Day 188 | Trump says renewed US campaign against Iran won't last long
US President Donald Trump said the United States is prepared to strike Iran "at any time," while adding that he does not expect the renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran to continue "too long." His remarks came after the latest US strikes on Iranian military targets and Iranian retaliatory attacks across the region.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE condemned Iran’s attack on the Saudi-flagged tanker Sidr in the Strait of Hormuz, which killed two crew members. Saudi Arabia also called for an end to the escalation and urged all sides to protect international navigation and global energy supplies.
Iranian media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said at least 19 people, including military personnel, were killed in Tuesday’s US attacks on Iran. Iranian authorities also reported civilian casualties in strikes on southern parts of the country, though figures have varied among Iranian sources.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first message since fighting resumed after a month of relative calm, said the country’s armed forces have "unforgettable lessons" in store for the United States. His warning came as Tehran vowed to continue retaliatory operations following the latest US strikes.
US expects to continue strikes near Strait of Hormuz: CNN
The US military expects to continue launching offensive strikes near the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks to weaken Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping, CNN reported, citing US officials familiar with the operations.
US forces escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying about 18 million barrels of oil through the strait on Tuesday, marking the highest level of wartime shipping escorts, according to the report.
The United States used air, naval and space assets to counter waves of Iranian drone attacks during the escorts and neutralized anti-ship cruise missiles targeting commercial vessels.
US officials said continued strikes are expected in part because Iran has demonstrated an ability to rebuild its military capabilities, requiring ongoing efforts to degrade its capacity to threaten shipping.
One US official compared the operations to “mowing the grass” or a game of “whack-a-mole,” aimed at repeatedly weakening Iranian capabilities.
CNN reported that the US blockade has prevented Iran from exporting oil since July, while US officials argue that the Strait of Hormuz is becoming a less valuable strategic asset for Tehran.
However, the actual volume of oil crossing the strait may be higher than reported, as vessels increasingly switch off their transponders to avoid detection. Most, if not all, of the 40 commercial ships that crossed on Tuesday reportedly did so.
LNG carriers and other vessels transporting energy products are taking greater precautions because an attack involving an Iranian drone, mine or missile could have catastrophic consequences.
CNN said commercial shipping companies are largely making decisions to cross the strait on a case-by-case basis, while the industry continues to seek additional assurances that the route is safe.
US officials expect operations to take time and sustained effort as the military works through its remaining list of Iranian military targets and seeks to convince shipping companies that transit is safe.
The report also noted increased support from regional partners for escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz. Among Tuesday’s vessels were ships flying the flags of Saudi Arabia and France.
A source familiar with oil industry dynamics questioned the credibility of the administration’s reported shipping increases, saying that even if daily increases are genuine, few industry figures believe average shipping volumes have risen significantly.
Hegseth extends US troop deployments in Middle East into 2027: WSJ
The US military is extending the deployment of forces in the Middle East into 2027, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of American forces in the region, a move that could signal preparations for a prolonged war with Iran.
The strategy is described as open-ended and intended to give President Donald Trump greater flexibility in responding to developments. Around 19 warships, along with air-defense units, fighter jets and airborne forces, are deployed in the region, placing growing pressure on service members and their families.
US officials said Trump has privately discussed with senior aides the possibility of declaring an end to the war with Iran and is leaning toward the idea.
Trump reportedly believes continued economic pressure could force the Iranian government to dismantle its nuclear program or collapse.
Meanwhile, the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is preparing for a deployment longer than usual, with Navy officials saying the carrier could be sent to the Middle East.
Sources said Trump received briefings last month on options to intensify airstrikes and deploy ground forces to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz.
He also considered striking a fortified site at Mount Axe that could potentially be used for covert nuclear activities.
The deployment of some US air-defense units has already been extended from nine months to 12 months, while some units have been stationed in the Middle East for more than a year.
Kuwait says it intercepts missile, drone attacks
Kuwait’s military said its air defenses are currently responding to missile and drone attacks it described as “hostile,” following what it called “Iranian aggression.”
The Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) also reported that air raid sirens were activated across the country.
Katz says removing Palestinians from Gaza remains ‘only solution’
‘Israeli’ Defense Minister Israel Katz said ‘Israel’ continues to seek the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, describing the depopulation of the territory as the “only solution.”
Speaking at a conference organized by the ‘Israeli’ publication Ynet, Katz said US President Donald Trump had not abandoned the proposal but had instead “frozen it,” adding that the plan remains under discussion.
Katz said ‘Israel’ would need US support to implement the proposal and acknowledged that Egypt has refused to receive Palestinians displaced from Gaza.
Trump previously backed a plan to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and place the territory under US control. He later supported a ceasefire agreement that states Palestinians would not be forcibly displaced from Gaza.
Palestinian rights advocates have warned that proposals to depopulate the Gaza Strip could amount to ethnic cleansing.
Houthis launch 10 ballistic missiles toward western Yemen
Houthi forces launched 10 ballistic missiles toward areas in western Yemen, according to the military media of government forces operating along the western coast.
The missiles targeted the city of Mokha in Taiz province and Al-Khokha district in Hodeidah province. Most of the missiles were reportedly directed toward Mokha, which has come under repeated Houthi drone attacks in recent weeks.
The missile attacks coincided with a Houthi ground assault along the Al-Kadaha–Al-Barah axis in Taiz, according to Yemeni sources.
Government forces reportedly repelled the attack and forced the Houthi fighters to withdraw.
UN chief ‘deeply alarmed’ by US strike on Iran wedding
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by reports of civilian casualties in Iran, including a strike that reportedly hit a wedding ceremony, his spokesperson said Wednesday.
Speaking at the UN’s daily briefing, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Guterres “condemns all attacks against civilians” and is “gravely concerned” by the renewed fighting between the United States and Iran.
Dujarric warned that few countries in the region are immune from the escalation, as airspace and shipping routes remain heavily affected.
Guterres called for an immediate halt to military action, warning that further escalation could have “devastating consequences” for civilians and the wider region.
Trump aides want Iran war to remain quiet until November’s congressional elections, Reuters reports
Senior aides to US President Donald Trump are pushing to prevent the war with Iran from escalating ahead of November’s congressional midterm elections, hoping to limit potential Republican losses, Reuters reported.
Four people familiar with the discussions told Reuters that the White House could consider expanding military action after the elections, although a return to full-scale war is not considered likely.
In the meantime, the United States plans to maintain economic pressure on Iran. “We are keeping the pressure on Iran,” a White House official told Reuters. “But November is a priority.”
The war remains unpopular among US voters. A late-August Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 63% of Americans disapproved of the war, while 31% approved.
Iran reports 18 killed, 108 injured in US strikes
Iran’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that 18 people were killed and 108 others injured in US attacks on several Iranian provinces on Tuesday.
The ministry did not provide a breakdown of the casualties by province.
Earlier Wednesday, Iran’s Fars news agency quoted a Khuzestan provincial official as saying that seven people were killed in US missile strikes on the southwestern province.
Khuzestan Deputy Governor for Security and Law Enforcement Valiollah Hayati said eight others were injured in the attacks, which targeted three areas across the province.
Witkoff meets powerful UAE official amid crackdown on Iran: Axios
US envoy Steve Witkoff met with UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed over the weekend to discuss next steps regarding Iran, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the talks.
The meeting came as the Trump administration seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. An informed source also said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke with Tahnoun before Washington announced new economic sanctions on Iran.
According to Axios sources, an Iranian delegation visited Abu Dhabi on August 11 for undisclosed diplomatic talks with UAE officials. The Iranian side reportedly expressed a desire to reduce tensions, improve relations and secure assistance with food and medicine, while urging the UAE not to cooperate with US sanctions.
The UAE, however, was reportedly deeply angered by Iranian attacks on tankers operated by the Emirates National Oil Company and decided to suspend all commercial activity with Iran.
US officials said Washington's diplomatic efforts have warned countries, companies and individuals that continuing to trade with Iran could expose them to sanctions and cut them off from the dollar-based financial system.
The Trump administration is also working to establish an interagency task force to coordinate enforcement of its economic pressure campaign against Iran.
Rezaei warns US of Iran’s ‘new war strategy’
Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, warned the United States on Wednesday that Iran would adopt a “new war strategy” that he said would shake the foundations of the US and cause destruction.
In a post on X, Rezaei responded to US attacks on Iran on Tuesday, telling the US administration that it would not be able to escape what he described as the “hell” it had created for itself.
He said Iran’s new strategy would be implemented across the battlefield, diplomacy and efforts to confront the economic blockade, adding that the US would soon see its impact.
Day 187 of the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran
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‘Israeli’ attack could target Iran’s energy infrastructure: Hebrew media
Channel 12, citing an ‘Israeli’ official, reported that if ‘Israel’ is forced to join the United States in military action against Iran, its response could include strikes on national infrastructure.
The official said potential targets could include Iran’s energy infrastructure, raising the possibility of damage to key facilities across the country.
