Trump blames global diesel shortages on Ukraine, says Tehran wants a deal
Trump again said Sunday the conflict will end after the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz as the primary flashpoint. Trump said in August that the U.S. would launch a "crushing economic operation" to force Tehran into submission.
Key Headlines
- Monday meeting between Iran, regional countries postponed, Omani FM says
- Iranian ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz, state media says
- Iraqi prime minister orders investigation into origin of strikes on Saudi pipeline, dismisses province commander
- Trump confirms call with MBS, says everything will 'work out fine and dandy'
Saudi Arabia shuts down key pipeline after multiple attacks
Saudi Arabia announced it has shut down the East-West pipeline as a precautionary measure, saying it was subjected to multiple attacks on Thursday.
The attacks resulted in a number of injuries, according to Saudi Arabia.
An official source in the Ministry of Energy said "emergency teams and specialized technical crews initiated operations immediately following the attacks, taking the necessary procedures to secure the pipeline and verify its integrity in accordance with approved safety procedures and emergency response plans, in coordination with relevant authorities."
The East West pipeline goes from Saudia Arabia’s eastern oil fields, to the port of Yanbu in the west where oil can go to the rest of the world through the Bab al Mandeb strait.
This pipeline has been a critical means of mitigating the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran says it will meet with Gulf coast states on Monday
Iran claims that there will be a regional meeting with Gulf countries on Monday to discuss "the results of the negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the establishment of safe routes for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," according to Iranian state TV, which cited Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.
There has been no confirmation yet from the GCC countries on what states will be attending but the gathering, if it happens, would be the first meeting between the top diplomats from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and a senior Iranian official since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against the Islamic republic in February.
Trump touts war with Iran during 9/11 ceremony at Pentagon
During a speech at the Pentagon to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Trump brought up the war with Iran as he discussed America's response to global terror in the quarter century since the attacks.
"For 25 years our best and bravest have kept America safe and today we salute every member of the United States military who served in the war on terror. It is a war on sick, horrible terror," he said.
"We salute the service members working right now to ensure the world's number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon," he added.
Hegseth says US controls Strait of Hormuz, says 'we will finish the fight'
Secretary of State Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is ensuring Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon," saying the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz and will finish the fight.
"The economic pressure tightens every day. We control the strait. We will finish this fight," Hegseth said during a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday.
"The United States has killed their leaders, destroyed their air force and their navy rests at the bottom of the sea," Hegseth said.