Table of Contents
Explosions heard off coast of Qeshm in southern Iran: state media
Iranian state media on Saturday said explosions were heard off the coast of an island located in the Strait of Hormuz.
“A few minutes ago, the sound of two explosions was heard on Qeshm Island, coming from the direction of the sea,” the official IRNA news agency said.
Iranian lawmakers push for direct nuclear weapons tests
Iranian lawmakers are now pushing for direct nuclear weapons tests “as soon as possible” and complete withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT), according to Entekhab News.
Iranian MP Hossein Ali Haji Deligani said a three-urgency bill demanding withdrawal from the NPT has been prepared and signed by lawmakers, with a parliamentary vote possible after approval by the presiding board.
Deligani went further, saying Iran should conduct the necessary tests for a nuclear weapon and arguing that possessing “atomic deterrence power” has become an inevitable necessity.
The pressure is spreading across parliament. National Security Commission member Mohseni Sani said the NPT “no longer has any meaning” for Iran and suggested reconsidering enrichment. Another lawmaker, Fada Hossein Maleki, said parliament is under pressure to approve withdrawal.
The nuclear taboo inside Iran’s parliament is breaking
Yemen government forces say hit Houthis in Red Sea city
Yemen’s Riyadh-backed government forces said on Saturday that they had struck Iran-allied Houthi fighters in the strategic Red Sea city of Mocha.
Following a week-long offensive, the Houthis on Friday captured Yemen’s Red Sea coast, cementing their hold on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for Saudi Arabian oil exports as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the US-Iran war.
They had seized Mocha the day before after heavy fighting.
“The armed forces destroyed vehicles and weapons and killed members of the Houthi terrorist militia backed by the Iranian regime” near Mocha’s port, the government news agency Saba reported on Saturday.
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Strait will remain closed until Washington meets seven conditions: Iran
An Iran-Oman agreement on new shipping arrangements would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, IRGC-linked Tasnim reported citing a source close to Iran’s negotiating team.
It said the strait will remain closed until Washington meets seven conditions set by Tehran.
US forces have redirected 100 commercial vessels over the past 60 days: CENTCOM
US forces have redirected 100 commercial vessels over the past 60 days since resuming the maritime blockade against Iran, US Central Command said on Saturday.
“ZERO ships have passed through the blockade without US forces allowing,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
At least 76,000 flee fighting in Yemen since July: UN
At least 76,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since July, with the number quadrupling in the past week as fighting flared between government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the United Nations said Saturday.
“The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is warning of a rapidly worsening displacement crisis in Yemen unfolding by the hour,” the UN agency said in a statement.
The Houthis, who have for years controlled large parts of northern Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive last week against Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, scoring one victory after another in fighting that has left hundreds dead.
Iraq finds drone launchers near Iran border: security sources
Iraqi security forces have found drone launchers near the border with Iran, security sources told AFP on Saturday, after an attack on a Saudi pipeline that Riyadh and Baghdad said was launched from Iraq.
A security official said that “security forces found drone launchers near the Iraq-Iran border in the al-Tib” remote region in the southern Missan province. A second security official gave the same account.
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Iran got Chinese satellite images before deadly strike on US troops: report
Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite images of a base in Jordan before and after an attack that killed three US soldiers, The Wall Street Journal reported — an incident that could deepen tensions between Washington and Beijing.
On July 17, Iran launched missile strikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which houses US forces. Three US Army soldiers were killed.
The unnamed US officials quoted by The Wall Street Journal did not name the Chinese entities involved, and did not suggest that Beijing was directly to blame.
But US officials have raised the matter with their Chinese counterparts, and it could come up again when US President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on September 24.
Chinese officials asked for proof of the transfer of satellite imagery when prodded by the US officials, and refused to acknowledge that Chinese companies were involved in providing Tehran with satellite images, the Journal reported late Friday.
Kuwait-Bahrain discuss developments
Kuwait Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah received a call from his Bahraini counterpart Dr Abdullatif Al-Zayani on Saturday.
The two sides discussed the recent regional developments and diplomatic efforts to enhance security and ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
No signed Hormuz deal expected yet from Oman meeting on Monday, Iranian official says
A meeting between Iran and Gulf states planned for Monday in Oman will be a chance to discuss issues including the Strait of Hormuz, but is not expected to yield a signed agreement over the blockaded waterway, a senior Iranian official was quoted as saying by Reuters on Saturday.
Iran has been negotiating for months with Oman, which controls the opposite bank of the strait, over a deal that would govern transport through it. Oman has long said its negotiations are supported by other Arab countries in the Gulf, Reuters added.
Oman condemns the targeting of Saudi Arabia’s pipeline
The Sultanate of Oman on Saturday condemned the targeting of Saudi Arabia’s pipeline, and reaffirmed its firm rejection of attacks targeting vital and civilian facilities
In a statement, Oman’s Foreign Ministry renewed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for measures to protect its territory and vital facilities, safeguard its security and stability, and respect state sovereignty and territorial integrity .It stressed the need to avoid actions that could threaten regional security and stability
Oman urged all parties to exercise wisdom and restraint, and called for prioritising dialogue and addressing causes through political and diplomatic means.
Bahrain says won’t participate in Hormuz meeting with Iran
Bahrain says won’t participate in Hormuz meeting with Iran.
Battle ready, US Marines prep for any eventuality
US Marines train on the flight deck of USS Portland (LPD 27) as the ship sails in the Arabian Sea.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets Iranian President in India
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders Summit in New Delhi, India.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest, as well as the importance of supporting efforts to promote calm, de-escalation and stability in the region and enhance prospects for peace and development for its peoples.
Iraq confirms attacks on Saudi pipeline originated from Iraqi territory
Attacks on a key Saudi oil pipeline were launched from Iraqi territory, said Iraq’s government Saturday, pledging to probe further.
US President Donald Trump appeared to blame Iran for the attack that halted the pipeline.
Meanwhile, fears mount that gas and oil prices may rise and international shipping could be further disrupted after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis seized a key island and captured a Red Sea port.
Iraq closes three Iran crossings after drone launch: sources to AFP
Iraq closed three border crossings with Iran on Saturday, officials told AFP, after a drone attack on a Saudi Arabian pipeline that both Riyadh and Baghdad said was launched from Iraq.
Soon after the attack, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dismissed the military commander in Missan province, bordering Iran, after authorities determined that the drones had been launched from there.
No group has claimed responsibility, and an alliance of powerful Tehran-backed Iraqi armed groups said they hadn’t struck the pipeline, but Riyadh has previously accused these groups of targeting its oil infrastructure.
An Iraqi security source and a government official told AFP that authorities ordered the closing of three border crossings with Iran.
The closed crossings are Shalamsheh in Basra province and al-Shib in Missan, as well as al-Mandali in the central province of Diyala.
Other border crossings with Iran are still open.
BRICS nations call for ‘maximum restraint’ in Middle East
Members of the 11-nation BRICS group including China, Russia, Iran and India called for calm in the Middle East, in a joint statement issued Saturday at a summit meeting.
“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia and, recalling our respective national positions, call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” the statement issued in the Indian capital New Delhi read.
UAE strongly condemns drone attacks on Saudi pipeline
The UAE has strongly condemned attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions with several drones originating from Iraqi territory, which resulted in injuries to a number of people.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the hostile attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability.
Trump says Yemen’s Houthis have asked US not to intervene
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthi fighters, who have taken control of a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia, have asked Washington not to intervene.
“The Houthis called us and they don’t want to fight with us,” Trump told reporters on a visit to Dublin, Ireland. “They don’t want us to go after them,” he added.
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Oman condemns pipeline attack, reaffirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia
The Sultanate of Oman condemned and denounced the targeting of a pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, underscoring its firm position rejecting such attacks and the targeting of vital and civilian installations, whatever the motives or causes. Oman renewed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures aimed at protecting the Kingdom’s territories and vital installations and safeguarding its security and stability. Oman also emphasised the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and avoiding anything that would threaten the security and stability of the region.
Iran president says Middle East has no need for US ‘policeman’
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that the Middle East does not need the United States to be a “regional policeman”, with the two countries at war and vying for control of the Strait of Hormuz.
“We do not need a regional policeman: the territorial integrity and security of the region can only be guaranteed by its main players and the countries that comprise it,” he said on the sidelines of a Brics summit in India during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Yemen government forces say hit Houthis in Red Sea city
Yemen’s Riyadh-backed government forces said on Saturday they have struck Iran-allied Houthi fighters in the strategic Red Sea city of Mocha.
Following a week-long offensive, the Houthis on Friday captured Yemen’s Red Sea coast, cementing their hold on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for Saudi Arabian oil exports as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the US-Iran war.
“The armed forces destroyed vehicles and weapons and killed members of the Houthi terrorist militia backed by the Iranian regime,” near the port of the city of Mocha, the government news agency Saba reported.
The spokesman for the Yemeni government forces, Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, said they have also struck the Houthis’ “vehicles and members” on the Mocha-Dhubab road, 11 kilometres (7 miles) from the city, according to Saba.
Nazili said Friday they had begun shelling areas in Mocha, and called on citizens not to use the Taiz-Mocha and Mocha-Dhubab roads.
The Houthis seized control of Mocha on Thursday, with their attack driving many to flee to Aden, where the internationally recognised government is based.
On Friday, Houthi media said two Saudi strikes hit Mocha’s airport, while a local official said the city’s seaport was hit by six missiles of unknown origin.
The Houthi offensive, which started last week, has killed more than 500 people, according to sources on both sides.
It has also displaced about 46,000 people, the UN migration agency said on Friday.
It is part of renewed hostilities in Yemen’s civil war that began with the group’s takeover of the capital Sanaa in 2014.
US warns citizens to stay alert
The US Mission to the United Arab Emirates issued a security alert reminding American citizens of the continued need for caution at locations across the UAE associated with the Jewish and Israeli communities, including places of worship. The embassy advised Americans to exercise increased caution around these sites, remain vigilant, maintain heightened situational awareness, and practice good personal security measures. It also urged citizens to review the Travel Advisory for the UAE and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and make it easier to be located in an emergency.
Iran: US talks pointless without full compliance
Ebrahim Azizi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in Iran’s parliament, said negotiations with the United States would serve no purpose unless Washington accepted all of Tehran’s conditions.
His remarks came amid stalled contacts between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions following mutual attacks. Azizi said there was no value in pursuing dialogue while Tehran’s demands remained unmet.
US forces redirect 99 vessels enforcing Iran blockade
US Central Command said a US Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter was seen preparing to land on the flight deck of USS Boxer (LHD 4), the flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which continues to enforce the US blockade against Iran. As of September 11, US forces have redirected 99 commercial vessels to ensure total compliance with the blockade.
Yemen’s Houthis take over strait vital to global shipping
The Iran-backed Houthis controlled Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast on Saturday after capturing three strategic islands in a lightning offensive the previous day, cementing their hold on a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia.
The developments are likely to deepen the Middle East war’s impact on international commerce as Saudi Arabia shut down an oil pipeline following attacks, and after months of Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Following a week-long offensive that has killed hundreds, government officials said the Houthis seized the Yemeni side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
A local official with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government said on Friday that the Houthis had “completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island”.
A government military official later reported the group had also seized Greater and Lesser Hanish, the last two islands in the narrow waterway not under their control, as well as all of the neighbouring Red Sea coastline.
Saudi says Iraqi drones forced oil pipeline closure
Saudi authorities said Friday drones launched from Iraq led to the temporary closure of a crucial oil export route used to bypass the lockdown of the Strait of Hormuz.
Riyadh has increased its use of the East-West pipeline, which links Abqaiq, near the Gulf, to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, since the start of the Middle East war to bypass the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.
The Saudi foreign ministry condemned “the targeting of the East–West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions by several drones coming from Iraq, which caused human injuries and damage”.
“The pipeline was stopped as a precaution, and the attacks resulted in some injuries,” an energy ministry official told the SPA news agency earlier.
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Saudi Arabia condemns pipeline attack
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued its strongest condemnation of the attack on the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, which it says was carried out by several drones launched from Iraq, causing injuries and damage that is currently being addressed.
The ministry clarified that, at the request of Iraq’s prime minister to give the “brotherly” Iraqi government room to prevent further attacks originating from its territory against the Kingdom and neighbouring countries, Saudi Arabia has chosen not to respond at this stage and will instead support Baghdad’s efforts. However, the Kingdom affirmed it reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities, and the safety of its citizens and residents.
Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome delayed to October: US official
The next round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome have been delayed until October, a US official said Friday.
Last month, the United States had said the next round of talks in the Italian capital would take place in early September.
While the Rome talks will not go ahead as planned, the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors will meet at the State Department in Washington next week “to discuss ongoing developments and the continued implementation” of a framework deal agreed in June, the official said, on customary condition of anonymity.
The so-called Trilateral Framework involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon’s south and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as “pilot zones.”
The US official Friday said the deal “remains the only viable mechanism to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and Israel’s security.
China to raise gasoline, diesel prices
China will raise the retail prices of gasoline and diesel from Saturday, based on recent changes in international crude oil prices, the country’s top economic planner announced Friday.
Under the adjustment, gasoline and diesel prices will increase by 260 yuan (about US$38.38) and 250 yuan per tonne, respectively, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
Based on the current pricing mechanism, the ceiling retail prices of gasoline and diesel should have been raised by 435 yuan and 420 yuan per tonne, respectively, this time, according to the NDRC.
Preliminary estimates show that private car owners will spend about 7 yuan less than they otherwise would when filling up their tanks, while truck drivers will spend about 75 yuan less per tank, as the increase was smaller than required by the pricing mechanism.
Since China’s previous adjustment of refined oil prices on August 28, the conflict between the United States and Iran has escalated again, driving international crude oil prices up sharply, the NDRC said, adding that the increase this time is aimed at cushioning the impact of rising international oil prices on the domestic market.
China’s three biggest oil companies — the China National Petroleum Corporation, the China Petrochemical Corporation and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation — and other refineries, have been directed to maintain production and facilitate transportation to ensure stable supplies.
Currently, there exists considerable geopolitical uncertainty and close attention should continue to be paid to how the evolving U.S.-Iran situation affects international oil prices, said the NDRC, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Sharurah danger over, Saudi Civil Defence confirms
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has announced that the threat in Sharurah Governorate has been resolved, following an earlier warning to residents about a possible risk in the area.
In a statement posted on X, the authority called on the public to continue complying with its safety guidance and to avoid gathering at the scene or filming.
Saudi Arabia shuts East-West Pipeline after attacks in Riyadh, Madinah
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy announced on Friday that the East-West Pipeline had been shut down as a precaution after it was targeted in the Riyadh and Madinah regions on Thursday.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing a ministry official, said: “The East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions was subjected to several attacks on Thursday morning. The pipeline was shut down as a precautionary measure, and the attacks resulted in several injuries. Medical care was provided to those injured.”
The official said emergency and specialised technical teams began work immediately after the attacks, taking the necessary measures to secure the pipeline and verify its safety in accordance with approved safety procedures and emergency plans, in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Any further developments will be announced in due course, the official added.
Saudi oil exports via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
US‑Israel war on Iran: Recent developments
Day 196: Iranian strikes hit US aircraft in Jordan
Day 195: Iran Guards say target unmanned US sea drone in Hormuz
Day 194: Iran Guards say war can end if US halts threats, meets demands
Day 193: IRGC Navy warns tanker crews near Kuwait, Bahrain
Day 192: Iran says talks with Oman on Hormuz Strait reach final stage
Day 191: Iran to declare ‘prohibited zone’ near Hormuz Strait
Day 190: Iran military vows ‘more severe’ reprisals if US attacks continue
