Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
Here are the latest developments from the Iran war and the Middle East on Tuesday, August 25:
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Iran says it is ready to respond to new US sanctions
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China says its cooperation with Iran should not be disrupted
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Pakistan reports progress in talks aimed at ending US-Israeli war with Iran
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Ship disabled by attack in Strait of Hormuz
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IMO records 68 maritime incidents since Iran war began
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Skip next section Strait of Hormuz sees lowest daily vessel count since May08/25/2026August 25, 2026
Strait of Hormuz sees lowest daily vessel count since May
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply, with just two commodity tankers transiting the vital energy chokepoint on Monday, the lowest daily total since early May.
Shipping data from Kpler showed both vessels entered the Gulf, well below the recent daily average of 14 crossings. Some ships may not have been counted after switching off navigation transponders.
Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
Iran said it had blacklisted 45 tankers for violating passage rules and threatened action against vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers with them.
Analysts said it remained unclear how Tehran would enforce those measures, but warned that any escalation or attack in the waterway could further disrupt traffic.
In a sign of how dangerous the crossing can be, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Monday an oil tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile” off the coast of Oman.
The vessel was disabled but the crew was reported safe. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JLszSkip next section WATCH — Can Iran survive Trump’s new sanctions?08/25/2026August 25, 2026
WATCH — Can Iran survive Trump’s new sanctions?
Iran’s leaders are acknowledging economic hardship just as the Trump administration prepares the toughest sanctions the US has ever levied against the country. Will Tehran be able to withstand another wave of economic pressure?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5JLsgSkip next section China vows to protect interests after new US sanctions on Iran08/25/2026August 25, 2026
China vows to protect interests after new US sanctions on Iran
China’s cooperation with Iran complies with international law and should not be disrupted, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
“China has already stated many times that it firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said.
“China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own rights and interests,” he added.
His statement comes after the United States on Monday targeted Iran’s economic ties with the rest of the world.
“The new sectoral sanctions determinations issued today target five of Iran’s most vital lifelines that it exploits in other countries: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
China is Iran’s biggest trading partner and, according to the US, the primary buyer of Iranian oil.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JLhySkip next section Gulf maritime casualties reached 20 dead, 35 injured — IMO 08/25/2026August 25, 2026
Gulf maritime casualties reached 20 dead, 35 injured — IMO
At least 20 seafarers and port workers were killed, 35 were wounded, and one remained missing in the Gulf and nearby waters, including the Strait of Hormuz, since the start of the Iran war, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said.
The United Nations agency said 68 incidents had been confirmed, the equivalent of roughly one every two-and-a-half days.
About half the incidents involved oil tankers, while container ships and bulk carriers were also affected.
The rate of incidents eased after a mid-June agreement established a framework for peace talks, but rose again after those talks collapsed in early July.
Since then, four people were killed, 16 were injured, and one was reported missing as attacks and other incidents continued across the region.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JLShSkip next section Iran vows retaliation over expanded US sanctions08/25/2026August 25, 2026
Iran vows retaliation over expanded US sanctions
Iran vowed to retaliate against expanded US sanctions, saying it was “fully prepared” to respond to what it called an economic attack.
Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Tehran had its, “own tools and know how to play the game.”
His statement came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced fresh sanctions targeting 60 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Iran.
Washington warned countries that continued trading with Iran could risk losing access to the dollar-based financial system.
You can read more about the US sanctions on Iran by clicking here.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JLTISkip next section Pakistan notes progress in mediation talks08/25/2026August 25, 2026
Pakistan notes progress in mediation talks
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said “significant progress” has been made in talks focused on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and efforts to secure a path to peace.
“We remain hopeful that this momentum will help pave the way for further progress and lasting peace in the region,” Naqvi wrote on social media.
Naqvi’s statement came after he and Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, a key mediator in the conflict, visited Iran. There, they held separate meetings with the president, the chief negotiator and the head of the country’s highest national security body.
Pakistan’s military said discussions in Tehran centered on preventing further escalation, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and bringing the conflict to an early end.
“The Iranian President candidly shared his government’s perspective, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved,” Naqvi said in a post on social media.
The visit came after Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump. The White House and State Department did not immediately comment on the talks.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator, conveying messages and coordinating positions between Washington and Tehran.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5JLSCSkip next section Welcome to our coverage08/25/2026August 25, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Louis Oelofse | Rob Turner Editor
Publicly, the United States is pursuing what it calls an “unprecedented” effort to squeeze Iran’s economy by targeting its trading partners. Tehran, meanwhile, says it remains confident that key economic partners will resist Washington’s pressure campaign.
At the same time, and largely away from the public spotlight, Pakistan says it is making progress in efforts to help steer the United States and Iran back toward a path of peace.
All of this is unfolding against a backdrop of mounting concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, where commodity vessel transits have fallen to a three-month low.
That is perhaps not surprising when you consider new data from the International Maritime Organization showing that 20 seafarers or port workers were killed, 35 were wounded and one remains missing during the six-monthwar involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
We’ll connect these developments, and several other key stories, in our look at the Middle East today.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JLNbShow more posts
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