Iran-US war live: US responds to Iranian video threatening to assassinate Trump’s son Barron

Close Iranian finance minister claims Tehran 'fully prepared ​for US sanctions' On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The US secret service says it is aware of an Iranian state television video discussing an alleged plot to assassinate Donald Trump ’s youngest son, Barron Trump, 20. The three-minute video claims Barron is being monitored and that there’s a $10m bounty for his killing. “The US Secret Service is aware ​of the video and investigates anything ​that can be perceived as a threat ⁠toward our protectees. Out of concern for ​operational security, we do not discuss matters of ​protective intelligence,” secret service spokesperson Nate Herring said in an email to Reuters. Trump previously said he was “number one on the kill list for Iran ”. Meanwhile, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz remained closed despite Tehran agreeing on a temporary transit route through the key waterway with Oman . “The understanding between Iran and Oman does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz ,” deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said. The statement came as Trump threatened to launch new strikes on a nuclear site as well as Iranian military ships in the Strait of Hormuz . Recommended The US promised ‘the toughest sanctions ever’ on Iran. Here’s what Trump’s team actually delivered There are gas lines in Iran, but no sign yet that its leaders will bow to US sanctions China criticizes Trump’s threat of sanctions against Iran Asian shares mostly rise as oil prices fall and hope grows for AI USS Lincoln to dock in Thailand for ‘rest and recreation’ after sailors’ grueling deployment Key Points US secret service ‘aware’ of video on Iran TV discussing alleged assassination of Trump’s son Iran says temporary route agreed with Oman doesn’t mean reopening Hormuz Iran and Oman working towards reopening and managing ship traffic through Strait of Hormuz Trump ‘grossly profiting’ from ‘illegal’ war on Iran, US senator says China warns about US sanctions threat disrupting its cooperation with Iran Mojtaba Khamenei's voice heard for the first time Iranian parliamentary speaker scoffs at ‘Economic D-Day’ threats Parliament speaker, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf has publicly mocked US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over what he described as “contradictory” statements regarding new sanctions against Iran. The friction follows Bessent's announcement of "Operation Economic Outcast" — termed an "Economic D-Day" — designed to target Iran’s economy. However, when pressed on potential global disruption on Monday, Bessent pivoted, asking, "Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?" Qalibaf has ridiculed the exchange on X, posting: "Sir this ain't Normandy, this is improv night and you forgot your own script." Tehran maintains that Washington's economic pressure campaign reflects failed military objectives and vows to retaliate against foreign entities assisting the US sanctions push. 26 August 2026 09:00 Asian stocks rise and oil falls on hopes of Strait of Hormuz reopening Asian stocks rose on Wednesday as falling oil prices and hopes of an interim deal between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz eased concerns about global inflation and energy supplies. Brent crude fell more than two per cent to $86.41 a barrel, as markets anticipated the possibility of more oil flowing through the strait, which handled about a fifth of the world’s traded oil before the war. “While there was no real progress or details of the Iran-Oman deal, as Iran reiterated that Hormuz will remain shut until conditions are met, price ⁠action suggested that markets are quickly pricing in optimism around an interim announcement,” analysts at J P Morgan said. Maroosha Muzaffar 26 August 2026 08:40 Temporary route agreed with Oman doesn’t mean reopening Hormuz, Iranian deputy foreign minister says Iran says it has agreed with Oman on establishing a temporary 11km-wide transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, with the entry point and part of the exit route passing through Iranian territorial waters. However, deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the arrangement “does not mean opening the Strait of Hormuz”. “We agreed with Oman that the entry route to the Strait of Hormuz will be through our territorial waters, and part of the exit route will also be through our territorial waters,” Gharibabadi said. He said activating the route would “mean closing the southern route in the strait”, which the US had opened “under pressure from Oman”, arguing that the move violated Article 5 of the two countries’ memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war. Maroosha Muzaffar 26 August 2026 08:20 China warns about US sanctions threat disrupting its cooperation with Iran China has warned that expanded US sanctions targeting entities and individuals linked to Iran, including some based in China, “should not disrupt” or “undermine” its cooperation with Tehran. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China-Iran cooperation has complied with international law. China is one of Iran’s biggest trading partners and buys most of the country’s oil exports. The warning came after the US treasury department announced sanctions on nearly 60 Iran-linked entities on Monday, including several in China, although it stopped short of imposing secondary sanctions on countries trading with Iran. Maroosha Muzaffar 26 August 2026 08:00 Dozens of Iran-flagged tankers gather off Sri Lankan coast More than a dozen Iran-flagged tankers have gathered near Sri Lanka’s territorial waters after a US blockade effectively cut off access to Iranian ports. Ship-tracking data shows about 13 Iranian tankers, alongside vessels linked to Iran’s “shadow fleet”, sheltering off Sri Lanka, with around 20 state-owned Iranian tankers reportedly seeking refuge in the area. “A flotilla of approximately 20 state-owned Iranian tankers, all empty of cargo, decided to seek shelter in the exclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka,” Samir Madani, co-founder of the maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers.com, was quoted as saying by FT. The blockade has severely restricted Iran’s ability to import fuel and generate oil revenue, with the US saying it has redirected 71 merchant vessels, disabled three and boarded two since the blockade began. Tankers have also accumulated off Pakistan and Malaysia, where vessels linked to Iranian crude transfers to China are loitering, FT reported, citing the US-based campaign group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). Maroosha Muzaffar 26 August 2026 07:40 Bessent and Bahrain’s finance minister discuss Iran sanctions US treasury secretary Scott Bessent spoke about Iran sanctions with Bahrain’s finance minister Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, stressing that “Iran must not be permitted to threaten international commerce or use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the global economy”. He also emphasised “the importance of sustained financial pressure on Iran’s remaining economic lifelines” and said that “the US will hold the regime’s financial enablers accountable”. In a post on X, the treasury department said: “He also emphasised the importance of sustained financial pressure on Iran’s remaining economic lifelines and underscored that the United States will hold the regime’s financial enablers accountable. “Secretary Bessent also welcomed Bahrain’s longstanding partnership and its continued commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the international financial system. The two officials agreed on the importance of continued coordination between the United States, Bahrain, GCC partners, and the broader international community to combat illicit finance and strengthen economic security.” Maroosha Muzaffar 26 August 2026 07:20 US secret service ‘aware’ of video on Iran TV discussing alleged assassination of Trump’s son The US Secret Service says it is aware of an Iranian state television video discussing an alleged plot to assassinate Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, 20. The three-minute video claimed Barron was being monitored and that a $10m bounty had been offered for his killing. “The US Secret Service is aware ​of the video and investigates anything ​that can be perceived as a threat ⁠toward our protectees. Out of concern for ​operational security, we do not discuss matters of ​protective intelligence,” Secret Service spokesperson Nate Herring said in an email to Reuters. The report comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with Trump previously saying he was “number one on the kill list for Iran”. Reuters also reported earlier this month that the US had received several Israeli warnings about alleged Iranian plots to assassinate Trump. Maroosha Muzaffar 26 August 2026 07:00 Editorial: America’s might has failed in Iran – an ‘economic D-Day’ is also unlikely to succeed If the best way to get Iran to bend to America’s will is the imposition of unprecedented financial sanctions – an “economic D-Day” – then the obvious question arises: what was the point, in Trump-speak, of bombing the hell out of them, destroying their antiquated conventional forces and threatening the death of a “whole civilisation” ? Indeed, anyone might wonder why, six months ago, the US joined in Israel’s campaign against its implacable enemy in the first place, given that, before that strategic blunder, the Strait of Hormuz was open to shipping, the supply of oil and natural gas was normal, and the whole world was looking forward to some economic growth for a change. Read more here: America’s might has failed in Iran – an ‘economic D-Day’ is unlikely to succeed Editorial: As Donald Trump opens a new front in his Middle East war, it has become clear the foray is a bigger disaster for the United States than Vietnam or Pearl Harbor Maryam Zakir-Hussain 26 August 2026 06:40 US sanctions four India-based companies and three Indians over involvement in Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical trade The US has sanctioned four India-based companies and three Indian nationals over their alleged involvement in Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical trade. The targeted firms are accused of importing or facilitating the import of Iranian petroleum products worth tens of millions of dollars, with one company allegedly involved in imports worth about $69m. The sanctions are part of the US’s wider effort to cut off Iran’s oil revenues, with Washington targeting around 60 Iran-linked individuals, entities and vessels. The move comes as the US threatens further penalties against countries continuing to trade with Iran, although it has so far stopped short of imposing secondary sanctions on countries themselves. Maroosha Muzaffar 26 August 2026 06:20 A tanker is hit and disabled off Oman's eastern coast A strike on an oil tanker on Monday night off Oman's coast disabled the ship's engine, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation reported. It said all crew were reported safe. There were no immediate reports of any environmental impact. Iran periodically fires at vessels attempting to transit the strait to enforce its control of the waterway, though there was no immediate claim for Monday's attack. The U.S. has also fired on vessels while imposing a blockade of Iranian ports. Maryam Zakir-Hussain 26 August 2026 06:00 Newer 1 / 3 Older