Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- Tehran said any country acting as a shield for the US could be drawn into the war
- Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iran ‘very hard,’ with US reports pointing to possible strikes on energy infrastructure
- The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claim to have diverted eight Saudi oil tankers around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope
Read below for all the latest headlines on the Iran war on Saturday, Aug 1, 2026.
Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the “Star” or “Preferred” to keep DW News at the top of your feed.
Skip next section New attacks hit Kuwait and Strait of Hormuz shipping08/01/2026August 1, 2026
New attacks hit Kuwait and Strait of Hormuz shipping
Kuwait‘s military says it is responding to a fresh wave of Iranian drone attacks that struck several “vital facilities” in the country.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi said the targets included a government facility in northern Kuwait. No casualties were reported.
Separate incidents also hit commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said an unidentified projectile struck a tanker on Friday about 11 nautical miles (20 kilometers) northeast of Lima, Oman, damaging its engine room.
On Saturday, another tanker reported a large splash and an explosion nearby while sailing around 21 nautical miles northwest of Khasab.
No casualties were reported in either maritime incident.
Iran has repeatedly targeted vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without its authorization during the conflict with the United States.
https://p.dw.com/p/5I7oqSkip next section Houthis claim Saudi oil shipments diverted08/01/2026August 1, 2026
Houthis claim Saudi oil shipments diverted
Yemen’s Houthi movement says eight Saudi oil tankers have been pushed off their usual routes as part of a newly declared blockade targeting the kingdom’s energy exports.
According to the Iran-backed group, the ships will now have to make the much longer journey around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to reach Asian markets.
Riyadh has not confirmed that any tankers were diverted.
The Houthis announced the blockade last week, framing it as retaliation for what they describe as years of Saudi pressure on Houthi-held parts of Yemen.
The group controls much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, after seizing territory in 2014 and setting off a war that drew in a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognized government.
A major concern for global shipping is the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrow passage between Yemen and the Horn of Africa that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Any serious disruption there would add to pressure on trade routes already affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis said they do not intend to levy transit charges on vessels using the strait.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5I7mpSkip next section Iran warns regional states against helping US08/01/2026August 1, 2026
Iran warns regional states against helping US
Iran’s military has accused the United States of “escalating tensions” in the Middle East and warned regional neighbors against supporting Washington during the conflict.
“The United States is rapidly moving down the path of escalating tensions in the region,” Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s military central command, said in a statement broadcast on state television on Saturday.
“Any country serving as [a] defensive shield for criminal and aggressive America will be engulfed by the flames of war,” he added.
The warning came after US President Donald Trump again threatened to hit Iran “very hard.”
US media reported that Trump was considering renewed large-scale strikes as early as this weekend, potentially including attacks on energy infrastructure.
Iran and the United States resumed exchanges of fire this week after several days of relative calm, although no strikes were reported overnight from Friday into Saturday.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5I7moSkip next section Welcome to our coverage08/01/2026August 1, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Richard Connor | Rana Taha Editor
Welcome to DW’s coverage of the situation in Iran and wider Middle East.
After US President Donald Trump again threatened to hit Iran, the head of Iran’s military central command accused Washington of “escalating tensions” in the region.
Elsewhere, Yemen’s Houthi movement says it has forced eight Saudi oil tankers away from their usual routes as part of a new blockade targeting the kingdom’s energy exports.
Stay tuned for more news and analysis. For our previous day coverage of the conflict and the wider Middle East on July 31, 2026, you can catch our blog here.
https://p.dw.com/p/5I7leShow more posts
About The Author
