Hundreds of WhatsApp users, including many in India, took to social media on Monday after discovering that their accounts had been unexpectedly placed “under review”, temporarily restricting access to the messaging platform’s features for up to 24 hours.

The reports triggered widespread concern among users who said they had received no prior warning before being locked out of chats and calls, raising fresh questions over the platform’s automated account moderation systems.

The issue surfaced late on Monday evening, with affected users reporting that the Meta-owned messaging platform displayed an “Account in review” notification instead of granting normal access to the app. While WhatsApp has long relied on automated systems to detect suspicious activity and enforce its Terms of Service, several users insisted that they had only been using the official application and had not violated any platform policies.

Responding to the concerns, WhatsApp acknowledged that errors can occur while enforcing safety measures and said it is working to restore affected accounts as quickly as possible.

Users report sudden restrictions

The disruption became widely visible around 8:00pm IST, when users across multiple regions began reporting that their accounts had been placed under review without any advance notice, according to a Press Trust of India report.

The notification displayed on affected devices read:

“Account in review. Date requested: 3 Aug 2026. Your account activity and device info is being checked to make sure it follows our terms of service. We will notify you of the result typically within 24 hours.”

The app also directed users to guidance on responsible use of WhatsApp and provided links related to account security and stolen devices.

Several users expressed frustration over the sudden restrictions, particularly those who rely on the platform for work and daily communication.

“My WhatsApp account has been disabled without any explanation. I have already submitted an appeal, but the review page only displays a generic message stating that it will ‘typically be reviewed within 24 hours’. Help me urgently,” a user wrote on social media.

Another user, Saloni, posted: “My WhatsApp account was suddenly disabled without any warning. I only use the official app, and my work depends on WhatsApp. Please help. This was so unnecessary.”

WhatsApp acknowledges possible errors

In response to queries on the issue, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the company continuously works to identify and prevent misuse of its platform while recognising that its systems are not infallible.

“We are always working to stay ahead of those trying to abuse our service and ban accounts to help keep other users safe. Sometimes we get this wrong and if we do, we try to fix it as quickly as possible to get people back to chatting,” the spokesperson said.

The statement suggests that at least some of the affected accounts may have been flagged by automated detection systems designed to identify suspicious or abusive behaviour.

Social media flooded with complaints

As reports mounted, several posts on X indicated that the issue was affecting users beyond India.

One user wrote:

“What’s going on with #WhatsApp? We woke up to several cases of accounts that, out of nowhere, show up as suspended to the user and even require a review request. Anyone else dealing with that this morning?”

Another post read:

“Several #WhatsApp accounts are reportedly under review. • Some users say they’ve been locked out for up to 24 hours. • Indian users appear to be among those affected. • Many report receiving no prior warning. • Chats and calls are temporarily unavailable during the review period.”

Saudi oil giant Aramco reported a 44 per cent increase in net profit for the quarter ended June 30, driven by higher sales, mainly from stronger prices for crude oil, refined products and chemicals, despite disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The world’s largest oil exporter posted net profit of $32.69bn for the three months to June 30, underscoring the resilience of its operations during one of the most challenging periods for regional energy markets this year.

The company also reported adjusted net income of $33.4bn for the second quarter and $67.2bn for the first half of 2026. Cash flow from operating activities reached $25.4bn during the quarter and $56.2bn for the six-month period, while free cash flow totalled $12.3bn in the second quarter and $30.9bn in the first half. Second-quarter free cash flow was impacted by a $13.6bn working capital build.

Aramco’s board declared a base dividend of $21.9bn for the second quarter, to be paid in the third quarter of 2026.

President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said the company’s performance reflected the resilience of its operations despite rapidly changing market conditions.

“Despite the unprecedented supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz, we continued to demonstrate our ability to maintain business continuity by capitalising on our diverse asset base and multi-decade planning, including strategic infrastructure such as the East-West Pipeline, storage capacity, and export terminals,” he said.

Nasser added that geopolitical uncertainty and declining global inventories had reinforced the importance of energy security, while Aramco’s ability to respond quickly to market dynamics strengthened its role in global energy markets.

The company said it continued to utilise the East-West Pipeline to maintain crude flows across its network during the regional disruption.

Aramco also said the Zuluf crude oil increment project remains on track for completion in 2026, while the Fadhili Gas Plant expansion is expected to be completed in 2027. The first phase of the Jafurah Gas Plant continued steady production of sales gas, with work progressing on phase two ahead of its planned completion in 2027.

The energy giant also announced an agreement to sell its entire equity stake in PRefChem as part of its strategy to optimise its downstream portfolio.

Looking ahead, Nasser said Aramco entered the second half of the year with “solid financial and operating momentum”, supported by one of the strongest balance sheets in the sector, sustainable base dividend distributions and continued investment in strategic growth projects.

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran it faces a “last chance” to reach an agreement with Washington, escalating pressure on Tehran even as both sides remain at odds over whether negotiations are taking place.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he was prepared to give Iran “every last chance” before what he described as “decapitation”, reiterating his threat of a major military response if diplomacy fails.

“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” Trump told reporters, adding that talks were “going on right now” and would “go quickly, one way or the other”.

The remarks came after Iran denied that any direct negotiations with the US were under way.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei rejected Trump’s claims, saying no meetings had been scheduled and that Tehran was not engaged in talks with Washington.

Responding on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Iran’s leadership of being “unbelievably duplicitous”, claiming they had requested negotiations while publicly denying they were taking place.

“They ask for a meeting… talks begin… and they say they are not having any discussions,” Trump wrote, insisting that “nothing gets through to Iran” unless there is a deal or what he called “total surrender”.

Trump also asserted that the Strait of Hormuz was now “completely controlled” by the US, adding that Iran would not be allowed to charge vessels transiting the strategically important waterway.

Hormuz tensions remain elevated

Despite Trump’s comments, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain high.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency on Tuesday reported that a cargo vessel was struck by a projectile approximately 37 kilometres north-east of the Omani port of Khasab. Authorities are investigating the incident, while ships operating in the area have been advised to exercise caution.

Meanwhile, Iranian military adviser Mohsen Rezaei warned the US that its forces would face “serious risks and casualties” if Washington continued enforcing its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

He also said Tehran would “never permit the opening of a second corridor in the Strait of Hormuz”, signalling continued opposition to any alternative maritime arrangements backed by the United States.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had diverted 44 commercial vessels, disabled two ships and boarded another two since the blockade was imposed on July 14 following the collapse of an interim peace agreement.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with his Omani counterpart, Badr Al Busaidi, on Monday to discuss the latest regional developments, with Oman continuing to play a diplomatic intermediary role.

Oil rebounds after sharp sell-off

Oil prices recovered on Tuesday after suffering their steepest one-day decline in weeks, as traders weighed the prospect of renewed diplomacy against the continuing risk of disruption in the Gulf.

Brent crude rose about 1.3 per cent to $84.89 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate gained around 1 per cent to $81.11 after both benchmarks fell sharply on Monday.

Markets initially welcomed Trump’s indication over the weekend that he would delay fresh military action while diplomatic efforts continued.

However, Iran’s subsequent denial that talks were taking place renewed doubts over the prospects for a breakthrough.

Analysts at ING said the previous day’s sell-off appeared excessive given the level of geopolitical uncertainty.

“We’ve been in this situation multiple times before, only to see things unravel,” the bank said in a research note.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the current conflict disrupted maritime traffic.

Etihad Rail has sold more than 70,000 passenger tickets since launching its passenger services, with travellers booking journeys an average of 12 days in advance, the operator of the UAE’s national railway network said on Monday.

The company said the figures indicated growing demand for rail travel among families, commuters, leisure travellers and visitors, with customers increasingly planning business, family and leisure trips around the railway rather than using the service on a trial basis.

“People aren’t simply trying the train out of curiosity. They’re planning around it. When customers are booking nearly two weeks ahead, it tells us passenger rail is already becoming part of how people organise their journeys. That is an important sign that rail is beginning to establish itself as a natural travel choice across the UAE,” said Azza Al Suwaidi, COO of Etihad Rail.

The company said the pre-operational phase attracted demand from a broad range of passengers, including families, business travellers, schools, leisure travellers and People of Determination.

“One of the most striking things we’ve seen is the diverse range of passengers choosing the train for their journeys across the UAE. This diversity highlights the role the passenger train is playing as a comfortable and reliable transport option that meets a wide range of travel needs, whether for family journeys, business travel, educational trips, leisure experiences, or exploring new destinations across the UAE,” said Adhraa Almansoori, executive director of Commercial at Etihad Rail Mobility.

Etihad Rail said it would continue to expand services during the introductory operational phase in line with demand while maintaining its focus on safety, reliability and customer experience. The company said it would monitor passenger trends and add capacity where required.

Etihad Rail stations to open on these dates

The operator also outlined the next phase of its passenger network rollout. Stations in Dubai and Al Dhaid are scheduled to open on September 30, followed by Liwa and Madinat Zayed on November 30, the remaining Al Dhafra stations on December 30, and Sharjah on March 30, 2027.

These additions will further expand connectivity across the UAE’s national passenger rail network.