US-Iran war live updates: Trump mulls escalation in Iran but says Tehran is getting ‘more serious’ in talks

The US has struck targets across Iran, reaching as far as the Caspian Sea, as Donald Trump threatened “major military punishment” for Tehran and its Houthi allies in Yemen.

The Iran-Israel-US conflict deepened this week, with fighting spreading across multiple fronts even as diplomatic channels stayed open. US President Trump indicated that back-channel talks with Tehran are ongoing and suggested the large-scale strike he’d floated days earlier might not be necessary, though he’s also weighed a bigger escalation with his Cabinet if talks stall.

Regional Flashpoints: In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces launched counterterrorism raids and imposed a curfew after clashes left four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers dead. Meanwhile, Bahrain and Kuwait reported fresh Iranian drone and missile attacks, Iran claimed it struck the Al-Azraq US airbase in Jordan, and Oman is mediating talks with Tehran over shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia said it struck Houthi sites in Yemen after the Iran-backed group’s forces hit Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, sending Brent crude above $100 a barrel.

Latest developments: 

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•  Trump said negotiations with Iran are continuing and that Tehran appears increasingly willing to engage.
• Settler raids and Israeli military operations followed a deadly clash that killed six people.
•  An Omani delegation is discussing Strait of Hormuz shipping security with Iranian officials.
• Houthi media reported Saudi airstrikes on multiple locations in Yemen.
• Secretary of State Rubio said Washington’s approach is proportional retaliation and warned Iran will face steep costs.

Follow The Indian Express Global Desk live coverage for the latest updates on the conflict from West Asia and the US.

Live Updates
Jul 25, 2026 02:07 PM IST
Flights headed to Abaha International Airport redirected amid Houthis' attacks

A few flights initially heading to Abaha international airport in Saudi Arabia were forced to redirect early on Saturday, amid Houthis retaliatory attacks.

Several alarms and warning messages have also been sent to residents in southern Saudi Arabia. (Al Jazeera)

Jul 25, 2026 02:05 PM IST
Saudi Arabia trying to identify source of attacks as Yemen's Houthis retaliate

According to Al Jazeera, Saudi Arabia believes that some of the Houthi attacks on tankers came from Kamaran Island.

However, US officials had confirmed last year that the Houthis were launching attacks not just from the province of Hodeidah but throughout areas under their control, the report stated.

This has now led Saudi Arabia to attempt to identify the source of attacks on their oil tankers. Earlier in the day, Yemen's Houthis retaliated and launched a series of attacks on the province of Jazan in southern Saudi Arabia, leading to fire incidents.

Jul 25, 2026 02:03 PM IST
Tehran confirms exchange of messages with Washington via mediators

Officials in Tehran have confirmed to Al Jazeera reporters that Iran has been in touch with the US, exchanging messages through mediators.

Proposals have been conveyed by the mediators, and Tehran is still reviewing them. There's not much progress yet since there are fundamental differences between the positions of the parties here, Al Jazeera reported.

Jul 25, 2026 01:06 PM IST
Iran accuses EU of ‘hypocrisy’ over human rights stance

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, Saturday accused the European Union (EU) of "hypocrisy," saying its stated human rights concerns about Iran cannot be reconciled with the bloc's support for military attacks against the country.

Over a post on X, Baqaei was responding to remarks by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, about its human rights concerns related to Iran.

He questioned, "How can a professed commitment to human rights be so easily reconciled with providing logistical and technical support for lethal aggressions against the Iranian people — aggressions that deliberately target civilians and critical national infrastructure?"

"All while refusing to condemn even the most blatant war crimes, and offering not a single word of sympathy for Iranian children slaughtered by American-Israeli bombs and missiles enabled by the EU’s own 'logistical and technical support'," Baqaei wrote.

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Jul 25, 2026 12:42 PM IST
Smoke visible in skies over Saudi Arabia's Jizan city

Smoke columns continue to remain visible in the skies over Saudi Arabia's Jizan city, Fars News Agency reported sharing visuals.

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Jul 25, 2026 12:39 PM IST
Operations suspended at Jazan, Yanbu airports in Saudi Arabia after Yemeni attacks

Following Yemen's attacks on Aramco oil facilities, operations at Yanbu and Jazan airports in Saudi Arabia were temporarily suspended on Saturday, Fars news agency reported.

Flight tracking data also cited disruptions in parts of Saudi airspace and rerouting or delays for some aircrafts. (Fars News Agency)

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Jul 25, 2026 11:44 AM IST
What we know so far

Talks continue: Trump says the US and Iran remain in talks, and that he believes Tehran is "getting more serious," though he met with top advisers and Cabinet officials Friday to discuss possible escalation if negotiations don't pan out, a source told CNN.
13 nights of strikes: The US bombing campaign against Iran has now continued for 13 consecutive nights after an earlier ceasefire collapsed, with Trump saying Washington's exit strategy could come either diplomatically or militarily.
Tanker disabled: The US military said it disabled a tanker that tried to bypass its blockade on Iranian ports.
Saudi strikes on Houthis: Saudi Arabia said it launched strikes against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels after the group attacked another Saudi vessel in the Red Sea.
Jul 25, 2026 10:04 AM IST
What did Trump say about his decision

Asked if he had made a decision about resumption of full-scale attacks amid media reports that he was meeting with advisers on the subject, Trump responded, “No, I haven’t.”

“We’re locked and loaded and ready to go. But we’re talking to them, so I think while we’re talking, we’ll see what comes of it. I believe…They’re very serious. They should be,” Trump said without specifying how the talks were being conducted. Read more

Jul 25, 2026 08:19 AM IST
What is the status of the West Asia war and negotiations with Iran? Here's how Trump sees it

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran was now getting "very serious" in talks with Washington, even as he has not yet decided whether to launch major new strikes.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was asked whether he had made a decision on a large-scale military operation, following reports that he had been meeting advisors on the matter. He said he had not made a final call, but that Tehran appeared to be taking the talks more seriously as time passes. Read more

Jul 25, 2026 07:30 AM IST
Saudi Arabia issues alert of a potential danger in Yanbu Governorate

The directorate of Saudi Civil Defense has issued an alert of a potential danger in the Yanbu Governorate.

People are advised to remain calm and follow official instructions, the directorate said.

Jul 25, 2026 07:21 AM IST
Trump says Washington is talking to Tehran

This was a meeting that President Trump convened, where he said he had big announcements to make related to nuclear innovation.

But the topic and the interest, at least from reporters who were present in the Oval Office today, quickly shifted towards Iran.

President Trump was asked specifically about his remarks regarding what he was more or less considering would be a “massive attack” on Iran; he responded by saying that “we’re talking to them”, and he was asked about what that meant.

Jul 25, 2026 06:49 AM IST
US military says it fired on another merchant vessel trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports

The US military said Friday that it fired on another merchant vessel that was trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf.

The US and Iran showed no sign of backing away from their conflict after a 13th straight night of strikes. With fighting flaring again and diplomacy uncertain, both sides made moves suggesting an escalation was possible. US embassies in the Middle East began alerting Americans in the region that options to leave could become more limited, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighbouring countries to stay away from bases with US troops.

Jul 25, 2026 06:03 AM IST
Trump says Iranians getting 'very serious' in talks

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had not decided on whether to launch major strikes on Iran as Tehran was now getting "very serious" in talks with Washington.

"No, I haven't," Trump told journalists in the Oval Office when asked if he had made a decision, following reports that he was meeting advisors to discuss a large-scale operation.

"Look, we're talking to them right now. I think they're getting more and more serious as the days go by, for maybe the obvious reason."

Jul 25, 2026 05:44 AM IST
Sirens sound in Bahrain

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior has urged people “to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place” as sirens sound.

Jul 25, 2026 05:13 AM IST
US military says it fired on another merchant vessel trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports

The US military said Friday that it fired on another merchant vessel that was trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf.

The US and Iran showed no sign of backing away from their conflict after a 13th straight night of strikes. With fighting flaring again and diplomacy uncertain, both sides made moves suggesting an escalation was possible.

US embassies in the Middle East began alerting Americans in the region that options to leave could become more limited, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighboring countries to stay away from bases with U.S. troops.

Jul 25, 2026 04:47 AM IST
Saudi-led coalition says it strikes Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it carried out strikes on Houthi military sites in Yemen's Hodeidah governorate on Friday, saying the sites were used to threaten commercial shipping.

The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV said Saudi strikes hit facilities belonging to the state telecommunications corporation in Hodeidah city. The broadcaster also said Saudi forces targeted Kamaran Island, off Yemen's western coast.

Jul 25, 2026 04:46 AM IST
US military disables tanker after crew attempted to get through blockade, official says

US forces disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman today after the crew attempted to get through the US naval blockade at least four times prior, a US military official told CNN.

The crew was repeatedly warned but didn’t comply, and US forces on scene disabled the ship after firing into its engine room, the official said. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.

This marks the time US forces have disabled a commercial ship since the US reimposed its blockade earlier this month. US Central Command previously said it has redirected 12 commercial vessels since resuming the blockade.

Jul 25, 2026 04:43 AM IST
Saudi Arabia strikes Yemeni port city of Hodeidah as Iranian backed Houthi rebels vow to escalate

Saudi Arabia strikes Yemeni port city of Hodeidah as Iranian backed Houthi rebels vow to escalate.

Jul 25, 2026 04:43 AM IST
What has happened so far

President Trump says talks between Washington and Tehran are continuing, and that the "massive" strike he threatened may not be necessary — even as he consults advisers on further escalation.
Israeli forces launched counterterrorism raids and imposed a curfew after clashes left four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers dead, with settler attacks continuing across the territory.
Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan report fresh Iranian drone and missile attacks, including a claimed strike on the Al-Azraq US airbase, while Oman mediates talks with Iran over Strait of Hormuz shipping safety.
Houthi rebels attacked Saudi oil tankers, pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel, prompting Saudi Arabia to strike Houthi-held targets in Yemen in response.

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