Latest war news. Tehran: ‘US sanctions amount to economic terrorism’. The aircraft carrier Roosevelt is heading for the Middle East

During today’s meeting in Tehran between the foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar, “the latest developments in the regional situation were discussed, along with ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and create the right conditions for dialogue, thereby contributing to the strengthening of regional security and stability”, stated the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release quoted by Al Jazeera.

The head of the CIA John Ratcliffe is reported to have used his brief trip to Moscow to put pressure on Russia to reduce its military and economic support for Iran. This is reported by Politico, citing sources who claim that during his visit, Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO allies.

Il direttore della Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Ratcliffe partecipa a un'audizione della Commissione per l'intelligence della Camera dei Rappresentanti degli Stati Uniti sulle minacce globali, a Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., Stati Uniti, il 19 marzo 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/Foto d'archivio

Israel is considering the possibility of expelling British representatives from the US-led international coordination centre for Gaza, located in the southern city of Kiryat Gat. This was reported to the Times of Israel by a source familiar with the matter, confirming an earlier report in the Financial Times and adding that “other measures” against London are also under consideration. The decision is being considered against the backdrop of the row between Israel and the UK over London’s alleged plans to impose a total ban on trade in goods from West Bank settlements and to adopt other punitive measures in response to theexpansion of the controversial Israeli E1 settlement plan, which would hinder territorial contiguity between the main Palestinian population centres. Sources state that, during a recent telephone call between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his British counterpart, “Sa’ar made it clear that Israel cannot allow punitive measures to be taken against it without reacting”.

Arik Ascherman was born in the United States in 1959, but has been living in the West Bank for over 30 years: as a rabbi and director of the NGO Torah of Justice, he has consistently denounced the settlers’ excesses and the illegality of the occupation, but the recent escalation of violence against Palestinians has left even him (almost) speechless. ‘I am witnessing a paradoxical situation. On the one hand, in my 31 years in the West Bank, I have never heard so many critical voices raised from within Israel regarding settler violence: not a day goes by without the Israeli mainstream media devoting articles and reports to it. The paradox is that this shift in public condemnation of the violence has not led to any practical change. Indeed, if anything, the situation has worsened,” explains Rabbi Ascherman.

Apart from the media coverage, have you also noticed any action taken by the authorities?

The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, General Eyal Zamir, has stated that he has ordered a significant reinforcement of troops in the West Bank in light of recent tensions in the area. Zamir explained that, partly due to the upcoming Jewish festive period, he had ordered a division of the regular army to be placed on high alert, ready to reinforce troops in the West Bank should it be necessary. “In addition to this, it is necessary to make arrangements for the immediate deployment of units and battalions to reinforce the area,” he added. Normally, the West Bank is garrisoned by two divisions.

Un uomo palestinese ammanettato viene arrestato dagli agenti della polizia di frontiera israeliana durante un’operazione dell’esercito nel campo profughi di Qalandiya, in Cisgiordania, martedì 25 agosto 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation on various crisis situations and bilateral issues, “first and foremost the developments in the Middle East, including the joint proposal by Iran and Oman to establish a temporary maritime corridor in the Strait of Hormuz”, according to a statement from the ministry. Abdelatty outlined “Egypt’s intensive contacts with various regional and international parties to ease tensions and create a favourable climate for the resumption of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, as well as for the conclusion of lasting agreements that address the various issues and strengthen regional security and stability”. During the talks, the Palestinian issue was also discussed, with emphasis placed on “the need for Israel to commit to complying with the provisions of the first and second phases of the plan and to cease all measures that undermine the prospects for peace, including settlement expansion and land confiscation”. On the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Egypt reiterated its hope for a political solution. On this occasion, an update was provided on the progress of work by the Russian company Rosatom on the construction of the Dabaa nuclear power station on the north coast, where the reactor pressure vessel for the plant’s second unit has been installed. A call was also made for the completion of the procedures necessary for the commissioning of the Russian industrial zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

The Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has called for greater unity and cooperation amongst Islamic countries, proposing three initiatives: “a pact on mutual security and non-aggression”, “a permanent mechanism for mediation and conflict prevention” and a network for economic cooperation in sectors such as artificial intelligence, medicine, energy, agriculture and new technologies. Speaking at the 40th International Conference on Islamic Unity, Pezeshkian emphasised that the security of countries in the region should not be built at the expense of their neighbours. “No Islamic country should become a platform for aggression against another Islamic country, and no Islamic country should seek its own security through the insecurity of its neighbour,” he stated, according to the IRNA news agency. The Iranian president also defended Tehran’s position in the conflict with Israel and the United States, arguing that “we did not start the war, but we have stood firm in the face of this aggression”. Among the proposals put forward by Pezeshkian, IRNA continues, is the creation of a permanent mechanism, through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, capable of intervening before disputes escalate into conflicts.

The US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is preparing for a deployment to the Middle East set to last over seven months, as the US war against Iran continues. This is reported by the US Naval Institute.

The head of naval operations, Admiral Daryl Caudle, and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, John Perryman, explained to journalists that the Theodore Roosevelt, its escort vessels and the Carrier Air Wing 11 on board are set to relieve the USS George Washington. The George Washington, normally based in Japan, entered the US Fifth Fleet’s area of responsibility in the Middle East last week. This new deployment confirms the growing shift of US naval resources towards the Middle East theatre, which also has implications for the US military presence in the Indo-Pacific.

“Oil production is insufficient and, due to the US naval blockade, we cannot import it”. Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, vice-president for executive affairs, acknowledged Tehran’s difficulties in managing fuel supplies, as reported by the official IRNA news agency. The comments by this representative of the moderate faction confirm the problems that have emerged in recent days, with long queues of Iranian motorists waiting at petrol stations. On Monday, the Iranian president’s chief of staff, Mohsen Haji-Mirzaei, had stated that oil import quotas would be reviewed, without providing further details. Ghaempanah criticised the distribution of heavily subsidised fuel in Iran, stating that the current system disproportionately benefits those who own multiple vehicles. “The distribution of petrol in the country is unfair. Those who own more vehicles benefit from the subsidies, unlike those who do not own a single one,” he said. Iran, one of the world’s leading oil producers with some of the cheapest fuel prices globally, has heavily subsidised fuel for years, making any change to prices highly ‘sensitive’ from a political standpoint. On the diplomatic front, Ghaempanah returned to the agreement signed at the time by President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump, brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing it as a “source of pride for Iran” and calling for “an assessment of the commitments we have made and those made by the United States”. Emphasising that war is not an end in itself, but a means of guaranteeing the rights of the Iranian people, Ghaempanah stated: “We want an independent, free and prosperous country, capable of standing on its own two feet. We want a strong Iran.” However, the vice-president went on to add that Tehran should avoid war when its objectives can be achieved by other means. “Talking about an agreement is not a sign of weakness, but of strength,” concluded Ghaempanah, adding that military power and diplomacy complement one another.

Iran “is not in a position of weakness” and knows how to defend itself. This was stated by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian whilst addressing the 40th International Conference on Islamic Unity, currently taking place in Tehran.

In his speech, which was broadcast on television, Pezeshkian called on Muslim countries to unite despite their differences. The president also condemned what he described as the Israeli-American aggression against his country.

Il presidente iraniano Masoud Pezeshkian incontra il capo delle Forze di difesa del Pakistan, il feldmaresciallo Asim Munir, a Teheran, in Iran, il 24 agosto 2026. Sito web della presidenza iraniana/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Foto fornita tramite REUTERS

The Prime Minister of Qatar has landed in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials on de-escalation, following visits by the head of the Pakistani armed forces and the Omani Foreign Minister. This has been reported by various international media outlets, including Al Jazeera.

Iran will not allow military vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz under the agreement it is negotiating with Oman for the management of maritime traffic in the strategic waterway. This was stated by the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi. Diplomats from the two countries met to discuss the management of commercial traffic in the Strait, which remains largely closed almost six months after the start of the war with Iran. Gharibabadi explained on state television, as reported by the Associated Press news agency, that commercial vessels heading for the Persian Gulf would pass through Iranian waters, whilst the outbound route would pass partly through Iranian waters and partly through those of Oman. The deputy minister clarified that these would be temporary routes and that Iran and Oman would need to discuss a permanent plan for maritime traffic within 30–60 days. However, the agreement currently being finalised is facing opposition from the US administration. President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman should the sultanate “get in the way”, whilst Washington is contesting certain aspects of the agreement under discussion.

An “unidentified projectile” struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire which was subsequently extinguished. This was reported by a British maritime agency. “Local authorities have reported that an oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire on board, which was subsequently brought under control,” said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Navi nello Stretto di Ormuz sono visibili nei pressi della spiaggia di Bandar Abbas, in Iran, il 26 agosto 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Concerns are mounting amongst the United States’ Asian allies and Pentagon officials responsible for the Indo-Pacific region over the massive consumption of ammunition in the Middle East. The fear is that a protracted war in Iran could compromise US operational readiness in the event of a confrontation with China. This is reported by the Washington Post, citing several sources. Taiwan is expecting significant delays in deliveries of Patriot PAC-3 systems, whilst Japan has been warned of possible delays to various deliveries.

Iran has condemned the latest threat of US sanctions in a letter to the United Nations, describing it as a “act of state and economic terrorism”. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in the letter, published on Telegram and by Iranian state media, that the United States is seeking to put an end to Iran’s legitimate economic relations with other countries “after failing to achieve its objectives through war”. The letter was addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN Security Council and UN member states. Washington announced yesterday its intention to impose new sanctions aimed at economically isolating Iran, including measures targeting Tehran’s trading partners. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Monday that anyone conducting business with Iran would face the consequences of US force, with the aim of cutting Tehran off from all sources of income. When asked whether the measures would also apply to China, the main buyer of Iranian oil, Bessent replied that no one should “test” Washington’s resolve. Araghchi stated that the sanctions were designed to harm civilians by restricting access to food, medicines, medical equipment, energy and other essential goods. He called on the United Nations Security Council and its member states to condemn and reject the “unilateral coercive measures and secondary sanctions” , urging countries not to implement them and calling on Washington to stop pressuring third countries to alter their trade relations with Iran. China has already criticised the threatened sanctions, stating that an economic war would not lead to a solution, but would instead exacerbate conflicts and disrupt the global financial order.

The head of the Pentagon Pete Hegseth refuses to rule out the use of force against Iran. “We do not rule out the use of kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or in the vicinity,” he said, emphasising that Tehran will not be able to withstand the economic pressure it is under.

Il segretario alla Difesa degli Stati Uniti Pete Hegseth interviene durante una cerimonia in onore dei marines che hanno prestato servizio all’Abbey Gate dell’aeroporto internazionale Hamid Karzai di Kabul durante l’attentato suicida del 26 agosto 2021, in cui hanno perso la vita 13 militari statunitensi e circa 170 civili afghani durante l’evacuazione delle forze armate statunitensi dall’Afghanistan, tenutasi al Pentagono a Washington, D.C., Stati Uniti, il 26 agosto 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein IMMAGINI DEL GIORNO DI TPX