The US-Iran war hit its six-month mark today

Friday marked six months since the US and Israeli bombing campaign against Iran began. Tehran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei says Iran is now drafting a formal list of conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, insisting Washington take practical steps first — lifting the naval blockade, paying compensation, and removing sanctions — and linking any Hormuz settlement to a broader end to Israeli operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Qatar's prime minister met senior Iranian officials in Tehran to discuss the still-unfinalized Iran-Oman proposal for a temporary shipping corridor; CENTCOM commander Cooper says 1,500 commercial vessels and 750 million barrels have transited safely under US escort, though Kpler data shows daily crossings remain a fraction of pre-war levels. Brent crude settled at $89.31/bbl, its third consecutive down session and down nearly 5% for the week, as markets weigh diplomatic progress against Treasury Secretary Bessent's continuing 'economic onslaught' sanctions campaign. On Ukraine, Russian combat losses jumped to approximately 1,483,780 personnel as of Aug 28 (+1,630) — the sharpest single-day rise in over a week — alongside 485,024 UAVs (+1,657) and 48,749 artillery systems (+55); ISW reports Ukrainian advances in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia despite Russian efforts to halt them. In the Levant, Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon's Nabatieh district killed a woman just 48 hours after her wedding and wounded six, while a drone strike in Gaza killed three members of one family near Khan Younis.