War breaking news. Iran, response to US expected later today

Diplomatic exchanges aimed at the gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz are underway, Saudi Arabian television station Al Arabiya reported. The broadcaster said that news about the ships blocked in the channel is expected in the coming hours. A Pakistani source told Al Arabiya that Iran is expected to respond today to the US proposal for a nuclear deal, confirming an earlier CNN report.

Iran 'strongly' denied any involvement of its armed forces in the damage suffered by a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump attributed the incident to an Iranian attack.

"The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces in the incident that caused damage to a Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz," the Iranian Embassy in Seoul said in a note.

Azzam Khalil Al-Hayya, son of Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Khalil Al-Hayya, died of serious injuries sustained in an attack launched yesterday by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza City. Palestinian media reported this. In the interview with Al Jazeera in which he reported his son's serious condition, the Hamas leader said the attack was "an unequivocal political message from Israel to the Hamas negotiators: either the negotiator surrenders and the Palestinian leader submits, or this is what awaits him, his son and the children of his people".

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry commented on the contacts between the US and Iran, refusing to provide details on the deal that is apparently emerging between the parties. "We welcome the news of a possible agreement, but as mediators, we will not risk the trust of the parties by revealing details," reads a ministerial statement. "It is impossible to know how close or far the two sides are from signing an agreement, but we are optimistic."

US President Donald Trump suspended the Project Freedom mission, launched to facilitate the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, after Saudi Arabia informed the US that it would not allow American forces to use the Prince Sultan airbase, located southeast of Riyadh, or to fly over Saudi airspace in support of the operation. This was reported by two American officials to NBC, emphasising that Riyadh, like the other Gulf countries, had not been consulted or informed before the mission was launched.

According to the two sources, not even a phone call from Trump to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was able to resolve the issue, forcing the president to suspend Project Freedom in order to restore US forces' access to the airspace.

The Port and Maritime Organisation of Iran (Pmo) has issued a formal notice to ship captains declaring the country's readiness to provide public maritime services, technical support, and medical and health care to commercial traffic in the waterway and adjacent waters. This was reported by the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr. The message, the agency explained, was broadcast via maritime VHF radio three times a day for three consecutive days, calling on captains and ship owners to request supplies, fuel, medical assistance or authorised repair items. Pmo said the measure was 'part of Iran's sovereign responsibility for navigation safety and port services in one of the world's most strategic transit corridors'.

The United States is asking Iran for a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment and the abandonment of existing nuclear stockpiles as part of a possible peace deal. The Wall Street Journal reported this, citing senior US officials.

Washington also demands that Tehran dismantle the nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, ban underground nuclear activities and accept inspections.

Iran has begun restoring oil and gas facilities damaged during the conflict with the US and Israel, Iranian officials reported. "During the 40-day war, oil facilities were damaged and affected. The priority is to restore them as quickly as possible and the process is proceeding properly so far,' Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad told the state broadcaster.

Iran today denied any involvement in Monday's explosion aboard a South Korean merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran "firmly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement of the Islamic Republic's armed forces in the incident that caused damage to a Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz," the Iranian embassy in Seoul said in a statement.

Iran is expected to respond to the US draft agreement today. This was reported by informed sources to CNN. In recent hours there has been talk of Tehran responding in the next two days or at least before Donald Trump's trip to China on 14-15 May. (ANSA).