A furious Donald Trump has hit out at “leakers” as he condemned “treasonous” reports that the US has almost depleted its stock of precision long-range missiles in its war with Iran.
The president claimed the US still has “massive amounts” of the expensive munitions, adding that “large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed”.
“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!” he added in the Truth Social tirade.
Trump also denied US media reports that he had reprimanded defence secretary Pete Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting in which low ammunition stockpiles were discussed.
Two sources told Reuters news agency that the military’s surface-to-surface weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) had been “virtually all” used in its war against Tehran.
Meanwhile, the US president claimed the Strait of Hormuz is “sort of open” and predicted that the war with Iran will “end pretty soon” as negotiations continue between Tehran and Oman.
The US president said although the shipping route was under US control, there was a possibility that Tehran could still “shoot things” or “drop a mine.”
US military says it’s redirected over 50 ships during blockade
US Central Command said it has redirected 51 ships during its blockade of Iranian ports.
American forces have also disabled two ships and boarded two more.
Rachel Dobkin8 August 2026 00:27
British pound drops against euro and dollar on Friday
The British pound has dropped against both the euro and U.S. dollar on Friday, as markets weigh the talks in the Middle East.
Sterling was 0.1 per cent lower against the dollar at £1 – $1.3438. Against the euro, the pound was similarly lower at one euro per 85.76 pence.
Investors are cautious about diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, especially as tensions flared up again in the Middle East, Reuters news agency reports.
An attack by Yemen’s Houthis on southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians on Thursday, a military official said, as the kingdom warned that coordinated attacks by the Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias were imminent.
Brent crude futures were last slightly lower on the day at $82.16 per barrel.
Trump says ‘we may have to’ send oil prices ‘up again’ as Iran war continues – ICYMI
Amnesty says Gaza mass funeral highlights ‘chilling’ destruction of entire families
Amnesty International says a mass funeral for 112 members of the al-Hasayna and Abu Sharia families in Gaza City underscores a pattern of Israeli attacks that have wiped out entire multi-generational families.
Writing on X, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said the victims’ remains were recovered months after an Israeli strike on 23 November 2023 that reportedly killed more than 300 Palestinians.
She said recovery efforts had been delayed by Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy equipment needed to clear rubble, with thousands of bodies still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
“Israel must urgently allow access to Gaza for UN bodies and independent human rights investigators to preserve evidence, in line with the ICJ’s orders,” she added, using the acronym for the International Court of Justice.
Shweta Sharma7 August 2026 21:30
Deal on Hormuz expected soon, says US official
Progress is being made between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz and “we expect a deal soon,” a US official told Reuters.
Once a deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift its blockade of Iranian ports, the official said.
“There is progress between Oman and Iran on the Strait, and we expect a deal soon.
“Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports.
“As always, U.S. actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments.”
Harriette Boucher7 August 2026 21:18
Oil climbs as market awaits possible US-Iran Hormuz deal
Brent crude rose $1.31 on Friday to trade at $83.80 per barrel, after settling up more than $3 in the previous session.
The dollar was mostly flat as of the Asian afternoon on Friday, trading little changed at 158.365 yen, after gaining 0.4 per cent on Thursday.
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating global biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
The economic ramifications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are much discussed. But so far, the risk of ecological damage following a long blockade of ships has been overlooked.
Our recent research shows that the more than 1,500 commercial vessels that have been laid up in the Persian/Arabian Gulf since February pose a significant environmental threat because they have been accumulating marine biofouling species on their hulls.
As the strait reopens, these ships may spread these organisms to ports they visit, potentially causing an international biosecurity “super-spreader” event.
Such incursions of alien marine plants, animals, parasites and diseases affect native ecosystems and wild fisheries as well as aquaculture stocks and coastal industries. They can lead to significant environmental damage and economic losses.
Chad Hewitt, Gregory Ruiz , Ian Davidson & Mario Tamburri write:
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event
Experts say the risk of ecological damage following a long blockade of ships has been overlookedAlex Croft7 August 2026 19:31
US Treasury targets crypto exchanges in new Iran sanctions
The US treasury has targeted two major cryptocurrency exchanges with sanctions on Friday as it seeks to dismantle illegal financial networks funding Iran’s IRGC and other groups.
It said it was also sanctioning the ringleader of a network of front companies operating across multiple jurisdictions, facilitating illicit cryptocurrency activity and sanctions evasion.
The treasury said Iranian actors “exploited unlicensed or lightly regulated digital currency exchange platforms to transfer large volumes of digital assets.”
Secretary of the treasury Scott Bessent said: “The Iranian regime’s reliance on digital assets and shadow banking networks is further evidence that Economic Fury is working.
“We will continue to increase the economic pressure. Whether in dollars, rials, or crypto, Treasury will hunt down and dismantle the illicit financial networks that keep the regime afloat.”
Harriette Boucher7 August 2026 19:20
Abu Dhabi oil company says it is impacted by unprovoked attacks
An oil company in Abu Dhabi has hit out at what it called unprovoked attacks on its vessels.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Friday it continued to be significantly impacted by the attacks, but was taking measures to protect its people, assets and operations while meeting customer requirements as much as possible.
ADNOC said in a statement that 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict, including three this week, leaving one crew member dead and 20 injured.
Iranian lawmaker: Saudi defence pact with regional partners ‘will not bring them security’
Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei has warned Saudi Arabia that the defence pact it signed with Turkey and Pakistan today “will not bring them security”.
In a post on X, he said: “Saudis must know that a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as years of one-sided nursing to the Americans did not bring them security.
“Reform your policies so that you do not need to beg for security from others.”
Alex Croft7 August 2026 17:30NewerOlder