Vance: 'Progress on ceasefire, but points still to be settled'. New sanctions on Tehran

The US Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Iran and its oil sales. "We will continue to increase pressure to deprive the regime and its armed forces of the financial resources needed to threaten US allies and partners in the Middle East," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "We will not allow Tehran to increase oil revenues to replenish its armed forces and military capabilities," he added.

Israeli and Russian security forces have been added to the UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflict, particularly in relation to prisoner allegations, according to an annual report viewed by Afp. Last August, Secretary-General António Guterres warned Israel and Russia against possible inclusion, but "the United Nations has continued to record incidents and manifestations of sexual violence" in the context of the war in Ukraine and the occupied Palestinian territories, according to his new report, which will be sent to Security Council members shortly.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his armed forces to take control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, contrary to the ceasefire agreements in place since last October. "We are currently suffocating Hamas," he said during a press conference broadcast by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, while at an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. "We now control 60 per cent of the territory of the Strip," he added, "we were at 50 per cent, we have gone to 60 per cent, my directive is to get to 70 per cent.

In the past two days, sixteen Palestinians were killed in Gaza and 39 others were injured and transported to hospital. This was reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health. This brings to 72,819 the number of dead since the beginning of the war between Israel and Gaza, which began with the terrorist attack on 7 October 2023, while the number of wounded would now be 172,894. Growing numbers for a massacre that knows no end.

The United States has received assurances from Oman that the country has no plans to impose a toll on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this. "I had a telephone conversation this morning with the Omani ambassador, who assured me that there are no plans to introduce a toll in the Strait," Bessent told reporters during a briefing at the White House. Previously, Bessent had threatened Treasury action against Oman if the country supported Iran in imposing a toll on the Strait.

The text of a potential memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States has not yet been finalised or confirmed. This was reported by the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim, which quotes a source close to the negotiating team, according to several international media reports. The source told Tasnim that Tehran has not informed the Pakistani mediator that the text is complete, and will inform both the mediator and the public once it is finalised. Western media reports that the agreement has already been finalised are false, he added.

"It all depends on what Trump wants to do and Trump will not make a bad deal. He's been clear." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this without responding to those who asked him whether a deal with Iran had been reached. "The negotiating teams are negotiating intensely and Donald Trump has made it unequivocally clear that he has several red lines: Iran must hand over its highly enriched uranium, it cannot pursue the development of nuclear weapons, and the Strait of Hormuz must remain free and open," he highlighted. (A

The US and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin 60 days of negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, but the deal remains on hold pending final approvals from President Donald Trump and the Iranian Supreme Leader. This was reported by US officials to CNN, picking up on an earlier Axios rumour, but pointing out that it is not yet clear whether Mojtaba Khamenei has also given the green light to the understanding. The draft understanding includes the easing of shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and the start of talks on the fate of Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, while the more complex knots of the nuclear programme remain to be worked out. The same officials warn that the agreement could, however, quickly founder, not least because of pressure on Trump from Republicans and the Israeli government, who are opposed to a deal that would reduce the pressure on Tehran.

The agreement between Washington and Tehran to end the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran's nuclear programme could be announced on Sunday. Axios reports. The agreement, as previously reported, would still lack President Trump's final green light.

Israel has announced that it has severed all relations with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. This was announced on X by Israel's diplomatic representation to the UN. "The UN secretary-general's chief of staff telephoned Ambassador Danon and officially informed him of the secretary-general's decision to place Israel and its security services on the UN blacklist regarding sexual violence in conflict areas, the same list that includes Hamas Nukhba terrorists," Israel's own ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, wrote on X. The ambassador "strongly criticised him and confronted him with the lies and political campaign that the secretary general is trying to carry out to the detriment of Israel's security. At the end of the conversation, Ambassador Danon told him clearly and unequivocally that we are done with UN Secretary General Guterres,' Danon continued.

Donald Trump has circulated among allies, including Israel, a draft peace agreement for the war with Iran. The Guardian reports that the draft shared by the US president does not differ substantially from the one that has been circulating in the Middle East for days, according to which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to commercial shipping, the US blockade of Iranian ports would be lifted, and Iran would be granted access to frozen assets worth up to $12 billion. The goal of the agreement would be to restore commercial shipping in the Strait to pre-war levels within 30 days and to begin negotiations on the future of Iran's nuclear programme for an expected duration of up to 60 days. The talks would include discussions on the stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a time-limited suspension of further enrichment, and oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran would renounce the use of nuclear weapons. In an effort to speed up negotiations, the Guardian reports, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will fly to Washington tomorrow to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The US has warned Oman to steer clear of any attempt to introduce a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening sanctions against those involved. This was stated on X by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, saying that Washington will take action against companies or governments that support such initiatives. "The US government will not tolerate any attempt to impose a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, in particular, should know that the US Treasury will aggressively target any actor involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partner will be penalised," Bessent wrote. "All nations should categorically reject any effort by Iran to disrupt the free flow of trade. Gone are the days when Tehran terrorised the region and the world'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the armed forces to take control of 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip, contrary to the ceasefire agreements in place since last October. "We are currently suffocating Hamas. We now control 60 per cent of the territory of the Strip. We were at 50, we have gone to 60. My directive is to get to 70 per cent,' Netanyahu said in a conference from an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, broadcast on video by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

The EU Council today adopted additional restrictive measures against four entities and three individuals as part of the overall EU human rights sanctions regime. The listed individuals are extremist Israeli settlers and organisations supporting them, responsible for gross and systematic human rights violations against Palestinians in the West Bank. This was stated in a note.

Donald Trump has asked for a few days to evaluate the agreement and express his opinion. Axios reports this, citing sources.

Iran and the US have reached an agreement but need Donald Trump's final green light. This was stated by Axios journalist Barak Ravid on X.

More than 6,000 people have been arrested in Iran since the start of the war with Israel. This was revealed in a survey by Amnesty International, according to which those arrested by the Iranian authorities include protesters, journalists, lawyers, dissidents and members of ethnic minorities. During the same period, 39 'political executions' also took place in Iran, has the human rights organisation. "The authorities have unleashed an all-out attack on the Iranian population, targeting anyone who dares to criticise the Islamic Republic, share information about US or Israeli air strikes or human rights violations with the outside world, or simply attempt to overcome what has become the longest internet blockade ever to communicate with loved ones or access independent information," said Amnesty International's Erika Guevara Rosas, adding that the population was already "suffering from the devastating consequences of the illegal air raids conducted by US and Israeli forces". Amnesty International strongly criticised Iran's near-total internet blockade, which isolated the population from the global web for almost three months. The restrictions were partially lifted for the first time yesterday. "The internet blackout was a key pillar of the authorities' repressive strategy, creating the conditions under which widespread crimes in violation of international law could be committed with impunity," the report said.

'We urge the parties not to relapse into armed confrontation, which could lead to the risk of a large-scale humanitarian crisis in the region, with consequences for the whole world'. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as reported by Ria Novosti. "The issue (of enriched uranium - ed.) is one of the central topics of the ongoing indirect dialogue between the US and Iran," Zakharova added, "our position on this issue is well known to everyone. It has not changed. At the same time, we have never imposed, nor do we intend to impose, our initiative to remove Iran's highly enriched uranium from the Russian Federation. The decision whether or not to ask for our help is up to Iran'.

In the past two days, sixteen Palestinians have been killed and 39 others wounded and transported to hospital in the Gaza Strip. This was reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health in a statement. According to ministry figures, 11,922 people have been killed and 2,786 injured in Gaza since the ceasefire with Israel began in October. 781 bodies have been recovered . Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Gaza on 7 October 2023, 72,819 people have been killed and 172,894 injured, the Ministry of Health said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards threatened a 'firm response' in case of new attacks after the US bombed the south of the country. "If this action is repeated, the US military will face a firm response," the Guards stated on their Sepah News website.

The US economy grew less than expected in the first quarter of 2026. According to the second reading of the figure, the US gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.6 per cent between January and March this year after expanding by 0.5 per cent in the previous quarter and 4.4 per cent in the quarter before that. This was announced by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Estimates were for a 2% expansion as recorded in the first reading.

NEW DELHI - While on the American side it is a pyrotechnical succession of announcements, ultimatums and relaunches, the meticulous mediation work of the Pakistanis, more and more openly in sync with the interested Chinese observers, continues methodically, without unnecessary clamour and publicly marked by the bland and circumspect formulas of a diplomacy that has not yet resigned itself to laying down the foil to take up the club.

Confirmation of the growing coordination between the two allies came when, during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the presence of Field Marshal Asim Munir "just arrived from Tehran" where he was engaged "in mediating for peace" between the US and Iran.

Paksitan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Washington tomorrow to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This was announced by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, anticipating that during the talks, the two ministers will 'review bilateral relations and express their assessments on regional and global developments of common interest'.

Germany and the Netherlands will establish a joint tactical headquarters in the Baltic States this year to command forces on NATO's eastern flank and help deter Russia. The German-Dutch joint command centre, known as 1GNC, will "assume a command role on the eastern flank of Nato, in particular in the region of Estonia and Latvia" in the coming months, the German Defence Ministry said in a statement. As agreed at the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, Berlin argues, the deployment of the 1GNC strengthens Europe's role. The Alliance intends to formalise the new role of the German-Dutch I Corps - created to strengthen deterrence against Russia - as early as this summer. The 1GNC will thus assume command of the NATO units and national elements of the ground forces stationed in Estonia and Latvia, reads the ministry note. In this way, the German-Dutch I Corps is given considerable responsibility for conducting exercises and other preparatory activities, as well as, in the event of an emergency, for the defence of the eastern flank. This responsibility currently lies with the Multinational Corps North-East (MNC NE). "With the integration of the German-Dutch Corps into the Nato defence plans, both nations take on additional responsibilities for the security of Europe. We are true to our role and, with the Corps, bring a successful model of multinational cooperation. In the corps staff, 16 nations work side by side. In their assigned units, Germans and Dutchmen already serve side by side every day. That is exactly how interoperability and taking responsibility on a European level works,' said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

"The ceasefire in Lebanon seems to become more and more purely formal every day. A return to full-scale war is a real possibility". This was said by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, at a press conference at the end of the informal Foreign Affairs Council in Cyprus.

The Iranian missile attack against Kuwait was described by the US military as a 'flagrant violation of the ceasefire'. The US Central Command (Centcom) reported that the incident occurred a few hours after the Iranian launch of five one-way attack drones, all intercepted by US forces, which also reportedly prevented a sixth aircraft from taking off. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also strongly condemned the attack, calling it a 'blatant violation of the principles of international law, the UN Charter and the principles of good neighbourliness', expressing full support to Kuwait for the measures needed to ensure security and stability. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry denounced the missile and drone attacks as a 'serious escalation' and a 'flagrant violation of sovereignty and security', attributing full responsibility to Iran and calling for an immediate cessation of operations. Condemnations also came from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which spoke of a violation of Kuwaiti sovereignty and reiterated their solidarity with Kuwait, with Abu Dhabi explicitly blaming Tehran for the "terrorist attacks".

"A decisive response". This is what the Guardians of the Revolution, the Iranian Pasdaran, are threatening after reports in recent hours of a US operation in southern Iran. "If these actions are repeated, the US military will have to deal with a decisive response," the Pasdaran said in a statement released by the Sepah News website.

The Israeli raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut hit an apartment building in Choueifat. This was reported by L'Orient Le jour. At the site of the attack, many young people rushed to search for possible survivors. They are working with their bare hands, in total disarray, as seen in a video.

More than 135 Hezbollah targets have been hit in the last 24 hours by the Israeli army, the IDF reports. In southern Lebanon and the eastern Beqaa Valley, 10 rocket launching sites were targeted, as well as a Hezbollah training camp, while in Tyre, 15 infrastructure sites of the Lebanese Shiite movement used to launch attacks were hit, the Idf points out. The Israeli air force also hit and killed several Hezbollah members who were seen leaving a rocket launching site used in an attack against troops, the Israeli army adds.

According to a spokesman for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the IDF recently conducted a targeted attack in Beirut. At the same time, Lebanon reported an attack in the Shuifat area, not far from Beirut. The target of the Israeli attack is Ali al-Hisani, the missile handler of the Imam Hussein Division. Ynet reports

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said the US and Israel are trying to destabilise the Islamic Republic in a written message read out on state television. "The enemy's blind plan, after the imposed war, economic pressure and political and propaganda siege, is to create divisions and disintegration to compensate for military defeats and bring the nation to its knees," said Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since before he took office in March.

14 people were killed today in southern Lebanon by attacks by the Israeli army. Among the victims of the barrage of attacks were five women, children and a Lebanese soldier. Dozens of others were injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health and the state-run National News Agency. Israeli Arabic-language military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued warnings to eight buildings in the coastal city of Tyre and surrounding neighbourhoods. Many people fled the area.

Further north, in the city of Sidon, an Israeli drone struck an apartment building where some displaced families were living, killing five people and injuring 21 others, including five children. Among the dead was Hossan Zeidan, a former correspondent for the Iranian Arabic-language television station al-Aalam. In the nearby coastal town of Adloun, an Israeli drone struck a car carrying a fleeing family, killing six people, including two children and their parents. Another drone attack killed two people on a motorbike near Tyre.

The Gaza militia led by Ashraf al-Mansi, which operates against Hamas in the north of the Strip with Israeli support, released videos showing one of its members operating a heavy military drone. The Times of Israel reports this. It is the first footage released by the anti-Hamas militia in Gaza, which until now had mainly been seen using light weapons. A statement posted on al-Mansi's Facebook page states that 'the Popular Army led by Ashraf al-Mansi in northern Gaza announces the introduction of advanced drones into service'. Brigadier General Ghassan Dehini, considered the commander of several militias in Gaza, announced that 'several successful operations have been conducted' using the new drones.

Known as a charismatic and strong-willed head of state, often with impulsive traits, this time Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan behaved almost as if his Turkey were a kind of 'European China'. He has kept his country out of the conflict with Iran while pursuing 'active neutrality' with the possible economic benefits in mind. For once, more than what he said, he hit on what he did not say.

It was evident from the very beginning. When US and Israeli planes kicked off the major military operation against Iran on 28 February, killing Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei (in power since 1989) and beheading most of the senior Iranian leadership, Erdoğan protested, but with restraint, describing the attacks as a 'blatant violation of international law'. On the one hand, he decided to immediately close Turkish airspace to US forces. On the other he personally conveyed his condolences for the assassination of Khamenei. Yet he spared no open criticism of the regime in Tehran for its retaliatory attacks against the Gulf States.

Spain harshly criticised Israel for the continuous and intensive bombing of Lebanese territory. "Israel must accept that other countries have exactly the same right as Israel to have their own state and to live there in peace and security.Israel has the right to its own state, peace and security, but the Palestinian people and the Lebanese people have exactly the same right," said Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. Albares made these statements to journalists before attending the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus. The minister denounced Israel's decision to declare southern Lebanon a 'war zone' and to force all residents to leave it, calling it 'completely unacceptable' and 'contrary to international law'.

A relative majority of Italians consider the resources allocated to defence a cost rather than an investment. This is what emerges from the Rapporto Italia 2026 by Eurispes, presented today in Rome.

According to a survey presented in the report, 44.2% of Italians see defence spending as a cost, while 32.1% see it as an investment. The share of those who cannot express an opinion is also very large at 23.7%.

The Lebanese army announced that a soldier was killed in an Israeli attack while driving along the Zaqta-Deir al-Zahrani road in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon. He is the third Lebanese soldier killed this week. Yesterday, the Lebanese army had reported that a soldier was killed in an attack on the Kfardoun-al-Khardali road in the same area of southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, another Lebanese soldier had been killed in an Israeli attack in the western Beqaa region.

At least eleven people were killed and five injured in a new series of Israeli raids in southern Lebanon, between Sidon, Zahrani and Tyre. This was reported by the Lebanese national agency NNA, according to which children were also among the victims. The most serious toll was recorded along the Adlun highway, in the Nabi Sari area, in the Zahrani district, where an Israeli drone struck at dawn a civilian family that was trying to get away from the threatened villages. Six people, including children, were killed in the attack. A Lebanese soldier was also killed in the Zahrani attack. In Sidon, an Israeli raid with two missiles hit a flat in a multi-storey building in the Qiaa area, in front of the headquarters of a medical relief association, at around two o'clock in the morning. A displaced family from south Lebanon lived in the flat. Rescue teams extracted three bodies from the rubble and transported five injured to hospitals in the city. A third attack took place in Tyre, where an Israeli drone hit a motorbike on the road of the popular housing complexes. According to NNA, two people were killed. Civil Defence and rescue teams worked during the night and early morning hours to remove debris in Sidon, check the safety of nearby buildings and reopen the road to traffic.

The words of the President of the United States.

Tehran condemns the US attack on parts of Bandar Abbas, an Iranian coastal city on the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated in a statement by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. Iran also expresses solidarity with Oman after threats from US officials, Baghaei added, following President Donald Trump's threat to bomb the country if it did not behave like everyone else regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The words of the US president.

The United States has once again listed Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories who had harshly criticised Israel, as a sanctioned person. In recent days the sanctions had been lifted in response to a judicial order, but the Trump administration had made it clear that this was a temporary measure.

Just a few hours ago in Milan, presenting her latest book La luce del risveglio, published by Rizzoli, Albanese had spoken on the Italian situation: "It's time to oppose the war-mongering culture that is taking over the country, the Constitution has protected us but it's being bludgeoned out, there's a minister who sends an order to avoid discussions at school on the Palestine because there has to be a contradiction but think of the contradictory nature of the reasoning, it's as if an expert on paedophilia were to confront one in favour. And I hope not to read tomorrow that Albanese compared Jews to paedophiles...'.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the 'destruction of 10 buildings on the outskirts of Beirut for every drone. For every drone that injures one of our soldiers, we destroy a hundred buildings,' in a post on X in memory of Sergeant Rotem Yanai, a 20-year-old soldier killed Wednesday by a drone explosion in northern Israel, the Israel Defence Forces announced.

A possible agreement between Iran and the United States would not mean the end of the war. This is how Iranian parliamentarian, Kamran Ghazanfari, put it in statements reported by Iran International. According to Ghazanfari, a hardliner who warned against excessive optimism, Tehran cannot trust an understanding with Washington.

A 'legitimate right' of Iran. With these words Ali Bagheri Kani, number two of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, confirmed that Tehran aims at the release of all Iranian assets frozen in the US. In statements published by the Iranian Tasnim agency, and relayed by al-Jazeera satellite TV, he said that all Iranian assets must be returned unconditionally.

The EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated today that it is in no one's interest for the war between Iran and the United States to continue, especially now that US President Donald Trump fears a resumption of hostilities if negotiations fail.

"At this very moment, they are in a very dangerous zone between war and peace, and it is in nobody's interest for this war to continue," he said during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Limassol, Cyprus.

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - After a day characterised by strong nervousness at the end of the day, European stock exchanges reduced their falls and Milan was the only market to close in positive territory (+0.5%). Improving the tone of the markets, albeit slightly, was the news reported by Axios that American and Iranian negotiators had reached an agreement on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and begin negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. President Trump, however, has not yet given his approval, according to two US officials told the newspaper. The signing of the memorandum of understanding would represent the most significant diplomatic step forward since the beginning of the war, but a final agreement that meets Trump's demands on the nuclear issue would still require further intensive negotiations. Indiscretions push oil prices down with Wti dropping below USD 90 per barrel.

The Kuwaiti army claimed in the early hours of this morning that it was under missile and drone attack after the US carried out new attacks against Iran.

"Kuwaiti air defences are currently facing hostile drone and missile attacks," according to a message from the Kuwaiti army on X.

The Israeli army announced today that it had hit infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in Tyre, South Lebanon, after ordering the evacuation of the entire city.

The Lebanese state news agency NNA reported that two series of Israeli raids hit the city and an area east of it this morning, hitting a building and causing a fire in Tyre.

The Pasdaran announced today that they had targeted an American base in retaliation to earlier US attacks in southern Iran. This was reported on Irib state television.

Iranian media report that four boats that were attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz were forced to turn back. The Tasnim news agency reports that the four boats were intercepted by the naval forces while attempting to cross the Strait without having coordinated the manoeuvre with the authorities in Tehran. The boats received but ignored an initial warning from Iranian naval forces, which opened fire.

The US has imposed sanctions against the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the body set up to handle transit requests through the Strait of Hormuz. 'Treasury,' said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 'maintains maximum pressure on Iran,

The US military launched new attacks in Iran targeting a military site that officials said posed a threat to US forces and commercial maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official told Reuters on Wednesday night. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that the US military also intercepted and shot down several Iranian drones.

The Israel Defence Forces claim to have hit two 'senior Hamas figures' in northern Gaza. The army said more details would be provided later.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, today confirmed the death of their leader, Mohammed Odeh, who was killed in an Israeli raid on Tuesday evening. This was reported by the France Presse news agency. "The great martyr commander Mohammed Ali Odeh, known as Abu Amr, chief of staff of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, was killed Tuesday night in a cowardly assassination operation that resulted in his martyrdom, along with that of his wife and children, and caused a number of civilian deaths and injuries," reads a statement from the Brigades.Israel had announced last night that it had targeted Odeh in an attack and then announced his death in the morning. Hamas had confirmed the death, but did not acknowledge that Odeh had actually succeeded the leadership of the al-Qassam Brigades to Ezzedine al Haddad, who was killed in an Israeli raid in mid-May, as claimed by the Israeli authorities.

Iran is "negotiating to the bitter end and wants an agreement. We are not satisfied, but we will be. We may have to go back there and finish the job." Donald Trump is back to threatening Tehran and dictating conditions for the deal that could end the war. The tycoon made it clear that Iran will not get an easing of sanctions in return for giving up highly enriched uranium. "We're not talking about sanctions relief or money," he said during the White House cabinet meeting. The deal, he added, "will have to be perfect. I didn't go through all this to get a bad one'. One of the consequences of the deal negotiated in these hours, the president pointed out, is that 'the Strait of Hormuz will reopen immediately'. And 'it will be open to everybody, it's international waters, nobody will control it'. Trump then issued a warning to Arab countries: if they don't adhere to the Abrahamic Accords, 'I'm not sure we should make the deal' with the Islamic Republic. "I think they owe it to us. I will not say what is subordinate and what is not," but "we are asking for it strongly," he continued. Asked about the possibility of Tehran's enriched uranium ending up under the control of Russia or China, Trump replied, "I wouldn't feel comfortable with that." Reiterating that Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon," Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that "diplomacy is always the first option and we continue to work on that," adding that the United States has "other options" in the event of no agreement.

The Israeli army issued an evacuation notice urging residents of southern Lebanon to move north of the Zahrani River, saying it would act "with great force" against Hezbollah for what it called repeated ceasefire violations. The army, in a post on X, urged civilians to keep away from Hezbollah operatives, facilities and weapons storage sites, adding that all areas south of the Zahrani River should be considered a "combat zone".

According to sources on al-Arabiya satellite TV, during the phone call Pezeshkian reportedly updated Sharif on recent talks involving Iranian officials in Qatar. Two days ago, Iranian media reported on a mission to Doha by the head of Tehran's parliament and Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Tehran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and the governor of Iran's Central Bank, Abdolnaser Hemmati. Islamabad has been a key player in the difficult mediation between Iran and the United States for weeks. A friend of both Beijing and Tehran, Pakistan managed in April to get the Iranians and Americans to sit around the same table after weeks of American and Israeli operations that hammered the Islamic Republic and to which Tehran did not fail to respond with targets in the Gulf countries in its sights. After the fragile truce, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today confirmed 'some progress' in negotiations with Iran. Trump, on the other hand, repeated that Iran 'is very keen to make a deal', but - he added - 'we are not yet satisfied'.

New telephone conversation between the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif. The latter reports via X of the 'extremely cordial' conversation on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and points out that Pezeshkian expressed 'appreciation for Pakistan's sincere efforts for peace in the region and acknowledged the important role of Field Marshal Asim Munir, as well as the support' of other countries, 'including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey'. Sharif writes that he hopes 'the ongoing work for peace' will lead 'soon to a lasting agreement, paving the way for stability, prosperity and cooperation in the region'. Sharif emphasises that he has reiterated Pakistan's 'firm solidarity' with the Iranians for the 'tragic loss of life during the current crisis' and that Islamabad 'will always be on Iran's side as a sincere friend and neighbour'. "We agreed," he concluded, "to remain in close contact for lasting peace in the region. The Pakistani premier's office specifies that the phone call went on for about thirty minutes, and on Sharif's wish it points out that the Pakistani premier hopes "a peace agreement can be concluded soon with dignity and honour for the Iranian nation". 'This,' it reads, 'would help unlock Iran's true economic potential and benefit the entire region'.

The straits will be open to everyone and will not be controlled by anyone. We will be the ones watching over them'. This was said by US President Donald Trump, responding during the cabinet meeting to a question about a possible control of Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, then issuing a warning to Muscat: 'they will behave like everyone else, otherwise we will be forced to blow them up'.

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

BRUSSELS - New figures show an increase in Russian gas purchases by some European countries in April, presumably due to the war unleashed by the United States and Israel against Iran and the disruption of supplies from the Middle East.

"We call on all residents of South Lebanon to move away from Hezbollah members, its installations and military assets. We advise people to evacuate north of the Zahrani River, as all areas south of the river are considered combat zones, and the Idf does not intend to harm civilians." This was written by the Idf spokesman on X, issuing a generalised evacuation warning for residents of southern Lebanon. "In light of the repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah, the Idf will act with great force."

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his determination to reach a favourable agreement to end the war with Iran, claiming that Tehran's attempts to "wait it out" will not succeed because "they don't care about the midterm elections". "They thought they would be able to rush me, you know, 'Let's wait, he's got the midterm elections,'" Trump said during a cabinet meeting. "I don't care about the midterm elections. Look what happened last night, it was a prelude to the midterm elections. People understand,' he added, referring to the victory of the candidate he supported in the Republican primary for Senate in Texas, Ken Paxton. Trump also cited the resumption of Internet access in Iran as a sign of weakening the regime's position, arguing that 'the whole economic system is in crisis'. "They simply want to make a deal," he stated, "I don't think they have a choice.

Iran will not have any easing of sanctions in exchange for giving up highly enriched uranium. Donald Trump said this to Pbs, stressing that Saudi Arabia should adhere to the Abrahamic Accords.

Negotiations with Iran 'are progressing well', President Donald Trump has clarified 'his red lines'. This is the White House's comment on the negotiations with Iran.

Meysam Zohourian, secretary of Parliament's Economic Commission, wrote in X that the current draft of the Washington-Tehran memorandum also includes a declaration of an end to the war in Lebanon, with a mutual non-aggression commitment. According to Zohourian, the provisional document also includes a $300 billion reconstruction programme for Iran if a final agreement is signed, as well as the lifting of US sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The secretary also said that the section of the nuclear memorandum stipulates that Iran will not build nuclear weapons, as well as the creation of a mutually acceptable framework on uranium stockpiles and its enrichment. Other provisions, for Zohourian, include US exemptions on the sale of Iranian oil and other petrochemical products, as well as the release of Tehran's frozen funds.

The draft agreement circulated by Iran 'is a total fabrication'. "No one should believe what is reported in the Iranian media". This is the White House's comment, on X, to reports of a draft agreement between the US and Iran.

Iran has obtained a preliminary draft of the so-called 'Islamabad Accord', the memorandum of understanding still being negotiated between Tehran and Washington to end the war and reduce tensions in the region. This is reported by Iranian TV, pointing out that nothing has been finalised yet and Iran continues to have a deep distrust of the United States. Among the main points of the draft, Washington would commit to easing restrictions on Iranian maritime traffic, as well as withdrawing part of its military forces from areas surrounding Iran, although the details of the possible redeployment still remain vague and subject to negotiation. In return, Tehran would restore trade traffic in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to pre-conflict levels within a month. The Strait of Hormuz, however, would not be completely reopened: control and management of the transit would remain in the hands of Iran in coordination with Oman, while US naval vessels would be excluded from the deal. The draft also stipulates that any final agreement could receive the binding support of the UN Security Council within 60 days. Tehran finally made it clear that any implementation would depend on a 'concrete verification' of US commitments and that the talks could still fail.

If Iran and the United States reach a final agreement within 60 days, the understanding will be approved in the form of a binding UN Security Council resolution. This is according to the draft of an initial, unofficial framework agreement for a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States obtained by Iranian state TV.

After almost ninety days of almost total blackout, Iran has begun to partially reopen access to the global network. This decision came at the behest of President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian state media reports. Having said that the reactivation, at least for now, seems to be limited and controlled (traffic remains well below normal levels and the reopening mainly concerns some urban fixed networks, particularly in the Tehran area), the big question accompanying this news is only one: why now?

According to several analysts, this choice is a tactical decision by the regime, driven by three main reasons. The first and most important one is economic.

Oil is falling sharply amid hopes of an agreement between Iran and the US. Wti quotations in New York lost five per cent to around 89 dollars per barrel, falling below the 90 dollar mark.

Iranian state media claim to be in possession of a draft of the initial framework of the agreement with the United States. Haaretz reports.

Further reading

Gaza Sunbirds, cycling on one leg to bring aid to the people

20 May 2026

Iran's nuclear programme has suffered a years-long setback. This was stated by the head of the Israeli armed forces Eyal Zamir. "The evil edifice of the ayatollahs' regime has been significantly cracked and its future and stability are shrouded in uncertainty," Zamir said during the inauguration ceremony of the Israeli army's new aerial refuelling squadron. According to the IDF chief, Iran's military capabilities have been destroyed and the Iranian economy is collapsing. The chief of staff added that the country's citizens "have not yet understood the extent of the disaster into which their extremist leaders have led them".

After a direct confrontation in the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, in the district of Nabatieh, Hezbollah militiamen declared that they had forced the Israeli ground forces operating in south Lebanon to withdraw. This was reported by Haaretz. Subsequently, the air force of the Jewish state carried out raids on the southern part of the country, after issuing evacuation orders for the civilian population.

"Ten Indian seafarers who were detained in Iran in July 2025 on board the tanker Harbour Phoenix have been released," several media outlets report, citing Indian shipping authorities. "The necessary arrangements for the swiftest possible return of the crew members to India are being coordinated," said the Directorate General of Shipping in New Delhi according to Ndtv TV.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claim to have hit more than 150 targets, including Hezbollah sites and militias, in the Lebanese cities of Tyre and Nabatieh, as well as in the Beqaa valley, in the last 24 hours, releasing footage of the attacks.

Over the past few days, the army has issued several evacuation notices to residents of different areas in southern Lebanon in view of attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure, the latest one for Nabatieh, which took place just today.

A large part of the American public expects that, when it comes, the end of the conflict between Iran and the US will not change things and that President Donald Trump's war will not be a success. According to the latest polls, Americans are tired of the war, have never liked it, do not think it will lead to major positive results, and do not expect significant concessions. The latest proposals for a peace agreement are totally unacceptable to many hard-line Republicans. Some of them even think that a deal as it is shaping up could make Iran stronger than before the war. Several polls suggest that people can't wait for the war to end - writes CNN, citing a Fox News poll from last week, which showed that only 39% of registered voters wanted US military operations to last 'until US objectives are achieved', compared to 61% who preferred a 'limited period of time' instead.

Similarly, a New York Times-Siena College poll showed that 52% of registered voters believe the US should end military operations even if it fails to reach an agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme. Only 37% favoured resuming military operations if the countries failed to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. This latest poll, along with other data," comments the American broadcaster, "confirms that Americans are not exactly optimistic about the possibility of reaching an acceptable agreement. On the contrary, they seem inclined to view any proposal with scepticism. According to the Times-Siena poll, only 22% of respondents believed that the war would be 'very successful' in eliminating Iran's nuclear programme, a programme which, it is worth reiterating, the Trump administration had already declared to have been 'annihilated' last summer. Similarly, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, 65% of Americans said they were 'not very confident' or 'not at all confident' that an agreement to end the war would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons (which has been the red line repeated by Trump).

Hezbollah stated in a statement that its militiamen "clashed at close range" with Israeli forces in the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, located north of the Litani river and on the edge of the 'yellow line' imposed by the Jewish state in southern Lebanon, where the IDF is operating.

"We emphasised that the issue of Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium should not be on the agenda of talks with the United States to reach an agreement on ending the war," he said. This was stated by the deputy head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri, quoted by the Irna news agency. "We have made our position clear and if the US wants to discuss the details of the issue, we will not reach any conclusion, as the differences are very wide," added Bagheri, who is currently on a visit to Russia.

Further reading

Why the time factor is Tehran's great ally

25 May 2026

The US identified threatening military actions by Iran before resuming attacks in the south of the country. This was reported to the New York Times by two US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to the sources, Iran deployed minelayer ships in the Strait of Hormuz and flew attack drones near US ships, actions that provoked US attacks in the early hours of yesterday. A few hours later, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps promised a 'decisive reciprocal response' to any ceasefire violations. The US attacks, officials explained, were triggered after the US observed several actions by Iranian forces, including drone strikes and activity at missile launch sites. The US military attacked Iranian boats and launch sites in what it called 'self-defence actions'.

At the end of a tiring period of threats and hyperbole, the world will breathe a sigh of relief when, having clarified the point of contention, the Americans and Iranians will begin the real negotiations to arrive at a global settlement. All countries except one: Israel, which would like to resume the war against the Islamic Republic and also continue the war in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Perhaps only Mohammed bin Zayed, ruler of Abu Dhabi, president and supreme commander of the Emirates, would want to do as Bibi Netanyahu does. In the Middle East MbZ, as the emir is called, is Israel's only true ally. It is no coincidence that in the more than 50 days of conflict Tehran has launched 2,800 missiles and drones at its neighbour on the other side of the Gulf: more than the number directed at the Jewish State.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officer says a resumption of war with the US is unlikely, but warns that Iran is prepared to defend itself against any attack. "The possibility of war is low because of the weakness of the enemy. The armed forces are lying in wait with ammunition depots full," Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy, the so-called 'Pasdaran, was quoted by the Tasnim news agency. "Have no doubt that we will turn the area from Chabahar to Mahshahr into a graveyard for the aggressors," he added, citing the two locations at the ends of Iran's long southern coast.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said his visit to Qatar was 'overall positive', adding that it led to progress in talks between Iran and the US. Tasnim reports. According to Ghalibaf, the visit was aimed at reaching an agreement on how to implement Iran's demands regarding frozen funds. Tasnim also reports that a possible memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US would require the release of $24 billion of Iranian funds frozen during the negotiations.

The war in the Middle East "has disrupted global supplies of energy and raw materials, weakened growth prospects, driven up energy prices and inflation": the repercussions for growth and financial stability "become more severe the longer" the conflict lasts. This was noted by ECB Vice-President Luis d Guindos in the introduction to the Financial Stability Report. "Cybersecurity risks and hybrid threats to critical infrastructure are increasing in this complex geopolitical climate".

Six members of the Italian delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian caravan to Gaza were repatriated today from Libya, via Istanbul. The group, which landed shortly after 9.30 a.m. at Fiumicino airport, had been attacked on Monday afternoon by Libyan military forces while they were camped in Sirte awaiting the release of ten of their companions, including two Italians, an Apulian, Domenico Centrione, and a Piedmontese, Leonarda Alberizia, who were detained on Sunday on charges of "illegal entry" while trying to negotiate an advance on the convoy and then taken to Benghazi by Libyan militiamen affiliated with General Khalifa Haftar.

According to a Channel 12 reconstruction, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu reportedly updated US President Donald Trump indirectly on the expansion of operations in Lebanon with the intention of expanding operations and pushing beyond the Yellow Line to control Hezbollah fire. The message was reportedly conveyed through the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, at the White House. The American response to Netanyahu would have been unequivocal: 'Don't attack Beirut, we don't want to see buildings collapse. This would have a destabilising effect on the whole process of regional agreements, first of all on the negotiations with Iran, but also on the diplomatic talks with Lebanon that are taking place in Washington'. However, a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that 'although there is no authorisation to attack buildings, as far as targeted killings are concerned, if an operational opportunity arises, there is no ban'.

Six members of the Italian delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian caravan to Gaza were repatriated today from Libya, via Istanbul. The group, which landed shortly after 9.30 a.m. at Fiumicino airport, had been attacked on Monday afternoon by Libyan military forces while they were camped in Sirte awaiting the release of ten of their companions, including two Italians, an Apulian, Domenico Centrione, and a Piedmontese, Leonarda Alberizia, who were detained on Sunday on charges of "illegal entry" while trying to negotiate an advance on the convoy and then taken to Benghazi by Libyan militiamen affiliated with General Khalifa Haftar.

The spokesman for Iran's State Civil Aviation Organisation said that Tabriz International Airport in the north-west reopened today after being closed due to the war between the US, Israel and Iran. Tabriz is located in the East Azerbaijan province. "The airport will join some 20 other terminals in the country that have already resumed operations," explained Majid Akhavan, quoted by state television.

Iran is negotiating the release of $24 billion in assets frozen abroad as part of the negotiation process to end the war with the US. This was reported by the Tasnim news agency while the Iranian delegation was in Qatar and after Tehran said it was finalising a 14-point framework for an agreement to end the war. "Iran's frozen assets are to be released in the course of negotiations, and this sum is estimated at $24 billion in accordance with the 14-point memorandum of understanding," Tasnim said, citing an unnamed source close to the negotiating team. About half of this sum "should be made available at the beginning of the memorandum announcement," he added, with the remainder to be transferred within 60 days. Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, arrived in Qatar yesterday for talks. Tasnim reported that the Iranian parliament speaker's visit to Qatar was 'aimed, among other things, at reaching an understanding on the implementation of Iran's request and the method of accessing $12 billion in the first phase'. There is no official figure for the amount of Iranian assets frozen abroad, although Iranian media recently estimated the total at between $100 billion and $123 billion. In 2023, $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds held in South Korean banks were transferred to Qatar pending the release of five US citizens detained in Iran. The funds were never released as relations between Washington and Tehran deteriorated following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.

US President Donald Trump is again attacking the US media for their reporting on the Iran war. On the social site Truth, Trump wrote that even if Tehran's surrender was blatant, some media outlets would still write that Iran had won, accusing the press and the Democrats, whom he calls 'Dumacrat' (Dumb in English means dumb) with a play on words. "If Iran surrenders, admits that its Navy has been destroyed and lies on the seabed, and that its Air Force is no longer with us, and if its entire army comes out of Tehran, weapons on the ground and hands raised, each shouting "I surrender, I surrender" while wildly waving the white flag, and if all its remaining leadership signs all the necessary 'Surrender Documents', and admits its defeat before the great power and might of the magnificent United States of America, the failing New York Times, the China Street Journal (WSJ!), the corrupt and now irrelevant CNN, and all the other members of the fake news media, will headline that Iran has achieved a masterful and brilliant victory over the United States of America, but there was no story. The 'Dumacrats' and the media have completely lost their minds. They have completely lost their minds!!!," Trump wrote.

Donald Trump's official Board of Peace fund is empty and the organisation is stuck in a legal and political limbo that has halted plans for Gaza reconstruction. The US president described the board, which has demanded lifetime membership fees of $1 billion from world leaders, as one of the 'most important' international organisations ever created. Member states pledged $7 billion for the 'aid package' for Gaza, and Trump promised an additional $10 billion in US funding.

At least 31 people died in attacks by Israeli forces in Lebanon yesterday. This was reported by the Lebanese Ministry of Health in a note, stating that among the victims were at least four children and three women. Another 40 people were injured.

The ministry pointed out that in the town of Burj al-Shemali alone, near Tyre, 14 people were killed.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said he hoped the United States and Iran would "maintain their commitment" to a deal while progress remained uncertain. The Associated Press reports.

At a press conference at the United Nations in New York, Wang Yi told reporters that despite the uncertainty between Washington and Tehran after a series of US attacks this week, 'every step forward in the negotiations brings greater hope for peace'.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the Pasdaran, claim that 25 ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours after receiving authorisation and security coordination from its navy.

Ten Indian sailors, detained in Iran in July 2025 on board an oil tanker, have been released after 'sustained diplomatic efforts'. This was stated this evening by the Indian maritime authorities. The seamen of the MV Harbour Phoenix were "arrested, detained and imprisoned in Iran following the interception of the vessel near the port of Jask in July 2025," the Directorate General of Shipping said in a statement. "The seafarers have been released and safely reunited," the maritime authority said. "Necessary arrangements are being made for the return of the crew members to India as soon as possible," it added. No further details were given as to the reason for the arrest or the vessel, which according to ship tracking sites is a Palau-flagged tanker.

Defence Minister Israel Katz announces in a post on X that the new Hamas military leader Mohammed Odeh was killed in the attack launched last night by the IDF in Gaza.