Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed new US sanctions threats, saying Tehran is familiar with such measures and knows how to confront them. The United States said it would announce new sanctions against Iran on Monday, while Araghchi described repeated US sanctions packages as watching the same film again.

Araghchi said US sanctions were not new and argued that threats from the Trump era were no different from those made under previous US administrations. His comments followed President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States would begin an economic war against Iran.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday local time, Trump said Iran had failed to use an opportunity to reach an agreement and would face economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale. He also said sanctions would be imposed on any country trading with Iran or enabling its financial institutions, businesses, airports or government entities to provide Iran with any form of lifeline or assistance.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Middle Eastern maritime route, has remained severely limited despite a US assurance of security. Fewer than 20 cargo ships crossed the strait over the Saturday-Sunday weekend, according to preliminary vessel-tracking data cited in the report published on August 24, 2026.

Kpler data showed four ships crossing on Sunday and 13 on Saturday, after 16 crossings on Friday. The tracker said some vessels could not be monitored because they switched off their transponders while transiting the strait. Shipowners and operators still consider the route risky, while the cost of wartime insurance for voyages there has risen sharply.

On the alternative Bab al-Mandab route, 24 cargo vessels moved on Sunday, compared with 32 on Saturday and 22 on Friday. The International Energy Agency said that under normal conditions, around 20 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products pass through Hormuz each day, representing about 25 percent of global seaborne oil trade. About 80 percent of those shipments are destined for Asia.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday a worldwide economic pressure campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast. He said the United States would seek to target Tehran’s revenue sources, including oil, and deter countries and companies from conducting business with Iran through the threat of secondary penalties.

Bessent described the initiative as “economic D-day” and said its objective was to sever economic support for Iran until Tehran is isolated. He warned countries and entities involved in transactions that turn Iranian oil into money that they could be targeted, saying no one was beyond the reach of US sanctions. He also said President Donald Trump had called world leaders with requests to end interaction with Iran.

The sanctions push comes nearly six months into a war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, according to the source. It said attacks and diplomacy have not resolved the crisis, while Tehran has responded with regional missile and drone attacks and asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz. US officials said the new measures would target digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a diplomatic and political resolution to the continuing Middle East crisis during a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Beijing on Monday. Citing China’s Foreign Ministry, the report said Xi supported a comprehensive ceasefire and the settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means.

Xi said the sovereignty and security of regional countries, including Jordan, should be respected. He also highlighted what he described as Jordan’s unique and important role in the Middle East. On the Palestinian issue, Xi called for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution and said China supports restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks based on a two-state solution.

The meeting came as Jordan faces a difficult position between its alliance with the United States and escalating tensions involving Washington, Israel and Iran. China and Jordan signed several agreements on diplomacy, trade and supply chains. In a joint statement, the two sides also called for the restoration of normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they launched a ballistic missile at the Saudi-owned oil tanker Amjan near the coast of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. A Houthi military spokesperson said the missile directly struck the vessel and caused a major fire. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the claimed attack.

Independent details on damage to the tanker, casualties, or the status of the reported fire were not available. Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an oil tanker was damaged after being hit by an unidentified object about 63 nautical miles, or around 117 kilometres, west of Yanbu port. An investigation is under way.

The Houthis have recently increased claims of attacks on Saudi-owned and Saudi-linked oil vessels. Since announcing a claimed naval blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea in late July, the group has claimed attacks on several tankers. International maritime security agencies have reported fires aboard ships in some incidents. Yanbu is an important centre for Saudi oil transport infrastructure, raising concerns for regional tensions, energy supplies and maritime trade.

Israeli authorities denied entry to two Swedish members of the European Parliament, Jonas Sjöstedt and Hanna Gedin, who were travelling to visit the occupied West Bank. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the two Left Party members were sent back from Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday.

Israel said the legislators had consistently acted against Israel, including by calling for international legal action against Israelis. The ministry also accused them of spreading what it called false allegations against Israel, including allegations of genocide, deliberate starvation and intentionally targeting children and medical workers.

The lawmakers said they had planned to meet human rights and humanitarian organisations, including Save the Children, and visit refugee camps. Sjöstedt said in a Facebook post that they were not going to meet the Palestinian Authority, and that EU and Swedish embassies in Israel had protested the decision. Palestinian National Council president Rawhi Fattouh condemned the move, calling it an attempt to impose silence through force and criminalise criticism of the occupation.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam said the Rohingya crisis has placed broad economic, social and environmental pressure on Bangladesh. Speaking on Monday at a seminar in the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences, he said voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar is the only sustainable solution. The seminar, jointly organised by the Department of International Relations and the Centre for Genocide Studies, focused on challenges to repatriation, international politics and national priorities.

Obaidul Islam described the crisis as a major humanitarian and geopolitical challenge, saying Bangladesh has faced multidimensional pressure after sheltering a large number of Rohingyas for a long period. He called for a more active international role and said humanitarian assistance alone cannot provide a long-term solution without meaningful diplomatic and political intervention to address the causes of displacement in Myanmar.

Retired Brigadier General Dr. A K M Shamsul Islam said the issue affects humanitarian and national security, diplomacy and regional stability. He said Bangladesh cannot bear permanent responsibility and urged sustained international pressure, backed by coordinated diplomacy and a credible, durable security strategy. Speakers also called for using multilateral forums including the United Nations and ASEAN, while panel discussions examined humanitarianism, national security and restoring repatriation to international discourse.

A Syrian court has sentenced Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun, a senior religious official close to ousted former president Bashar al-Assad, to life imprisonment for crimes committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war. Hassoun served as Syria’s grand mufti from 2005 to 2021. He was arrested at Damascus airport in March last year, and judicial proceedings against him began in June this year.

Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Arian said Hassoun and the state religious institution under his authority were used to provide religious legitimacy for Assad government military operations. The court found allegations proven that he incited the military to displace civilians from eastern Aleppo, ordered the destruction of homes of Idlib residents, and was linked to deadly barrel-bomb attacks on civilians.

The court imposed 20 years in prison for incitement to murder and an additional 10 years for prolonging violence, alongside compensation orders. Hassoun is barred from general or special pardons because of the gravity of the crimes. His movable and immovable assets were ordered confiscated for the state treasury.

Key European allies of Ukraine are due to meet in Kyiv on Monday as Russian attacks intensify, with discussions expected to focus on expanding urgently needed air-defence supplies and increasing pressure on Moscow. Leaders of the “Coalition of the Willing,” jointly chaired by the United Kingdom, France and Germany, will take part, while some national leaders are expected to join by video conference. European Council President António Costa is also expected in Kyiv.

The meeting comes as civilian deaths from Russian attacks have reached their highest level since the first months after the war began in 2022, according to AFP. Recent weeks have seen repeated ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv, destroying residential buildings and killing many people in the capital. Thousands of residents have sought shelter in metro stations after nearly every attack, while others have gone to basements and shelters.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is making Kyiv his first international trip after taking office and said Britain would not retreat until a just and lasting peace is established. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged new missile-defence systems on Saturday. Ukraine says its own weapons cannot intercept the fast, high-flying ballistic missiles and relies on advanced systems, especially US-made Patriot defences.

Iran has blacklisted 45 tankers over allegations that they violated rules for transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran-established Persian Gulf Strait Authority announced the measure in a post on X on Sunday night, saying Tehran could also act against any vessel transporting goods through the listed tankers.

The authority said blacklisted vessels could face fines, detention and confiscation of their cargo. The list includes large crude-oil tankers, ships carrying liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, and vessels transporting clean products.

The warning came days after the United States threatened what it called the toughest sanctions in history against Iran. Iran said its response to any new US threat would be devastating. Tehran had previously said shipowners must obtain its approval to use the Strait of Hormuz and pay for security and other services. Before the conflict, the waterway carried about 20 percent of global daily crude oil and LNG supplies, but traffic has fallen sharply during the ongoing conflict.

Iraq has proposed creating a joint security coordination council involving Iran and Saudi Arabia to help rebuild trust between the two regional rivals. Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji announced the initiative on state television on Sunday, saying it is intended to address the “crisis of confidence” between Tehran and Riyadh.

The proposal follows Saudi Arabia’s July 27 claim that it destroyed drones launched from Iraq and aimed at Saudi oil facilities. Riyadh blamed Iran-aligned groups for the alleged attack, after which Iraq’s prime minister ordered an investigation. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Iran had made an immediate comment on Iraq’s proposal.

Araji also discussed Iraq’s domestic challenge of bringing weapons under state control. The Iraqi army announced a committee on June 3 for that purpose. He said the planned September 30 withdrawal of the US-led coalition would begin a gradual process of placing all weapons under state control. Araji called for political consensus on disarming armed groups while protecting fighters’ rights.

The European Commission has approved €6.1 billion ($7.1 billion) in new defence support for Ukraine, covering air and missile defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radar. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the package on Monday, Ukraine’s Independence Day.

Von der Leyen said Europe was demonstrating that its support for Ukraine remained steadfast and tangible. She said Europe was increasing its assistance as Russia intensified attacks, aiming to help Ukraine protect its population and strengthen its air defences. She also said Europe would stand with Ukraine and provide needed equipment when required.

The funding is part of the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan, with €60 billion allocated to defence and €30 billion designated for budget support in 2026 and 2027. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union established the loan in February 2026. Since 2022, the EU and its member states have provided Ukraine with €220.2 billion in assistance, including €3.8 billion generated from frozen Russian assets.

The US State Department has approved the sale of four KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling aircraft to Qatar in a deal valued at $4.5 billion, Iranian media reported. The package includes eight PW4062 turbofan engines, 10 AN/ALR-69A radar warning systems, and support and training equipment. The source portrays the transaction as part of Washington’s effort to use concerns over Iran and regional insecurity to expand arms sales to Gulf Arab states.

According to the source, Qatar’s overall cost exceeds $1 billion per aircraft when associated equipment is included. It contrasts this with the US Air Force’s reported procurement cost of about $200 million to $322 million per aircraft. The report also compares the KC-46A with the Airbus A330 MRTT, saying Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates paid about $300 million for each European tanker aircraft.

The source cites a US Government Accountability Office report saying the KC-46A has not met readiness and mission-capability standards since 2019. It lists refuelling-system, remote vision system, structural, fuel-leak, boom-separation and electrical problems, and says Boeing has spent more than $8 billion addressing defects. The State Department said the sale would help Qatar address current and future threats and support a strategic regional partner.

A recent survey by the Center for Jewish Impact found that 52 percent of Israelis feel fear or concern about revealing their Israeli identity while travelling abroad. The survey, reported on August 24, 2026, also found that 41 percent of respondents changed their travel behaviour after October 7, 2023, including changing destinations, cancelling trips, or avoiding certain activities overseas.

The poll indicated dissatisfaction with Israel’s international diplomacy. While 64 percent said Israel’s strategic relationship with the United States is strong, only 23 percent believed the country effectively presents its policies and positions internationally. Seventy percent described Israel’s public diplomacy, or efforts to present its image abroad, as ineffective.

Most respondents did not consider Israel’s international standing permanently weakened. Thirty-three percent said a long-term national strategy and stronger public diplomacy and communications were the top priority, while 25 percent called for changes in government policy and decision-making. On social cohesion, 73 percent said Israel can remain a united society, up from 67 percent in February 2026. বিশ্বাস in Jewish-Arab coexistence stood at 42 percent.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has urged Israel to stop the E1 settlement expansion project in the occupied West Bank. The appeal followed the Israeli government’s publication last week of a tender for construction of more than 1,200 housing units in the E1 area, according to the report published on August 24, 2026.

Kallas said the project would seriously damage the prospects for a two-state solution. In a statement, she called on the Israeli government to withdraw the tender and to halt all other settlement expansion projects.

The report says implementation of the E1 project would separate the northern and southern parts of the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlement construction and expansion in the West Bank have long faced international criticism and are seen as a major obstacle to Palestinians establishing an independent state. Kallas’s appeal is aimed at preserving the possibility of a two-state solution involving Israel and Palestine.