13-08-2026
This CBS News live update covers escalating military, diplomatic and humanitarian developments connected to the Iran war. President Donald Trump claimed that the United States has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz and suggested that the U.S. might keep control of the strategic waterway. Iran disputed the claim, while maritime traffic declined sharply: only eight vessels were tracked passing through the strait in one week, compared with about 130 ships per day before the war began on February 28. Separately, Yemen’s coast guard said Iran-backed Houthi rebels killed six people aboard a vessel in the Red Sea.
More than 30 countries, including France, Britain and Canada, condemned Iran’s executions of protesters and called for an end to the death penalty and the release of arbitrarily detained people. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the criticism, accusing Western governments of hypocrisy and supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza and against Iran.
The update also reports rising tensions in Lebanon. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of systematic destruction in southern Lebanon, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military was destroying underground infrastructure and homes. The United States warned that a permanent Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon would conflict with a framework agreement involving Hezbollah’s disarmament, an Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese army.
Additional reports said Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One after U.S. and Turkish intelligence detected a credible Iranian missile threat during a NATO summit in Ankara. Officials also said the United States plans to complete its military withdrawal from Iraq by September 30, ending a presence that began with the 2003 invasion. The supplied excerpt ends during an update about Iran rejecting Trump’s claims concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
Entities: Donald Trump, United States, Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
The article reports escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over the effectively closed Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil and natural-gas shipments. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s demand for compensation for war damage as a condition for reopening the waterway and instead demanded that Tehran compensate victims of attacks and conflicts allegedly linked to Iran. His demands include families of the 17 U.S. sailors killed in the 2000 USS Cole bombing, other combat casualties, and victims in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza. Trump said the demands would be included in future negotiations, while telling Axios that the United States was only “semi-negotiating” with Iran and would continue applying economic pressure.
Trump also claimed that the United States controlled the strait completely, while acknowledging that Iran could disrupt shipping by laying mines. The administration extended a 90-day waiver of the Jones Act to allow foreign ships to transport energy products, fertilizers and related commodities between U.S. ports. The move suggests officials anticipate continued supply disruptions and elevated domestic energy prices.
The standoff has affected global markets. Oil prices rose sharply as hopes for an agreement faded, with crude increasing more than 10% over the preceding week and Brent crude approaching $90 per barrel. Analysts warned that sustained high oil prices could intensify inflationary pressures and increase the likelihood of a U.S. interest-rate hike.
The conflict may also be spreading to another strategic shipping corridor. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels attacked the Yemeni port city of Mokha and the province of Marib with missiles and drones. The attacks followed strikes that killed government troops and civilians and raised fears that Yemen’s civil war could resume after a truce. Because the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait provide an alternative route for oil shipments, renewed Houthi attacks could create additional threats to regional commerce and open a new front in the wider Middle East conflict.
Entities: Donald Trump, Iran, United States, Strait of Hormuz, Yemen • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
The CBS News live update reports that the United States and Iran may be nearing a diplomatic understanding. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said discussions were again moving toward “some sort of an arrangement” or peace deal, though no specific terms were provided. President Trump said the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz, argued that Iran’s economy is being damaged by the war, and echoed Tehran’s demand that the opposing side compensate it for wartime destruction.
The report also details a security incident involving Trump’s travel from Turkey after last month’s NATO summit. U.S. intelligence reportedly detected a credible plot by Iran and its proxies to fire a missile at Air Force One, prompting the Secret Service to secretly move Trump to another aircraft. Trump confirmed that he followed the Secret Service’s instructions but said he did not ask for extensive details about the threat.
Other updates highlight the broader regional and economic consequences of the conflict. Three Pakistani citizens were reportedly killed and another injured in a Houthi attack on a vessel in the Red Sea. Oil prices rose, with Brent crude reaching $89.67 per barrel and U.S. crude reaching $83.98, while the average U.S. gasoline price climbed to $4.01 per gallon.
The article also reports that former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen claimed Israeli intelligence personnel had visited Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility many times. The report places those comments in the context of Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and ongoing concerns about Iran’s enriched-uranium stockpile.
Separately, U.S. Central Command said an American helicopter struck the Panama-flagged Vela Nova after it allegedly attempted to bypass a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. Finally, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed several senior military and security officials, a move that may indicate an effort to consolidate power and strengthen coordination ahead of further confrontation or negotiations.
Entities: United States–Iran peace negotiations, Pakistan, Khawaja Asif, Donald Trump, Strait of Hormuz • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
Iranian authorities have disputed President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the strategically important waterway remains blocked. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority said the strait would not reopen until Iran’s conditions were accepted. Trump made his claim in a Truth Social post, creating a sharp conflict between Washington’s account and Tehran’s position.
Available shipping data appears to indicate that traffic through the strait remains severely disrupted. According to trade intelligence firm Kpler, the five-day average of vessel transits was approximately 13 on Tuesday, close to the lowest level in nearly three months. The figure includes cargo ships and oil tankers and is about 90% below the prewar daily average of 130 vessels. The decline follows U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28.
Negotiations have also hardened, with both Washington and Tehran demanding reparations and other concessions. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has called for an end to the U.S. naval blockade, sanctions relief, the withdrawal of American troops and war reparations as conditions for reopening the strait.
The article also highlights comments from Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In an interview with PBS, Naqdi claimed that Iran had achieved military advantages and characterized the U.S. campaign as confused and lacking a consistent strategy. He cited shifting American objectives, including possible plans involving Kharg Island and the reopening of Hormuz.
Naqdi said Iran’s broader goal was to achieve deterrence. He argued that prolonging the conflict and imposing attrition could increase the cost of any future attack on Iran. The competing claims, sharply reduced maritime traffic and expanding demands suggest that the conflict remains unresolved and that control of the waterway is both a military and diplomatic point of contention.
Entities: Strait of Hormuz, Iran, United States, Donald Trump, Persian Gulf Strait Authority • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
President Donald Trump is signaling that, for now, the United States will rely more heavily on economic pressure against Iran rather than immediately expanding military operations. In an interview with Axios, Trump said the two countries were only “semi-negotiating” and that Washington was watching Iran’s severe inflation and lack of money. He has also argued that a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has intensified Tehran’s financial crisis, following weeks of warnings that the administration could resume large-scale military action.
The article examines the competing causes of Iran’s economic distress. While U.S. sanctions, the war and the blockade have worsened conditions, it asks how much of the crisis reflects decades of corruption, economic mismanagement and spending decisions by Iran’s Islamic Republic. Trump has described the Iranian rial as “trash” and promoted the view that the regime has exhausted its financial resources.
The effects are increasingly visible among ordinary Iranians. A report in the Iranian newspaper Jahan-e Sanat described alleged shoplifting and customers eating food in supermarkets because they could no longer afford basic necessities. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s “Economic Fury” campaign has targeted Iran’s oil trade, shadow banking networks, weapons procurement, cryptocurrency holdings and sanctions-evasion infrastructure. The Treasury Department says the effort has restricted tens of billions of dollars in revenue and sanctioned more than 100 vessels associated with Iran’s shadow fleet since early 2026.
U.S. officials say economic pressure is only one part of a broader strategy and that Trump still prefers diplomacy while retaining military options if Iran pursues nuclear weapons, terrorism or refuses an agreement. Sanctions expert Miad Maleki argues that sanctions and war accelerated the downturn, but says Iran’s own nuclear brinkmanship, attacks and support for proxy groups created its underlying vulnerabilities.
Entities: Donald Trump, Iran, United States, Strait of Hormuz, Iranian rial • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: analyze
13-08-2026
Oil prices have risen as the ongoing Iran war threatens global crude supplies and restricts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil. At the same time, the United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has fallen to its lowest level in more than 40 years. U.S. Department of Energy data shows the reserve declined by approximately 6.1 million barrels last week to 298.7 million barrels, its lowest point since January 1983. That is well below its maximum authorized capacity of 727 million barrels.
The United States has withdrawn roughly 172 million barrels since March under an International Energy Agency-coordinated effort to release 400 million barrels globally. The releases were intended to stabilize markets after the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran. Experts warn that rebuilding the reserve could take considerable time, particularly while global supplies remain strained.
The IEA requires its 32 member countries to maintain emergency reserves equal to at least 90 days of net crude oil and petroleum-product imports. Canada belongs to the IEA but is the only G7 country without a government-mandated strategic oil stockpile, largely because it is a net crude-oil exporter.
The conflict has further disrupted energy markets. Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned that unauthorized cargo vessels could be attacked. Strikes on neighbouring Persian Gulf countries have also damaged oil, energy and maritime infrastructure. A temporary ceasefire followed a tentative U.S.-Iran peace agreement in June, but tensions worsened in July after the agreement collapsed. Iran says the waterway will remain closed until the United States meets demands including financial compensation.
Brent crude rose above US$85 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate traded around US$83. Higher prices are expected to raise fuel costs, including at Canadian gas stations, while the need to replenish depleted reserves adds to expectations of future demand.
Entities: U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Iran war, Iran, United States, Canada • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
The article reports that the Trump administration is shifting its strategy toward Iran after a prolonged US military campaign failed to force Tehran to surrender. Following nearly six months of war, US officials are increasingly emphasizing economic pressure rather than an expanded bombing campaign. The proposed measures include tighter sanctions, a sustained naval blockade, and efforts to make it more difficult for Iran to sell its oil, thereby restricting the revenue needed to support its government and military.
The change reflects both practical and political concerns. The US military is facing a shortage of necessary munitions, while the war has become unpopular. Although the administration had recently threatened to intensify military operations, officials are now returning to the “maximum pressure” approach associated with Trump’s first term. That earlier campaign failed to produce the capitulation Trump sought before 2020, but the president and his advisers argue that the current circumstances will yield a different outcome.
The administration is presenting its economic campaign, referred to as “Operation Economic Fury,” as highly damaging to Iran. US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Iran could withstand the bombings but claimed that its population and government were increasingly worried about the economic measures led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Trump similarly pointed to Iran’s high inflation and lack of money, while Bessent argued that the Iranian government was causing its people to suffer and that Washington would continue increasing the pressure.
Overall, the article depicts a US policy reversal: military force has not achieved its intended result, so Washington is again betting that economic hardship will compel Iran to change course.
Entities: Donald Trump, Iran, United States, Tehran, Israel • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
The supplied material is a live-news page from The National, updated on August 13, 2026, covering the continuing US-Iran war and its regional consequences. The main headline reports that Tehran rejected former US President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime route. The update list also says that US forces diverted 59 vessels during what is described as an Iranian blockade, indicating serious disruption to shipping and regional trade.
The page highlights environmental damage as well as military developments. An Iranian official reportedly said that oil pollution had reached Qeshm and Hengam islands. The update list further refers to the suspension of the Houthi military spokesman’s account on X, suggesting that information operations and online communications are also part of the conflict.
Diplomatic activity appears uncertain. Pakistan is described as making a final effort to advance a truce while a US-Iran deadline approaches, while Iran reportedly said there were no discussions about extending a ceasefire. The accompanying video headlines portray a rapidly escalating and dangerous situation, including claims about a threat to Air Force One, US attacks on Iran’s nuclear program, a sailor describing fireballs and distress calls, a drone strike on a US-owned tanker in an Egyptian port, and US fighter aircraft operating in the Middle East.
Because the supplied page consists primarily of navigation material, update headlines, and video captions rather than the full article body, it does not provide detailed evidence, quotations, timelines, or independent verification of these claims. It should therefore be understood as a snapshot of the page’s reported developments rather than a complete account of the conflict.
Entities: Iran, Tehran, Donald Trump, United States, The National • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
CNBC’s Daily Open reports that renewed violence and infrastructure risks around the Gulf of Oman and Red Sea have pushed oil prices higher and intensified fears of supply disruptions. The concerns include recent deadly attacks on vessels and a worsening spill near Oman. Tensions between Iran and the United States are also escalating, with Iran rejecting President Donald Trump’s repeated assertion that Washington has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority says the strait will remain blocked until Iran’s conditions are accepted. Saudi Arabia is responding to the security risks by increasing oil shipments through a Mediterranean pipeline, allowing it to avoid potential Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
The article also highlights several developments in Asian markets. Japan’s producer price growth eased slightly to 7.2% year over year in July, below analyst expectations. Rising electricity costs were the largest contributor to the country’s producer price index. South Korea’s benchmark Kospi entered a technical bull market as investors revived their interest in artificial-intelligence-related stocks after a major sell-off the previous month. Fundstrat Global Advisors said South Korean equities may have further room to rise, supported by a recovery among major memory-chip manufacturers.
In the technology sector, Chinese memory-chip producer Yangtze Memory Technologies reportedly surpassed U.S. rival Micron and Japan’s Kioxia in market share, according to Counterpoint data.
The article concludes with a consumer-price story about lettuce. Prices fell 16.4% in July from the previous month, the largest monthly decline on record, as a multistate cyclospora outbreak caused consumers and restaurants to avoid the vegetable. Economist Jeremy Horpedahl said the outbreak was likely responsible for the sharp drop in demand.
Entities: Donald Trump, Justina Lee, Iran-U.S. tensions, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
