War, breaking news. Iran, Trump to Netanyahu: 'Mediators working on letter of intent to end war'

"Saudi Arabia hopes that Iran will seize the opportunity to avoid the dangerous consequences of escalation and respond urgently to efforts to advance negotiations leading to lasting peace in the region and the world." This was written on X by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, regarding the stalemate in negotiations between the US and the Islamic Republic. The Riyadh foreign minister also expressed appreciation 'for US President Donald Trump's decision to give diplomacy a chance to reach an agreement to end the war and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz'.

"Everyone says I am in a hurry" about Iran "for the mid-term elections. But I'm not in a hurry." Donald Trump said. "I would like to see a few people killed instead of many. We can go either way. But I'd like to see a few people killed," he added.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will 'do what I want him to do' on Iran. "He's a great man, he's good." US President Donald Trump said this, speaking to reporters.

Iran has consolidated its control over the Strait of Hormuz through military checkpoints, vessel controls, diplomatic agreements and, in some cases, security fees for safe passage, Reuters writes. The Pasdaran play a central role in the new multi-tiered transit system that gives priority to ships linked to allies such as China and Russia, while other vessels may require intergovernmental agreements or payments of more than $150,000, according to sources.

Thanks to the vote of four Republicans, the first OK for a resolution to prevent Donald Trump from ordering more raids against Iran arrived in the Senate. After seven unsuccessful attempts, this time the Democrats managed to pass the procedural vote with 50 yes and 47 no votes, because the three Republicans - Rand Paul, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski - who had previously supported the measure were joined by Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana senator who was defeated in the Republican primary last Saturday because Trump supported one of his opponents. "In Louisiana I've heard from people, even supporters of President Trump, who are concerned about this war, until the administration shows clarity on this there can be no justification for Congress to authorise or extend it," said Cassidy, who has been vindicated by Trump for voting for his impeachment in 2021. Final approval of the measure, which must pass two more votes in the Senate before moving to the House, is by no means a foregone conclusion, as three Republicans who support the war were missing from the vote yesterday. "This president is like a child playing with a loaded gun," said Senate Dem minority leader Charles Schumer, "If ever there was a time to support the war powers resolution, this is it. A poll published in recent days by the New York Times shows that 64 per cent of registered voters think Trump made the wrong decision by attacking Iran. The measure invokes the War Powers Resolution, a law passed in 1973 that requires presidents to withdraw US forces from a conflict without congressional authorisation,

"Today we stand before the epic achievements of the Iranian nation in its historic resistance against two global terrorist armies (those of the US and Israel)," Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei said today, adding that this "makes the burden (of responsibility) for officials heavier than ever." Today, thanks to the unity of the nation and the government, officials have been motivated to implement their initiatives to address the concerns of the people, especially in the economic and livelihood sectors, on the path to the country's progress and a bright future." Khamenei's message was released on the anniversary of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May 2024.

"The common hope is that the peace negotiations can go ahead, find a positive conclusion in a context that we know is precarious". Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this during joint statements at Villa Pamphilj after her meeting with Prime Minister Modi. "We are both working on the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," the premier added.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have in recent hours had a telephone conversation described as 'prolonged and dramatic'. This was reported by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Russia and China 'agree that the US and Israeli military strikes against Iran violate international law and the basic norms of international relations and seriously undermine stability in the Middle East'. This is according to a joint statement issued by Russia and China following talks between the leaders of the two countries, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Russia and China call for a return to dialogue and negotiations "in order to prevent the expansion of the conflict zone," the note adds, as reported by the Tass news agency.

The Pakistani Interior Minister, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, arrived in Tehran today to meet with the Iranian authorities. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim on X. Navqi was already in Tehran last weekend, where he met with President Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan is mediating between the US and Iran to reach an agreement that will end the conflict.

There are 'informal' discussions about a possible contribution NATO could make to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte during a press conference in Brussels. "The situation is dynamic, it continues to develop and we continue to monitor," explained Rutte, according to whom several Alliance countries are sending "crucial assets" to the region in response to the request for support from the United States. "Within this Alliance there are ongoing discussions, for example on how we can make a potential contribution" to resolving the situation in Hormuz, he added.

US President Donald Trump and the Prime Minister of Israel had a telephone conversation described as 'prolonged and dramatic'. This was reported by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Israeli fighters are conducting air raids in Ghandouriyeh, in the Bint Jbeil district, and in Doueir, in the Nabatieh district. This was reported by the Lebanese daily L'Orient Le Jour, pointing out that the attack in Doueir left three dead. In the district of Tyre, an air raid hit a cattle farm between Abbassiyé and Bourj Rahhal.

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephone conversation tonight described as ''prolonged and dramatic''. Channel 12 reports.

'Russia is ready to provide all possible assistance to resolve this conflict, and the parties involved are well aware of this'. This was stated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, as reported by Tass. Ryabkov therefore reiterated Moscow's readiness to play a mediating role in the negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

At least 14 people, including five children, were killed in the latest death toll of the attack yesterday by Israeli forces on a building in Deir Qanoun el-Nahr, in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon. This was reported today by the Lebanese daily L'Orient Le Jour, pointing out that two of the victims are Syrian nationals.

Further reading

Iran, Trump threatens new bombings Lebanon, 45-day truce extended

15 May 2026

The US military has identified at least 10 mines planted by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Cbs News reports this, citing US officials with knowledge of the matter. The mines were discovered following a recent US intelligence assessment.

The Italian government intervenes in the images coming from Israel: the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the port of Ashdod, where the Flotilla activists detained by the Israeli navy are being held, and, as circulated on his social channels under the title "This is how we welcome supporters of terrorism", draws the activists as they walk among hundreds of detainees, handcuffed and blindfolded on their knees, and exults: 'Welcome to Israel, we are the hosts' and 'The people of Israel live'. In another clip, an activist is seen shouting 'Free Palestine' as she is slammed to the ground by an officer. At the end of the video Ben Gvir concludes: 'They came full of pride like great heroes, look how they are now.... They are neither heroes nor anything else. They are supporters of terrorism. I say to Prime Minister Netanyahu leave them to me for a long, long time to come. Send them to the terrorists' prisons."

 Iranian Revolutionary Guards threaten to "extend the war beyond the region" should the US attack Iran again. "We have not yet employed the full capabilities of the Islamic Revolution against them," they say, "But now, if aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time, and our devastating blows in unexpected places will bring you total ruin."

"The Zionist-American enemy, which has learned nothing from its repeated and serious strategic failures suffered during Iran's Islamic Revolution, has once again begun to threaten the country," reads the statement, which adds: "They have attacked us with the full military power of both armies, but we have not yet used all our military capabilities in war. However, this time our destructive blows will annihilate you in places you cannot even imagine." "We are men of war and you will see our might on the battlefield, not in empty declarations and social media," he added, as reported by Tasnim.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said that a ship operated by a South Korean company, carrying two million barrels of crude oil, is sailing through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian authorities. "Consultations with the Iranian authorities have been concluded and the ship started sailing yesterday. It is crossing the strait very cautiously,' Cho was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency.

Eighty-seven activists on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, detained by the IDF and headed to Israel, went on hunger strike. In a post on the US social platform X, the flotilla claimed that, for the second time in three weeks, the Israeli army, which describes itself as 'the most moral army', had 'kidnapped their comrades in international waters'. The flotilla called for the release of all activists 'into the hands of the Israeli authorities' and urged governments to condemn the 'act of piracy'.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards threaten to "extend the war beyond the region" if the US attacks Iran again. "We have not yet employed all the capabilities of the Islamic Revolution against them," they state. "But now, if the aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time, and our devastating blows in unexpected places will bring you total ruin.

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, having left the Mediterranean to get as close as possible to the Strait of Hormuz, is currently in the Gulf of Aden, Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin told France Info this morning. The admiral ship of the French fleet, the main component of the nuclear 'force de frappe', had passed through the Suez Canal on 6 May and then made a stopover of several days in Djibouti, where France has important support facilities given the military agreement in force between the two countries.

The UK government has eased strict sanctions on Russian refined oil in diesel and jet fuel in third countries due to rising prices. The exemption will come into effect on Wednesday and reflects growing concerns over the supply of certain fuels due to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway, since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran. The BBC reports. Some sanctions on the transport of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) were also lifted. The government said that the overall sanctions had been tightened, but that further flexibility was needed. A similar move by the US has been widely criticised. Jet fuel prices in Europe have more than doubled since the start of the war, but are now about half as high, while prices at the pump in the UK continue to rise. Several airlines operating in the UK and around the world have cancelled flights and raised prices in response to high jet fuel prices. For years, the UK has led international efforts to put economic pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine.

"Iran's position in the talks with the United States to end the war has not changed significantly from earlier stages, which had not led to progress toward an agreement." The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing regional mediators and US officials with knowledge of the talks, which reportedly raised new doubts about the possibility of a diplomatic way out of the conflict. The statements come after President Donald Trump said he had called off military strikes planned for Tuesday in light of what he called 'positive developments' in the ongoing negotiations.

'Months after the start of the war against Iran, the US Congress acknowledges the loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions'. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi writes this on X. "Our powerful Armed Forces are confirmed as the first to shoot down a much celebrated F-35 fighter jet. With lessons learnt and knowledge gained, a return to war will hold many more surprises,' Araghchi concludes.

"We are going to take a little trip to a place called Iran. We have to stop them from thinking about nuclear power and we're not going to allow them to have a nuclear weapon." President Donald Trump said this, speaking at the White House at the Congressional Picnic. "We've done an outstanding job and I think we'll get it done very quickly and they won't have a nuclear weapon - I hope we'll do it very nicely."

Two Chinese supertankers, loaded with four million barrels of crude oil, have left the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded in the Gulf for two months. This was reported by Al-Jazeera quoting Reuters. Citing navigation data from Lseg and Kpler, the agency said that the ships - Yuan Gui Yang and Ocean Lily - left the passage today. According to Reuters, the Yuan Gui Yang had loaded 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basra crude oil on 27 February, the day before the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran, while the Ocean Lily had loaded 1 million barrels each of Qatari Al-Shaheen and Iraqi Basra crude oil between late February and early March.

The US and Israel entered the conflict against Iran with one particular person in mind as their future interlocutor in Tehran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former Iranian president known for his intransigent, anti-Israeli and anti-American positions. A few days after Israeli attacks killed Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei and other senior regime officials, President Donald Trump publicly speculated that it would be better if 'someone from inside' Iran took power, the New York Times reported. But the audacious plan, drawn up by the Israelis and on which Ahmadinejad had been consulted, quickly failed, according to American officials with knowledge of it. Ahmadinejad was injured on the first day of the war by an Israeli attack on his Tehran home, which was intended to free him from house arrest, US officials and an Ahmadinejad aide said. He survived the attack, but after the narrow escape he became disillusioned about regime change. To say that Ahmadinejad's choice was unusual would be an understatement. Despite increasingly clashing with regime leaders and being placed under close surveillance by Iranian authorities, during his presidential term, from 2005 to 2013, he was known for his calls to 'wipe Israel off the map'. He was a staunch supporter of Iran's nuclear programme, an outspoken critic of the US and known for his violent suppression of internal dissent. It is not known how Ahmadinejad was recruited to participate in the operation, the Nyt added. The existence of this hitherto unknown operation was part of a multi-stage plan drawn up by Israel to overthrow Iran's theocratic government. This highlights how Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to war not only underestimating how quickly they could achieve their goals, but also betting, to some extent, on a risky plan for the change of leadership in Iran, which even some Trump aides thought unlikely. Some American officials were sceptical, particularly about the feasibility of bringing Ahmadinejad back to power.

According to the New York Times, Israel and the United States assessed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a possible leader of Iran if a 'regime change' were to take place in the country after the wave of attacks that started on 28 February. The newspaper reported that an Israeli raid on the former Iranian president's home in Tehran was aimed at freeing him from house arrest. Ahmadinejad was reportedly injured in the attack. After the raid, adds the Nyt citing US officials and an aide of the former president, Ahmadinejad reportedly became 'disillusioned' with the plan and has not appeared in public since. Ahmadinejad's choice - according to the New York Times - was 'surprising' as the former Iranian president is known for his intransigent, anti-Israeli and anti-American positions.

"I briefed the UN Security Council today on the situation at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates following Sunday's drone attack." The director-general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, writes this on X. "Although radiation levels remain normal and external power supply has been restored, the situation is of grave concern," Grossi adds, stressing that "attacks against nuclear facilities intended for peaceful purposes are unacceptable and pose clear risks to people and the environment." The IEA director also reiterates his appeal 'to all parties to respect the seven pillars that are indispensable to ensure nuclear safety'. Finally, Grossi reports that he has been "in contact with the leaders of the Gulf region" and announces that the IAEA "will continue to do everything possible, within the framework of its mandate, to contribute to nuclear security and support efforts towards a diplomatic solution".

Chinese President Xi Jinping called a 'complete cessation of hostilities' in the Middle East 'urgent', calling a resumption of the conflict 'unacceptable'. During his meeting in Beijing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Chinese leader called it "particularly important to engage in negotiations", according to China Central Television.