Latest war news. Netanyahu: ‘We will not withdraw from our current positions in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed’

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a telephone conversation today on the latest regional developments, including efforts to “ease” tensions between the United States and Iran and to “bridge the gap” between their respective positions. This was reported in a statement issued by the Emir’s office. During the call, Al Jazeera reports, Trump praised Qatar’s role in “supporting diplomatic efforts and facilitating dialogue”, whilst the Emir emphasised the need to continue the dialogue and for all parties to respect the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran signed in mid-June.

An analysis by *The Guardian* has revealed that eight of the largest oil companies have raked in profits of nearly $93 billion in just three months, after the war between the US and Israel against Iran triggered a surge in oil prices, which exceeded $100 per barrel. The figures suggest that the eight publicly listed oil producers – Aramco, BP, Shell, Equinor, TotalEnergies, Eni, Chevron and ExxonMobil – recorded profits of over $700,000 per minute in the three months to the end of June, the first full financial quarter since the outbreak of the war.

Oil prices closed sharply lower in New York amid speculation of a deal between the US and Iran, as hinted at by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: WTI, the US benchmark, fell by 5.81 per cent to $75.67, whilst Brent, the international benchmark, lost 5.35 per cent and slipped to $79.29.

A mass funeral was held in Gaza, at which more than 100 bodies were buried, having finally been recovered following an Israeli attack on the Strip back in 2023. More than 300 people were killed on 22 November 2023, just a few weeks after the start of the war with Hamas, when fighter jets levelled a residential block in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City. Around 40 bodies were recovered shortly afterwards in a frantic search carried out with rudimentary tools and bare hands, but most remained buried deep beneath the rubble. Over the weekend, rescue workers dug through the destroyed buildings and recovered the remains of 112 victims, including 40 children, according to the Civil Defence, a rescue agency operating under the auspices of the Hamas-run Ministry of the Interior. The agency stated that 157 bodies have yet to be found.

Israel has ordered its armed forces in the Gaza Strip to limit operations to strikes necessary to eliminate “immediate threats”, whilst targeted killings will require the approval of the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the political leadership. This has been reported by the Israeli media.

The directive comes in the wake of a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Director-General of the Board of Peace, Nikolay Mladenov. According to the newspaper Ynet, Mladenov asked Israel to suspend its attacks for two weeks to allow negotiations with Hamas on the roadmap for disarmament to be completed.

The Yemeni Coastguard has rescued the crew of an Indian merchant ship that was attacked by a vessel carrying explosive devices in the Red Sea. This was reported by the Yemeni news portal HYemen24. At the end of July, the situation in the Red Sea deteriorated once again after the Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, announced a blockade on ships calling at Saudi ports and threatened to attack oil tankers linked to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Following the attack, Indian Minister of Maritime Transport Sarbananda Sonowal stated that the vessel subsequently capsized and sank. According to the minister, the merchant vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya was “hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters”.

In una piazza di Sana'a, nello Yemen, il 4 agosto 2026, è visibile un modello di drone realizzato dagli Houthi. Gli Houthi yemeniti hanno affermato di aver sferrato un attacco con un drone contro l’aeroporto di Najran, nel sud-ovest dell’Arabia Saudita, in risposta alle presunte violazioni dello spazio aereo yemenita da parte di droni sauditi, secondo una dichiarazione del portavoce militare degli Houthi Yahya Saree. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, has stated that Iran and Oman are continuing talks aimed at ensuring the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, focusing on the designation of safe lanes for entry and exit. In comments reported by the Iranian broadcaster IRIB, Baghaei said that the talks had been “viewed positively at both a technical and political level”, as Iran is working to develop the “mechanisms” needed to manage traffic in the Strait.

The first day of the latest round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon has come to an end in Rome. According to the Lebanese broadcaster LBCI, the main topics discussed were the pilot zones, the ceasefire, the explosions in the tunnels and the destruction of villages in southern Lebanon. The talks will resume tomorrow and are also scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

According to an Iranian source speaking to Reuters, Tehran has requested control over incoming maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and oversight of outgoing traffic, with the option to intervene if necessary, during ongoing talks with Oman on an agreement to reopen the strait.

The source, who is involved in the talks, emphasised that this is “the general idea currently under discussion”, specifying that the outbound route would run between Iran and Oman, with authorisation to leave granted via Oman following notification to Iran. “It is unlikely that Tehran will change its position,” the source added.

Qatar supports Oman’s mediation efforts and hopes that an agreement can be reached in the coming hours or days. This was stated by Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry in Doha, during his weekly press conference, noting that his country continues to call for de-escalation and dialogue. This was reported by Al Jazeera. Ansari confirmed that no direct talks are currently taking place, but that the mediators are in discussion, adding that draft agreements are being exchanged, as has been the case since the conflict began in February.

The Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. ““We discussed Lebanon first and foremost, in the hope that the negotiations currently taking place in Rome will represent a further step towards the full implementation of a comprehensive agreement,” wrote the Deputy Prime Minister on X. “I reiterated that it remains essential to consolidate the ceasefire and to maintain an international presence on the ground in the future as well. Minister Fidan confirmed Turkey’s strong hope that the Rome negotiations will gradually lead to a peaceful solution that the entire region is awaiting.” “I expressed my appreciation to Fidan for the role played by Turkey in facilitating the agreement on the disarmament of Hamas, an important step towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” wrote Tajani - “Finally, we emphasised the importance of ensuring immediate freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, which is essential for energy security and international trade.” “Italia and Turkey wish to continue working together to resolve the crises in our region, and wish to strengthen their bilateral relations both politically and economically,” he concluded.

Oil prices have fallen by more than 3 per cent after the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said that the United States and Iran could reach an agreement today or tomorrow to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, guaranteeing freedom of transit for commercial vessels: WTI, the US benchmark, fell by 3.87 per cent to $77.23, whilst Brent, the international benchmark, fell by 3.10 per cent to $81.17. “There is a possibility of reaching an agreement today or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalised situation in this conflict,” Bessent told CNBC, adding that regarding the Strait of Hormuz, “it would be a matter of freedom of transit”.

“We could reach an agreement with Iran tomorrow on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.” This was stated by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an interview with CNBC. He said he expected energy prices to “stabilise” and that the markets could see “a wave of relief selling as prices fall”. Bessent added that he had already seen “quite a few ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz even now”.

The US armed forces are reported to have used up almost all their stocks of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles during the five-month war against Iran, raising questions about America’s ability to deal with potential crises involving Russia and China. This is according to Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the figures.

According to two of the sources, Washington is said to have used “virtually all” of its ATACMS and the more modern PRSMs. US Central Command is said to have almost exhausted its pre-conflict ammunition stocks, although it was able to receive fresh supplies from stocks stationed in other parts of the world.

Efforts to reach a diplomatic solution between the United States and Iran are “ongoing”. This was stated by Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by the Israeli media. “We can confirm that efforts are continuing with all parties and that we are seeking a diplomatic solution,” said Ansari. The main aim of these efforts, he added, is de-escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar, acting as a mediator, has explained that efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Iran and the United States are continuing, although no direct talks between the two sides are currently planned. “We can confirm that efforts are continuing with all parties,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari told reporters, adding that the negotiations are focused on a “short-term agreement that would help us restart discussions and return fully to mediation efforts”.

The United States has used up most of its stockpile of long-range precision-guided missiles during the five-month war with Iran, raising concerns amongst US officials about American military readiness in future conflicts. This is reported by Haaretz, citing Reuters, which states that the weapons used up include the Army Tactical Missile System and the newer Precision Strike Missile. Sources familiar with US military data say the Pentagon has used “virtually all” of both systems. The US has also used nearly half of its global stockpile of Tomahawk cruise missiles, according to one source.

The suspension of US strikes in Iran has sparked internal discussions within the Trump administration over how long Washington can continue its raids against Tehran without compromising its ability to respond to other threats. ATACMS and PRSM missiles enable US forces to strike targets from long distances without putting aircraft at risk and are regarded as key weapons in a potential conflict with China or other heavily armed adversaries. One source stated that the administration’s decision to rely on these missiles reflected a choice to avoid riskier attacks involving manned aircraft. The sources did not disclose the number of missiles still in US arsenals. In recent weeks, military officials had warned that stocks of defensive weapons were dwindling. A recent analysis by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimated that around 65 per cent of US Patriot interceptor missiles and at least 38 per cent of THAAD interceptor missiles were used during the war. The White House has dismissed concerns about US operational readiness, with President Donald Trump stating that the military possesses “far more ammunition than anyone else in the world” and that defence contractors are rapidly ramping up production. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that the US armed forces have “everything they need” to carry out the operations ordered by the President, whilst maintaining the capacity to protect US interests.

The Houthis in Yemen claim to have attacked a Saudi airport. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated that they had “successfully struck a sensitive target belonging to the Saudi enemy at Najran airport using a drone”, adding that the attack on the southern airport was “a response to the Saudi enemy’s violation of airspace over the governorates of Saada and Hajjah using drones”. The attack by the Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis comes as tensions with Saudi Arabia escalate after the rebels declared a naval blockade against Riyadh and struck its ships.

The Saudi oil giant Aramco has announced a 44 per cent increase in its net profit for the second quarter compared with the same period last year, driven by the surge in crude oil prices against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East.

Aramco, the flagship of the Saudi economy and one of the world’s most valuable companies, stated in a press release that its net profit reached 122.6 billion Saudi riyals (32.7 billion dollars) in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 85 billion riyals (22.67 billion dollars) in the same period of 2025. The oil company’s chief executive stated that the attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels had not had any real impact on the oil giant’s production.

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, delivered a speech in which he urged the Lebanese authorities to “stop making unnecessary concessions” in the negotiations with Israel.

“Shouldn’t the systematic destruction of villages and towns in the south be a reason to break off dialogue with Israel?”, asked Qassem, adding that “Iran has won and America has failed”.

Iranian MP Hosseinali Hajideligani has announced that MPs are gathering evidence to initiate impeachment proceedings against Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “We are gathering the necessary documentation to initiate impeachment proceedings against Abbas Araghchi at the appropriate time,” Hajideligani said, as reported by Iran International. He emphasised that any agreement that violates Iran’s sovereignty or cedes control over any part of its territorial waters would constitute a breach of the constitution, adding that MPs would not back down on this issue.

The Board of Peace official responsible for Gaza’s post-war transition met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday – according to a statement – to discuss, amongst other things, a new disarmament agreement reached by the Board with the militant group Hamas.

Nikolay Mladenov, High Representative for Gaza, held “constructive and in-depth” talks with Netanyahu and his staff, the Board of Peace has stated.

Israel’s Political-Security Cabinet is due to meet this evening to discuss the issue of the agreement in the Gaza Strip and the Board of Peace, against a backdrop of opposition from some ministers to the ‘roadmap’ published regarding the disarmament of Hamas. This is reported by Ynet. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock have in fact called for a new government vote on the Board of Peace’s plan, which would allow a multinational security force to enter Gaza. According to the Jerusalem Post, the far-right ministers claimed that the initial approval of the plan was based on “incomplete and misleading information” and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to revoke the approval until a new vote is held.

US President Donald Trump has given assurances that negotiations with Iran “are ongoing” and has stated that his offer of talks represents “the last chance” for Iran, after calling off what he described as a large-scale attack against the Islamic Republic.

Speaking to journalists at the White House, the US President stated that these talks are taking place “at the request” of Tehran and with the “support” of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. “I want to give them every last chance before decapitation,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “You’ll find out today or tomorrow. I mean, things will move quickly, one way or another. It’s not very complicated.” According to Donald Trump, these discussions are focusing in particular on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The spotlight is on the talks between Lebanon and Israel in Rome, mediated by the United States. The new round of negotiations, which begins today, follows on from the one held in the capital on 14 and 15 July and will continue until Thursday. On the agenda is the implementation of the trilateral framework agreed by the two countries last month. It is a delicate phase because, whilst the Iran-US conflict remains in a sensitive phase, the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon must be consolidated by ‘shielding’ them from the fallout of the war in Iran. And on this issue, Italia continues to carve out a role for itself. Yesterday, on the eve of the negotiation session, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held telephone talks with the heads of the Lebanese and Israeli delegations, Yechiel Leiter and Simon Karam. During yesterday’s telephone calls, the minister expressed his appreciation for the initial results achieved in the ‘pilot zones’ following the July talks and encouraged the parties to continue in a constructive spirit, identifying mutually agreed solutions that would enable the full implementation of the Framework Agreement. He also welcomed the redeployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in the areas of Froun-Srifa and Western Zawtar, describing it as a concrete sign of the progress made. Under the agreement, on 21 July the Lebanese Army began its deployment in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, the first ‘pilot zone’, allowing residents to return there. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Monday that efforts are under way to secure “successive withdrawals of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, leading to a complete withdrawal”, during a meeting of the Council of Ministers, as reported by Information Minister Paul Morcos.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has denied reports suggesting he was about to resign. “We are working in full coordination with the armed forces. I will not resign and I will stand firm in my position,” he said in an interview to be broadcast on state television, “if I were to resign, I would announce it formally”. The first person to circulate rumours about Pezeshkian’s resignation was Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, a senior cleric whose sister is married to the Supreme Leader’s brother, Mojtaba Khamenei. It was he who claimed that Pezeshkian had threatened to resign “28 times”, but had then stopped after being warned that his forthcoming resignation would be accepted. In May, Iran International reported that Pezeshkian had submitted a letter of resignation to Khamenei’s office, stating that his government had been excluded from the most important decisions and that the hardliners had taken control of affairs.

Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel bring “shame and humiliation”. This is according to Hezbollah, which claims that the Lebanese president is fuelling divisions through his talks with Israel. A new round of trilateral talks between Israel, Lebanon and the United States is scheduled to take place in Rome today to resolve the conflict in the Land of the Cedars.

“Conflict, whether in a neighbourhood, a city, a country or between countries, is a disease that has spread. We will defend our borders, but we do not intend to expand the war or prolong it.” This was stated by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as reported by Iran International. “In these circumstances, we must work to build a healthy society, so that the enemy is not tempted to infiltrate it, tear apart our social fabric and destroy it,” he added.

According to Iranian and American officials, Iran and Oman are moving closer to an agreement to reopen maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. However, if the agreement comes into force, it could come at a high price: the ratification of Tehran’s control over what, prior to the war, was an international waterway open to traffic. This is reported by the New York Times. According to officials familiar with the agreement currently being finalised, ships heading for the Persian Gulf will pass through a channel controlled by Iran, close to its coast. Ships leaving the Gulf will travel through a channel near Oman.

Iranian officials say that, whilst no tolls are planned, the agreement includes a “service fee” to cover the environmental impact of maritime traffic, the safety of merchant ships and oil tankers, and staffing costs. The revenue would be split equally between Iran and Oman, two Iranian officials said. However, a US official familiar with the negotiations said on Monday that the Iranian account “is not accurate” and that any “temporary” route established through the strait would not require Iran’s approval or authorisation and would not involve any tolls.

Iran and its allied armed groups are more powerful than they were six months ago. This was stated by Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of Iran’s parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy. “The power and authority of the Islamic Republic and the resistance front have increased compared with six months ago and, despite the threats and bravado, Iran’s enemies cannot launch a large-scale attack against Iran,” said Rezaei, as reported by Iran International. He went on to warn that any new “misjudgement” on the part of Iran’s adversaries would provoke a harsher response.

Iran was ready to strike three targets in Ukraine in response to the attack on an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea, but suspended the operation after Kyiv described the incident as accidental. This was stated by Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, on Iranian state television.

Last week, Tehran accused Ukraine of attacking a ship carrying iron, killing one crew member and injuring three others. Kyiv, on the other hand, reported drone attacks on two Russian vessels used to transport military equipment in the Caspian Sea.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reported to have warned President Masoud Pezeshkian that his forthcoming resignation will be accepted. This is according to a video posted by a relative by marriage of Khamenei, which has prompted categorical denials and strong political reactions. The news was reported by Iran International. Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, a senior cleric whose sister is married to Khamenei’s brother, claimed that Pezeshkian had threatened to resign “28 times”, but had stopped after being warned that his subsequent resignation would be accepted. “If he resigns once more, I will approve it. I will write ‘approved’ underneath, and the matter will be closed,” Kharrazi reported, quoting Khamenei’s words. “Pezeshkian no longer dares,” he said. “They have all backed down.” On 31 May 2026, Iran International had reported that Pezeshkian had submitted an official letter of resignation to Khamenei’s office, stating that his government had been excluded from the most important decisions and that the most hardline factions of the Revolutionary Guards had taken control of state affairs. Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy head of communications and information at Pezeshkian’s office, rejected Kharrazi’s accusation of resignation, calling it “baseless and a complete lie”. “A sinister alliance of deceitful agitators and proponents of extremism and incompetence has targeted sacred unity and national cohesion. They have become puppets of Iran’s enemies. It is deplorable.” According to another adviser to the Pezeshkian administration, the cleric “has never met the Leader nor has any connection with him, and is known for his bizarre stories”. Kharrazi also stated that Khamenei intended to remove Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr from his post as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and replace him with Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to the Supreme Leader. Kharrazi also claimed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had been told he had “no right to interfere in the negotiations under any circumstances”, accusing him of repeatedly threatening to withdraw from the diplomatic process. The allegations come against the backdrop of the ongoing struggle between Pezeshkian’s allies and the hardliners over responsibility for the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, signed by the Iranian and US presidents on 17 June.

Iran and Oman are close to reaching an agreement on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. According to an article in The New York Times citing Iranian and American officials, the agreement would require ships entering the Persian Gulf to use a route controlled by Iran, whilst those leaving the Gulf would sail along a route closer to Oman. Iranian sources have stated that the agreement includes “service fees” which would be used to “cover the environmental impact of maritime traffic, ship safety and personnel costs”. According to the same Iranian sources, the revenue would be divided equally between Iran and Oman. A US official stated that the Iranian version “is not accurate” and said that not all routes would require Iran’s approval and would not include transit fees.

Turkey, Egypt and Qatar have condemned the “Israeli violations” in Gaza, which “are causing civilian casualties” and “breach international law”. This is according to Anadolu.

An “unidentified projectile” struck a merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which did not mention any injuries or damage. The incident took place approximately 37 km north-east of the Omani town of Al Khasab.