Iran-US war latest: Trump unveils ‘economic D-Day’ sanctions as Tehran vows to go on the attack
Hegseth refuses to rule out US strikes against Iran Iran has vowed retaliation against the US after president Donald Trump unveiled his “economic D-Day” sanctions against Tehran. Iranian economy minister Ali Madanizadeh claimed Tehran was “fully prepared for the US sanctions”. “Our defence is no longer so defensive; the enemies should wait for an attack,” he told state media. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the pivot to economic measures did not mean American strikes against Iran were off the table, saying that "by no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran”. It comes after US treasury secretary Scott Bessent vowed to “tighten the noose” with fresh secondary sanctions on Tehran's trade partners, declaring that “no nation should expect to enjoy the rewards of our system while working with a regime that seeks to destroy it”.He said that an unnamed financial institution could expect to be sanctioned by the end of this week. The Trump administration is turning up the economic pressure on Iran as the conflict drags on for nearly six months and reports say that the US military’s weapons stockpile is dwindling. President Trump has refuted the reporting, saying his country has ‘massive amounts of ‘munitions’”. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 August 2026 06:00Pakistan and Iran made 'significant progress' in talks on conflict Pakistan and Iran made "significant progress" in talks that focused on the US-Israeli war on Iran and a path to peace, Pakistan's interior minister said following his visit to Tehran. Talks between the two sides focused on measures to prevent further escalation, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an expedited termination of the conflict, a statement from the Pakistani military said about the meeting between the country's army chief, Asim Munir, and the Iranian leadership. The two sides also exchanged views on regional peace and the way to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the dispute, the statement said. "The Iranian President candidly shared his government's perspective and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved," interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied Munir to Tehran, said in a post on X. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 August 2026 05:40Pakistan army chief holds talks with Iran Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir held discussions with Iran that were focussed on measures including the prevention of a further escalation of the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the Pakistani military said today. Munir discussed regional peace and ways to reach a negotiated settlement to disputes, the statement ad Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 August 2026 05:20Netanyahu claims Iran tried to kill one of his sons Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran tried to kill one of his sons. However, he did not provide any details of the alleged assassination plot. "As for my sons. Here, I think there is something quite unbelievable, yes. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons," Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 14. It was not immediately clear which of his sons he was referring to. Netanyahu's elder son, Yair, lives in Miami. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 August 2026 05:00Iran vows heavy blows against US sanctions Iran promised to retaliate against expanded US economic sanctions that the Americans said would cut off Iran's economic lifeline, with Tehran expressing confidence that major trading partners would resist Washington's pressure campaign. Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, vowed heavy blows to the US's vital interests and energy chokepoints if Iran's infrastructure is threatened, Press TV reported. Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the measures yesterday but stopped short of the most punishing sanctions, saying countries that continued trading with Iran risked being forced out of the dollar-based financial system. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 August 2026 04:40Oil prices steady as investors weigh impact of sanctions Oil prices steadied this morning, after falling more than 2 per cent in the previous session, as investors assessed the impact of harsher US secondary sanctions against Iran. Brent crude futures were down 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $92.16, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 1 cent at $85.02 a barrel. Both contracts fell more than 2 per cent yesterday with US crude oil falling to a one-week low on profit-taking after prices rallied over the previous two weeks. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 August 2026 04:21Iran claims there is a $10 million bounty on Barron Trump Iranian state media has claimed there is a $10 million bounty on Barron Trump, President Donald Trump’s 20-year-old son, according to a new report nearly six months into the US war with Iran. Footage broadcast on Channel 3, which is linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was titled “Where and how should we kill Barron Trump?” Euronews reported Monday. It reportedly displayed the location of his university, as well as Secret Service positions and escort vehicles, while claiming his whereabouts were “fully monitored.” The clip also claimed that an unnamed young woman had evaded Secret Service protection, met privately with Barron Trump and relayed information about him to the video’s creators. It also claimed he uses Xbox to communicate privately. Read on... Brendan Rascius 25 August 2026 03:59 Bryony Gooch25 August 2026 03:00 Bryony Gooch25 August 2026 02:00Pictured: Scott Bessent reveals sanctions on Iran (Getty) Bryony Gooch25 August 2026 01:00
