Trump says situation with Iran is so good, UAE suspends trade with Tehran

Washington/Dubai – US President Donald Trump remarked Wednesday that "right now" the situation with Iran is "good, " as he's paused US negotiations with Tehran and the Strait of Hormuz remains a key point of tension in the ongoing war.

Key points

• "Since July 20, we have targeted 8 Saudi oil tankers, 5 in the Red Sea and 3 in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, " the group remarked, according to Saba.
• Trump again reiterated his claim that the United States is in "possession" and in "complete control" of the Strait of Hormuz.
• The United Arab Emirates suspended all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.
• According to Trump has repeatedly, his priority is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, as his administration continues to weigh its next steps in the conflict.
• The strait has emerged as a key bargaining chip in the war with Iran.

For context, the strait has emerged as a key bargaining chip in the war with Iran. It has effectively closed the strategically vital waterway since fighting began in late February, disrupting a major route for global oil shipments. "They shoot a drone every once in a while, " Trump remarked, referring to Iran disrupting traffic through the strait. "But not everybody's going to go through."

For context, the president created the comments a day after he seemed to adopt a new approach, telling administration envoys to halt their conversations with Iran, according to a US official.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates suspended all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.

When the militant group declared a maritime blockade on Saudi shipping, the Houthi-run Saba news agency stated, yemen's Iran-backed Houthis asserted today to have targeted eight Saudi oil tankers since late July.

"Since July 20, we have targeted 8 Saudi oil tankers, 5 in the Red Sea and 3 in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, " the group remarked, according to Saba. Almost 50 Saudi oil tankers were additionally "prevented from transiting the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea and forced to return, " the news agency cited the Houthis as saying.

Saba additionally noted the group noted it sank two military landing ships near Mokha – which it maintained were transporting Saudi weapons – as well as more than 10 warships belonging to Saudi forces, without providing evidence.

For now, trump says situation with Iran is so good, UAE suspends trade with remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.