West Asia war LIVE: U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in 'full effect' even as the two sides pause airstrikes

Home News World Pause is "positive signal" towards de-escalation, regional experts say; President Trump keeps up the threats Updated - July 26, 2026 08:40 am IST Military helicopters and personnel operate in a location given as the Arabian Sea in this screengrab obtained from a video released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on July 25, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters The U.S. military has paused its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing, while diplomatic efforts have pushed forward to try to avert a return to all-out war. Regional officials involved in the mediation efforts said that concerted diplomacy was under way and that a pause in U.S. strikes and Iranian counterstrikes on neighbouring countries hosting American forces was a “positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate.” The U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect, the U.S. Central Command said early Sunday (July 26, 2026).Also Read | Pickaxe Mountain | Iran’s natural fortressDespite the lull in fighting, tensions are high in the region. Yemen’s Houthi rebels said on Saturday (July 25, 2026) that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida. The Iran-backed rebels say they have closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has become even more vital for Saudi oil exports since the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.Watch | Iran is prepared for U.S. ground invasion: Mohammad MarandiU.S. President Donald Trump both has threatened more strikes and said talks are pressing on, all while brushing off concerns that rising gas prices tied to the fighting could hurt Republicans in November’s midterm elections. Adding to the uncertainty is the impact of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit with Mr. Trump next week in Washington. Follow LIVE updates here:July 26, 2026 08:40 Iran-backed Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia in response to airstrikes in YemenYemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Saturday (July 26, 2026) that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida, in an escalation over vital shipping routes in the West Asia while the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz.Brig Gen Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesperson, said in a prerecorded statement that the attack targeted facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan that belong to Aramco, the world’s largest oil company.- APJuly 26, 2026 08:29 U.S.-Iran pause airstrikes in 'positive signal' towards de-escalationThe U.S. military has paused its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing, while diplomatic efforts have pushed forward to try to avert a return to all-out war.A regional official involved in the mediation efforts said that concerted diplomacy was under way and that a pause in U.S. strikes and Iranian counterstrikes on neighbouring countries hosting American forces was a “positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate.” The official said that both the U.S. and Iran want to return to the interim ceasefire deal and that a compromise, which is being negotiated now, centres around having Iran run vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz with fewer restrictions on ships. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.APJuly 26, 2026 08:27 Pickaxe Mountain | Iran’s natural fortressPickaxe Mountain is part of the Karkas Range, or Reshteh Kuh-e Karkas. It extends for more than 100 km in a northwest-southeast ‘diagonal’ between the cities of Kashan and Ardestan and is named for its highest summit, Mount Karkas, which rises to about 3.9 km above sea level in the midst of an arid plateau. The Range is part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt, and its mountains hold evidence of millions of years of volcanic activity and tectonic deformation. Specifically, the Urumieh-Dokhtar belt developed as the Neo-Tethyan Ocean subducted beneath the Iranian continental margin before Arabia finally collided with Eurasia, in the last 66 million years.Pickaxe Mountain | Iran’s natural fortressExplore Pickaxe Mountain, Iran’s geological fortress, revealing its volcanic complexities and strategic significance amidst rising geopolitical tensions.July 26, 2026 08:26 U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in 'full effect'The U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect, the U.S. miliatry said early Sunday (July 26, 2026). “As of July 25, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn’t comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance,” it added. Published - July 26, 2026 08:16 am IST