President Donald Trump vowed further military action against Iran while simultaneously signaling openness to negotiations, as Houthi forces struck Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu [6][31]. The United States paused its 13-night streak of strikes on Iran for the first time in two weeks, even as US Central Command asserted its naval blockade on Iranian ports "remains in full effect" [21][26]. Trump stated that Iran is "by far the most serious that we've seen" in talks but said he has not decided on launching major strikes [4][32].
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated that Trump has always preferred a diplomatic solution while keeping all options open should Iran continue its activities in the Strait of Hormuz [1]. A senior Trump administration official said the president's preference "is diplomacy" [14]. Trump himself outlined a choice for Iran: "You can just keep doing exactly what we're doing and take them apart piece by piece... Or we can negotiate with them, which we're also doing right now" [18]. Some reporting characterizes Trump as losing patience with diplomacy and considering a "larger-than-ever attack," with Republican Congressman Michael McCaul assessing that Trump "is now returning to Plan A, which is military action" [3][17]. Trump also threatened to resume wide-scale war against Iran if the US does not obtain "100% of what it wants" [3]. A New York Times report, relayed by Italian and UK outlets, revealed that Trump shelved a planned escalation after General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that continued combat would dangerously deplete Pentagon stocks of Patriot interceptors, alongside fears of alienating Gulf allies and triggering a global economic crisis [1][27]. Former Austrian Defence Attache Wolfgang Pusztai assessed that the diplomacy, blockade, and strikes are "coordinated in a way to achieve the strategic objectives of the United States," namely opening the Strait of Hormuz [2].
US Central Command characterized the blockade and strikes as designed to "further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters" [10]. CENTCOM reported diverting 12 commercial ships, disabling two others, and boarding two more, including firing into a tanker's engine room after it repeatedly attempted to breach the cordon [12][22][23][26]. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte endorsed the US strikes as "absolutely necessary" because Iran was violating the ceasefire [40]. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi countered that "the existing insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and the region is exclusively caused by the US breach of the agreement," accusing Washington of unilaterally attempting to establish new transit routes without consulting Tehran [2][33]. Araghchi stated that Iran "will not bow to US bullying" and is "neither intimidated by threats nor will we yield to pressure" [10][11]. A New York Times report that Iran rejected a US ceasefire proposal delivered via the Iraqi prime minister was disputed by both Tehran, which called it "completely diversionary and misleading," and Baghdad, which called the claims "completely baseless" [11][25].
The IRGC claimed its forces destroyed 17 drones, an F-15 fighter jet, a P-8 surveillance aircraft, a C-17 transport plane, and eight refuelling aircraft at US bases in the region, and said it struck a large US ammunition depot at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait [2][5]. Iran's military said it targeted fuel tanks, equipment warehouses, and barracks at Isa Air Base in Bahrain with Arash kamikaze drones [10][25]. Bahrain said it intercepted and destroyed "a number of Iranian aerial aggressions," and Jordan's military reported intercepting seven missiles and six drones with no casualties [10][25]. Senior Iranian commander Ali Abdollahi threatened that "for every proud citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran who is martyred, one American service member will be sent to hell" [13][25]. Major General Mohammad Jafar Asadi described the confrontation as a "long-term war of attrition" and said Iran awaits direct ground combat with American forces [29]. Iran's health ministry reported 59 people killed and 666 wounded since the resumption of clashes in late June [6].
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the group carried out two military operations targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu, and Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said all Saudi oil facilities could be targets [2][21][31][38]. The Houthis framed the strikes as retaliation for Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Hodeida and Kamaran Island, calling the Saudi attacks a "dangerous escalation" [30][32]. Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdusalam denied that the Bab al-Mandeb Strait is closed, stating the naval blockade targets only Saudi-linked shipping [10][22]. The Saudi-led coalition said it struck Houthi military sites used to threaten commercial shipping and warned there would be "no hesitation in responding" to hostile acts [6][30]. A Greek-operated air defense system in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles and a drone targeting Yanbu [31]. Araghchi offered to help start a dialogue between the Houthis and Saudis, arguing "there is no military solution to the issue" [31][32].
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Russia was providing Iran with satellite data to direct attacks, citing a correlation between Russian satellite imagery and Iranian strikes [30]. Trump warned it would be "very bad" for China or Russia if they supply weapons to Iran, while saying Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin assured him they would not [8][15][25]. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made comments that appeared to contradict Trump's assurances about China and Russia's role [15]. US intelligence is investigating whether Russia is providing targeting data or drone technology to Iran [15]. Iran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor [12][14][21].
Pakistan, with China's backing, is pushing to resume stalled US-Iran talks, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meeting Araghchi at the SCO summit to urge dialogue and restraint [8]. China's foreign ministry stated it "supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties" [8]. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani called on all parties to implement the US-Iran MoU and ensure freedom of navigation [8]. Analyst Agnès Levallois assessed that "there will be no military solution" and that both sides are "playing for time," with domestic political pressures likely to be decisive [16]. Chinese analysts observed that the confrontation shows signs of restraint from both sides, with Washington avoiding large-scale attacks on major cities and Iran not returning to earlier peak fighting levels [20].
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House next Tuesday, with the Iran file expected to top the agenda [19][25][39]. Trump stated that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America" [39]. Netanyahu vowed to "act with full force against the terrorists and those who orchestrate and sponsor them" after fatal West Bank clashes [22]. Some reporting indicates Trump has expressed frustration with Netanyahu, at times telling aides he does not want to call or meet the Israeli leader [17].
Amnesty International researcher Mahmoud Shalaby stated that Gulf countries have used the war as a pretext to expand restrictions on freedom of expression, arresting over 1,000 people for documenting Iranian strikes [24]. Satellite imagery and smoke detection data contradicted official Gulf denials, revealing direct hits on US military installations in Bahrain and Qatar [24]. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the situation is "teetering on the edge of the unimaginable," and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for urgent action to address the plight of stranded seafarers [22][36]. The UN Human Rights Office reported that approximately 6,000 seafarers remain stranded on some 400 vessels, some abandoned by shipowners without support or wages [37]. War-risk insurance premiums have risen, oil prices pushed past $100 a barrel, and tanker rerouting has strained shipping capacity [6][32][34][35]. African nations including Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Mozambique reported fuel supply shortages and price increases, with Kenya's energy minister convening fuel importers for an emergency plan and Ethiopia's prime minister urging citizens to conserve fuel [42].
The US and Iran confirmed ongoing diplomatic exchanges, with an Omani delegation arriving in Iran to discuss managing ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz [2][25]. A compromise is being negotiated around Iran running vessel transit through the strait with fewer restrictions [18]. Trump stated he is "not in a hurry" to resolve the situation because of approaching elections [18].