US-Israel-Iran War Live News: The US–Israel–Iran conflict remained tightly linked to global energy markets and shipping on Saturday, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accusing elements of the Trump administration of attempting to influence energy prices through media narratives, while shipping data showed continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
Araghchi alleged that Iranian intelligence had identified efforts to “game energy markets” and claimed that US government elements were using media coverage to influence prices. He also accused Israel-aligned actors of promoting the war through overly optimistic assessments. The allegations have not been independently verified.
Our intelligence shows major efforts to game energy markets. U.S. Govt elements use gullible media to influence prices for personal gain and keep POTUS mired in a losing war. Israel-aligned actors also promote war with rosy assessments.
U.S. consumers feel the real bottom line.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) August 29, 2026
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Araghchi Claims US Elements Are Trying To Influence Energy Prices
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that Tehran’s intelligence had detected what he described as efforts to manipulate energy markets.
According to Araghchi, US government elements were allegedly using media reports to influence energy prices while attempting to keep President Donald Trump committed to what he called a losing war. He further claimed that “Israel-aligned actors” were promoting the conflict through what he described as overly positive assessments.
Araghchi said the impact was ultimately being felt by American consumers. The Iranian foreign minister did not publicly provide evidence supporting the allegations in his post.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Strait Of Hormuz Traffic Falls Sharply
The dispute over energy markets comes as commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below recent averages.
Preliminary data reported by Reuters showed that only seven commodity vessels transited the strategic waterway on Thursday, compared with 17 vessels a day earlier and a 10-day average of 15.
The vessels included tankers, a very large gas carrier, an Ultramax vessel and chemical tankers. Four were recorded exiting the strait, while three were entering.
The figures could still change because some vessels switch off their tracking transponders during voyages, according to the Reuters report.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: US Says Hormuz Shipping Lanes Cleared Of Mines
Washington has presented a different picture of conditions in the waterway.
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said American forces had cleared internationally recognised shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz of sea mines attributed to Iran. The operation involved Navy divers, special operations forces and aircraft, according to US military officials.
The US military has said the mine-clearing operation was intended to improve maritime safety and facilitate commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
However, shipping data indicates that commercial traffic remains significantly below recent normal levels, despite the US assertion that the international shipping lanes are open.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Rejects US Claims On Strait Of Hormuz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has rejected repeated US claims that the Strait of Hormuz is open, describing the assertion as false and maintaining that vessels require Iranian permission to pass.
The competing claims underline the uncertainty surrounding navigation through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.
The strait has remained a central flashpoint in the wider US-Iran confrontation, with Washington seeking to increase commercial traffic while Tehran continues to assert significant control over maritime movement.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Israel-Lebanon Border Tensions Add To Regional Risks
The wider regional situation also remained tense along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that fires had spread in forested areas and dry grass around the southern Lebanese villages of Aita al-Jabal and Haddatha after alleged Israeli military activity.
The report said strong winds were contributing to the spread of the fires and making it harder for firefighting teams to reach affected areas. The claims could not be independently verified.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran’s Army Chief Claims Victory
Meanwhile, Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami said Iran had achieved a defensive victory because the opposing side had failed to accomplish its stated military objectives, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.
Hatami claimed that Iran continued using its missile and drone stockpiles against the opposing forces until the final stages of the conflict.
His comments represent Iran’s assessment of the military outcome and were not independently verified.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Energy Markets Remain At The Centre Of The Conflict
The latest developments highlight how military confrontation, shipping disruptions and energy prices have become increasingly interconnected.
Oil markets have already been reacting to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, although prices have also been influenced by broader factors including expectations for US monetary policy and speculation over possible diplomatic arrangements.
Reuters reported that crude prices posted weekly declines on Friday despite continued uncertainty surrounding Hormuz, with Brent and WTI both registering significant weekly losses. With Iran disputing Washington’s description of the waterway as open and commercial traffic remaining below recent averages, the Strait of Hormuz is likely to remain a major focus for global energy markets and international diplomacy.
