*Qatar’s Foreign Ministry says mediators are waiting on a bilateral deal between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz before returning to broader talks between Iran and the US.

*A vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz suffered engine room damage and a crew casualty after being struck by an unknown projectile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations says.

*President Donald Trump says the US is not seeking an extension of the MoU with Iran, which expired on Monday, and that Tehran should “put up the white flag of surrender”.

*Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says “gross” US violations have rendered the MoU’s 60-day deadline for talks to resolve issues, including sanctions on Tehran, “entirely moot”, adding that Iran’s forces are ready to respond if attacked. (Aljazeera, 2026-08-18)