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31 August 2026 at 20:13

Washington says it acted after observing Iran was planning to deploy fresh mines in strait of Hormuz

The US and Iran have exchanged fire for the first time in a month, with missiles and drones fired at Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the strait of Hormuz, and Iran targeting US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in response.

The US president, Donald Trump, on Monday threatened further action. The US is to trying to prise open Tehran’s grip on shipping going through the strait, which before the war accounted for a fifth of the world’s seaborne energy supply. Washington claimed that Iranian control over the waterway had been loosened by repeated US attacks on Iranian missile launchers and radars.

Trump threatens further action as US and Iran exchange fire in new flare-up

31 August 2026 at 20:13

Washington says it acted after observing Iran was planning to deploy fresh mines in strait of Hormuz

The US and Iran have exchanged fire for the first time in a month, with missiles and drones fired at Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the strait of Hormuz, and Iran targeting US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in response.

The US president, Donald Trump, on Monday threatened further action. The US is trying to prise open Tehran’s grip on shipping going through the strait, which before the war accounted for a fifth of the world’s seaborne energy supply. Washington claimed that Iranian control over the waterway had been loosened by repeated US attacks on Iranian missile launchers and radars.

Pentagon plays down report of Hegseth regularly overruling military advice

By: Joseph Gedeon in Washington

31 August 2026 at 19:02

Response seeks to discredit Washington Post story that four generals and admirals advised against prolonging Iran war

Pete Hegseth regularly receives formal objections from senior commanders and proceeds anyway, the Pentagon’s top spokesman has said, as he tried to discredit a Washington Post report that four generals and admirals had advised against prolonging the war in Iran.

“Of course, we demand candid military advice,” Sean Parnell wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Non-concurs are standard. The Secretary sees them constantly. That’s how you run a real military.”

Hosting G20 meeting, Bessent tries to rally allies on Iran as tariffs strain ties

By: Fatima Hussein · Associated Press

31 August 2026 at 18:04

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is meeting with finance ministers of the world's largest economies this week at a time when the United States has disrupted the international order with aggressive tariffs on major allies and an unpopular war on Iran.

United Arab Emirates says it has intercepted an Iranian drone over its territorial waters, calls attack 'dangerous escalation'

By: David Rising · Associated Press

31 August 2026 at 17:51

The incident comes after U.S. forces on Sunday struck Iranian rocket launchers on an Iranian island, breaking a lull in fighting in the six-month war.

Iran’s economy in crisis as US launches new sanctions campaign

The Guardian

31 August 2026 at 16:00

Trump’s Operation Economic Outcast is expected to push many Iranians into deeper poverty as food inflation soars

For many Iranians, the new US sanctions campaign, called Operation Economic Outcast, seems superfluous given the grim economic situation in their country.

Iranians are facing runaway food inflation, closed petrol stations and a seemingly never-ending depreciation of the nation’s currency caused by a lack of foreign exchange reserves.

Iran’s economy in crisis as US launches new sanctions campaign

31 August 2026 at 16:00

Trump’s Operation Economic Outcast is expected to push many Iranians into deeper poverty as food inflation soars

For many Iranians, the new US sanctions campaign, called Operation Economic Outcast, seems superfluous given the grim economic situation in their country.

Iranians are facing runaway food inflation, closed petrol stations and a seemingly never-ending depreciation of the nation’s currency caused by a lack of foreign exchange reserves.

U.S. and Iran Exchange Strikes Overnight After Monthlong Calm

NYT > Top Stories

By: Aaron Boxerman

31 August 2026 at 13:16

The renewed attacks were the latest sign that the war that began six months ago appears far from over.

The Strait of Hormuz, the waterway in the Persian Gulf that has been at the heart of the conflict between the United States and Iran, on Monday.

House lawmakers return to Capitol Hill as Republicans hope to pass stopgap spending bill – live

The Guardian

By: Shrai Popat (now) · Lucy Campbell and Tom Ambrose (earlier)

31 August 2026 at 20:50

The US House is back after a five-week recess; government funding is guaranteed through 30 September

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Chris Hippensteel

We’re watching today as Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, and Kevin Warsh, the chair of the Federal Reserve, deliver their opening remarks at the G20 meetings in Asheville, North Carolina.

The Navy’s Supply Chain Struggle, and Trump’s Unusual Oil Deal in Venezuela

NYT > Top Stories

By: Will Jarvis · Margaret Kadifa · Jake Lucas · Ian Stewart · John Ismay and Julie Turkewitz

31 August 2026 at 15:00

Plus, a groundbreaking new space telescope.

American forces attacked two Iranian rocket launchers attempting to disperse sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, U.S. Central Command said.

Trump’s ballroom construction can resume at White House, supreme court rules – as it happened

By: Nick Robins-Early · Shrai Popat · Lucy Campbell and Tom Ambrose

1 September 2026 at 04:58

This live blog is now closed.

US supreme court allows Trump to keep building $400m White House ballroom

Sign up for US Breaking News emails

Chris Hippensteel

We’re watching today as Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, and Kevin Warsh, the chair of the Federal Reserve, deliver their opening remarks at the G20 meetings in Asheville, North Carolina.

Global Oil Price Rises to $90 a Barrel After U.S. and Iran Trade Attacks

NYT > Top Stories

By: Jenny Gross · Jason Karaian and Rich Barbieri

31 August 2026 at 13:38

The first attacks in a month jolted energy markets. The average U.S. gasoline price remained 37 percent higher since the war began.

Iranian president says he still wants diplomatic end to war after US strikes on Hormuz – Middle East crisis live

The Guardian

By: Martin Belam (now) · Yohannes Lowe and Adam Fulton (earlier)

31 August 2026 at 15:31

US targets Iran’s Larak Island in first exchange of fire in more than a month as Masoud Pezeshkian says America ‘has not fulfilled its commitments’

First US military attacks on Iran in a month prompt retaliation

Coinciding with this week’s G20 meeting, the EU has issued a statement saying it will work with the US and other allied countries to maintain economic pressure against Iran.

“The ‌EU welcomes efforts at ensuring that Iran ceases its destabilising activities and engages in peace negotiations with good ‌faith, also through additional economic pressure, including through the US-led Operation Economic Outcast,” it said in reference to the pressure strategy the White House describes as “an unprecedented campaign to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining” the Islamic republic.

Trump says US will ‘hit Iran hard’ as hostilities resume – as it happened

By: Tom Ambrose (now) · Yohannes Lowe, Martin Belam and Adam Fulton (earlier)

31 August 2026 at 20:17

Iran responded to an assault on its Larak Island by targeting US bases in Jordan

Trump threatens further action as US and Iran exchange fire in new flare-up

Coinciding with this week’s G20 meeting, the EU has issued a statement saying it will work with the US and other allied countries to maintain economic pressure against Iran.

“The ‌EU welcomes efforts at ensuring that Iran ceases its destabilising activities and engages in peace negotiations with good ‌faith, also through additional economic pressure, including through the US-led Operation Economic Outcast,” it said in reference to the pressure strategy the White House describes as “an unprecedented campaign to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining” the Islamic republic.

UK households will take £2,400 financial hit from Iran war, analysis shows

The Guardian

By: Graeme Wearden

31 August 2026 at 07:00

Centre for Economics and Business Research calculates effect of inflation and wage stagnation to end of 2027

UK households will have suffered a £2,400 financial hit, on average, from the Iran war by the end of 2027, new analysis shows.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has calculated that the jump in inflation since the conflict began, and weaker wage growth, will knock £1,100 off the real income of the average UK household in 2026, and by a further £1,300 in 2027.

U.S. plans to sanction another bank in effort to clamp down on Iran transactions, Bessent tells AP

By: Fatima Hussein · Associated Press

31 August 2026 at 01:28

"This is going to be financial violence if we have to," Bessent said in the interview. "We are showing people that we know who you are, you know who you are, and this has got to stop."

U.S. strikes Iranian rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz in first military action in weeks

By: Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press · Cara Anna, Associated Press · Ben Finley, Associated Press

31 August 2026 at 00:25

The fighting comes just days after the Trump administration said it would turn its focus to increasing economic pressure — rather than military action — to try to end its war with Iran.

US strikes Iranian launchers in strait of Hormuz, sparking reprisal attack on airbases in Jordan and UAE

The Guardian

By: Guardian staff and agencies

31 August 2026 at 08:25

US says it attacked Larak Island to prevent launch of sea mines, prompting reprisals against airbases used by US forces, with tanker fire also reported in strait

Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on airbases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates after the US attacked Iranian rocket launchers in the strait of Hormuz, the first such hostilities in a month.

Hours later, Iranian state TV later reported that a supertanker had caught fire after hitting two naval mines while attempting to pass through the southern side of the strait. It ‌did not identify the vessel or provide information about its crew.

First US military attacks on Iran in a month prompt retaliation