Carlotta Moreno Lara
Iran grants Iraqi oil tankers passage through Strait of Hormuz
Iran allows several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This is reported by the Iranian state news agency IRNA. The leadership in Tehran is responding to repeated requests from Iraq, which they have reached through various channels. The granting of the special permit was one of Baghdad's main demands during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's recent visit to Iraq.
Patricia Hoffhaus
Trump: Iran is not yet ready for a real agreement
US President Donald Trump says that Iran is not yet ready to conclude the “real deal”. The USA is closely monitoring developments in the conflict, Trump told reporters when asked whether the USA's military options were limited. The US has complete control over the entire region around the Strait of Hormuz, he adds. The leadership in Tehran would like to reach an agreement, but in his opinion they are not yet ready for the real deal.
Sarah Sendner
Iran calls Trump's “economic war” contrary to international law
The leadership in Tehran is convinced that the “economic war” against Iran announced by the USA would be a violation of international law. Banks, companies or airports that are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of a country should not be forced by other states to “renounce lawful trade with a third country,” wrote Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai on X.
In order to drastically increase the economic pressure on Iran, US President Donald Trump threatened draconian punishments for states that continue to support Iran. Baghai now explained: “Economic coercion aimed at forcing a sovereign state to change its lawful political decisions” represents a clear violation of the law. Such “secondary sanctions” violate the Charter of the United Nations.
Sarah Sendner
US military: 68 merchant ships diverted amid Iran blockade
As part of the blockade against Iran, the US armed forces have diverted 68 merchant ships, according to the responsible regional command Centcom. In addition, three ships were put out of action and two others were boarded, the US military said.
Julius Stockheim
Türkiye requests Interpol search for Netanyahu
Turkey requests Interpol to launch an international search for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The request for a so-called red alert is based on a national arrest warrant from mid-July and is related to the Israeli interception operation against the Gaza aid fleet, which tried to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, as Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gürlek announced on Platform X on Friday.
In Turkey, 35 people, including Netanyahu, have been charged with alleged genocide, other crimes against humanity, torture and unlawful imprisonment.
Julius Stockheim
Palestinian: Israeli shoots teenagers in West Bank
An Israeli shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, according to local authorities. A 70-year-old man was also injured, it was said on Friday. The shooter was guarding a group of Jewish settlers who had entered the area of a Palestinian village. According to the Israeli military, villagers threw stones at the settlers, injuring some, and the man then opened fire.
The incident occurred in the village of Sa'ir, near the city of Hebron. The Israeli military spoke of an “unauthorized migration” by the settlers. The area is under civilian control of the Palestinian government. Israelis are generally prohibited from entering. Around three million Palestinians and around 500,000 settlers live in the West Bank.
Marc Renner
“Position of strength”: Iran’s president wants to end the war – surrender is ruled out
Almost six months after the start of the war, the Iranian president called for an end to the military escalation. Sooner or later the war must end, Massoud Peseschkian said at a medical conference, according to the state news agency Irna. “It is better to end it today because we are in a position of strength and dignity,” Peseschkian continued. The US is hated around the world because of the war, said the Iranian president, who is also head of government.
In his speech, Peseschkian categorically rejected surrender. "We will not succumb to intimidation under any circumstances, there is no doubt about that. Until our last breath, we will face them and give them a devastating answer," he said.
At the end of February, Israel and the USA began their war against Iran and attacked the country from the air for almost 40 days. Iranian forces responded with massive missile attacks on US targets in the Gulf region. An agreed ceasefire was repeatedly broken, and recently there were only isolated mutual attacks. There is still no diplomatic solution to end the war.
Julius Stockheim
Settlers invade village near Hebron - Palestinians killed
According to local reports, a young Palestinian man has been killed in another violent incident involving settlers in the West Bank. Palestinian residents in Sair near Hebron threw stones at settlers who had invaded the village, whereupon a security force fired, the Israeli army said. There were “Palestinian victims” as a result of the shooting. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the killed Palestinian was 17 years old. According to local media, a 70-year-old was also injured.
According to the Israeli news site Ynet, a security guard at a nearby Israeli settlement fired the shots. According to the Israeli army, settlers were also injured by stones thrown by Palestinian residents. The military criticized the settlers for staying in the area in the south of the West Bank “without prior approval.” Soldiers have now taken them away.
Jeanne Vesper
Israel attacks strategic heights in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military continues to attack Lebanon. According to Lebanese security circles, the areas surrounding the strategically important heights of Ali al-Taher near the city of Nabatija were hit during the night. Explosions were also reported in other parts of southern Lebanon. The Lebanese state news agency NNA reported attacks also in the districts of Bint Jubail and south of the coastal city of Tyre. The Israeli military said these were “routine attacks.”
The heights of Ali al-Taher near Nabatija are considered a strategically important point with a view of large parts of the region due to their elevated position. They are a contested area in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The area has been an important area of operations and influence for Hezbollah for years and is therefore a recurring flashpoint in the conflict with Israel.
Hezbollah sources said the organization would not hand over control of Ali al-Taher to anyone. There is also said to be an underground Hezbollah tunnel system there.
Jeanne Vesper
Iran calls for closer economic ties with Iraq
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is calling for closer economic ties with Iraq in view of the threat of new US sanctions. Both countries should use their national currencies in trade to reduce dependence on the US dollar, Ghalibaf explains to business representatives in Baghdad, according to his Telegram channel.
In addition, Iran must develop plans to overcome the “unfair sanctions”. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Thursday what he said were the toughest sanctions to date against Iran, the details of which will be announced on Monday. Ghalibaf accuses the USA and Israel of waging an economic and information war because they shy away from direct military confrontation.
Sabrina Frangos
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is declining significantly
Shipping traffic in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz has halved compared to the previous day to seven freighters. This emerges from data from the analysis company Kpler. There are therefore neither large crude oil nor liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers among the ships. The decline comes amid growing concerns about shipping safety in the Middle East as peace talks between the US and Iran falter. Before the war, almost a fifth of the world's oil and LNG shipments passed through the strait.
Sabrina Frangos
Pentagon: More than 750 US soldiers wounded in Iran war
According to the Pentagon, 757 members of the US armed forces have been wounded since the war against Iran began in February. More than 580 of them belong to the US Army. The injured also included 86 US Navy personnel, 64 US Air Force personnel and 19 Marines.
Many of the cases are recorded under “Operation Epic Fury,” the operation’s official name. However, in late July, the Pentagon introduced a new category in the Defense Casualty Analysis System called “Overseas Operations” for casualties. According to the Pentagon, the new category was created because “Operation Epic Fury” has ended and the military has decided to record those injured in connection with the recent attacks there in the future.
The Pentagon and the Middle East regional command (Centcom) have so far released few details about how the injuries occurred or what damage was caused to US military bases. However, U.S. government officials said the vast majority of injuries were traumatic brain injuries.
Julius Stockheim
Germany and other countries condemn Israel's “E1” housing project
Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy condemn Israel's plans to open tenders for the "E1" housing project in the occupied West Bank. The decision is unacceptable, according to a joint statement from the heads of government of the four countries. The settlement project not only makes a peace solution more distant; Israel's international reputation will also be further damaged.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have settled among millions of Palestinians in territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war. Almost all countries and a number of UN bodies consider such settlements to be a violation of international law. Israel rejects this.
Julius Stockheim
Obsessed about the Iran war: Allies have to decide - for or against us
After the announced “economic war” against Iran, the US government is increasing the pressure on its allies to take part. “It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC. “You’re either on our side or against us.” US President Donald Trump had previously announced that he wanted to drastically increase economic pressure on Iran.
Bessent has now announced that it will provide information about the project at a press conference on Monday. Bessent also countered the argument that economic pressure could not achieve anything against Iran. “We have the naval blockade, and we will impose the toughest sanctions in history,” he said. Under this pressure, the leadership in Iran will collapse.
Julius Stockheim
“USS George Washington” arrived in the Middle East
The US aircraft carrier “USS George Washington” has arrived in the Middle East. The US military announced this on Thursday. He replaces the “USS Abraham Lincoln”, where reports of supply problems and psychological stress among the crew had accumulated after months of continuous use. The “USS George Washington” had previously anchored in the Vietnamese port of Da Nang.
Democratic lawmakers are demanding clarification from the Pentagon about the conditions on board the Lincoln. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected reports of abuses. The situation on board had been “completely misrepresented,” he said.
Carlotta Moreno Lara
Iran rejects Trump's threat of economic war: USA threatens the whole world
Iran has sharply rejected US President Donald Trump's recent threats of economic war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that this was an attempt to distract from domestic political problems in the USA. “America’s economic terrorism threatens the global economy and the national sovereignty of countries around the world.” Iran is open to dialogue with the US but does not confuse negotiations with surrender, added Mohammad Mochber, an adviser to the country's spiritual leader.
Military pressure and sanctions would not break Iran's resolve. Trump threatened “economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale” on social media on Wednesday. This is aimed at countries that give Iran “a lifeline in some way”. Then they themselves would have to reckon with “enormous economic consequences”.
Luke Bay
US military is said to have set up secret corridor for oil transport
The US military is said to have established a previously unknown shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. The US news portal “Axios” reported this on Thursday, citing two US officials. For several weeks now, 15 to 20 tankers have been sailing in and out of the Persian Gulf every night via the southern route along the coast of Oman. Around ten million barrels of oil per day are now being transported this way - around half of the pre-war volume.
According to Axios, the operation is not limited to escorting loaded tankers. The US military is also coordinating the entry of empty ships from the Arabian Sea so that they can pick up more oil in the ports of the Gulf states. A task force from the Army headquarters in Fort Bragg creates daily schedules and bundles the ships into set time windows. Protect US fighter jets
