This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up on Tuesday’s top developments here:
- Completed a wave of strikes against Iranian military targets: CENTCOM
- US Treasury Secretary says Hormuz will be 'worthless' in two years
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps target US Marine base in Jordan
- UN chief calls for maximum restraint in the Middle East conflict
- Trump warns of 'much harder' action if Iran retaliates to strikes
UAE condemns Iran attacks targeting regional countries with missiles, drones
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 22:41 GMT | by Web Desk
The United Arab Emirates condemned the attacks by Iran targeting the Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with missiles and drones.
These hostile attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the brotherly nations and a threat to their security and stability, the ministry affirmed in a post on X.
“The Ministry reiterated the UAE's full solidarity with the Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and the government of Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability,” the statement said.
Qatar discusses latest regional developments with Egypt, Turkiye, Lebanon
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 20:38 GMT | by Web Desk
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani called Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Turkiye, and Lebanon to discuss latest regional developments, particularly diplomatic efforts and joint coordination to de-escalate tensions and enhance security and stability in the region.
According to Doha’s Foreign Ministry, FM Jassim Al-Thani affirmed Qatar's support for all diplomatic efforts and endeavors aimed at reaching a solution that ensures freedom of maritime navigation and paves the way for a comprehensive agreement that achieves lasting peace in the region.
Israel says prepared to 'respond with great force' if Iran attacks
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 19:43 GMT | by AFP
Israel's defense minister said his country was prepared to respond "with great force" if attacked by Iran, after Iranian forces targeted US military positions across the region.
Israel Katz said Israeli forces were prepared for a possible attack over the Jewish high holiday season, which begins in mid-September.
"For now, they are striking throughout the region except us," he told a conference hosted by Israeli news site Ynet and newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
"But there is a possibility that they will attack us."
Trump says prepared to strike Iran again at 'any time'
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 19:04 GMT | by AFP
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States was ready to attack Iran again after extensive bombardment of sites across the country left at least 19 Iranians dead.
"We blew up much more than their radar last night. It was a very heavy attack last night, and we're prepared to do another one any time we want," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Israeli attack killed one person in the Gaza Strip
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 17:17 GMT | by Web Desk
At least one person died from Israeli attack on a tent housing displaced Palestinians in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, the Wafa news agency reports.
According to the Wafa news agency, the report identified the man killed as Mohammed Mahmoud Murshed al-Qadi, 39, who was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
Trump suggests renaming Strait of Hormuz 'Trump Strait'
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 15:45 GMT | by AFP
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as "Trump Strait," despite the fact that the crucial waterway remains contested amid the war with Iran.
"Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be 'hotter' than ever before!" Trump said on his Truth Social network.
Netanyahu says 'we are not retreating' during Gaza visit
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 14:26 GMT | by AFP
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday visited Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, where he vowed not to pull back troops despite a recent push by mediators to advance a US-backed ceasefire plan calling for their withdrawal.
"We control the area. We are not retreating. We are staying on this line," Netanyahu said.
US sailors descend on Thai resort town after months at sea
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 14:26 GMT | by AFP
USS Abraham Lincoln docked just north of Pattaya, near Bangkok, for their first port call in 286 days at sea.
Hundreds of US sailors disembarked to visit a resort town after a lengthy Middle East deployment that sparked concerns over conditions on board.
The Lincoln left California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea and was rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began six months ago.
Reports of deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health on board -- including attempted suicides -- have made headlines in the United States, provoking criticism of President Donald Trump's war against Iran.
IRGC says it targeted US Commander’s quarters at Kuwait Air Base
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 13:58 GMT | by Web Desk
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday targeted the US commander’s living quarters and command post at Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait in retaliation for US strikes, the Tasnim news agency reported.
"The IRGC forces then set fire to the drone hangar and the ramp used to deploy drones participating in attacks against Iranian civilians, destroying a number of the aircraft," Tasnim news agency reported.
The IRGC carried out drone attacks against US bases and facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, Jordan and Erbil, according to Tasnim.
"The operation killed a number of enemy personnel," the Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.
Iran security chief says US to face new war strategy after strikes
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 13:22 GMT | by AFP
Iran's security chief on Wednesday warned the United States would face a "new strategy" from Tehran in the Middle East war after the heaviest exchange of attacks between the foes in weeks.
"You will soon see that Iran's new strategy on the battlefield, in diplomacy, and in confronting the economic blockade will shatter your foundations," Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei posted on X.
Xi says China willing to work with Mideast countries to 'safeguard' shipping: State media
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 12:35 GMT | by AFP
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that his country was willing to work with countries in the Middle East to protect shipping, Beijing's state media said, as the US-Iran war upends maritime logistics from the energy-rich region.
"China stands ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes, advance development cooperation... and eliminate the breeding grounds for conflict," Xi told his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during talks in Cairo, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Iran foreign ministry says US strike on wedding 'war crime'
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 11:50 GMT | by AFP
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday said a deadly attack on a wedding ceremony in the south of the country is a "war crime".
"The truth of this unlawful war of choice -- and the true face of the war crime -- is in Sirik, where a wedding ceremony was brutally bombed as part of America's desperate struggle to conceal its failure," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei posted on X.
Iran Guards say two oil tankers on fire after hitting mines in Hormuz
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 09:49 GMT | by AFP
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz outside a route designated by Iranian forces.
In a statement, the Guards said the oil tankers sought "at the urging of the US military to transit via an illegal route" in the strait before "striking mines and exploding", adding that they "are currently on fire."
Two dead after Monday attack on Saudi oil tanker in Hormuz: shipping firm
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 09:49 GMT | by AFP
Two Filipino sailors were killed in an attack on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri said on Wednesday.
"Bahri confirms that its vessel SIDR was involved in a security incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz" on the evening of August 31, the carrier said on X, confirming "the loss of its two Filipino seafarers as a result" of the attack.
Pakistan to continue efforts for US-Iran de-escalation: FO
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 09:09 GMT | by AFP
Pakistan on Wednesday said it would continue diplomatic efforts to help end the conflict between the United States and Iran, as Islamabad pushes for regional de-escalation, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a negotiated settlement.
“Pakistan remains engaged alongside our brotherly countries in sincere efforts to resolve the crisis with respect to the standoff between Iran and the United States,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a weekly briefing in Islamabad.
Andrabi said Islamabad was closely monitoring the escalation but remained committed to diplomatic efforts. He said international conflicts typically move through cycles of escalation, relative calm and a return to negotiations.
Kuwait says extinguished fire after Iranian drone targets 'residential complex'
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 09:01 GMT | by AFP
Kuwait on Wednesday said an Iranian drone attack caused a fire in a residential complex in the capital, but there were no casualties and it was brought under control.
"A fire that broke out in a residential complex in the Capital Governorate has been brought under control. The complex had been targeted by a hostile drone launched as part of the nefarious Iranian aggression," Kuwait's official KUNA news agency said, quoting a fire department spokesman, adding there were no casualties.
Iran Guards say struck US bases in Erbil with missiles, drones
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 09:01 GMT | by AFP
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that they struck US bases with missiles and drones in Erbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, state media reported.
The Guards said they "carried out a coordinated missile and drone attack on US bases in Erbil" that destroyed a maintenance centre, warehouses and the "guidance system of a US surveillance aerostat", according to a statement carried by state-run IRNA news agency.
Iran Guards say four personnel killed in US attack in western province
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 09:01 GMT | by AFP
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that four personnel were killed in a US attack on the western province of Kermanshah.
"Four fighters of the IRGC Aerospace Force in Kermanshah province were martyred in an attack by the US regime," the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars news agency, using their acronym.
Iran says attacked US military targets in UAE, Kuwait, other countries in region
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 07:00 GMT | by AFP
Iranian forces said on Wednesday they launched attacks on US military targets in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and other countries in the region.
In a statement, the Iranian army said "dozens of the army's attack drones... have targeted radar systems and the positions of US forces at the Al Dhafra and Al Minhad bases in the United Arab Emirates" as well as other positions in Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air base.
The Revolutionary Guards also said they targeted US forces in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and Erbil in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
Iranian armed forces say attack damaged US base in Erbil
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 05:44 GMT | by Web Desk
Iranian armed forces said a combined missile and drone attack on US bases in Erbil destroyed a repair center, warehouses containing technical equipment and a guidance system for a spy balloon at a US base, according to the state-run IRIB.
The Iranian state broadcaster also reported that a fire broke out at the US base at Erbil International Airport as a result of an Iranian drone attack.
Stocks sink, yields at multi-decade highs and oil spikes on Mideast flare-up
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 05:13 GMT | by AFP
Stocks fell and bond yields held at multi-decade highs as investors ramp up rate hike bets amid a fresh flare-up in Middle East tensions that has sparked another surge in oil prices.
Crude jumped more than two percent and has spiked around 10 percent this week after the United States hit an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a series of tit-for-tat attacks in which Tehran has targeted American interests in several regional countries.
Iran says 11 dead in US strikes on its territory: state media
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 03:23 GMT | by AFP
Iran said Wednesday that US strikes on its territory killed 11 people, state media reported, after a fresh attack in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.
"The Deputy Governor of Khuzestan Province for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs said that last night's US missile attack on three locations in the province left seven people dead and eight injured," state-run IRNA said.
It came after the Iranian Red Crescent said Tuesday that four people including a child were killed and more than 50 people wounded by a US attack at a wedding in southern Sirik county.
Imprint of US crimes evident in Minab, Sirik: Iranian govt
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 02:56 GMT | by Web Desk
Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said that the imprint of US crimes was evident in both cases: the targeting of students in Minab and the turning of a wedding celebration into mourning in Sirik.
A “crime that no claim can conceal,” she said in a post on X, adding that the government shared the grief of the Hormozgan people and stood alongside them.
IRGC carries out ‘heavy ballistic missile attack’ on Prince Hassan base in Jordan
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 02:45 GMT | by Web Desk
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried “a heavy ballistic missile attack” on the drone hangar at the Prince Hassan base in Jordan, the military said, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
"A number of drones were destroyed, and a number of pilots and flight crew members were killed," the military said.
Targeting a ‘wedding’ proof of Washington’s ‘utter desperation’: Ebrahim Azizi
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 02:39 GMT | by Web Desk
Chairman of the National Security Committee of Iran's Parliament Ebrahim Azizi has said that targeting a “wedding and slaughtering innocent civilians in Kuhestak,” was the “ultimate proof of the utter desperation of the fake defenders of human rights,” terming the US strike “a repetition of their atrocities in Minab and Lamerd.”
“Make no mistake: these crimes will not go unpunished,” he said in a post on X.
“Nothing will protect them from the crushing will of Iran’s Armed Forces,” he added.
Bahrain issues alert of a’ potential threat,’ urges citizens to remain calm
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 02:29 GMT | by Web Desk
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry issued an alert of a potential threat and urged citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location.
“Follow news through official channels for the protection of public safety,” the ministry said.
Trump says US position is ‘much better,’ denies forcing Iran into negotiations
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 02:25 GMT | by Web Desk
President Donald Trump has said that the position US had now “much better,” refuting claims that he was trying to “force Iran to the bargaining table.”
“I couldn’t care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement,” he said in a post on TruthSocial.
“I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing,” the president said.
He added that Iran was “just playing out the inevitable.”
Peru cuts ties with Iran, accusing Tehran of escalating Mideast war: foreign ministry
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 01:39 GMT | by AFP
Peru's Foreign Ministry said it has severed diplomatic relations with Iran, accusing Tehran of inciting "an escalation of conflicts" in the Middle East and hindering maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz.
Citing a historic pacifist stance, the Peruvian government "has made the decision to sever diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran," the ministry said in a statement.
Turning blind eye to injustice does not contain it: Baqaei condemns US attack on wedding
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 01:39 GMT | by Web Desk
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has said that turning a blind eye to injustice does not contain it while condemning a US strike on a residential home in Sirik which killed four people and wounded 50.
In a post on X, Baqaei said that the US “catalogue of atrocities” against Iran was now complete after it attacked while families were celebrating a wedding.
“This cruelty cannot be separated from the chain of atrocities that preceded it in Minab, Lamerd, Qeshm and elsewhere nor from the strikes on military targets that were dressed in deceptive justifications,” he said, adding that it was more dangerous to normalize bombing than the bomb itself.
He said that Tehran will respond to these “savage crimes with firmness,” calling out governments and international institutions that remain silent, or sought to justify such acts.
Such governments and institutions “must understand that their silence is not neutrality,” he said.
“Those who remain silent today will not be immune to its consequences tomorrow. Turning a blind eye to injustice does not contain it; it only emboldens the perpetrators,” he added.
Iran says targeted US forces at Bahrain air base: Report
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 01:39 GMT | by AFP
Iran's army said it targeted US forces at an air base in Washington-allied Bahrain, as Tehran launched strikes targeting American interests across the Middle East.
"The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, several hours ago, targeted radar installations and assembly points of US terrorist forces at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain through intensive attacks carried out by suicide drones," state media reported.
Iran Guards say struck US bases in Erbil with missiles, drones: Report
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 01:23 GMT | by AFP
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that they struck US bases with missiles and drones in Erbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, state media reported.
The Guards said they "carried out a coordinated missile and drone attack on US bases in Erbil" that destroyed a maintenance centre, warehouses and the "guidance system of a US surveillance aerostat", according to a statement carried by the state-run IRNA.
Tuesday at a glance
Published: Sept 2, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by Web Desk
The United States and Iran on Tuesday engaged in tit-for-tat strikes as conflict escalated across the region, with Central Command saying its forces completed a wave of strikes against military targets, while Iran said it targeted a Marine base in Jordan with ballistic missiles.
After six months of war, the two sides remain at an impasse, with Iran disrupting traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the US persisting with a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the conflicts in the Middle East have had far-reaching effects, urging the warring parties to show maximum restraint.
The escalation comes after Washington and Tehran threatened retaliatory strikes in response to recent aggression, with US President Donald Trump warning that Tehran faced "much harder and higher" attacks if it hits back, while Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed “unforgettable lessons for the American enemy.”
Both Kuwait and Jordan confirmed strikes on their territory, while AFP journalists reported that air alert sirens rang out in Bahrain as authorities called on residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.
Meanwhile, Qatar called on the US and Iran to return to negotiations, urging both parties to exercise wisdom and return to the negotiating path.
As US continued its economic pressure campaign against Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said US was “probably going to announce a bank sanction this week,” and another the following week, adding that Washington received “great support around the world.”
For earlier developments, read our Sept 1 live blog here.