran are continuing. He has dismissed concerns that rising fuel prices linked to the conflict could hurt Republicans in November's midterm elections. The situation is further complicated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned visit to Washington next week. Israel, which joined the United States in launching military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, has so far stayed out of the latest U.S. strikes following Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil supplies normally pass. Analysts say Israel's absence from the latest phase of the conflict could signal either a desire to avoid widening the war or leave open the possibility of greater military pressure if diplomacy fails. Regional mediation efforts are continuing, with officials involved in the talks describing the pause in military operations as a positive development that could help reduce tensions. According to a regional official familiar with the negotiations, discussions are focused on restoring an interim ceasefire while reaching a compromise over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal under discussion would allow Iran to oversee vessel transit with fewer restrictions on commercial shipping. Iran tightened control over the strategic waterway after the conflict began by targeting commercial vessels, contributing to sharp increases in global oil prices. The disruption has raised economic concerns in the United States, where higher fuel costs have become a political issue ahead of the congressional elections. The U.S. military has expanded its operations in recent weeks, targeting Iran's coastal defenses, transport infrastructure and military positions in an effort to weaken Tehran's ability to threaten shipping in the Gulf. Analysts believe the military campaign is intended to pressure Iran into returning to negotiations. However, they note that Iran's divided political leadership may complicate diplomatic progress, as some factions could view concessions to Washington as a sign of weakness. Despite their differences, both countries have strong economic incentives to restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, although they remain divided over how the waterway should be managed. Regional tensions remain high despite the pause in direct U.S.-Iran fighting. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said Saturday they launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeida. The group also claimed it had closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another strategically important shipping route. Meanwhile, the U.S. military said it continues enforcing its naval blockade of Iranian ports and disabled a Mozambique-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to breach the blockade. Trump said Friday that Washington has two options: continue military operations or pursue diplomacy. "We can keep doing exactly what we're doing... or we can negotiate with them, which we're also doing right now," he told reporters. While saying he does not believe Iran is yet ready to reach an agreement, Trump added that Tehran appears to be taking negotiations more seriously as the conflict continues. The president also met senior national security advisers on Friday to review U.S. strategy toward Iran, including whether to maintain the current approach or expand military operations. No American airstrikes were reported overnight, ending a streak of 13 consecutive nights of attacks. Trump insisted he is not rushing to end the conflict because of domestic political considerations, saying his administration's priority is to "do it right" rather than focus on the approaching elections.

The United States has carried out another wave of military strikes against Iran, with President Donald Trump pledging retaliation following the deaths of three American service members in recent attacks blamed on Tehran. The latest operation marked the 10th consecutive night of US strikes targeting what the military described as Iranian capabilities that could threaten shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted military command centres, missile and drone launch sites, maritime assets and air defence systems in an effort to further weaken Iran’s offensive capabilities. Trump said Iran had been hit “very hard” during the previous night’s attacks, describing the operation as a response carried out in honour of three US soldiers killed in recent incidents in Jordan and Iraq. Iran, meanwhile, claimed it had retaliated by attacking two oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and striking US military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country was now engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States. Despite the escalating conflict, Iranian officials said indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington were continuing through intermediaries, even after the collapse of a ceasefire. CENTCOM said commercial shipping was continuing through the Strait of Hormuz despite the latest military exchanges. Iranian authorities said rescue teams were evacuating the crews of the two damaged oil tankers after the attacks. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz had reported being struck by an unidentified projectile, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel and take to lifeboats. It was not immediately clear whether the ship was one of the two vessels cited by Iran. The US Department of Defense identified two of the three American service members killed in an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan as Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Texas, and Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Hawaii. CENTCOM said another service member had initially been reported missing after the attack, with unidentified remains later recovered from the area. Regional tensions also spread beyond the Gulf. Jordan’s military said it intercepted three Iranian missiles after air raid sirens warned of incoming attacks, while Kuwait’s armed forces reported shooting down Iranian drones. Bahrain said Iranian drones targeted its air navigation systems, although authorities said air traffic operations were not disrupted. Iranian media reported that several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, were hit during overnight US strikes. State media also reported explosions involving two oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the vessels had been using what it described as an “unsafe and hazardous” southern route through the waterway and said they exploded before coming to a halt. The US military disputed that account, maintaining that its operations were directed at military targets rather than commercial shipping.  Source: BBC  

Two more US service members have been killed in the conflict with Iran, raising the total number of American military deaths to 16, the US military said on Saturday. The latest casualties occurred in Jordan, where US forces were defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, according to US Central Command. The military also said one service member remains missing following the attack. Officials did not release the identities of the deceased, saying their names would be withheld until at least 24 hours after their families had been notified. The rising death toll highlights the dangers faced by US forces across the Middle East, even without large numbers of ground troops. American military personnel stationed in the region remain vulnerable to missile and drone attacks as tensions with Iran continue to escalate. President Donald Trump has said the military campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. As of Saturday afternoon, he had not publicly commented on the latest deaths. The White House instead referred reporters to the statement issued by US Central Command. The first American casualties occurred shortly after the war began on Feb. 28, when an Iranian drone strike on a civilian port in Kuwait killed six US soldiers from an Iowa-based supply and logistics unit. A seventh soldier later died from injuries suffered during an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Later in March, six more US service members were killed when a KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft supporting military operations against Iran crashed in Iraq. US Central Command said the aircraft was flying in friendly airspace when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred. Earlier this week, the US military also confirmed the death of a Navy pilot following a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea. The Navy said the July 1 incident was an emergency landing and found no evidence that hostile action caused the crash. Three other sailors aboard the helicopter were rescued. The conflict has also claimed many lives beyond the US military. Iranian authorities say US airstrikes over the past three weeks have killed at least 50 people and injured more than 500 others. Among the latest casualties were eight people killed in a strike on a bridge on Friday. The war has also resulted in deaths among merchant ship workers, foreign nationals and civilians in several countries across the region, including Gulf states, Israel and Lebanon.

  The United States and Iran have again traded strikes after a week in which U.S. President Donald Trump mused that fragile negotiations between them might be “over.” The countries are now nearly halfway through the 60-day period that began with their signing of an interim deal aimed at permanently ending the war. At stake are the lives of Iranians and others throughout the region, including Israel and Lebanon, along with foreign residents of Gulf nations, U.S. military personnel stationed in multiple countries and thousands of mariners on ships still hoping to exit the Strait of Hormuz. The strait between Iran and Oman, considered an international waterway before the war, has become one of Tehran’s strongest pressure points in talks. Iran insists it alone now controls the strait. Here’s a brief timeline of the war and efforts to end it: Feb. 28 Israel and the U.S. attack Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials, sparking the war. Iran quickly responds with strikes against Israel and across the Gulf region and asserts control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and natural gas supplies from the Gulf. March 2 The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon enters the war by firing rockets at Israel. Israel retaliates, leading to an invasion that will occupy large swaths of southern Lebanon. March 8 Iran names one of Khamenei’s sons, Mojtaba, as the new supreme leader. He still has not been seen in public and is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being hurt in the war’s opening strikes.  

Most Asian stock markets closed higher on Friday, supported by gains in technology shares, while oil prices declined as investors kept a close watch on the latest developments in the Iran war. U.S. stock futures were mixed. Market sentiment remained cautious after tensions between Iran and the United States intensified this week. President Donald Trump declared that the Iran war ceasefire agreement was "over," while both countries continued exchanging attacks. South Korea's Kospi index climbed 2.5% to 7,475.94, recovering part of the losses recorded earlier this week. However, shares of memory chipmaker SK Hynix slipped 0.3% in Seoul ahead of its Nasdaq debut in New York later on Friday. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1.2% to close at 68,557.73. SoftBank Group, a major investor in OpenAI, surged 10.7%, while chip equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron rose 2.7%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.5% to 24,156.29. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index erased early gains and ended 1% lower at 3,996.16. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.5% to 8,806.00, while India's Sensex rose 1%. Oil prices moved lower after fluctuating sharply, as concerns persisted over global oil supplies due to the limited number of vessels able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.8% to $75.66 a barrel, compared with around $72 before the war began in late February. U.S. benchmark crude dropped 0.9% to $71.47 a barrel. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 gained 0.8% on Thursday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.3% to 26,206.89. Technology stocks, especially semiconductor companies, led the gains. Micron Technology jumped 4.5% after announcing plans to expand its U.S. investments, citing strong demand for memory chips driven by artificial intelligence. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) rose 5.7%, while Marvell Technology gained 5% and ON Semiconductor added 4.4%. In currency trading early Friday, the U.S. dollar fell to 161.70 Japanese yen from 162.37 yen, while the euro edged up to $1.1439 from $1.1430. The Japanese yen strengthened after Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said the government would encourage major pension funds to invest more in domestic assets denominated in yen.

Asian stock markets traded mixed on Tuesday as investor caution returned amid uncertainty over efforts to end the war in Iran, cooling recent strong gains across the region. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.9% in early trading to 71,681.29, while analysts said the market was taking a breather after a strong rally. “We’ve had eight days of strong markets. The market was up about 12.5%, and now it has cooled off a little bit,” said Neil Newman, managing director and head of strategy at Astris Advisory Japan. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up less than 0.1% to 8,822.10, while South Korea’s Kospi dropped sharply by 2.8% to 8,863.52. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.4% to 23,678.22, and China’s Shanghai Composite gained 0.2% to 4,170.58. On Wall Street, U.S. stocks closed mixed on Monday as oil prices eased and major technology shares fell. The S&P 500 declined 0.4%, pulling 1.8% below its recent record high after a strong run of gains in recent weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 148 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.3%, dragged down by weakness in major tech stocks. Oil prices eased after weekend discussions between the United States and Iran over the ongoing conflict. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the talks had created a “good foundation for a successful final deal.” Any resolution to the conflict could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. Iran had claimed it closed the strait, but U.S. Central Command disputed the claim. In early trading Tuesday, U.S. crude oil rose 35 cents to $74.21 per barrel, while Brent crude added 23 cents to $78.13. Bond yields also moved higher, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rising to 4.50% from 4.46%, as markets speculated that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates to contain inflation driven by higher energy costs. Economists expect upcoming U.S. inflation data to show consumer prices rising to 4.1% in May, up from 3.8% in April. In corporate trading, shares linked to SpaceX fell 16.4% to $154.60, marking a third straight decline after a recent surge following its stock market debut. Major tech stocks also weighed on the S&P 500, including Alphabet, Amazon and Broadcom, which each dropped between 4% and 5%. Overall, the S&P 500 lost 27.79 points to close at 7,472.79. The Dow gained 148.01 points to 51,712.71, while the Nasdaq fell 351.33 points to 26,166.60. In currency markets, the U.S. dollar edged slightly higher to 161.60 Japanese yen, while the euro traded at $1.1427.

US President Donald Trump said the proposed agreement with Iran remains unfinished and warned that military action could resume if Tehran fails to comply with its commitments. Speaking during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 summit on Wednesday, Trump stressed that Washington retained the option of returning to military operations if the agreement proves unsatisfactory. He also dismissed reports suggesting the United States would invest in Iran or support a reconstruction fund for Tehran as part of a broader settlement. Earlier in the summit, Trump reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon under any future agreement. On regional security issues, the US president criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, saying Israel needed to act more responsibly. During a joint appearance with the Emir of Qatar, Trump said the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group had continued for too long and was causing excessive loss of life. His remarks came as Israel and Hezbollah continued exchanging attacks despite the US-Iran agreement announced on Sunday night. Turning to the war in Ukraine, Trump said he held a productive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and renewed his call for Russia to reach a peace agreement. He also indicated that additional sanctions targeting Russian oil exports could be imposed in the near future if efforts to end the conflict fail to progress. The comments came as G7 leaders wrapped up discussions in France, with global security issues, including Iran, Ukraine and the Middle East, dominating the summit agenda. Source: BBC

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that any agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Iran and the United States must include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, a condition that Israel has already rejected, casting uncertainty over the prospects of a lasting settlement. Speaking on Tuesday, Araghchi argued that the war could not be considered fully over while Israeli troops remained in territories occupied during the conflict. “Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end,” he said. The proposed agreement, brokered primarily by Pakistan, has not been publicly released, and differing interpretations by officials from various sides have highlighted unresolved issues. Although Israel is not a direct party to the US-Iran negotiations, it has been deeply involved in the wider conflict after joining US strikes against Iran in late February and continuing military operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Pakistan, which has played a key mediating role, previously indicated that the agreement would bring an end to military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon. However, Araghchi’s insistence on an Israeli withdrawal introduces a new point of contention. A US official familiar with the negotiations has said the agreement does not require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reiterated on Monday that Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon “as long as necessary.” The disagreement highlights the fragile nature of the proposed settlement ahead of a planned signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday. According to US and Pakistani officials, the framework agreement would involve the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of blockades affecting Iranian ports. It would also initiate a 60-day negotiation process focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and the possible easing of sanctions. The deal reportedly includes provisions for the release of frozen Iranian assets and the establishment of a potential $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, contingent on Tehran meeting agreed conditions. However, US President Donald Trump later said Washington would not directly invest funds in Iran. Regional officials familiar with the negotiations told media outlets that Iran had pushed in the final stages to include Lebanon in the agreement. They said Tehran seeks the withdrawal of Israeli forces from nearly all occupied Lebanese territory, except for a limited number of border positions. The officials also noted that the release of frozen Iranian funds would depend on Iran’s implementation of the agreement. Gulf Arab countries are also expected to provide substantial financial support to Iran’s economy under the broader framework. Another unresolved issue concerns Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The agreement reportedly envisages discussions on reducing or removing the stockpile, although Iranian hardliners remain opposed to relinquishing it. Questions also remain over how compliance with any future nuclear arrangements would be verified and how highly enriched uranium stored at damaged nuclear facilities would be handled. The proposed deal comes as leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations gather in France, where the Middle East conflict and its economic repercussions are expected to feature prominently in discussions. European leaders have welcomed the diplomatic progress while stressing the need for rapid implementation of any agreement to restore stability and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies. Trump acknowledged ongoing concerns about Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, saying prolonged fighting could undermine broader diplomatic efforts. “It just goes on forever,” he said. “And when that happens, it throws a negative light on the big deal. And that’s the deal with Iran.”