At least two people die in Pennsylvania from measles, both were unvaccinated
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints, through which nearly a fifth of global crude oil and a substantial share of liquefied natural gas exports pass. (Reuters/File image)US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the US Navy has cleared all the mines in the Strait of Hormuz by removing or detonating them and warned Iran against placing new mines in the strategic waterway.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait.”
Story continues below this ad
Top Developments:
- US officials say the new sanctions target five key sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping, along with Iran’s oil revenue and roughly 60 entities, vessels and individuals accused of propping up the regime.
- Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said the country’s leadership would guide Iran through the coming “economic hardships.”
- Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that Tehran could halt all Gulf oil exports if the US economic pressure campaign continues.
- Rezaei added that any country backing Washington’s sanctions would be treated as taking part in an act of war against Iran.
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington has not ruled out military strikes against Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz or elsewhere in the region.
Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.
Live Updates
Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Canada, Ottawa’s ‘dollar for dollar’ retaliation
Canada announces retaliatory tariffs against US https://t.co/f7xSDZ3jYw
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 25, 2026
Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz, warns Iran not to place new mines
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2026>
US CIA director John Ratcliffe visits Russia for meeting: Report
US CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Russia to attend meetings in Moscow on Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing CBS News.
‘Where to kill Barron Trump?’ Iran state TV airs chilling video; US reacts
Ukraine to receive Crotale air defence systems, Zelenskyy says; Patriot interceptors also delivered
Trump floats ‘Lake America’ rename for Lake Ontario amid trade war with Canada
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2026
US military transport plane lands in Moscow, Kremlin says no info
USS Abraham Lincoln to dock in Thailand next week after prolonged deployment in Middle East, Thai official says
The US Navy aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln will dock in Thailand next week, following a prolonged deployment in the Middle East during the Iran war, a Thai official said on Tuesday.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, which left the Middle East on Saturday, has not made a port call in more than 200 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to Democratic lawmakers, amid reports of concerns about mental health and deteriorating conditions aboard. (Reuters)
US sanctions on Iran are unilateral, says Qatar, calls for mediation efforts
US sanctions on Iran are unilateral, and Qatar is supportive of mediation efforts to resolve the issue between the two countries, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
US proposes lifting naval blockade, Iranian sanctions in exchange for Hormuz reopening: Report
🔴 Al Arabiya English obtains the US offer conveyed by Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir to Iran
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) August 25, 2026
🔴 The US proposed lifting the blockade and sanctions in exchange of opening the Strait of Hormuz and stopping attacks by Iran’s proxies, a senior source tells Al Arabiya English
🔴… pic.twitter.com/a0IT4Ffc1U
Rare footage of Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei released amid health speculation
Iranian media have released rare, undated footage of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in what appears to be one of his first public appearances since the war began. The 56-year-old leader is seen presiding over a religious academic session, listening to a student discuss a thesis on the Iranian regime’s “Islamic Security Model”.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in FIRST-TIME-SEEN footage
— RT Intl (@RT_on_X) August 24, 2026
Released publicly for the first time by Iranian media, footage shows him presiding over a religious academic study session pic.twitter.com/iIIl0pLAgS
In the footage, Khamenei later evaluates the student’s work and awards a score of 19.5 out of 20, describing the thesis as “flawless”. However, the absence of a date on the video means it cannot independently establish when the footage was recorded or provide a clear indication of Khamenei’s current condition.
The release comes amid persistent speculation surrounding the Supreme Leader’s health and whereabouts. Khamenei has made limited public appearances since succeeding his father, who was killed in the February 28 strikes that triggered the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Read More
Tornado hits southern France village, injures 41 and damages hundreds of homes
A tornado swept through Pomas in south-west France, injuring 41 people and damaging around 300 homes as powerful winds tore through the village. At least 15 people were taken to hospital, including a pregnant woman who was injured after her home collapsed.
More than 120 emergency workers were sent to the affected area after winds reached around 117 km/h. Images from Pomas showed uprooted trees, damaged vehicles and debris scattered across streets, while several buildings suffered major damage.
The storm also left around 2,800 homes across 10 villages without electricity. Severe weather disrupted transport in the region, with flight delays and cancellations reported at several French airports. Authorities also cancelled a stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race after a hailstorm in the French Pyrenees forced riders to seek shelter.
French authorities have issued an orange thunderstorm alert across parts of the south-west as the region continues to deal with the impact of the extreme weather.
‘Fully prepared’: Iran threatens tit-for-tat move with oil chokehold as US widens economic sanctions
Iran on Tuesday threatened to hit back against an expanded round of US economic sanctions, with senior officials in Tehran voicing confidence that key trading partners would not fall in line with Washington’s pressure campaign. The warning came a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled new sanctions aimed at cutting off Iran’s economic lifeline and pressuring Tehran to end the war. Oil prices, however, showed limited immediate reaction, even as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed sharply. Read more
Commodity vessel transits through Strait of Hormuz hit three-month low，data shows
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a near-standstill on Monday, with just two vessels transiting — the lowest daily count since early May as Iran escalated its blacklist campaign against tankers it accuses of violating transit rules, and Washington rolled out fresh sanctions targeting Tehran's economy.
Hormuz traffic masks rising risk
— Kpler (@Kpler) August 24, 2026
Traffic edged higher through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb last week, but headline volumes obscure contrasting risk signals.
Hormuz crossings rose 2.5% to 121, while laden transits fell 27% and sanctioned crossings increased from 9 to… pic.twitter.com/iHKsCigEJL
Six months into Iran war, almost half of global oil flows from war zones
Almost half the world's oil comes from countries affected by conflict in 2026, Reuters calculations show, underscoring that current disruptions have eclipsed previous energy crises.
Six months ago, US and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered what has become the largest oil supply crisis on record, with no clear end in sight.
At the same time, the Russia-Ukraine war has forced production and refining cuts, including in nearby Kazakhstan this year.
Ongoing conflict in Libya and US restrictions on Venezuelan oil exports at the start of the year have added further strain.
Together, countries affected by those conflicts produced about 45 million barrels per day of oil based on 2025 output, accounting for more than 43% of global supply, according to Reuters calculations using International Energy Agency data.
The disruptions have increased the world's reliance on US oil supplies, though that too has occasionally been disrupted by severe weather.
Pakistan and Iran discuss restoring US-Iran MoU, Interior Minister says
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Pakistan and Iran are discussing the restoration of a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US to help settle the ongoing conflict.
Writing on X, Naqvi stated that he and the country’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had a “very positive and productive meeting with the President of Iran”.
He added that their discussion “focused on the Iran US conflict, tensions in the Middle East and the way forward, as well as the steps needed by both sides for restoration of the Islamabad MoU thereby leading to comprehensive settlement of the conflict”.
Naqvi said that “the Iranian president candidly shared his Government’s perspective and concerns, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved”.
Strait of Hormuz ship traffic drops to single vessel
Shipping data shows traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to just a single commodity vessel on Monday, marking the lowest daily volume recorded since May 7, Reuters reports.
Citing preliminary data from ship-tracking firm Kpler, Reuters said only one very large gas carrier transited the narrow passage on Monday, entering from the Gulf of Oman. That compares with six vessels of all types recorded passing through the waterway on Sunday.
The figures remain initial estimates and could be updated, as some ships turn off their transponders while navigating through the area, according to the report.
US senator slams new sanctions as ‘desperate window dressing’
US Senator Chris Murphy has slammed the White House’s new sanctions on Tehran, calling them “desperate window dressing” to cover up Washington’s failure in its military war on Iran.
“‘D-Day’ is desperate window dressing. Iran is winning the war. Trump is losing. And Americans are paying a huge, huge cost,” Murphy said on X.
He documented a series of US failures in the conflict.
“Iran didn’t control the Strait before the war. Now they do,” Murphy wrote.
He said Iran has effectively won the military portion of the war, pointing out that Tehran retains 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, while the US “fired everything we have and now we’ve run out”.
Iran has “all the leverage now”, Murphy added, arguing that the new sanctions will not change Tehran’s negotiating position.
“We’ve already sanctioned basically everything in Iran we can. There’s little left. ‘D-Day’ is bluster,” he wrote.
“The war is basically over. Tragically, Iran won. This is all window dressing,” Murphy added.
"D-Day" is desperate window dressing.
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 24, 2026
Iran is winning the war. Trump is losing. And Americans are paying a huge, huge cost.
1/ Let's review where we are, and why these sanctions are another fool's errand. https://t.co/8sGWeWmazh
Welcome to our live blog
Hello, Welcome to our live blog, bringing you the latest global updates as they happen today.he escalating standoff between Iran and the US, and the deepening trade war between Canada and the US over tariffs. Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments on both fronts throughout the day.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd