Iran-US war latest: Trump military chief seeks ‘off-ramp’ from conflict as Strait of Hormuz ‘hit by missile strike’

Donald Trump‘s military chief is seeking an “off-ramp “ from the ongoing war in Iran, according to a new report. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dan Caine has privately told other top administration officials that the country needs to find a way to exit the war, according to CNN, which cited three sources familiar with the matter. Despite Trump claiming throughout the war that a peace deal, which would include his demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon, was within reach, fighting has continued for more than five months. It comes as the United Arab Emirates condemned an Iranian missile attack on its carrier as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz today, accusing Tehran of "acts of piracy". State news agency WAM initially reported ADNOC as saying one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early on Saturday and that the situation was under control. The UAE Foreign Ministry later condemned what it called "the hostile Iranian attack" on an ADNOC vessel.A deal to open the Strait this week would give Iran some control, sources say US officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access ‌to the world's most important trade route for energy supplies. It was not clear whether they had sought to change the parameters of ​the deal. Iran has used the hostilities to justify charging a toll on oil tankers. That, and the firing on ships that attempt to ‌cross the strait without its permission, has badly disrupted global shipments, causing energy ⁠prices to surge and fueling inflation. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 17:00Iran says deal on Strait of Hormuz is close but will not open the waterway by itself Iran said on Saturday that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, and the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there. A US official, who declined to be identified, said on Friday that Washington anticipated an agreement soon between Iran ⁠and Oman, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume. Agreement between the two countries over control of the strategic waterway is seen as crucial to a wider agreement to end the conflict that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were "very close" to agreement on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz but that reopening the strait depended on other conditions, including US compensation to Iran. The previous shipping traffic separation scheme through the strait was no longer acceptable to Tehran, he said, adding that Iran was discussing a temporary route with Oman while technical and legal issues surrounding a permanent route were resolved. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 16:15Vessel struck by unknown projectile off Oman's Khasab A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile 18 nautical miles east of Oman's Khasab, causing a fire that was extinguished, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday. UKMTO said ⁠the vessel and crew were reported safe with no reported environmental ‌impact ​from the ‌incident. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 15:45 Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 15:15Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs seeking ‘off-ramp’ from Iran war, report says Caine has privately told other top administration officials that the country needs to find a way to exit the war, according to CNN, which cited three sources familiar with the matter. Despite Trump claiming throughout the war that a peace deal, which would include his demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon, was within reach, fighting has continued for more than five months. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 14:40How does Oman-Iran deal give Tehran an upper hand Iran says it is close to reaching a deal with Oman to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between the two countries. But it would be conditional on the US lifting its blockade on the crucial waterway. It would formalise its control over what had been an open international waterway before the war, one that carried a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas. Abdolreza Davari, an analyst who once advised former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Iran's effective control of the strait has given it leverage with the US and regional countries that can help guarantee its security. “More than revenue from the strait, Iran wants to confirm its management and sovereignty over the strait,” he said by phone from Tehran. Formal control over even part of the strait would be a clear win for Iran and a loss for the US, which has yet to accomplish some of its various and shifting goals in the war. It would also deal a blow to global norms on freedom of navigation and set a precedent that much of the world would find disturbing — that nations can shut down trade choke points at will. China, which buys oil from Iran and has influence over it, said as recently as May that “normal and safe Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 14:00UAE oil tanker attacked by missile in Strait of Hormuz The United Arab Emirates condemned an Iranian missile attack on its carrier as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz today, accusing Tehran of "acts of piracy". State news agency WAM initially reported ADNOC as saying one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early on Saturday and that the situation was under control. The UAE Foreign Ministry later condemned what it called "the hostile Iranian attack" on an ADNOC vessel. Neither statement gave details on the tanker, its cargo or possible damage. No injuries were reported. The ministry said the attack violated a U.N. Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of "acts of piracy" by targeting commercial shipping and using the waterway as a tool of economic pressure. It called on Iran to halt the attacks and reopen ⁠the strait fully and unconditionally. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 13:19Fallout from war in Iran is leaving millions vulnerable to hunger As the US, Iran and Oman edge towards an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, months of insecurity and disruption are leaving millions more vulnerable to hunger in Yemen. The economic fallout from the regional conflict has driven up food and fuel prices, while more than four months of conflict with Iran has driven renewed escalation in Yemen, compounding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than half the population were already facing hunger, but slow progress from world leaders to re-open the Strait has caused months of disruption to global food and energy supplies, disrupting humanitarian aid operations. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 13:00Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz risk creating global biosecurity ‘super-spreader’ event Our recent research shows that the more than 1,500 commercial vessels that have been laid up in the Persian/Arabian Gulf since February pose a significant environmental threat because they have been accumulating marine biofouling species on their hulls. As the strait reopens, these ships may spread these organisms to ports they visit, potentially causing an international biosecurity “super-spreader” event. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 12:19Tehran on brink of deal with Oman to open Hormuz that could finally pave way for Trump peace talks There was no immediate comment from Washington on the proposal, but president Donald Trump late on Wednesday portrayed ongoing talks positively and said a deal on Hormuz was imminent. Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 August 2026 11:43