Aug 6, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be finalized within days, claiming "great progress" in negotiations. However, Iranian officials reaffirmed that Tehran is negotiating exclusively with Oman to establish designated safe routes for maritime traffic, denying any direct involvement with Washington.

While American officials expressed optimism over a swift resolution, technical and political disagreements persist. According to regional reports, unresolved issues include vessel inspection protocols and the scope of regional oversight. Iranian representatives framed the ongoing talks with Muscat as a setback for Washington's pressure strategy. Meanwhile, Gulf nations continue to push for regional supervision of shipping lanes as negotiations progress.

Sources: CDM, Index, Klix, N1, Vijesti.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has pledged that average net monthly salaries will reach €1,600 by 2028, following upcoming October consultations regarding a new minimum wage. The economic announcement comes as findings from the Reuters Institute 2026 Digital News Report show that 63 percent of respondents in Croatia actively avoid news, one of the highest rates worldwide.

In Malta, trial proceedings saw testimony from the son of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the investigative journalist assassinated in a 2017 car bombing while reporting on state corruption involving businessman Yorgen Fenech.

Concurrently, Greek firefighters backed by military units and water-dropping aircraft continued operations against a large wildfire in the Kithairon mountains near Megara, west of Athens.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, N1, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti

Iran's foreign ministry announced that Tehran and Muscat have agreed on geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, with a joint declaration in its final stages. Iranian officials cautioned that bilateral coordinates alone cannot guarantee safe passage while the US blockade persists. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump indicated that an agreement to reopen the waterway could be reached within days.

Despite diplomatic progress, security concerns remain active. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported two explosions near an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, though the vessel and crew were reported safe without environmental damage. Iran has previously targeted ships deviating from authorized transit routes.

Sources: The Guardian, BBC News, Sweden Herald, STV News, France24.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić delivered an address in Mrkonjić Grad, Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking the 1995 Croatian military action Operation Storm. Vučić stated that Serbia would "never again" allow similar operations against Serbs in the region, asserting that the nation possesses the strength to guarantee their safety. While stating that Serbia acknowledges and condemns crimes committed in its own name, he reiterated that the country will not forget its own victims.

The speech elicited sharp contrasts in regional reporting. Regional independent outlets framed the address as pre-election political maneuvering intended to rally nationalist support. In contrast, Croatian public media viewed the remarks as threats and criticized the depiction of Operation Storm as a crime, highlighting persistent diplomatic friction over wartime history between Belgrade and Zagreb.

Sources: Danas, HRT Vijesti, Klix, N1, Vijesti

A severe heatwave is sweeping across Southern and Southeastern Europe, driving temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius and putting intense strain on regional infrastructure.

In Serbia, meteorologists issued red weather alerts as temperatures reached 38.6 degrees Celsius in Sombor, with high heat recorded in Belgrade and across the Pannonian basin. The surge in cooling demand and critically low water levels on the Danube River have pushed energy systems in Serbia and neighboring Balkan nations to their capacity limits, while threatening agricultural yields.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Ministry of Health placed 27 monitored cities on maximum red alert. Farther east, high temperatures continue to fuel wildfires and force power producers to curtail output.

Sources: Avaz, Beta, Danas, N1, Tanjug