Direct hostilities between Washington and Tehran resumed this week after a month-long lull, with US forces striking two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran answering with ballistic missiles aimed at American positions in Jordan. President Donald Trump has vowed to hit Iran "hard" while describing the renewed US strikes as "very limited," dismissing questions about nuclear escalation and calling Iran a "failed nation" already defeated militarily. The flare-up comes six months into a war that has left the two sides at an impasse, with the strait closed by Iran and Iranian ports under a US naval counter-blockade, even as oil flows through Hormuz claw back toward two-thirds of pre-war levels. In Washington, the crisis lands amid fresh turmoil at the Pentagon, where Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after months of friction with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Follow all the latest developments here:06:40 AM, 2 September 2026We are closing this live coverage. For the latest developments, click here.06:34 AM, 2 September 2026UN chief urges US-Iran talksUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for renewed negotiations as military activity continues across the Middle East, saying the return of strikes between the United States and Iran makes “maximum containment” essential. He said earlier diplomacy had appeared close to a breakthrough and urged both sides to restart talks.Guterres also called for "freedom of navigation" to be fully restored in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab — two key maritime routes whose disruption can affect global energy and trade flows.05:24 AM, 2 September 2026Iran has no control over Hormuz, in a 'death spiral': BessentUS Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran was attempting to rebuild a network of radar installations along the Strait of Hormuz before the US military struck and destroyed the emerging system, in a move to deny Tehran a grip of the strategic waterway.Bessent described Iran's effort in unusually dismissive terms, referring to what he called a “patchwork tinker toy erector set radar” that Iranian forces were trying to reconstruct along the shores of the Strait.“Iran does not have control of the Strait. And they are in a death spiral,” Bessent said.He said Iran had been rebuilding “some patchwork of tinker toy erector set radar” along the Strait before US forces targeted the installations.The comments came after the US military launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian targets on Tuesday, including air-defence systems, radar sites, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities, as per the US Central Command.Radar is critical to Iran's ability to monitor shipping and military activity through the Strait, detect aircraft and ships, and support anti-ship and air-defense operations.04:04 AM, 2 September 20262 tankers attacked in the last 48 hrs near Hormuz as Iran steps up maritime pressure: JMICTwo attacks on commercial tankers were reported in the past 48 hours around the Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian forces continued what a regional maritime security centre described as persistent "surveillance, harassment and attempted disruption" of shipping.The Bahrain-based Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said its latest assessment recorded two incidents corresponding to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) warnings 122-26 and 124-26.The first incident, UKMTO 122-26, involved the oil tanker Burgan, which reported a security incident while transiting the waterway. The vessel subsequently anchored at a position about 1 nautical mile northwest of Jazirat Um Al Ghanam.The second incident, UKMTO 124-26, involved a tanker that reported being struck by three unknown projectiles while completing an outbound transit of the Strait, about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman. UKMTO said there were no reported casualties or environmental impact and that authorities were investigating.JMIC said the incidents came alongside continued activity attributed to Iran's IRGC, including unmanned aerial vehicle overflights, targeted surveillance of merchant ships and occasional VHF radio hailing.The pattern, the centre said, indicates an Iranian effort to maintain a visible military presence along the critical shipping lane and keep pressure on vessels attempting to navigate the Strait.The latest incidents involve both inbound and outbound commercial traffic, underscoring the continuing risk to ships approaching or leaving the world's most important oil chokepoint.03:31 AM, 2 September 2026US confirms Iran strikes as Trump warns Tehran of harsher retaliation The US launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets, escalating a confrontation that had entered a period of relative calm and raising fresh fears that fighting could again spread across the Gulf.The latest strikes followed Iranian attacks and attempted attacks on commercial shipping, US forces and strategic targets around the region. Washington has framed the operation as a response to threats against shipping and US personnel, particularly Iran's apparent efforts to deploy naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.President Donald Trump warned Tehran that any further retaliation would bring a much stronger US response, signaling that Washington is prepared to escalate rather than return immediately to the earlier ceasefire arrangement.02:42 AM, 2 September 2026Kuwait air defences intercept hostile missiles, dronesKuwait said its air-defence systems are responding to hostile missile and drone threats, following what the Army described as "Iranian aggression".The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirmed that any explosions heard in the country are likely the sound of air-defence systems intercepting incoming targets.Authorities urged residents to remain calm and follow safety and security instructions issued by the relevant authorities.11:55 PM, 1 September 2026Iran says US strike hit wedding, killing twoAn Iranian official said on Tuesday that two people were killed and several others were wounded by a US attack while attending a wedding in the south."A residential home was attacked while people were holding a wedding ceremony," Ahmad Nafisi, deputy governor of Hormozgan province, told state television, adding that "two people were reported martyred and a number of others wounded".Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.11:32 PM, 1 September 2026US issues Middle East security alertThe US State Department has urged Americans in the Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance as regional tensions escalate, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions.In a security update, the department said the regional security environment remains “complex”, with the potential for unforeseen escalation.Americans travelling to or from the Middle East were advised to closely monitor airport and airline operations.The State Department also warned that Iran and groups supportive of Tehran could target US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and Americans, including businesses and other institutions.US citizens were advised to follow the latest country-specific security alerts and guidance from their nearest US embassy or consulate.11:25 PM, 1 September 2026Iran state TV says casualties at wedding ceremony from US attack on southIranian state television reported on Tuesday that several people who were attending a wedding ceremony were wounded by a US attack in the country's south."A number of residents were wounded in the attack while attending a wedding ceremony," state television reported, adding that the US attack hit a "residential area" in Bandar Kuhestak in Sirik county.11:03 PM, 1 September 2026US strikes Iran as explosions heard across southExplosions were heard across several areas of southern Iran as US forces launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian targets, Iranian media reported.Iranian state television said US forces struck Jiroft airport in the southeastern province of Kerman, without immediately reporting casualties or the extent of damage.An explosion was also heard in Asaluyeh, a major gas and petrochemical hub on Iran’s Gulf coast, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.Other explosions were reported around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian media said several sites had been struck. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.10:45 PM, 1 September 2026Iran says it is striking US bases across regionIran’s armed forces said on Tuesday they had launched retaliatory attacks against US bases and interests across the region after Washington carried out fresh strikes on Iranian targets, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.Tasnim cited an Iranian military source as saying US interests and bases in the region were being targeted, and that Tehran’s response would be significantly greater than the American attacks.10:32 PM, 1 September 2026Iran state TV says US targeted airport in southThe United States struck an airport in the southern Iranian province of Kerman on Tuesday, state television reported, as Washington announced a fresh wave of attacks."Minutes ago, the enemy US attack targeted Jiroft airport," state television said, after reporting several strikes along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz and on Iranian islands in the Gulf.10:16 PM, 1 September 2026Fresh explosions heard in Iran along Hormuz, on Gulf island: state TVFresh explosions were heard on Tuesday in southern Iran along the strategic Strait of Hormuz as well as on an island in the Gulf, state television reported, as the United States carried out strikes in the area."Explosions were heard again in Bandar Abbas city and Qeshm island," state TV said, adding that blasts were also heard on Lavan island, home to one of Iran's oil export terminals in the Gulf.09:46 PM, 1 September 2026Iran Guards say US will 'regret' renewed attacksIran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Tuesday to make the United States "regret" fresh attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, even as US President Donald Trump warned Tehran against striking back."Severe punishment awaits the aggressors; the United States will regret its new attacks," said Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi in a post on X, after explosions were heard in multiple areas along and east of Hormuz. 09:37 PM, 1 September 2026Trump warns of 'much harder' action if Iran retaliates to strikesPresident Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday not to retaliate against the latest US strikes, saying Tehran faced "much harder and higher" attacks if it hits back.Trump said Tuesday's US attacks near the Strait of Hormuz were in response to Iran laying mines and shooting missiles at an American base in Jordan."If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!" Trump said on his Truth Social network.09:25 PM, 1 September 2026Iran state media says four projectiles hit areas east of Hormuz StraitIranian state media said on Tuesday that four projectiles hit parts of the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, east of the Strait of Hormuz."Four projectiles had hit areas within the counties of Chabahar and Konarak," said the official IRNA news agency, citing provincial official Ali Khalilabadi, without specifying whether there was any damage.09:12 PM, 1 September 2026Lack of access to Iran nuclear sites must be addressed with 'utmost urgency': IAEAThe UN nuclear agency said in a confidential report seen by AFP on Tuesday that the lack of access to key nuclear sites in Iran "needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency"."The agency's lack of information about this nuclear material and access to facilities to verify it is a matter of proliferation concern," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in the report.08:41 PM, 1 September 2026Iran parliament speaker urges citizens to cut petrol useA top Iranian official called on citizens to curb their petrol consumption on Tuesday, as the country faces difficulty importing enough fuel to meet demand due to a US naval blockade."Of course, part of the responsibility for this high consumption does not lie with our people; it lies with our industry," parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a televised address."But in any case, what is clear is that we need to save gasoline in our consumption."08:38 PM, 1 September 2026US targets IRGC: US Central CommandUS forces launched strikes Tuesday against Iran's Revolutionary Guards in response to attempted attacks on commercial shipping and American forces, the US military said.The strikes -- which began at 12:00 pm (1600 GMT) -- came after "recent attempted attacks by (the Guards) against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region," US Central Command said on X.04:59 PM, 1 September 2026Iran president thanks Putin for Russia's stance during war with US