Trump tells Iranians to make deal or surrender as he holds off on strikes

Trump said a US military blockade on Iran would remain in place until Tehran reaches a deal or "total surrender", after Iran denied talks with Washington
03 August, 2026
Last Update
04 August, 2026 01:02 AM

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These were the key updates on Monday:

President Donald Trump lashed out Monday after Iran denied it was in negotiations with the United States, declaring in an angry social media post that a US military blockade will continue until there is a "Deal, or Total surrender"

Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that the only talks it was holding were with Oman to discuss plans for sharing control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for the global energy trade

Six Saudi-flagged supertankers have changed course in the Gulf of Aden in recent days and are heading to southern Africa following threats by Yemen’s Houthi movement to target Saudi shipping, tracking data showed on Monday

Lebanon and Israel are set for a seventh round of talks on Tuesday that will last seven days and focus on implementing the framework deal, Israeli violations, legal issues, Lebanese detainees and more

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12:59 AM
The New Arab Staff

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Cargo vessel hit by projectile northeast of Oman's Al Khasab
12:48 AM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Al Khasab, after a cargo vessel broadcast over VHF channel 16 that it had been hit by an unknown projectile.

Qatar, Egypt, Turkey condemn Israel over Gaza violations
10:08 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, which are mediating the truce in Gaza, on Monday criticised Israel after renewed strikes in the Palestinian territory reportedly killed over 20 people.

The trio said they strongly condemned what they said were "ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, particularly the targeting of health facilities and infrastructure, and the casualties among civilians, including women and children".

The situation was "a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law", they added in a joint statement.

Trump board reassures Israel after objection on Gaza pullout
9:09 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace on Monday assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel's withdrawal in Gaza would only begin after Hamas' complete disarmament, following his objections.

Two members of Netanyahu's security cabinet had urged a vote to tear up the deal championed by Trump after the board released a text that called for Israel to begin a phased withdrawal.

Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza under the Board of Peace, met with Netanyahu on Monday for what he acknowledged was difficult work.

But the board said it had reached a "common understanding of the shared objectives" with Israel.

Israel's withdrawal beyond the Yellow Line, which demarcates the area in which Hamas still has control, "will take place only once decommissioning (of weapons) is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators", the board said on X.

Oil firms making 'too much money' from Iran shortage: Trump
7:54 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

US President Donald Trump said Monday that major oil companies are making "too much money" due to high prices stemming from the crude shortage caused by the Iran war.

"I don't like it. They're making too much money, okay? Based on a shortage, they're making too much money," Trump told journalists at the White House.

Trump says Iran talks are going on 'right now'
7:16 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said talks with Iran "are going on right now", adding that the negotiations represented the last chance for Tehran to sign a good deal.

Earlier on Monday, after Iran said there were no talks under way, Trump slammed what he called Iran's "unbelievably duplicitous" leadership.

"They are going on right now," Trump told reporters when asked about the status of the negotiations, saying the two sides were talking at the request of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar among others.

"This is a last chance for them to sign a good document," he said, referring to Iran.

US military announces latest Iran blockade figures
6:29 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

"U.S. forces continue to strictly enforce the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 3, CENTCOM has redirected 44 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2," CENTCOM wrote on X.

Lebanon outlines legal path to prosecute Israeli war crimes
6:28 PM
The New Arab Staff

As Israeli forces continue demolishing homes and carrying out military operations across occupied parts of southern Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire framework, the Lebanese government has moved to reassure the public that efforts to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes have not been abandoned, outlining the legal avenues still available to victims and the state alike.

Read the full story here:

Lebanon arrests ex-Palestinian envoy over graft charges
6:24 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Lebanese authorities arrested the former Palestinian ambassador to Beirut on Monday ahead of his extradition to face corruption charges back home, a Lebanese judicial official told AFP.

Lebanon's public prosecutor "issued an arrest warrant for former Palestinian ambassador Ashraf Dabbour on Monday after questioning him", the official said on condition of anonymity.

The official added that the judiciary "transferred the file to the government to inform the Palestinian Authority that Dabbour is detained in Lebanon, and requested that his judicial file be sent to Lebanon... in preparation for handing him over" to the PA.

Dabbour, ambassador to Beirut from 2012 to 2025, was previously arrested upon arriving at the country's airport in April at the request of the PA, over charges of corruption and embezzlement of funds during his tenure in Lebanon.

Dabbour was the PA ambassador to Beirut from 2012 to 2025 [Getty]
Israel objects to US-backed Gaza plan, defiant on pullout
6:22 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Israel voiced objections Monday over a plan promoted by President Donald Trump to end the Gaza war, with a cabinet member seeking to tear it up, defying pressure to end strikes and begin pulling forces from the Palestinian territory.

It was the latest sign of disconnect between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a tough re-election fight in October and has heavily promoted his relationship with the US leader, whom he met again in Washington last week.

Incensing Netanyahu's hard-right allies - upon whom his coalition depends - the latest document released by the Board of Peace, the Trump-backed group in charge of implementing a Gaza plan, called for Israel to cease military operations "without delay" and lays out a "phased withdrawal" from the territory.

Saying that such language was "completely different" from what Israel understood, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and a colleague demanded that Netanyahu's security cabinet "immediately" hold a new vote on the Gaza plan.

It was the latest sign of disconnect between Trump and Netanyahu [Getty]