Iran-US war latest: Trump’s agreement with Tehran expires today as $30k bounty placed on US soldiers
Iranian army commander’s threat comes after the American president vowed to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory
The 60-day deal signed between Iran and the US in June is set to expire today, with no breakthrough in sight for permanent peace talks.
The memorandum agreed to halt the US and Israel's attacks on Iran and address Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. However, since then there has been little improvement in shipping traffic, as Iran and the US have continued with their respective blockades of Hormuz and Iranian ports.
Meanwhile, an Iranian army commander has threatened to break Donald Trump’s legs after the American president threatened to declare the Strait a US territory.
Responding to his remarks, major general Amir Hatami said: “Joking about such remarks is a major mistake, because this is Iran, and it has defenders who will break your legs,” according to Iranian broadcaster IRIB.
He added that US forces had “effectively been driven out” and no longer had permission to enter the Gulf, the Sea of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian military has also offered a bounty equivalent to $30,000 for killing or capturing US soldiers and vowed to double the reward if carried out by a woman.
Five ways Trump could target Iran’s economy from ‘teapot’ sanctions to land blockade
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged on Friday to inflict severe economic damage on Iran following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement that Washington plans to levy unprecedented restrictions on Tehran as early as next week.
Trade embargoes, asset freezes, and sanctions have been imposed by the United States, European Union, and United Nations since the late 1970s, citing Tehran's nuclear ambitions, human rights abuses, and backing of militant factions.
Following the outbreak of the Iran war in February, Washington introduced a naval blockade alongside further financial, energy, and maritime penalties.
Some U.S. and Israeli officials have floated the prospect of a land blockade, which would require assistance from Iran's neighbors
How the Iran war is forcing families to choose between schooling and survival
Sou Sreynich dreams of becoming a teacher. But she knows she's far behind.
The 13-year-old first entered a classroom at 10, an age when most Cambodian children already have been in school for years. Her mother waited until she was old enough to swim, fearing the boat to school could capsize — a decision familiar to many parents on Cambodia's Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
Now, the price of gasoline has spiked because of the Iran war, an additional burden. Unlike outright school closures during Covid-19, the Iran war’s impact on education is less visible.
The impact of war on education isn't as visible as the school closures during Covid-19 pandemic, but the conflict is hitting the poorest children first
Iran blames 'malevolent parties' for lack of progress as talks with Oman continue
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson has said that talks are continuing between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.
The countries have been involved in negotiations over the beleaguered waterway, which runs along both of their coastlines.
In an update on Monday, Esmail Baghaei said that delays had been caused by “malevolent parties” that want the region to “always be in a state of conflict and chaos”.
Updates throughout the talks appear to suggest progress being made with a potential “voluntary fee” being floated as one option for the future.
Top US commander appears to acknowledge mental health issues on USS Lincoln
Admiral Brad Cooper appears to have conceded that conditions aboard the USS Lincoln have been difficult amid reports that sailors were struggling with low morale.
Last week, The Military Times reported that several sailors had attempted to go overboard amid reports of mental health issues.
“Here’s an important fact: Of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health,” Cooper said in a statement on X on Sunday.
The statement came following a visit to the ship on Saturday.
“This doesn’t mean that all is perfect. Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone.”
Trump reacts to Mecca pact
Donald Trump has reacted to a mutual defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey on 7 August.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday he wrote that he was “very happy” to hear the news, adding: “It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way.”
The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement that proclaimed that an attack on one would be an attack on all.
Trump orders US to scale back military drills with South Korea over his ‘very good’ relationship with Kim Jong Un
Donald Trump said he is scaling back joint military drills with South Korea hours before they were to start, citing his “very good” relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
The 11-day joint drills between South Korea and the US military start on Monday.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of the two major annual exercises between the two allies.
The war games were expected to involve about 18,000 South Korean troops alongside US forces and 12 of the 18 member states of the United Nations Command (UNC), a multinational military force formed after the Korean War to oversee the 1953 armistice.
Mr Trump also said he had asked South Korea if it would join the US efforts in the denuclearisation of Iran but Seoul declined.
The 11-day joint drills between South Korea and the US military start on Monday
Kushner arrives in Israel after Hamas talks on Gaza peace plan
President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner has arrived in Israel on Monday where he is expected to meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It follows rare talks between Kushner and Hamas on the beleaguered 15-point Gaza peace plan.
Netanyahu had firmly rejected the plan publicly earlier this month despite the Board of Peace suggesting that Hamas had agreed to disarm.
Both parties have said that an agreement would be conditional on expectations being met by the other. Israel wants Hamas to disarm and Hamas wants Israel to withdraw from Gaza and stop strikes in the strip.
Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since a US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025.
Trump moves aircraft carrier out of Pacific as USS Abraham Lincoln heads home
Donald Trump is moving an aircraft carrier out of the Pacific to support America's war on Iran, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East.
The USS George Washington, the last carrier in the Pacific, will depart the South China Sea to be deployed in the Middle East waters.
USS Abraham Lincoln was deployed to the Middle East last November with around 5,000 crew on board.
It had been expected to be deployed until May but its stay has been extended and there is currently no end date in sight, a situation that has led to a number of recent reports about dwindling morale.
