LIVENaval blockade, Gaza strikes test fragile path to renewed US–Iran talksLast updated: August 03, 2026 | 06:59Gulf News ReportDonald TrumpIsraelGazaUS-Israel-Iran warUS President Donald Trump speaks to the press aboard Air Force One on August 2, 2026.AFP-AARON SCHWARTZUS President Donald Trump said talks with Iran will resume on Monday after he called off planned strikes, urging both sides to move quickly towards a deal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remains committed to a June memorandum of understanding with Washington, calling it a key pillar of Iran’s future foreign relations. Meanwhile, the UK maritime agency said reported an explosion near a tanker off Oman’s coast, while the US military has redirected 38 commercial vessels as part of renewed pressure on Iranian ports. Follow our live updates for the latest developments across the region.06:43 AM, 3 August 2026Hegseth: US ready for Iran strikes at ‘WWII-level’ scaleUS Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has echoed President Donald Trump’s claim that the US military was prepared to launch attacks on Iran at levels “not seen since World War II”.In a post on X, Hegseth said the Pentagon “remains ready” and is “locked and loaded”.04:20 AM, 3 August 202635 ships forced to turn back as US blockade chokes Iranian portsThe US military has redirected 38 commercial vessels as part of the renewed naval blockade of Iranian ports, according to the latest figures reported by the command amid continued enforcement operations in the region.The update came as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln transited the Arabian Sea, with a US Marine Corps F-35C stealth fighter launching from its deck in support of the mission.The blockade of maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports resumed on July 14 at the direction of President Donald Trump.04:18 AM, 3 August 2026Israeli strikes kill 13 in GazaIsraeli strikes on Gaza hit multiple residential buildings and killed at least 13 people, authorities said Sunday, despite Hamas saying it agreed to the latest stage of a deal to end the war.Hamas said Friday it had agreed to a plan championed by US President Donald Trump that includes provisions for handing over its weapons and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.Israel has yet to officially comment on the agreement, but a political source has told AFP "that there will be no withdrawal whatsoever" without Hamas's "genuine disarmament".04:06 AM, 3 August 2026Blast reported near tanker off Oman coast, crew safe: UKMTOThe United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an explosion in close proximity to a tanker off the coast of Oman on Sunday.According to UKMTO, in an X post at 4.37am on Monday (August 3, 2026) the incident occurred approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman.It confirmed that all crew members and the vessel are reported to be safe following the incident.Maritime authorities have launched an investigation into the event. Meanwhile, the UKMTO has advised all vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and immediately report any suspicious activity to the agency.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.03:30 AM, 3 August 2026Trump says new Iran talks to begin Monday after calling off strikesUS President Donald Trump said that negotiations with Iran will begin Monday after he decided to hold off on new "disastrous" strikes against the Islamic republic to pursue a deal."Obviously, they don't want to be attacked. They knew the extent of the attack because they saw it forming," Trump told reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One. "Now what we're doing is we're talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon," he said, without providing further details of the venue of the talks or the participants.03:00 AM, 3 August 2026Trump vows halt on strikes in Iran, they keep happeningPresident Donald Trump said on August 1 that he would halt new planned attacks on Iran pending renewed talks to wind down the war and revive stalled cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. It was the latest in a pattern of announcements the US president has made to first threaten massive strikes and then later call them off. The abrupt shifts have been a defining feature of the five-month conflict that has sent prices of oil and basic goods soaring — and the announcements to date have been upended by renewed attacks days or even hours afterward.01:30 AM, 3 August 2026Pezeshkian: US peace memo remains foreign policy cornerstoneThe memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the US and Iran in June will serve as the foundation of the country’s future foreign relations, the Iranian leader said early on Monday.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the deal was the product of collective decision-making by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and all members of the council are aligned with the agreement.“I believe that this memorandum of understanding will be the centre of gravity of our foreign relations in the future,” he wrote in a post on X.“We must strive to force the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed. The security of the country, the region and our allies will be enhanced with this memorandum of understanding.”“We must strive to force the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed. The security of the country, the region and our allies will be enhanced with this memorandum of understanding.”Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian 12:15 AM, 3 August 2026Iran ready to respond to infrastructure attacks: ReportGet updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.12:00 AM, 3 August 2026US‑Israel war on Iran: Recent developmentsGet Updates on Topics You ChooseUp Next