Monday 3 August 2026 07:30 UTC
US-Iran strikes paused ahead of Hormuz talks
In the 24 hours ending 3 August at 07:30 UTC, planned US strikes on Iran remained paused.
Donald Trump, the US president, said new talks with Iran would begin Monday afternoon. The talks will cover the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump warned that US forces remained ready to strike if talks failed.
Iran denied requesting the pause and said its forces remained ready. Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister, warned that any new attack would bring a similar response. Saudi Arabia backed diplomacy, but the United Arab Emirates favored stronger US pressure.
Iran said talks with Oman on a new Hormuz shipping route were nearing completion. However, Iran denied accepting a full reopening of the strait. Ships still needed Iranian military permission to use its designated route.
Israeli leaders learned about the cancelled strike through Trump’s public announcement. Trump said Israel supported the pause. Israel also warned that Hamas could rebuild unless it physically surrendered its weapons.
Deaths from the Ceuta border crisis rose from 67 to at least 72. More than 50,000 people tried to enter the Spanish territory from Morocco. Most later returned to Morocco. Twenty-two European Union countries called for stronger external border controls.
Two firefighting helicopters collided near Athens during efforts to control wildfires. Two crew members died, and two survived.
Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Ufa Oil Refinery for the second time during the weekend. The attack left the facility burning. Another strike badly damaged a Belgorod university building used for Russian drone research and training.