Brazilian government said President Lula reiterated the need for tariff negotiations.

On Aug. 21 Iranian foreign minister Araghchi said on social media that successive U.S. sanctions and pressure campaigns have "ended in failure" and that the latest economic measures are likewise "doomed to fail." Responding to President Trump’s recent pledge of "the most destructive economic action ever" against Iran, Araghchi cited past U.S. moves—claims of the "toughest-ever" sanctions 14 years ago, an "maximum pressure" campaign eight years ago and a demand five months ago for Iran to "unconditionally surrender"—saying they all failed and accusing successive U.S. administrations of repeating the same failed script.

A maritime theft monitoring group said Somali coastal piracy has risen after two new attacks this week. The incidents come as two major regional conflicts are diverting and depleting naval resources: Houthi forces last month announced a blockade on Saudi ports and have attacked several vessels, forcing many ships to avoid the area, while fighting linked to Iran has produced attacks on dozens of merchant ships in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters. Two vessels were reported hit by Somali pirates, reinforcing concerns about an uptick in Somali incidents this year. An International Maritime Bureau official, Cyrus Modi, said naval deployments remain but higher-priority threats have likely created an opening for Somali pirates, who had been effectively suppressed over the past decade; Somali piracy peaked in 2008–2010 when hundreds of ships were attacked and some owners rerouted around Africa.