US military redirects 82 commercial vessels to enforce Iran blockade
In a post on X, US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces redirected 82 commercial vessels, disabled three, and boarded two others to ensure compliance as of Aug. 28.
How many people has Israel killed and injured in Gaza?
A recap of recent developments
- Iran’s IRGC claims to have “decisive control” over the Strait of Hormuz and says ships must coordinate with Iranian authorities to pass.
- The White House tells Al Jazeera that the American naval blockade against Iran “remains in full force and effect”, reiterating that the Strait of Hormuz is open and fully de-mined while Washington engages in no discussions with Iran.
- Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issues a statement declaring that any action harming “social cohesion” is forbidden, as state media releases a message from the top leader urging public unity.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says US sanctions and blockades reduce the nation’s imports and exports by 25 to 35 percent, pointing out that Iran sold about 90 million barrels of oil under a June Memorandum of Understanding with the US, while demanding that Washington lift sanctions and halt Israel’s campaign against Lebanon.
- Nickolay Mladenov, high representative for US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, tells Al Jazeera that failing to uphold the Gaza peace roadmap could collapse the fragile ceasefire and spark a new war.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the US and Israel are “powerless to counter” Iran’s missiles, which are developed using the country’s “indigenous technology”.
- Amid growing tensions in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli air strike in Jenin kills three Palestinians, and military forces subsequently seize their bodies while alleging one was a senior Hamas commander.
- Israeli attacks have killed at least five Palestinians in multiple strikes across the Gaza Strip, including three members of the same family.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounces Israel’s “war-obsessed” government for using provocations to destabilise the Middle East, stating that “Zionism threatens the peace of its neighbours” while targeting everyone who defends human values.
Welcome to our coverage
Hello, and welcome to our live coverage of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.
Stay with us for the latest news and analyses from across the Middle East and beyond.
You can find our updates from Friday, August 28, here.
Iranians drive near an anti-Trump billboard in Tehran, Iran, on 19 August 2026 [EPA]
