Here’s the latest
• Economic pressure: US President Donald Trump played down the war with Iran, calling it a “little detour,” with his administration set to ramp up economic sanctions on Tehran. Iran and China — its major trading partner — have pushed back on any planned harsher measures from the US.
• Strait of Hormuz: Iranian state media reported that the country will allow Iraqi oil tankers to travel through the strait. The number of ships are at 20% of the pre-war average, according to a CNN analysis of figures from the UK’s maritime agency.
• US gas prices: Meanwhile, drivers are paying nearly $1 more per gallon for gas, as compared to a year ago. The national average gas price on Friday was $4.11 per gallon, up $0.97 from this time last year.
Trump calls Iran war "a little detour" as Tehran maintains defiance. Catch up here
US President Donald Trump played down the war with Iran, calling it a “little detour,” with his administration set to ramp up economic sanctions on Tehran.
“Look, it’s a Friday night. We have plenty of time, right? What the hell do I have to do? Go back, bomb Iran a little bit more?” Trump said at a rally in South Carolina yesterday.
Here’s what else is going on in the Middle East:
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a news conference Monday after pledging to apply measures that have “never been seen” on Iran.
- Iran pushed back on US President Donald Trump’s threat of an “economic D-Day,” calling it “a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism.”
- Iran has urged Qatar to aid with the transfer to dry land of four Iranian pilots — missing since the downing of their aircraft earlier this year — after Kuwait agreed to facilitate access to the men, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
- The number of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz rose 27% in the past week, according to a CNN analysis of figures from the UK Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO), which recorded 103 entering and 89 leaving.
CNN’s Laura Sharman, Xiaoqian Lin, Betsy Klein, and Charlotte Reck contributed to this reporting.
Iranian gas refinery hit in Israeli strike is almost repaired, oil ministry says
A refinery in Iran’s South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas field hit during an Israeli strike last year, is 70% repaired, according to the country’s oil ministry news agency, Shana.
The CEO of the Pars Oil and Gas Company, Touraj Dehqani, said repair work is expected to finish by the end of the Iranian calendar year in March 2027, Shana reported today.
Dehqani said reconstruction work began immediately after the refinery was hit during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in 2025.
Iranian facilities in the gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar, were also targeted during the regional conflict earlier this year, prompting Tehran to retaliate by attacking major energy facilities of its Gulf neighbors.
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. But some countries are getting a pass
As we reported earlier, Iran is allowing a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest example of Tehran granting selective access to the vital waterway.
Iran granted the permission following repeated requests from Baghdad, Iranian state media reported Saturday. Securing passage for Iraqi tankers was also one of Baghdad’s main requests during Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s visit to Iraq, according to IRNA, with Iraq having been hard hit by the turmoil in the waterway.
Iraq is not alone. China, India and Pakistan are among countries that have negotiated with Tehran to secure passage for their vessels. Iran has previously said it would deny passage to vessels linked to the United States or Israel, while allowing others to transit with its consent.
Traffic through the strait is beginning to increase, but remains sharply depressed. The number of ships crossing rose 27% over the past week, with 103 vessels entering and 89 leaving, according to a CNN analysis of UK Maritime Trade Operations data.
That is still only 20% of the seven-day pre-war average.
Meanwhile, as CNN has been reporting, the US military has been escorting vessels to protect them from Iranian attacks.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Saturday that the US Navy helped move more than 15 million barrels of oil and petroleum products out through the strait earlier this week.
Iran calls on Qatar to transfer detained pilots to dry land, state media reports
Iran has urged Qatar to aid with the transfer to dry land of four Iranian pilots — missing since the downing of their aircraft earlier this year — after Kuwait agreed to facilitate access to the men, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
“The location for holding the Iranian pilots on the water is not suitable,” Bagherzadeh said Saturday, as reported by Iranian state-run Mizan news agency. “Qatar should, to preserve their health, transfer the prisoners at the earliest opportunity to land and an equipped hospital.”
Bagherzadeh earlier called on the Red Cross to aid the pilots out of concern for their physical condition, Tasnim said.
“This step has created a glimmer of hope for the swift release of these dear individuals,” Bagherzadeh said, referring to the Kuwaiti government’s initial agreement to allow the Iranian ambassador to meet with the pilots in Kuwait.
For context: Last week, Qatari spokesperson Majed Al Ansari refuted Iran’s claim that its pilots had been detained as prisoners in Qatar after hostilities back in March. “We categorically deny the claims that have been circulated regarding the detention of Iranian pilots,” he said in a post on X.
Al Ansari said Qatar had “fulfilled their duty to the fullest in searching for the pilots’ remains,” adding that it had co-ordinated with Iran to return the remains of one pilot, and invited Iran to visit Qatar to learn more about the rescue efforts in April, although Iran did not respond, he said.
Bessent to hold news conference Monday as US ramps up economic pressure on Iran
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a news conference Monday after pledging to apply measures that have “never been seen” on Iran.
The news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
The Trump administration has signaled a new round of sanctions targeting Iran is imminent, as it looks to squeeze Tehran’s remaining sources of revenue.
Some context: It comes after President Donald Trump threatened an “economic D-Day” against Iran, vowing to impose “tremendous economic consequences” on countries that continue to do business with Tehran.
Tehran has pushed back sharply against Trump’s rhetoric. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday called Trump’s threat “a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism.”
Baghaei also described Trump’s declaration of new economic sanctions as an “assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent Member State of the United Nations,” in a post on X on Friday.
Iran to allow Iraqi oil tankers to travel through Strait of Hormuz, state media reports
Iran has granted permission to a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the Reuters news agency reported today, citing theIranian state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
IRNA reported this came after repeated appeals from Baghdad, one of its main requests during Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf’s visit, according to Reuters.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained well below pre-war levels. The critical waterway has emerged as a key bargaining chip in the war between the US and Iran.
War with Iran "a little detour," Trump says, promising gas prices will fall
US President Donald Trump on Friday described the war with Iran as “a little detour,” as he blamed inflation on Democrats and promised gas prices will soon come down.
Speaking at Sen. Darline Graham’s campaign rally in South Carolina, he said: “Look, it’s a Friday night. We have plenty of time, right? What the hell do I have to do? Go back, bomb Iran a little bit more?”
The national average gas price on Friday was $4.11 per gallon – up nearly $1 from a year ago.
Refineries are facing a perfect storm of war and export restrictions, which is limiting how much crude oil they can turn into gasoline, jet fuel and diesel for the global economy.
Recap: What Trump has said about an "economic D-Day" against Iran
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the US would exert more financial pressure on Iran as a deal to end the war remains at an impasse.
The president did not offer further details about the economic operation or what measures it would entail.
Trump also said there would be economic consequences for any “country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said the “situation” with Iran “was so good,” telling reporters that talks could open again “maybe at some point.”
He answered a question about potential sanctions at an event at the White House later.
“Well, we have things that we could sanction,” Trump said. “We have very draconian sanctions, and we’ll see what happens.”
Latest on Iran war: Hormuz traffic remains at a trickle, gas prices up
Traffic on the Strait of Hormuz remained muted this week as compared with pre-war levels, even though US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said “oil is flowing” through the critical waterway.
The number of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz rose 27% in the past week, according to a CNN analysis of figures from the UK Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO). However, that is only 20% of the seven-day pre-war average.
Catch up on more headlines:
- Iran pushes back: Tehran condemned Trump’s threat of an “economic D-Day,” calling it “a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also said the sanctions are an “assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent Member State of the United Nations.”
- US gas prices: Drivers are paying nearly $1 more per gallon for gas, as compared to a year ago. The national average gas price on Friday was $4.11 per gallon, up $0.97 from this time last year.
- Diplomatic efforts: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Oman’s ambassador in the United States on Thursday. Their meeting came days after Trump threatened to bomb the country over their Strait of Hormuz negotiations with Iran. The foreign ministers of Oman and Iran also held a phone call to discuss navigation in the strait, according to a readout from Oman on Friday.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during which they discussed the conflict in southern Lebanon, among other issues, said Aoun’s office.
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Laura Sharman and Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting.
Hormuz traffic this week is 20% of pre-war average, US says "oil is flowing"
The number of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz rose 27% in the past week, according to a CNN analysis of figures from the UK Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO), which recorded 103 entering and 89 leaving.
However, that is only 20% of the seven-day pre-war average, with the waterway still a focal point of the Iran war.
Most vessels were flagged from Panama (7) and Liberia (6), with none from the United States. The most common type of vessel traveling through the strait was the product tanker, which typically transports refined petroleum products.
For now, the evidence shows the US Navy gaining ground in the strait while Iran loses much of its control, with more than 80% of liquids transiting over the past two weeks taking the Omani route – a UN-authorized shipping channel that Iran vehemently opposes.
Earlier this week, the US Navy helped ship more than 15 million barrels of oil and products out of the strait and another five million via pipelines, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Saturday on X.
Iran: Trump's economic threat paves the way for "return to full-scale classic colonialism"
Iran pushed back on US President Donald Trump’s threat of an “economic D-Day,” calling it “a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism.”
The US president had earlier threatened “the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION” against Iran in a social media post on August 19.
He also warned there would be economic consequences for countries that continue to do business with Tehran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that those who order or implement the levies “are liable to prosecution and punishment,” reported state media IRIB.
Timeline: What has happened this week since US and Iran missed deadline for peace talks
This week, a two-month window for peace talks expired without a clear path to end the US war with Iran. Global oil prices have continued to rise, traffic through Middle East waterways is muted and the Strait of Hormuz remains a key sticking point.
Still, Trump said Wednesday the “situation” with Iran “was so good,” as he threatened heightened sanctions and more economic pressure on Iran.
Here’s a recap of what happened this week:
- Monday: The 60-day deadline for the two sides to reach a deal toward ending the conflict passed, and Trump said there are no talks underway or scheduled with Iran. The US president told his envoys to halt their conversations with Tehran, a US official later said.
- Tuesday: Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a list of demands he said the US must meet before the Strait of Hormuz reopens, including lifting sanctions on Iranian oil and ending military threats. Shortly after, Trump posted an image on social media showing the Strait of Hormuz labeled as “New US Territory.”
- Wednesday: Trump threatened “crushing economic warfare” on Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the potential move and warned that those who order or implement the levies “are liable to prosecution and punishment.” The US also imposed new sanctions against Hezbollah and designated the Lebanese militant group as an Iranian proxy.
- Thursday: The USS Abraham Lincoln began its journey home, according to a source familiar, after an extended deployment during the Iran war that drew concerns for the crew’s mental health and morale. The USS George Washington arrived in the Middle East on Wednesday to relieve the Lincoln, the military said.
- Friday: China, a major trading partner of Iran, pushed back on Trump’s threat of an “economic D-Day,” saying the sanctions “do not fit the interest of any party.” In the US, drivers are paying nearly a dollar more per gallon for gas than this time last year, as refineries face a perfect storm of wartime obstacles.
Ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz have 4 risky options
Since the US-Iran war began in February, the Strait of Hormuz has become a complicated and dangerous maze for the numerous ships that used to pass through it every day. Here are the four risky options vessels must choose from if they want to transit the strategic waterway:
What Beijing has said about Trump's "economic D-Day" threat
China responded on Friday to US President Donald Trump’s threat of an “economic D-Day” against Iran, saying that sanctions do not “fit the interest of any party.”
On Wednesday, Trump vowed to impose “tremendous economic consequences” against countries that continue to do business with Tehran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later urging Beijing to “get with the program.”
China believes that “sanctions and pressure tactics are not the solution,” Lin Jian, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a news briefing on Friday. Lin urged the relevant parties to solve the dispute through negotiation and dialogue, and come to a political settlement.
Beijing is a source of crucial economic support for Iran but has walked a cautious diplomatic line amid the US-Iran war, keeping communications open with players on both sides. As for the leverage the US could wield over China however, Trump has increasingly limited options.
Alongside China, Iran has also condemned what it called Trump’s “unlawful” threat of an elevated economic campaign against Tehran.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the country’s parliament speaker, said today that Tehran is prepared to “sacrifice our wealth” to defend the country’s “dignity and honor,” according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. He added that “we must plan for unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them.”
