On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Iran issued a warning to regional states against supporting the United States amid escalating tensions. Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran's military central command, stated in a televised announcement that any country acting as a shield for the US could be drawn into the ongoing conflict.

This warning follows US President Donald Trump's renewed threats to hit Iran "very hard," with reports indicating possible strikes targeting Iran's energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed to have diverted eight Saudi oil tankers from the Red Sea around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The group, which controls much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, has been engaged in a conflict since 2014 involving a Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized government.

Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi reported that recent attacks targeted a government facility in northern Kuwait. Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed that an unidentified projectile struck a tanker near Lima, Oman, damaging its engine room. Another tanker reported a large splash and explosion nearby while sailing northwest of Khasab.

Kuwait's military also indicated it is responding to a fresh wave of Iranian drone attacks that struck several locations.

These developments underscore the heightened volatility in the Middle East as Washington weighs possible "very hard" new strikes against Iran, prompting Tehran to caution its neighbors against becoming involved as US defensive proxies.

Sources