Live: Trump weighs potential Iran strikes as Tehran vows retaliation against energy assets

US President Donald Trump signaled potential further military actions against Iran as Washington urges the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after on Saturday (August 1, 2026), Kuwait announced it had repelled a fresh wave of Iranian drone strikes, even as another oil tanker was targeted in the key maritime passage. Meanwhile, Israeli forces launched severe bombardments on the Gaza Strip shortly after the Palestinian armed group Hamas agreed to lay down its arms.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Saturday (August 1) refuted assertions that it plans to collect transit tolls from vessels navigating the crucial Bab al-Mandeb waterway. This clarification was issued following accusations from a cabinet minister belonging to Yemen's internationally recognized administration, who alleged that the rebel group was enforcing passage fees. In response, the Saba news outlet, which is affiliated with the rebel movement, carried an official announcement from the group's HOCC administrative body dismissing the allegations as unfounded. The agency stated in its communication that movement across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains completely toll-free for commercial maritime traffic.

American embassies across several West Asian capitals issued advisories warning US nationals to be alert to an "unforeseen escalation" in the regional confrontation, urging them to be ready to depart. "Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation," stated a security alert, which was shared on social media platforms by US diplomatic missions in Amman, Jerusalem, Muscat, Baghdad, and Beirut. The communications instructed citizens to double-check their flight schedules and to strictly comply with safety guidelines provided by local authorities. "Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions," the warning noted. - AFP

Despite an active ceasefire, an Israeli serviceman suffered moderate injuries in a direct face-to-face clash with Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon overnight into Saturday (August 1, 2026), according to Israel's military. In an official statement, the armed forces confirmed that an IDF officer sustained moderate wounds while conducting operational tasks in southern Lebanon overnight. Clarifying details to news agency AFP, military officials noted the officer was injured during a close-quarters engagement with armed militants in the area. Hezbollah declined to issue a comment when approached by AFP reporters in Beirut. The armed movement has not officially claimed any attacks since June 20. - AFP

American diplomatic missions across several capitals in West Asia issued advisories to US citizens regarding potential "unforeseen escalation" in the ongoing conflict, urging them to be ready to leave. According to a security alert published on social media platforms by US missions in Amman, Jerusalem, and Baghdad, Americans located in the region ought to consider departing or be prepared to leave should conflict intensify further. - AFP

Tehran has cautioned London that permitting the United States to utilize British military facilities for launching strikes on Iranian territory will be viewed as an act of aggression, granting Iran the legal right to take retaliatory self-defense measures. As reported by Press TV, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi delivered this clear message during a phone discussion on Friday with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Araghchi emphasized that assisting aggressors—even if justified under prior defense pacts—remains entirely unacceptable. He further explained that international regulations and the UN resolution defining aggression establish that granting an attacking nation access to military infrastructure to strike another sovereign country makes the host nation complicit in aggression, thereby giving the targeted nation the right to execute self-defense actions.

Iran's armed forces have accused Washington of accelerating conflict across West Asia, cautioning regional countries against aiding the U.S. throughout the active confrontation. "The United States is rapidly advancing down a trajectory of escalating tensions across the region," stated Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's military central command. In a official statement delivered on state television, he warned, "Any nation serving as a defensive shield for an aggressive and criminal America will be consumed by the flames of war." His remarks followed earlier statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who reasserted threats to strike Iran "very hard". - AFP

The Kuwaiti military announced that its defense systems tracked and shot down hostile unmanned aerial vehicles within its airspace starting from early morning, stating that an attack by Iran had aimed at multiple critical installations. According to military officials, a state-owned facility located in northern Kuwait alongside commercial property owned by a firm on Bubiyan Island suffered impacts. They added that falling debris resulted in physical damage, though no loss of life or injuries occurred.

European Union naval mission ASPIDES announced that a commercial vessel successfully navigated across the Red Sea under the escort of Italian frigate Bergamini. The EU defensive maritime task force did not disclose the identity, flag, ownership, or cargo specifications of the protected merchant ship. Maritime traffic in the Red Sea has suffered severe disruption in recent weeks after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and subsequently targeted Saudi vessels, heightening threats for merchant shipping and driving up international oil prices.

Washington has hinted that President Donald Trump is contemplating launching fresh strikes on Iran as the US demands Tehran reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz and abide by the truce agreement established between both sides last month before quickly collapsing. While there were no American bombardments on Iranian targets overnight, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard stated on Friday (July 31) that it attacked two additional tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Kuwait reported downing incoming drones. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt voiced Washington's frustration once again, alleging that Tehran signed a cease-fire agreement with the US last month but rapidly "broke it, fired on commercial vessels, and killed US military personnel."

On Saturday (August 1, 2026), a British maritime safety entity reported that an unidentified object struck a commercial tanker close to Omani waters, coming amid an intense struggle between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel communicated that it sustained engine room damage after being impacted by an unspecified projectile. The agency noted that no crew casualties occurred in the incident, which took place nearly 12.5 miles off the shoreline of Lima, Oman. Tehran has effectively commanded maritime transit through the Hormuz corridor since full-scale hostilities broke out on February 28, obligating passing vessels to secure authorization and clear transit tariffs prior to navigating the route.

American President Donald Trump disclosed that his faith in Tehran is eroding, accusing Iranian leaders of repeatedly violating commitments while two-sided talks between the countries go on. Speaking during a broadcast Cabinet session from Camp David, Mr. Trump insisted that Iran suffers from a lack of credibility owing to its pattern of ignoring promises. “They do lie, and they do misrepresent,” stated Mr. Trump. “They always want to talk, but they break their word so often.” Despite this stern rebuke, the U.S. leader verified that senior American diplomats remain in active communication with Iranian officials. He named Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as crucial figures leading the discussions. “We have great people talking,” added Mr. Trump.

Tehran has issued a warning that it stands completely ready to hit vital Israeli assets and American energy facilities in the Middle East should military strikes be launched against it, following reports that Washington and Tel Aviv could be planning joint operations targeting the Islamic Republic. A high-ranking Iranian security figure informed Tasnim News Agency that Western news coverage speculating on impending attacks on Iran's infrastructure reflects "a kind of madness". As reported by Tasnim, the representative explained that Tehran has devised detailed counterstrike plans to hit major infrastructure inside Israel along with U.S. energy facilities in West Asia, stressing that Iran is totally prepared to carry out these operations if provoked.