Donald Trump has said he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.The US president escalated his rhetoric over the vital waterway that carries a significant share of global oil supplies, as he spoke to the media on Friday.He also told Fox News that the US will hit Iran hard economically as Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a deal to end a nearly six-month conflict.His comments come as the US prepares to deploy the USS George Washington to the Middle East to relieve military personnel stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln for more than 200 days amid growing concerns about living conditions on the aircraft carrier, according to reports.The Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has not made a port call in 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea, according to US senator Richard Blumenthal, who wrote to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about concerns for those on board.Blumenthal cited reports of “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system”.Trump officials have dismissed concerns about the conditions of the USS Lincoln. Iran defiant on strait as Trump tells Americans to accept high gas pricesIran called on the U.S. to accept defeat while President Donald Trump blasted Tehran as "very evil" and told Americans to brace for continued high fuel prices as a result of the war.Progress toward peace talks and oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway remained halted, with no sign ⁠the warring parties were moving toward ending the conflict that the U.S. and Israel launched on February 28."This strait will be opened and closed only under Iran's command, and so long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on X early on Saturday.Daniel Keane15 August 2026 12:00Vessel struck by 'unknown projectile' in Strait of HormuzA vessel in the Strait of Hormuz has been struck by an "unknown projectile", the UK Maritime Trade Organisation said today."UKMTO has received a verified report of a Bulk carrier being struck by an unknown projectile which has hit the hull," it said.The vessel's crew is reportedly safe, but no damage or environmental impact assessment has yet been released."Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," the organisation said.Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 11:00Seven killed in Israeli airstrikes on LebanonAt least seven people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon earlier today, the National News Agency reported.The airstrikes also wounded three people, with paramedics still searching through the rubble for survivors, the Lebanese news agency said.This is one of the deadliest attacks carried by Israel on Lebanon since the two countries announced a “framework agreement” in June for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for disarmament of the Hezbollah militant group.Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 10:30Iran says 'no decision made' to resume talks with USIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had not yet made a decision to resume talks with the US, adding that messages exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan did not count as negotiations.“Both Qatar and Pakistan continue to exchange messages and remain in contact with us, but that does not mean negotiations," Araghchi told Iran’s ISNA news agency today. "No decision has yet been made to resume talks with the United States."“We are currently designing a temporary route that will later become a permanent route," he added. "Once the route is determined, whether the Strait of Hormuz is reopened depends on the fulfilment of other conditions that the United States must comply with."Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 10:00Satellite images reveal extent of oil spills near Iran and OmanThe extent of oil spills off the southern coast of Iran and Oman has been captured by satellite images, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health reported yesterday.Satellite observation made on 7 August revealed an extensive oil slick near the Hallaniyat Islands off the coast of Dhofar, southern Oman, covering approximately 300sq km.Another made on 10 August showed 100sq km of oil-contaminated water near Qeshm and Hengam islands off the southern coast of Iran.“While Iran and Oman negotiate new arrangements for managing the Strait of Hormuz, massive oil spills are causing major environmental damage and lasting health risks to both nations," the UN institute said."The legacy impacts of this war will remain long in the region after the fighting ends."Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 09:30Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 09:00US navy acting secretary says sailors and marines are expected to dig deepFollowing reports that US military personnel aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln suffered challenging living conditions for over 200 days, the navy's acting secretary, Hung Cao, acknowledged the difficulties but added that "sailors and marines are expected to dig deep".Reports suggested there were “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system” aboard the carrier stationed in the Arabian Sea off Iran."There is no question our young men and women have been pushed to their limits – but they have never broken. They are rightly tired – but have never been out of the fight," Cao said."A small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life. Meal plans were adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, without a single meal being missed.""Deployments are hard. Combat operations make them harder. War is hell and normal routines are disrupted," he said.Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 08:30Strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command, Iran saysRetorting to US president Donald Trump's remark that the Strait of Hormuz would soon be declared a "US territory", Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the vital shipping passageway will continue to be operated only under Iran's orders."The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech," Gharibabadi said in a post on X today."The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; This strait will be opened and closed only under Iran's command, and so long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade," he said.Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 08:00US seeking mediation from more European countries - reportThe Trump administration appears to be seeking support from more countries to help pressure Iran to stop the war, reports suggest.Earlier this week, US secretary of state Marco Rubio met with the foreign minister of Austria in Washington and held a call with the foreign minister of Greece, AP News reported.While official readouts of the discussions did not mention Iran by name, both foreign ministers reportedly spoke with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later in the week.The diplomatic move comes as both the US and Iran are pushing for control of the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations between countries including Pakistan and Oman with Iran have progressed at an uneven pace.Vishwam Sankaran15 August 2026 07:30Rachel Dobkin15 August 2026 07:00