LIVEIslamic Republic demands concessions before allowing full traffic through key waterwayLast updated: August 09, 2026 | 07:55US-Israel-Iran warus-iranThe US-Iran war has entered a critical diplomatic phase, with fighting and pressure around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz continuing to shape the conflict. As of August 9, 2026, Iran says negotiations mediated by Oman on managing the strait are advancing, but Tehran insists broader US concessions — including an end to military action, sanctions relief, and compensation — are needed before commercial shipping can fully resume. Follow the latest developments here:07:54 AM, 9 August 2026Pentagon pushes defence companies to boost weapons productionThe Pentagon is pressing the US defence industry to accelerate production of weapons to help replenish its diminished stockpile of munitions, including those depleted in the ongoing war with Iran.Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement Saturday that the department was actively focused on boosting munitions acquisitions to provide “the weapons our warfighters need at the pace the threat demands.” He confirmed department efforts in the last week to significantly speed the process but insisted it was part of a broader modernization effort that predated the five-month-old conflict.07:23 AM, 9 August 2026Turkey says expects Egypt to join defence pactTurkey's foreign minister said Saturday he expected Egypt to join a joint defence agreement with regional partners designed to stabilise the region that is grappling with the Middle East war.Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the agreement on Friday against the backdrop of war between the United States and Iran, which has drawn in surrounding nations and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.The war has emboldened Iran and its Houthi allies in Yemen, both of which have attacked Saudi Arabia, and a drone last month hit US assets at an Egyptian port on the Mediterranean.Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told state news agency Anadolu he expected Egypt to join the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement", calling the country a "natural partner on all issues".06:51 AM, 9 August 2026Iran says the strait won't open until the US 'corrects' its behavior