LIVERubio, Miliband vow to keep Strait of Hormuz open as US-Iran deal hopes riseLast updated: August 06, 2026 | 20:51Gulf News ReportDonald Trumpiran nuclear programmeIran Israel conflictUS-Israel-Iran warus-iranAFPIran says an understanding with Oman on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz will not immediately restore normal traffic. Tehran says Washington must first address political and economic issues before commercial navigation can fully resume. Pakistan is pushing the diplomatic track, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia seeking de-escalation and renewed dialogue. But tensions remain across the region, with Houthi attacks in Yemen’s Hadhramawt and Marib drawing condemnation from the US Mission to Yemen. Travel links are also showing signs of recovery, with Qatar Airways set to resume flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil from August 8 as airlines rebuild regional networks. Follow our live blog for the latest developments on diplomacy, security, travel and markets.HighlightsSHOW MORE08:45 PM, 6 August 2026Pakistan PM arrives in Saudi ArabiaPakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Jeddah on an official visit at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with talks expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and regional developments. Sharif is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Information Minister Atta Tarar and other senior officials.As part of the visit, the prime minister will also perform Umrah and travel to Madinah to pay respects at Roza-E-Rasool.08:40 PM, 6 August 2026Oil price shoots up as stocks tread waterOil prices barrelled ahead again Thursday, extending their volatile run, while global stock markets were stuck as investors assessed corporate earnings, with tech firms back under pressure.With traders awaiting developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the main oil contracts rose, Brent crude adding three percent to almost $82, while the main US contract WTI added 2.3 percent to nearly $77.Wall Street was in cautious mode with the Dow starting off flat then dropping 0.6 percent two hours into the session.The broader based S&P 500 was off 0.2 percent while the tech-heavy Nasdaq inched just into the green.European main indices closed mixed with London's FTSE 100 losing 0.2 percent while Frankfurt added 0.1 percent and Paris 0.4 percent though fresh highs proved elusive.In Asia, tech-heavy indices were weighed down by concerns over the profitability of AI investments after disappointing earnings from US giants SanDisk and Western Digital. A sharp decline in shares of Elon Musk's SpaceX on Wednesday also soured the mood, after its earnings results raised worries about huge AI spending.With the Middle East conflict still casting a shadow, Iran said Wednesday it had agreed a route with Oman for ships transiting the waterway and were adding the final touches to arrangements for jointly managing it.Official sources briefing Iranian media said any reopening would depend on the United States fulfilling what Tehran considers a commitment to end naval blockade of Iran's ports.07:47 PM, 6 August 2026US condemns Houthi attacks that killed Yemeni soldiersThe US Mission to Yemen has expressed condolences to the families of Yemeni soldiers killed in attacks in Hadhramawt and Marib.In a post on X, the embassy condemned the attacks, blaming Iran-backed Houthi rebels and describing them as further acts of violence against the Yemeni people.The US Mission also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attacks.07:40 PM, 6 August 2026Iran says Oman deal alone won’t reopen HormuzIran has made clear that its emerging maritime agreement with Oman will not, by itself, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to normal commercial shipping, saying the United States must first meet a series of political and economic conditions before free navigation can resume, according to news reports.The clarification by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi comes a day after Tehran announced that it had agreed with Oman on the geographical route vessels would follow through the strategic waterway, raising hopes that one of the world’s most important energy corridors could soon reopen.Read more here.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.07:28 PM, 6 August 2026Modi, Netanyahu discuss India-Israel tiesIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the two leaders reviewed progress in the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership.Modi said the discussions also covered the current situation in West Asia, as regional tensions continue to remain a focus for international leaders.06:58 PM, 6 August 2026Houthis say attacks on Yemen forces response to 'Saudi military buildup'Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Thursday said they had attacked government positions in response to an alleged military buildup by neighbouring Saudi Arabia, while medical sources said at least 38 Yemeni troops were killed.Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree accused the kingdom of a "large Saudi military buildup" to prepare for attacks. "Therefore, our armed forces conducted a large-scale and precise military operation targeting Saudi enemy troop concentrations," he added, referring to the Saudi-backed government's forces.06:15 PM, 6 August 2026India approves $2.5 billion scheme to boost biogas outputIndia approved a $2.5 billion biogas programme to sharply expand domestic clean fuel production on Thursday, after Middle East war shortages underscored dependence on energy imports.The South Asian nation, the world's third-largest importer of oil and the second-largest buyer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has faced major disruptions due to restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, driven by conflict between the United States and Iran.India consumes more than 30 million tonnes of LPG annually, importing more than half its needs.A government statement released on Thursday said the latest National Circular Bioenergy Scheme "marks a defining moment in India's clean energy journey".It will back waste collection, manure processing and the expansion of existing biogas plants."It will transform the country's abundant agricultural residue, cattle dung, press mud (sugar cane waste), municipal organic waste and other biomass resources into clean fuel, organic manure, rural income and national economic value," the statement said.05:57 PM, 6 August 2026Dozens of Yemeni forces dead, injured in Houthi attackHouthi rebels launched a missile attack in central Yemen on Thursday that caused dozens of casualties among government forces, a Yemeni military official told AFP, declining to provide a breakdown of the dead and wounded.The missile hit troops during their morning formation at a camp in Marib province, "killing and wounding at least 45 personnel", said the official, who declined to be named for security reasons.05:19 PM, 6 August 2026Iran's Acting Defence Minister asserts forces' readiness to counter threatsIran's Acting Defence Minister, Brigadier General Majid Ebn-e-Reza, on Thursday asserted the country's military preparedness to counter external security threats, stating that the Iranian Armed Forces' readiness relies on its domestic defence sector."Every day, the signs of the enemy's erosion of power become more evident; however, our Armed Forces, relying on the country's defence industry, are fully equipped to respond to any threat," official state news agency IRNA quoted Ebn-e-Reza as saying in a post on his social media handle.Ebn-e-Reza warned that nations seeking to purchase security and military superiority from foreign suppliers will soon discover that Iran's indigenous technology surpasses all regional military hardware.The Acting Minister's remarks follow a fresh surge in tensions between Tehran and Washington, driven by US President Donald Trump's latest warnings of military action against Iran.05:04 PM, 6 August 2026Poll: Most Americans fear Iran war will fuel chaosA majority of Americans believe the US war with Iran is making the Middle East less stable, with a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showing those expecting greater regional chaos outnumber those anticipating improved stability by three to one.The six-day survey found that 50% of respondents expect the conflict to destabilize the Middle East over the next year, compared with just 17% who believe it will bring more stability. The poll also highlights growing concerns over the economic impact of the conflict, with 58% of Americans expecting gasoline prices to rise further as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to affect global oil supplies.03:27 PM, 6 August 2026Kuwait orders closure of Iranian private school