A U.S. official on Friday (August 7, 2026) reported progress between Iran and Oman toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, potentially restoring oil exports disrupted by the five-month-old U.S. war with Iran. A deal between Iran and Oman over control of the strategic waterway is seen as crucial to a wider peace agreement.

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Friday claimed an attack on a military camp held by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in Marib province, as a Yemeni military source said eight personnel were killed in the province.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi received an invitation to visit Riyadh, his office said Friday, as Tehran-backed groups announced they would delay their response to deadly U.S.-Saudi strikes in Iraq last month. The US-Saudi strikes came after Riyadh said its forces had intercepted drones targeting oil facilities, blaming Iran-backed groups in Iraq.

A prominent Iranian lawmaker on Friday criticised a joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, saying that the deal will not bring security to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan signed the deal that would treat an attack on one as an attack on all three, officials said, solidifying cooperation between the three regional powers at a time of growing security concerns.

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