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2026 Iran War: 2026-08-17

Monday, August 17, 2026 7 updates Last updated 16:04 UTC
16:04 UTC

Trump tells Iran to raise white flag of surrender as MoU expires

In a Fox News interview on Monday, US President Donald Trump said Iran should "put up the white flag of surrender" in the five-month war, while claiming Washington has a direct backchannel with the IRGC. Trump said he is "not in a hurry" to end the conflict ahead of November midterms. Al Jazeera reports the remarks as the June US-Iran memorandum of understanding expires without a public extension.
Al Jazeera
16:04 UTC

Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it blocks Hormuz reopening deal

During the same Fox News interview, Trump said if Oman "gets in the way" of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US would "bomb the s*** out of them." Al Jazeera notes Iranian and Omani officials have been discussing maritime navigation arrangements for weeks. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday the two sides are working on a joint declaration to protect both states interests while keeping commercial shipping open.
Al Jazeera
16:03 UTC

Iran downplays MoU expiry and ties full Hormuz reopening to US commitments

IRGC political bureau chief Brig. Gen. Yadollah Javani said Monday the Strait of Hormuz will only fully reopen when Washington implements commitments under the June MoU. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters the MoU text did not specify a two-month fighting halt and that Iran does not set policy under deadlines or pressure. Baghaei said Iran-Oman talks on partial Hormuz reopening remain delayed by legal and technical issues and "ill-wishing parties."
Al Jazeera
10:07 UTC

Hormuz shipping nearly stops as US-Iran MoU window ends

CNBC reports commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply over the weekend, with Kpler data cited by Reuters showing five cargo ships on Saturday and none registered on Sunday, versus 31 vessels the previous weekend. The drop comes as the June US-Iran memorandum of understanding reaches its 60-day end with no public final deal. Brent traded near $88.45 and WTI near $81.79 early Monday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there are no direct US-Iran negotiations now, while Qatar and Pakistan continue message exchanges.
CNBC
10:07 UTC

IRGC general says Iran ready to shift from defense to offense

Al Jazeera live coverage quotes IRGC Brig. Gen. Yadollah Javani saying Iran's defensive posture is poised to shift to an offensive one under a new "maximum deterrence" policy as the June US-Iran memorandum of understanding expires. The live blog frames the warning against the end of the 60-day MoU window and continued Hormuz-related pressure. No independent US confirmation of a new Iranian operational order was reported in the same coverage.
Al Jazeera
05:06 UTC

CENTCOM chief praises USS Abraham Lincoln crew after mental-health reports

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Abraham Lincoln and called the crew "awe-inspiring," saying in a statement shared on X that the carrier has among the lowest mental-health case counts of the Navy's 11 active carriers while acknowledging long sea duty is hard. Al Jazeera notes lawmakers raised alarm after reports of sailors trying to jump overboard during a deployment of more than 250 days without a port call as the ship supports the war on Iran. The report says the USS George Washington is being redeployed from near Japan to replace the Lincoln; President Trump on Friday said the Lincoln had not been deployed "nearly long enough."
Al Jazeera
05:05 UTC

US-Iran June MoU reaches 60-day end with no extension announced

Al Jazeera reports the June 17 memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran is set to expire Monday after a 60-day window for a final deal, with little public sign either side will extend it. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday Iran has not yet decided whether to restart talks with the United States, while mediators from Qatar and Pakistan continue contacts and Iran works with Oman on Hormuz shipping routes tied to a political settlement. Both sides have for weeks accused the other of violating the MoU after early disputes over whether it was a ceasefire or a permanent end to fighting.
Al Jazeera