Trump says Saudi nuclear agreement requires the kingdom to normalise ties with Israel<\/p>\n
Donald Trump said the US-Saudi nuclear deal<\/a> is subject to the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords, which normalises ties with Israel.<\/p>\n He added that the landmark deal does not allow the enrichment of uranium.<\/p>\n In a post on his Truth Social app, the US president said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords. The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n My colleague Jonathan Yerushalmy has put together this helpful explainer on what we know about the agreement and the concerns it raises:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.29 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n If anyone needs a refresher on Yemen\u2019s Iran-backed Houthis, here\u2019s an explainer from the Guardian\u2019s Jonathan Yerushalmy:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Report: Iran flew IRGC commanders and equipment to Yemen<\/p>\n As Yemen\u2019s Iran-backed Houthis enter the fray, purportedly attacking two \u200bSaudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea today, Reuters is reporting that Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary \u2060Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen this month \u2013 a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen its Houthi allies as US attacks on Iran continue.<\/p>\n Reuters cites four sources familiar with the matter, including two \u2060Iranian sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns, Yemen\u2019s information minister and a \u2060regional security analyst. They told the news service that Iran transferred IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on 13 July.<\/p>\n Between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight, the two Iranian sources told Reuters. The plane was originally heading toward the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, but diverted to Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.<\/p>\n \u201cThe IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems,\u201d one of the sources said, adding \u2060that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities.<\/p>\n Earlier today, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the \u201cHouthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict, but they now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into this, going after Saudi Arabia and their ships.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope they will de-escalate, because I think the Houthis, frankly, got snookered into this thing by the Iranians. And they were smart to stay out of it, and they should stay out of it and they should stop. We\u2019ll see what happens there. Obviously, it\u2019s not a positive development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Donald Trump said earlier in a post on Truth Social that he will hold Iran responsible for attacks launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cA year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night. Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and\/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.43 EDT<\/p>\n In Gaza, a UN report<\/a> has found humanitarian assistance and increased commercial traffic have improved food security and child nutrition in the Palestinian territory, but warns that the situation remains fragile.<\/p>\n The share of the population facing acute food insecurity has reduced from 77% at the end of 2025 to 67%, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a globally recognised organisation that classifies the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition.<\/p>\n Displaced Palestinians receive donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Photograph: Abdel Kareem Hana\/AP<\/p>\n However, the report warns that 1.4 million people still face crisis-level hunger or worse, with more than 200,000 in emergency conditions and about 74,000 children expected to require treatment for acute malnutrition over the coming year.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is progress on food security in Gaza, but it is fragile and can easily be reversed,\u201d said Carl Skau, acting executive director at the UN World Food Programme (WFP).<\/p>\n \u201cThe overall humanitarian situation remains brutal: families lack water, sanitation and medicine. We need sustained access, funding and stability so people of Gaza can begin recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Netanyahu says Saudi Arabia joining Abraham Accords would be ‘historic leap forward for peace’<\/p>\n The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Saudi Arabia<\/a> joining the Abraham Accords would be \u201chistoric\u201d, according to a brief statement issued by his office.<\/p>\n As we reported earlier,<\/a> Donald Trump said the nuclear deal signed between the US and Saudi Arabia is contingent on the kingdom joining the accords which would normalise diplomatic ties with Israel. Since being signed by the UAE and Bahrain in 2020, Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have also joined.<\/p>\n The Israeli prime minister\u2019s statement, shared on X, does not make specific mention of the US-Saudi nuclear deal.<\/p>\n \u201cSaudi Arabia\u2019s joining of the Abraham Accords would be an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on this development.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.50 EDT<\/p>\n Oil prices hit $100 a barrel<\/p>\n Global oil prices have risen to more than $100 per barrel for the first time since May as violence escalates in the Middle East.<\/p>\n Brent crude, the global benchmark, increased by more than 6% after Iran\u2019s Houthi allies attacked shipping in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n Donald Trump said he would exact \u201cmajor military punishment\u201d against the Yemen-based group as well as Iran, which he said bears responsibility for the Red Sea attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.33 EDT<\/p>\n US accused of bombing Iran-Iraq border crossing used by religious pilgrims<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq was crowded with \u201chundreds of pilgrims\u201d when it was reportedly targeted in a deadly US strike, according to an expert.<\/p>\n As we reported earlier<\/a>, two people were killed and 11 were wounded in the attack in south-western Iran overnight, according to state TV in Iran.<\/p>\n The border is used by Iranian pilgrims going toward Najaf and Karbala in Iraq to commemorate the annual Arbaeen gatherings, which can involve more than 20 million pilgrims each year.<\/p>\n The Shalamcheh border crossing between Iran and Iraq pictured on Saturday, 18 July, showing Iranians entering the Iraqi side to join millions of other Muslims heading to the holy city of Karbala for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage. Photograph: Ali Rahim\/AP<\/p>\n Gregory Brew, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, said on X that, based on reports and video, the crossing \u201cwas crowded with hundreds of people, many of them pilgrims undertaking the Arbaeen journey to Karbala\u201d when it was attacked.<\/p>\n \u201cHard to see what, if any, relevance this has to degrading Iranian capabilities in the strait,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.42 EDT<\/p>\n Trump says he will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks<\/p>\n Donald Trump said he will hold Iran responsible for attacks launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen<\/a>.<\/p>\n He said the Houthis had acted \u201cvery professionally and smart\u201d until they attacked Saudi Arabian ships in the Red Sea last night (see post at 03:04<\/a>).<\/p>\n In a post on Truth Social, he said:<\/p>\n double quotation markA year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night. Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and\/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump says Saudi nuclear agreement requires the kingdom to normalise ties with Israel<\/p>\n Donald Trump said the US-Saudi nuclear deal<\/a> is subject to the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords, which normalises ties with Israel.<\/p>\n He added that the landmark deal does not allow the enrichment of uranium.<\/p>\n In a post on his Truth Social app, the US president said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords. The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n My colleague Jonathan Yerushalmy has put together this helpful explainer on what we know about the agreement and the concerns it raises:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.29 EDT<\/p>\n Palestinian ministry accuses Ben Gvir of \u201cseeking to ignite a religious war\u201d after he entered al-Aqsa compound<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir led hundreds of Israelis, including settlers, into the al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, a breach of a decades-old status quo.<\/p>\n The minister, joined by heavily police protection, posted a video on his Telegram channel in which he said: \u201cLook at what\u2019s happening here \u2013 Jews are praying and feel that they are the rightful owners here.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir enters the Al-Aqsa compound Photograph: Itamar Ben Gvir\/Telegram\/Reuters<\/p>\n \u201cEverywhere, people understand that the state of Israel is the sovereign authority. There is still more to do, and with god\u2019s help, we will continue to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The compound is seen by Muslims as Islam\u2019s third holiest site and access is restricted through a decades-old arrangement between Israel and Jordan, in which Jews are permitted to visit but prayers are limited to Muslim worshippers.<\/p>\n In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs said: \u201cThese provocative practices, emanating from the highest political levels of the occupying government, seek to ignite a religious war throughout the entire region.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Gvir has entered the compound more than a dozen times since taking office, according to AFP.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.49 EDT<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Egypt is still hopeful that the US and Iran<\/a> could return to peace talks. The country\u2019s foreign minister Bard Abdelbatty said Egypt is in daily to contact with regional partners as well as the US and Iran, in a bid to end the tit-for-tat attacks that have taken place in the last few weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a specific proposal now under discussions, and we hope that this proposal will contribute to de-escalation,\u201d Abdelfatty said<\/a> in an interview with Bloomberg.<\/p>\n