Iran said it was close to reaching a deal with Oman over a new route through the Strait of Hormuz after the US paused planned strikes to give diplomacy a chance. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump discussed the latest regional developments by phone, while OPEC+ agreed to increase oil production by 188,000 barrels a day from September as energy markets continued to watch the conflict closely. Follow our live updates for the latest developments across the region.11:24 PM, 2 August 2026Tehran says three nations reject involvement in Iran conflictThe UK, Bulgaria and Ukraine have told Tehran they will not take part in any military action against Iran, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said, according to state media, signalling a diplomatic push to limit the scope of any wider confrontation.Speaking in an interview with SNN, Baghaei said discussions with Oman were continuing over a proposed transit route through the Strait of Hormuz that is “neither a northern nor a southern route”, adding that the reopening of the vital waterway remained separate from those talks.He accused Washington of breaching a memorandum of understanding by failing to allow shipping traffic to resume within an agreed timeframe, saying the United States had “attacked us before the agreed-upon period expired”, and linked any decision on reopening the strait to what he described as US violations of its commitments.10:30 PM, 2 August 2026Iran: US must honour memorandum it signedIran must compel the US to honour the Iran-US memorandum of understanding it signed, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on X, adding that the agreement would become the cornerstone of Tehran’s future foreign relations.“We must strive to compel the enemy to honor what it signed,” Pezeshkian said. “This memorandum enhances the security of our country, the region and our allies.”09:17 PM, 2 August 2026Iran foreign ministry says close to deal with Oman on Hormuz routeThe spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry said on Sunday that Tehran and Muscat were close to reaching a deal on a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, separate from the existing corridors."We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides - neither the northern route nor the southern route - but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security," Esmaeil Baqaei said in an interview with state television.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.08:36 PM, 2 August 2026US carrier operations continue in Arabian SeaA U. Marine Corps F-35C stealth fighter launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln as the aircraft carrier continued operations in the Arabian Sea in support of the US blockade against Iran.US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that, as of August 2, it had redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded another two as part of its ongoing maritime operations linked to the blockade.07:16 PM, 2 August 2026Efforts underway to revive June US-Iran deal: Iranian MPAn Iranian lawmaker said on Sunday that mediators were seeking to revive a deal that briefly halted the war between Iran and the United States in June.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.The agreement, known as the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, was reached with the involvement of Iran's Gulf neighbour Qatar and eastern neighbour Pakistan, with negotiating sessions held in Islamabad.The deal included arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz and a resumption of diplomacy between Tehran and Washington for a broader deal.It also called for an end to the hostilities in Lebanon where Israel has been fighting the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.The agreement later collapsed after Iran and the United States accused each other of violating its provisions.06:53 PM, 2 August 2026Five Lebanon army soldiers injured in Lebanon blastFive Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday after a suspicious object exploded in the southern town of Kfara, Bint Jbeil, while their vehicle was escorting residents.The Lebanese Army said the soldiers suffered minor injuries in the blast and were taken for medical treatment.The incident comes amid continued security tensions in southern Lebanon, where the army has been expanding its deployment under a US-brokered framework agreement covering security arrangements, troop redeployment, reconstruction efforts, economic recovery and direct communication channels between the two sides.06:36 PM, 2 August 2026Bahraini, Jordanian Kings condemn Iranian attacks