US-Iran Situation Report — 2026-08-29 04:30 UTC

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated mediators Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan asked Tehran to set out its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including ending the regional war, with the US needing to take practical steps first [Al Jazeera]. Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz "open" and said the US Navy had cleared/detonated all mines, warning in a Truth Social post that any ship placing new mines would be "immediately and systematically destroyed" [BBC]. Iran's IRGC spokesperson said Tehran would not allow reopening unless Washington lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, pays compensation for war damages, and removes sanctions [Al Jazeera].

ACLED reports at least 3,580 US/Israeli attacks on Iran and 2,053 Iranian attacks across the Gulf and wider Middle East since the war began on February 28, 2026 [Al Jazeera]. The six-month casualty tally stands at at least 7,900 killed — 4,350 in Lebanon, 3,527 in Iran, 28 in Gulf states, 60 Israelis, and 18 US service members, with 757 US personnel wounded, per national health ministries and official bodies [Al Jazeera]. Despite a ceasefire renewed June 26, Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of Lebanon, with 4,350 killed and 12,510 injured in Lebanon per the Ministry of Public Health [Al Jazeera].

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate hearing the war has cost $37.5bn so far, up from about $25bn in late April; US media report the Pentagon's internal estimate at $80-100bn including repairs, aircraft replacements, and weapons restocking [Al Jazeera]. Brent crude was at $88.58 on August 28, roughly 22% above the pre-war level of $72.48, having peaked at $120.88 on April 30 [Al Jazeera]. The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 290 million barrels (41% of 714M-barrel capacity), its lowest level since November 1982 [Al Jazeera]. Over six months, an average of 7 vessels per day have passed through the Strait of Hormuz, down from 100/day pre-war, with 70 confirmed ship incidents and 19 seafarer fatalities per the IMO as of August 26 [Al Jazeera].

A Reuters/Ipsos poll closed August 24 found Trump's approval at 33%, matching his December 2017 low, with 80% of Americans (including 87% Democrats, 71% Republicans) expecting US involvement in Iran to last an extended period [Al Jazeera]. China firmly opposed the US's "illegal unilateral sanctions" on Iran and threatened measures to safeguard its rights, days before planned Trump-Xi talks [BBC]. The US removed Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, embracing Syria's new president Ahmed al-Sharaa [BBC]. The Trump administration is planning to cut off military aid to Iraqi Kurdistan, with the Pentagon telling KRG leaders it will not renew the expiring security assistance agreement for the Peshmerga, citing ISIS's defeat [BBC]. Oman's foreign minister said he hoped for a temporary shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz after meeting Iran's foreign minister in Tehran, discussing joint mine-clearing and future management [BBC].