US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran and the halted their fire exchange on 26 July, bringing the Gulf shipping and oil industry a major respite from missile strikes as US President Donald Trump’s envoy said he was “giving talks some space”. Tehran said it had halted retaliatory strikes against Washington’s allies in the Middle East, with US ambassador to the United Nations saying that while forces remained “locked and loaded”, Trump would give negotiations “a little bit of room”. Before Friday, the US military had carried out strikes against Iran for 13 consecutive nights, in the largest rekindling of the roughly five-month-old war since an April ceasefire.
Trump shares AI-generated images to highlight US’ military might
on Sunday (local time) shared a series of AI-generated images to emphasise American military supremacy, particularly against Iran, and advance political themes surrounding the 2028 election campaign. The shared the images on his Truth Social account and spans direct depictions of armed conflict and maritime seizures, futuristic defence visuals, historical comparisons, and domestic political symbolism. In one of the images labelled “Guardians of the World,” a massive Trump stands over the horizon behind American stealth fighter jets marked “U.S.A.,” which fly above giant explosions tearing through ground targets labelled “IRAN” while US warships patrol the water below.
Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia
Shipping data from Kpler showed on Monday that ship traffic through fell on 26 July after Iran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the coast of the Red Sea, while transit through the Strait of Hormuz stayed low over the weekend. Data showed that 11 commodity vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the previous day, marking the lowest level in months. Red Sea traffic has been disrupted off the coast of Yemen since last week by the Tehran-aligned Houthis, who want to blockade Saudi exports, expanding the US-Iran conflict that has already choked oil supply through the .
Seven of the vessels that passed through Bab el-Mandeb were oil tankers, with three of them entering the Red Sea. Two of them are very large crude carriers (VLCCs) heading to the port of Yanbu to load Saudi crude, while the third is a Russian-linked ship, the data showed.
Oil prices slump as US’ pause of strikes on Iran cools regional tension
Oil tumbled at the week’s open after the US paused strikes against Iran over the weekend, easing energy supply risks in the even as Houthis claimed attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. Brent retreated by more than 7% in the initial few minutes of the session to dip below $90 a barrel, before trading near $92. US oil marker West Texas Intermediate also declined, along with European natural gas.
Key Events
US-Iran war news LIVE: Gold climbs as pause in Middle East fighting curbs inflation risk
Gold rose after a pause in fighting between the US and Iran over the weekend eased oil supply risks and inflationary concerns.
Bullion rose as much as 1.1% to near $4,100 an ounce on Monday, having gained nearly 1% in the previous week.
US-Iran war news LIVE: Oil prices slump as US-Iran pause strikes, cools regional tension
Oil tumbled at the week’s open after the US paused strikes against Iran over the weekend, easing energy supply risks in the Middle East even as Houthis claimed attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. Brent retreated by more than 7% in the initial few minutes of the session to dip below $90 a barrel, before trading near $92. US oil marker West Texas Intermediate also declined, along with European natural gas.
US-Iran war news LIVE: Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, shows data
Shipping data from Kpler showed on Monday that ship traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell on 26 July after Iran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the coast of the Red Sea, while transit through the Strait of Hormuz stayed low over the weekend. Data showed that 11 commodity vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the previous day, marking the lowest level in months.
US-Iran war news LIVE: Trump shares AI-generated images to highlight US’ military might
Trump on Sunday (local time) shared a series of AI-generated images to emphasise American military supremacy, particularly against Iran, and advance political themes surrounding the 2028 election campaign. In one of the images labelled “Guardians of the World,” a massive Trump stands over the horizon behind American stealth fighter jets marked “U.S.A.,” which fly above giant explosions tearing through ground targets labelled “IRAN” while US warships patrol the water below.
US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran halts strikes as US gives talks some space
Iran and the United States halted their fire exchange on 26 July, bringing the Gulf shipping and oil industry a major respite from missile strikes as US President Donald Trump’s envoy said he was “giving talks some space”. Tehran said it had halted retaliatory strikes against Washington’s allies in the Middle East, with US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz saying that while forces remained “locked and loaded”, Trump would give negotiations “a little bit of room”.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br>
Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br>
At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br>
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br>
Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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