First modification: 08/03/2026 - 16:03 Last modification: 08/04/2026 - 03:40
President Donald Trump declared Monday that talks with Iran "are happening right now" and warned that those negotiations represent the last chance for Tehran to sign a good deal. Iran stated, for its part, that there are no talks underway. Trump previously criticized the Iranian leadership, calling it "incredibly hypocritical."
The essentials:
This minute by minute has been closed. Below, the main news from the Middle East this Monday, August 3:
Cargo ship hit by 'unknown projectile' in Strait of Hormuz: maritime agency
A cargo ship was hit by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, a British shipping agency said Tuesday, without giving details about damage or injuries.
The vessel, whose name has not been revealed, reported being "hit by an unknown projectile" and authorities are investigating, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Organization (UKMTO) said, adding that the incident occurred 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) northeast of Al Khasab, Oman.
Trump says oil companies are making 'too much money' from Iran shortages
Donald Trump claimed Monday that major oil companies are making "too much money" due to high prices stemming from crude oil shortages caused by the war with Iran.
"I don't like it. They're making too much money, OK? Given the shortage, they're making too much money," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump insists talks with Iran are taking place 'at this very moment'
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that negotiations with Iran were taking place "at this very moment", describing them as a last chance for Tehran to reach a deal.
"Talks are going on right now," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding, "This is your last chance to sign a good document."
Trump's "Peace Board" claims that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will only occur after the "complete" disarmament of Hamas.
Donald Trump's "Peace Board" declared on Monday that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would only occur after the "complete" disarmament of Hamas, after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We note that the full withdrawal of the IDF beyond the Yellow Line will only occur once disarmament is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators," the Board wrote in the X, referring to the demarcation line between the area under Hamas control and that controlled by the Israeli army. "Israel and the 'Peace Board' share a common understanding of the ultimate objectives," he added.
Hamas says it is waiting for a "clear and official" response from the Peace Board about the agreement
The Palestinian group Hamas assured this Monday that it was waiting for "clear and official" information from the Peace Board and the mediating countries about the disarmament agreement, in addition to reiterating its commitment to the points that had already been agreed upon in the ceasefire pact.
The Peace Board, an international organization promoted by Donald Trump for the reconstruction of Gaza, announced on this same day that the "total withdrawal" of the Israeli Army "beyond the yellow line" in the Strip will occur when the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas completely disarms.
The WHO asks to respect health facilities after a new attack next to a Gaza hospital
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, asked this Monday that health care be protected and health network facilities not be attacked or militarized, after a new attack against one of them by Israel last weekend.
In his X account, Tedros confirmed that a medical supplies warehouse located next to Gaza's Al-Aqsa hospital was attacked, causing damage to the facility and destroying essential medical supplies, including some provided by the UN health agency itself.
"Due to its proximity to the site of the attack, the hospital building was also damaged," added the top WHO official.
Texas oil falls 5.1% after another Trump ultimatum to Iran
Texas intermediate oil closed this Monday with a drop of 5.1%, to $80.34 per barrel, following a new ultimatum from US President Donald Trump to Iran.
Futures contracts for WTI, the crude oil used as a reference in the US, for delivery in September, fell $3.25 compared to the previous day's close.
The Brent falls more than 7% due to the possibility of resuming dialogue between the US and Iran
The price of a barrel of Brent for delivery in October plummeted 7.05% this Monday, to $83.77 at the close of the London futures market, due to investors' hopes that the United States and Iran will renew their diplomatic efforts to end the attacks in the Middle East.
North Sea crude oil, the benchmark in Europe, fell $6.35 compared to last Friday's trading on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in London, the last one for delivery in September, when it ended at $90.12.
After deadly attacks by Israel, Gazans say Trump's promotion of the plan contrasts with harsh reality
Gazans declared this Monday that Donald Trump's promotion of an agreement to disarm Hamas and end Israel's hostilities against the Palestinian territory is far from its increasingly critical reality, after Israel killed 18 people on Sunday, August 2, in one of the bloodiest days since last year's ceasefire.
The president of the United States declared last Thursday a major milestone in the implementation of the peace plan for Gaza agreed to last October, stating that Hamas would disarm and that Israel would withdraw in phases. However, complications quickly arose: the Israeli defense minister declared on Sunday that Israeli troops in Gaza would not move until Hamas was disarmed and its tunnels destroyed, while Hamas insists that Israel cease attacks before beginning to implement the arming part of the deal.
Israeli troops have occupied and depopulated two-thirds of the enclave, leaving almost all of its more than two million inhabitants confined to a small strip of land along the coast, most in makeshift tents or damaged buildings. "It was as if the war had resumed, there was an attack every hour or less, and planes were bombing places all over the Gaza Strip, north, center and south, everywhere," Aya Mohammad Zaki, 32, told Reuters by phone.
File: Palestinians inspect the site of an overnight Israeli attack on a medicine warehouse, according to medical personnel, next to tents housing displaced Palestinians, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, August 1, 2026. Residents had been previously warned by the Israeli military to evacuate. Reuters/Mahmoud Issa.
Among the Palestinians killed on Sunday were a couple and their son in an Israeli attack on an apartment in Gaza City. Benjamin Netanyahu's Army stated that its objective in that and other attacks were military operations.
"I hope Iran comes to its senses": Donald Trump
Trump says Iran faces 'decapitation' if no deal is reached
US President Donald Trump declared this Monday that Iran faces "decapitation" if it does not reach an agreement to end the conflict between the two countries and affirmed that Tehran has one last chance to reach an agreement. "I think we might get something, but I want to give them every chance possible before the beheading," he said, reiterating the threat to launch a major attack on Iran.
On August 3, after Iran declared that there were no talks underway, Trump lashed out at what he called the "incredibly hypocritical" Iranian leadership.
When asked about the status of the negotiations, the White House tenant declared that "they are taking place right now" and added that both parties were holding talks at the request of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, among others. "This is your last chance to sign a good document," he remarked, referring to Iran.
"Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are talking about a solution to a problem that they themselves have caused for decades": Donald Trump
The US states that it has diverted 44 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others as of August 3
Trump accuses Iranian leadership of being 'incredibly hypocritical'
US President Donald Trump on Monday called the Iranian regime "incredibly hypocritical." According to Trump, authorities in the Islamic Republic had requested talks to end the war, before stating that no such talks were taking place.
"Nothing comes to Iran unless we want it to and nothing will come unless an agreement or a total surrender is achieved," the Republican leader remarked through his Truth Social platform.
"The Iranian leaders are incredibly hypocritical! They ask for a meeting—some would say "beg"—start talks, with more scheduled for the immediate future, and then say, openly and proudly, that they are not having any discussions, that nothing is being discussed, and that they are only dealing with "Oman." "The United States and our 'blockade' or, as some say, 'the US steel wall!' Nothing comes to Iran unless we allow it, and nothing will happen unless there is a deal or a complete surrender. Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are in fact talking about a solution to a problem that they themselves have caused for decades. It is very simple: IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"
Iran says Ukrainian attack on Iranian merchant ship was 'deliberate'
The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic, Esmail Baghaei, assured that the statements of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, regarding the recent attack against Iranian ships in the Caspian Sea demonstrate that this assault was deliberate.
"The Ukrainian authorities, both in direct communication with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and in the messages they transmitted to us, emphasized that this action was involuntary. Evidence and clear indications - including the explicit statement of the President of Ukraine - point to this attack being deliberate," Baghaei said.
"We are waiting to see if, in practice, they take any action to support their claim that the attack was involuntary. We will certainly take all necessary steps to hold Ukraine accountable and ensure that this mistake and crime is not repeated," he continued.
Baghaei added that Tehran had listened to kyiv's explanations and was waiting to see whether Ukraine would take concrete steps to back up its claim that the "crime" was involuntary. In addition, he noted that Iran would take all necessary measures to hold Ukraine accountable and prevent a recurrence.
Tehran denies that it is in negotiations with the United States
Iranian state media, citing the country's Foreign Ministry, report that Tehran is not currently in negotiations with the United States.
"Currently we are not negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to guarantee passage through the Strait of Hormuz," said the ministry's spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, during a press conference.
The statements come after US President Donald Trump announced that he is suspending – again – the plan for a large wave of attacks against the Islamic Republic to promote a new round of talks that, he said, would begin this Monday, August 3.
Talks with Iran begin this Monday, according to Trump, after suspending attacks against that country again
US President Donald Trump announced that new talks to end the war in Iran will begin on Monday, after announcing that he will suspend the new massive attacks he had threatened against the country.
The talks will seek to end the conflict and revive paralyzed cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane through which about a fifth of the oil and natural gas traded before the war transited.
Hamas warns that Israeli airstrikes hamper Gaza plan
A Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the US-backed plan for the group's disarmament and Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza will be thwarted unless Israel stops what appears to be an escalation of airstrikes in the Strip.
The official said the group has contacted mediators and urged them to intervene directly to force Israel to completely cease its military operations in Gaza. "We made it clear to the mediators that continued attacks will disrupt the implementation of the agreement and negotiations on its timeline," the Hamas source said.
This demand comes after Hamas accepted at the end of last week a roadmap from the Peace Board for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Although Hamas accepted the roadmap, Israel has opposed it, stating that it will not work as long as Hamas has weapons, while carrying out nightly waves of airstrikes.
According to Hamas-controlled Gaza authorities, 18 people were killed in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours, one of the highest daily death tolls recorded in recent months.
Israel expresses "serious concern" over Gaza plan and maintains its refusal to stop attacks
A senior Israeli spokesman stated that the roadmap for the disarmament of Gaza "does not reflect Israel's position", showing the disagreements of the Jewish majority State on one of the main issues to execute the plan of Donald Trump's so-called Peace Board for Gaza.
"Israel has conveyed its comments and concerns about the proposed framework to our American counterparts," said Doron Spielman, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office. "The version that has been made public does not reflect Israel's position." The statement indicates that Israel remains firm in its refusal to stop military operations to make way for the disarmament plan, despite it being a priority of the White House.
According to Israeli intelligence, in the last eight months, Hamas has taken advantage of the ceasefire to rearm, recruit thousands of terrorists, rebuild its military infrastructure and prepare for new massacres similar to those of October 7, Spielman says.
He emphasizes that the first clause of the agreement contemplates a demilitarized zone free of terrorism that does not represent a threat. "That vision is in direct contrast to the current reality and the stated intentions of Hamas," Spielman declares. Likewise, he demands what he called a genuine, verifiable and irreversible demilitarization by Hamas.
Live: Israel raises doubts about Gaza plan; Hamas warns airstrikes will thwart disarmament effort
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