RECAP: Asia Sentinel Stories for August 2026 
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Potential US ground operations against Iran might constrain Tehran, but the prospects for reopening the Strait of Hormuz were “highly uncertain”, Chinese analysts said.
They also cautioned that any such escalation was likely to result in heavy casualties, with one of them saying Iran “might even welcome” such close combat.
US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a five-day halt to military strikes on Iranian power plants.
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He made the announcement on social media as the US’ 48-hour deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approached, and after Iran threatened to target American fuel and energy facilities in the region if its infrastructure was attacked.
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Trump tells Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz by late Monday GMT or face major assault
Trump tells Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz by late Monday GMT or face major assault
Trump’s decision to hit pause came as Washington was weighing whether to deploy thousands of troops to Iran.
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