War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says an understanding between Iran and Oman on a new route does not mean the Strait of Hormuz is being opened or closed, Al Jazeera reports.

Referring to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says that the country “must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed”.

In a post on X, he said, “The memorandum [of understanding] that was signed is the result of the collective wisdom of Shura Council’s members, and all members are in sympathy with it.”

“I believe this memorandum will be the centre of gravity of our foreign relations in the future. We must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed.”

“The security of the country, the region, and our allies will be enhanced by this memorandum,” President Pezeshkian stated.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, says that any “state that becomes a defensive shield for America will burn in the fire of war,” Iran’s IRNA news agency reports.

Negotiations between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says, Reuters reports, citing Iran’s IRNA.

An Iranian lawmaker said that mediators were seeking to revive a deal that briefly halted the war between Iran and the United States in June, reports AFP.

Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for parliament’s national security commission, said in a video interview that “there is an effort underway to revive the 14-point Islamabad agreement, particularly by the mediators”.

“They know that the main issue and, in fact, the key to the matter right now is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, so yes, there is an exchange of views,” he said.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa have discussed efforts to reduce regional escalations, Al Jazeera reports.

Their phone conversation also discussed the “necessity of reaching a comprehensive de-escalation that restores security and stability to the region”, according to the Jordanian Royal Hashemite Court.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has held a telephonic conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud.

Both leaders discussed the latest regional developments, particularly the “diplomatic efforts and joint coordination to de-escalate and strengthen security and stability in the region,” the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement.

Qatari prime minister “stressed the need for all parties to commit to dialogue and diplomacy, and to implement the understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, including ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in order to maintain security in the region, preserve the progress achieved, and promote regional stability,” it added.

US Central Command (Centcom) says its forces continue to enforce the naval blockade that was reimposed on Iran last month.

As of today, the US military “has redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2”, it said in a social media post.

The Israeli army has fired phosphorus shells to ignite fires in forests in Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports, citing the National News Agency.

The area is on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa municipality.

Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam says that the historical bond between Iran and Pakistan remains “strong and enduring”.

In a statement shared on X, he said, “The remarkable strengthening and solidification of the ties, particularly over the past two years, is evident to all scope of which is impossible to enumerate here. The representatives of the parliaments of Iran and Pakistan, as the voices of their respective nations, have consistently stood together in support and solidarity with one another.”

“The depth of the relations is well known to all sectors of the two nations and two esteemed governments. On the first day of the aggression of the Israeli regime, representatives of the Pakistani parliament issued a resolution in support of Iran.”

“I firmly believe that the friendship and brotherhood between Iran and Pakistan can serve as a role model of mutual respect, sincere brotherhood, good neighbourliness, and the spirit of ‘We Can Do It’ for the entire region,” he said.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other key members of OPEC+ have agreed in an online meeting to boost oil production by 188,000 barrels a day from September, against a backdrop of disruption caused by the Mideast war, AFP reports.

“The seven participating countries decided to implement a production adjustment of 188 thousand barrels per day,” they said in a joint statement.

The increase, decided by the key countries in the enlarged Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, was widely expected by analysts.

Gulf stock markets closed higher on Sunday as investors took comfort from US President Donald Trump’s indication that Washington would pause further military action against Iran, while strong corporate earnings also boosted sentiment, Reuters reports.

At least five soldiers sustained minor injuries in the Israeli strike in Bint Jbeil in the Nabatieh governorate in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports, citing Lebanon’s National News Agency.

It said that the attack targeted a civilian vehicle escorted by a Lebanese army vehicle.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has held separate calls with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait on tensions in the region, Al Jazeera reports.

In conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Jordan’s Ayman Safadi and Kuwait’s Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed his country’s support for efforts to de-escalate tensions.

The leaders also discussed the need for “all parties to adhere to dialogue and diplomacy” and to commit to the memorandum of understanding signed on June 20, which will ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and regional stability.

Loud explosions have rocked the town of Kunin in Nabatieh governorate’s Bint Jbeil district, Al Jazeera reports, citing the National News Agency (NNA).

Explosions rocked the town of Haddatha, also in Bint Jbeil, overnight.

In the town of al-Mansouri, NNA reported that Israeli forces dropped a stun grenade on an abandoned house. No casualties have been reported.

Separately, a drone belonging to Israeli forces was spotted circling southern Beirut, according to NNA.

Iran has not agreed to a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Fars news agency reports, citing informed sources.

“Some media outlets affiliated with the enemy had claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran had agreed to a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; however, informed sources have denied this claim and emphasised that no change has occurred in Iran’s policy regarding this strategic waterway,” the report said.

Iran’s Mehr news agency has denied President Donald Trump’s claim that the Islamic Republic asked the United States to refrain from conducting new strikes, AFP reports.

Citing military officials, the agency said the allegation “was nothing but a new lie” and that the Iranian armed forces were “on high alert and ready for any eventuality”.

Kuwait raised its average crude oil output in July to 1.971 million barrels per day from about 1.65m in June, a source familiar with the matter has told Reuters.

A spokesperson for state oil company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Tehran views every threat from its adversaries as “real and credible” even if made as part of psychological warfare, Iran’s acting defence minister Majid Ibn al-Reza said, Reuters reports, citing state media.

“We will neither be caught off guard nor remain passive,” he said, adding that Iran would use threats as a basis to increase its military readiness, strengthen deterrence and enhance its military capabilities.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed in a phone call with US President Donald Trump the “necessity of prioritising dialogue to de-escalate tensions” in the Middle East, Reuters reports, citing Saudi Arabia’s state news agency SPA.

The crown prince stressed the importance of paving the way for “diplomatic solutions that yield positive results to preserve the security and stability of the region, and prevent being drawn into a broader conflict whose repercussions affect regional and international security and stability”.

Areas of existing cooperation between the two countries were also reviewed, along with ways to strengthen them.

Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, tells Al Jazeera that it remains difficult to identify a clear US strategy in the war on Iran because Trump has repeatedly signalled imminent escalation before pulling back.

Harrison said it was too early to tell why Trump called off the planned attacks on Iran, including what commitments Iranians may have made to the US during Araghchi’s calls with his counterparts in Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

“From the Iranian perspective, my sense is that they probably will believe that Donald Trump blinked, because of the potential risk of escalation,” he was quoted as saying.

He said the latest announcement would not represent genuine de-escalation unless the US and Iran reached a clear agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Opec+ has agreed in principle to raise oil output targets by about 188,000 barrels per day from September and then pause for the fourth quarter, Reuters reported, citing a source with knowledge of Opec+ talks.

One Opec+ delegate and one Opec+ source also said they expected a similar outcome from the meeting.

Ahead of Trump’s cancellation of threatened attacks this morning, Iran’s Araghchi warned the US against any adventurous action and said it would retaliate decisively if American forces followed through on the threat, according to a government statement.

The foreign minister’s comments in separate phone calls on Saturday with senior Pakistani, Turkish and Saudi officials came just hours after Kuwait’s army said it destroyed hostile drones launched by Iran against several vital facilities.

Speaking to Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Araghchi said Iran would respond decisively to any “aggression” and discussed the consequences of destabilising actions” by the US, as well as prospects for heightened regional insecurity, according to Araghchi’s Telegram account.