Here's the latest
• Latest on the war: Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine raised concerns about escalating the war as President Donald Trump weighed the possibility during a White House meeting, according to sources.
• Apparent pause: On Friday, the US military did not announce new strikes against Iran for the first time in two weeks. Regional US allies have not reported fresh attacks so far this weekend.
• New front: The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen said they targeted Saudi sites on the Red Sea coast Saturday, a day after Saudi Arabia launched strikes in retaliation for the rebel group’s attacks on commercial vessels. It’s the latest emerging front in a Middle East conflict that has threatened to spread through the region.
• Service member identified: The US military has officially confirmed the identity of one of the soldiers killed by Iranian strikes in Jordan earlier this month.
Vance, Caine raised concerns about escalating war in Iran, sources say
Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine both raised concerns about escalating the war in Iran as President Donald Trump weighed the possibility during a White House meeting on Friday, a source familiar with the matter and a US official told CNN.
On Friday night, the US appeared to pause its bombing campaign on Iran after nearly two weeks of consecutive nights of strikes. Operations are “on a hold,” a Department of Defense source told CNN on Saturday.
On Friday, Caine specifically raised concerns about the US munitions stockpile and other potential negative implications, according to the sources. One of the sources said that Caine told Trump and the US military they could carry out the options available to him and be successful but then warned of the possible implications.
The stockpile concern was one of many raised to Trump during the meeting, both sources said. It’s currently unclear if that concern or the warning about escalation were the primary reasons why the US paused consecutive nights of strikes or whether it will continue to do so.
“Combined with successful sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy and 13 straight days of strikes against military targets in response to their repeated aggression, it would be wise for Iran to work towards a negotiated deal. Otherwise, they know what will happen,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement.
“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.
CNN has also reached out to Vance’s office for comment.
Katy Perry upset at White House post on Iran strikes featuring her music
Katy Perry responded with strong words against the use of her hit 2010 song “Firework” by the White House in a video of declassified images of the US striking Iran.
US military boards tanker in Arabian Sea as part of naval blockade of Iranian ports
The US military said it boarded a tanker today as part of its blockade of Iranian ports, adding that the “naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect.”
“Early today, U.S. forces completed a verification boarding aboard Comoros-flagged M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea, and the tanker is now continuing its journey,” US Central Command said in a social media post.
The military also provided more details about a tanker it disabled yesterday, saying it was the “Mozambique-flagged M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman.”
US Central Command added the tanker it disabled had violated the blockade and ignored multiple warnings, adding it is “no longer transiting to Iran.”
Since reimposing a naval blockade on Iran earlier this month, the US military has redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled two vessels that “didn’t comply” with the blockade.
The US military has also boarded two ships to “ensure total compliance” with the blockade.
Catch up: US-Iran strikes appear to pause, but another front escalates
After 13 straight nights of attacks against Iran, the US did not announce any new strikes overnight. US President Donald Trump had signaled on Friday that talks with Iran were getting more serious, although an Iranian official later dismissed his comments and called the war “one that will not end.”
Meanwhile, fighting between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia risks escalating a new front in the war. The Saudi military targeted the militant group with strikes in Yemen on Friday, and the Houthis said they responded Saturday with attacks against Saudi installations on the Red Sea coast.
If you’re just joining us, here are top headlines from Saturday’s coverage:
- Fallen soldier identified: The US Department of Defense confirmed that Staff Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad was among the service members killed by Iranian strikes in Jordan earlier this month.
- The apparent pause in hostilities: In the time since the American military held off on a new round of strikes, countries hosting US military bases in the region have yet to report fresh Iranian attacks.
- Mixed messages on talks: It’s unclear where the conflict will go from here, as the US and Iran remain at odds — at least publicly — over the state of peace talks. Trump recently said Tehran was “getting more serious” and would “love to make a deal,” but an Iranian military official contradicted those statements on Saturday and even invited a US ground invasion.
- More on the Red Sea attacks: Saudi Arabia is a longtime enemy of the Houthis. Their latest exchanges center on control of the region’s waterways. The Houthis attacked Saudi vessels this week as the militant group tries to enforce a blockade of the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical passageway for the flow of oil that’s already been hampered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Diplomatic visit: An Omani delegation visited Tehran on Friday to discuss ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Saturday.
- Pain at the pump: US gas prices have been back on the rise. The average price of a gallon of gas rose to $4.11 on Saturday, now up 11 cents in the past week. The volatility in the Red Sea is the latest factor impacting oil trade.
CNN’s Xiaoqian Lin, Eyad Kourdi, Mitchell McCluskey, Tim Lister, Ibrahim Dahman, Farida Elsebai, Auzinea Bacon and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed reporting.
US military officially confirms identity of soldier killed during Iranian strikes in Jordan
The Department of Defense officially confirmed today the identity of one of the soldiers killed in Iranian strikes in Jordan.
The Pentagon had previously said that the soldier, Staff Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, a 28-year-old from Ozone Park, New York, was believed to be killed in the July 17 attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
Today, the department officially confirmed her identity “following positive identification by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System.”
The Pentagon said authorities would continue to investigate the attack.
Rampersad – or Sarah, as she was known to family – was born in Trinidad and came to the US as a toddler. She and her sister were raised by a single mother in Ozone Park, her aunt Judy Rackal said at a news conference in Queens, New York last week.
Read more here about the US service members killed or missing in the war with Iran.
Iran says Omani delegation visited Tehran to discuss Strait of Hormuz traffic
An Omani diplomatic delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Saturday.
The two parties discussed efforts to “establish appropriate mechanisms for managing ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” according to IRNA.
Oman has not yet publicly commented on the reported meeting.
US gas prices remain well over $4 as Iran war drags on
The average price for a gallon of gas in the United States rose about a penny to $4.11 on Saturday as hostilities continue in the Middle East.
Gas prices have climbed 11 cents in the past week, with American drivers paying 38% more since the start of the war in late February.
Gas prices peaked at $4.56 in early May but dropped after the initial US-Iran ceasefire agreement signed in mid-June renewed hopes that oil traffic would be restored in the Strait of Hormuz. Renewed fighting dramatically slowed traffic through the strait, cutting off its pre-war supply of 20 million barrels of oil a day.
As we’ve been covering today, the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have also targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, threatening another route for oil exports. The Houthis have effectively blocked the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, through which about 5 million barrels of Saudi oil flow each day.
On Friday, Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 4% to $96.78, while US crude dropped 3% to $89.31 a barrel.
Crude inventories have also been drained to offset declining oil flows and high prices. The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has reached its lowest level since 1983.
This post has been updated with additional details and background.
Qatar to resume maritime traffic for all vessels on Sunday
Qatar’s maritime traffic will resume as usual starting on Sunday, the country’s transportation ministry said in a statement.
The ministry urged all vessels to follow regulations to ensure their safety.
In late June, Qatar temporarily suspended all maritime traffic in its coastal waters as the US and Iran traded fire.
Relishing their resistance role, Houthis take on Saudi Arabia
The Houthi rebels have long been backed by Iran and reviled by Saudi Arabia. A Shia group from the mountains of northern Yemen, they have controlled the capital Sanaa and much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast since 2014.
Key background: The Saudis launched a large-scale offensive against the militant group in 2015, and the ensuing seven-year conflict provoked one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
The Houthis survived, with help from Iran and other pro-Iranian groups such as Hezbollah, carrying out missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both of which supported the UN-recognized government the Houthis had driven from Sanaa.
In 2023, the Houthis launched ballistic missiles against Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza, and disrupted Red Sea shipping. That provoked a campaign of US strikes early in 2025, which degraded their capabilities. But they remained defiant, almost relishing their resistance role.
The Trump administration’s determination to eradicate the threat posed by the Houthis ended without success. Ultimately, analysts say, only a ground offensive involving tens of thousands of troops is likely to remove them.
The latest developments: The Houthis have managed to survive a long blockade by Saudi Arabia and last week threatened a campaign against Saudi shipping in the Red Sea unless the blockade was lifted.
They subsequently claimed to have hit two Saudi tankers. Saudi Arabia acknowledged at least one vessel was struck and retaliated with airstrikes against Hodeidah, the main port under Houthi control.
Oil topped $100 a barrel for the first time since May after Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted Saudi ships in the Red Sea, threatening to cut off another route for oil exports already choked by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. CNN's Nic Robertson explains who the Iran-backed rebel group is.
Big picture: Analysts now see a real risk of uncontrolled retaliation as each side targets the other, with the growing importance of the Red Sea as a route to export Saudi oil an additional ingredient in a combustible situation.
The southern city of Jizan, which the Houthis said they targeted in strikes on Saturday, is a significant container port for Saudi Arabia and a key site for energy products and electricity generation. Protecting Jizan from regular Houthi strikes has been a prime motivation for past diplomatic efforts.
CNN’s Nic Robertson contributed to this report.
Yemen's Houthis claim missile attacks against Saudi Arabia
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen say they carried out attacks against Saudi installations on the Red Sea coast on Saturday, after Riyadh targeted the group in strikes a day earlier — as a new front in the Middle East conflict threatens to escalate.
In a statement, the Houthi armed forces said they had “carried out two qualitative military operations.”
“The first targeted sensitive Aramco-affiliated facilities in Jizan with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones. And the second operation targeted sensitive Aramco-affiliated facilities in Yanbu with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” the statement said.
Video geolocated by CNN shows large fires burning in an industrial area of Jizan, which is home to a huge oil refinery.
Saudi Arabia has not yet commented on the Houthi claims, but issued security alerts early Saturday for residents of both Yanbu and Jizan.
Referring to the Saudi strikes on Friday against the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, the Houthis said they confirmed “the Saudi enemy’s determination to continue its siege of our people and its violation of our country’s sovereignty.”
“This criminal enemy will find nothing from us but resistance and confrontation from our righteous position,” the Houthi statement added, reaffirming that the blockade against Saudi shipping declared earlier this week “remains in effect.”
“We will not hesitate to expand our operations and escalate our actions based on developments in the coming hours and days,” the statement added.
Iranian official rejects Trump's claim that Tehran is "getting more serious" about talks
An Iranian official has dismissed comments from US President Donald Trump that it is “getting more serious” about negotiations, even suggesting that Tehran welcomed the prospect of a ground invasion by American troops.
“Our war with the enemy is a war of attrition, one that will not end,” the military official – named by Iranian media as General Asadi – said Saturday.
“We ask God that the ground forces of the aggressor American army find themselves in a position where we can engage them on the ground.”
The exchange of words came after almost two weeks in which the US has conducted strikes across Iran in the most serious escalation since a Memorandum of Understanding dialed down hostilities between the two sides.
Trump said on Friday that the US and Iran are talking and that he believes Tehran is getting “more serious.”
“We are talking to them. I think they’re getting more and more serious as the days go by, for maybe the obvious reason, but we are talking to them right now,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump also said Friday that he thought Iran would “love to make a deal” but he didn’t “think they’re ready to.”
His comments came after he met with advisers to discuss a possible escalation of the war, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
“Washington is now seeking to change the playing field and transform the bilateral Iran-US crisis into a confrontation between Iran and the international community,” according to a commentary in the semi-official Nour News on Saturday. Nour News is close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Referring to US accusations that Iran has blocked shipping from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the commentary added: “The country that is today accused of threatening global trade was previously attacked twice in the middle of negotiation processes.”
Ukraine claims it struck ships carrying military cargo from Iran to Russia
Ukraine has struck ships in the Caspian Sea involved in transporting military goods from Iran to Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine had “achieved very good results from long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea,” Zelensky said in a post on X Saturday. The Caspian is more than 1,000 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
“Specifically, these include ships that were involved in transporting military cargo from Iran, as well as a warship,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine claimed to have struck Russian facilities and naval vessels in the Caspian late last year. In December, Ukraine’s Security Service said two vessels sanctioned by the US for carrying military cargoes between Iran and Russia were struck.
Russia has used ports such as Astrakhan and Olya to move military cargo between Iran and Russia, according to analysts. The two countries have long-standing agreements which include collaboration in fields such as drone and missile technology.
UK Navy reports incident involving tanker and military forces
The UK Navy has reported an incident Friday in the Gulf of Oman involving a commercial vessel and “military forces.”
In a bulletin issued Saturday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had “received a report of an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. Vessels are advised to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving operational environment.”
Last week, a similar notice was issued after the United States Navy intercepted and boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman.
US Central Command has not commented on any interceptions Friday.
Saudis issue alerts on Red Sea coast amid tensions with Houthis
Amid growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, Saudi authorities early Saturday activated warnings in two provinces bordering the Red Sea.
Saudi Civil Defense posted the warnings of “potential danger” for Yanbu and Jazan, before rescinding them a short while later.
Yanbu is home to a major Red Sea port capable of shipping millions of barrels of oil daily. Jazan, close to the border with Yemen, has a large oil refinery.
Saudi Civil Defense issued instructions for people to take shelter before saying later that “the danger has passed.”
The warnings did not specify the nature or source of the potential danger.
Satellite images provided by NASA’s fire detection system showed fires east of the refinery in Jazan early Saturday. The cause is not clear.
The Houthis said Saturday that their armed forces would “announce qualitative and extensive military operations” later in the day.
On Friday, Saudi Arabia carried out strikes against what it said were Houthi targets in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah after a Saudi vessel was attacked in the Red Sea.
In a statement, Saudi Arabia’s Coalition Joint Forces Command described the strikes as a “proportionate military response.”
“If the Houthi militia continues its hostile actions, they will be met with a response without leniency,” the statement continued.
The Houthis’ political bureau described the attack as a dangerous escalation of tensions.
“Saudi Arabia is attempting to compensate for its military and political failures by targeting vital infrastructure and the livelihoods of the Yemeni people,” it said.
As dawn breaks in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait, they appear to have reported no Iran strikes
It’s Saturday morning in the Middle East and US allies Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait appear not to have reported any Iranian attacks during the night.
The three countries, which all house US military bases, have borne the brunt of Tehran’s attacks over the past 13 days. They have often reported launches from Iran, interceptions, or impacts through statements on the social media accounts of state media or the authorities. As of Saturday morning local time there were no such updates.
US Central Command made no announcement of new strikes against Iran on Friday Eastern Time after pummeling the country for 13 consecutive nights. It’s not clear if that was because CENTCOM did not take military action against Iran that day.
CNN has reached out to CENTCOM for comment.
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, authorities issued multiple warnings of “potential danger” on Friday in Red Sea coastal areas Yanbu and Jazan province. They did not specify the nature or source of the potential danger.
Saudi vessel damaged in Red Sea attack
A Saudi vessel sustained minor damage to its hull after an attack in the Red Sea on Friday, the official press agency of Saudi Arabia reported, citing the kingdom’s transport authority.
The crew’s safety was confirmed and the vessel continued to its destination, the agency reported.
Soon after the attack was reported, Houthi affiliate al-Masirah TV said that Saudi airstrikes hit the major port city of Hodeidah in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has not commented on the reported strikes.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have previously announced a blockade of Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.
After striking Iran for 13 consecutive nights, no updates from CENTCOM on Friday
US Central Command did not announce it was launching strikes on Iran on Friday, after pummeling the country daily for almost two weeks.
For the past 13 nights, CENTCOM has posted on X it was carrying out strikes on military targets in Iran. There was no such announcement in the hours of Friday Eastern Time. CENTCOM is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, which runs on Eastern Time.
It is not clear if that was because CENTCOM did not take military action against Iran on Friday. CNN has reached out to CENTCOM for comment.
As of Saturday morning local time, Iranian state media had not reported any strikes or explosions in the country overnight.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Recap: The latest developments on the Iran war and tensions in the region
After pummeling Iran daily for almost two weeks, there was no announcement from US Central Command that it was launching strikes on the country on Friday. It is not clear if that was because the US did not take military action against Iran that day.
In the region, tensions remain as US President Donald Trump said while Washington is actively negotiating with Tehran, it’s possible the military continues its bombing campaign or escalates it.
Here’s the latest:
No update from CENTCOM: For the past 13 nights, CENTCOM had posted on X it was striking military targets in Iran. There was no such announcement on Friday Eastern Time.
Trump weighs in: The president said the war was “going extremely well” and that the US has “hit Iran very hard.” He added that he thinks Iran would “love to make a deal” but that he doesn’t “think they’re ready to.”
Alerts issued: Saudi Arabia issued multiple warnings of “potential danger” at major port Yanbu and Jazan province early Saturday local time. The alerts were lifted shortly after and the authorities did not specify the nature or source of the potential danger. Yanbu is located on the Red Sea and Jazan province has a coastline on the same sea.
Maritime tensions: US forces disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Friday after the crew attempted to get through the US naval blockade of Iran at least four times prior, a US military official told CNN. And in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia carried out strikes against what it said were Houthi targets in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah after the militant group attacked another Saudi vessel.
Netanyahu’s visit: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the US next week, Trump confirmed on Friday. The Israeli leader’s office earlier said in a statement Netanyahu will meet Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
Tori B. Powell, Tal Shalev, Laura Sharman, Kareem El Damanhoury, Zachary Cohen, Eyad Kourdi, Mitchell McCluskey and Aditi Sangal contributed reporting.
What Trump has said about the state of the war and talks with Iran
President Donald Trump on Friday weighed in on the war with Iran and developments in the region.
Here’s a round-up of his comments:
On the war
“It’s all going extremely well. Don’t believe the fake news,” Trump said about the status of the war during remarks at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
He went on to say that the US has “hit Iran very hard” and that Tehran no longer has Navy and Air Force capabilities.
“They have very few drones left, despite what you see,” he said.
On talks with Iran
Trump also added that he thinks Iran would “love to make a deal” but that he doesn’t “think they’re ready to.”
“I don’t think it’s time yet, but I’m willing to listen,” the president said.
When he spoke to reporters earlier Friday afternoon at the White House, Trump also stressed the US is actively negotiating with Iran, though he added that it’s possible the military continues its bombing campaign or escalates it. The president claimed “there’s a lot of” exit strategies still available.
Those comments came after Trump met with top advisers and Cabinet officials Friday to discuss a potential escalation of the war, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Iran seems to be getting “more serious” in ongoing talks, the president said. “I think they are being by far the most serious that we’ve seen. But that doesn’t mean we get there.”
On the US-Saudi nuclear deal
Trump said he and his energy secretary hadn’t discussed it when asked if he’d authorized Chris Wright to sign the pact. Trump upended the long-negotiated deal after being blindsided by the Energy Department’s announcement this week, a source familiar with the matter told CNN on Thursday.
CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Logan Schiciano, Alejandra Jaramillo and Adam Cancryn contributed to the report.
