The White House says a report on Iranian state television citing a draft of an unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and the United States is not true and that the cited memorandum is “a complete fabrication”.
The report said the draft agreement allowed for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened and commercial vessel numbers restored to pre-war levels within a month, and the US military to lift their naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran and Oman would handle the management and routes of shipping through the Straight of Hormuz, Iranian state TV said.
If a full peace agreement is reached within 60 days, it will be approved in the form of a binding UN security council resolution.
Iran said it would only sign a peace agreement with the US if Washington released $24 billion (£17.8 bn) in frozen Iranian assets.
Tehran’s top negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that no agreement would be finalised until half the frozen assets, around $12bn, were transferred after a memorandum of understanding was announced.
Key Points
- White House denies Iranian report of draft US-Iran agreement on US withdrawal and reopening Hormuz
- In full: What does the US-Iran draft agreement contain, according to Tehran's state TV?
- At least 31 killed in Lebanon as Israel launches one of heaviest nights of strikes since ceasefire
- Israel says it killed Hamas military leader in Gaza strike
- What could a peace deal between Iran and the US look like?
- Israel clashes with Hezbollah along Litani River as Netanyahu orders expanded Lebanon operations
Deal in chaos as White House rejects Tehran’s report of draft - full report
19:45 , Jane Dalton
Iran deal in chaos as White House rejects Tehran’s report of draft as ‘fabrication’
‘He loves war’: Trump slaps Pete Hegseth’s biceps and praises his ‘central casting’ secretary in Cabinet kickoff
19:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
President Donald Trump on Wednesday started off the 12th cabinet meeting of his second term with some locker-room-style banter as he praised the physical appearance of the ex-television host he put in charge of the Pentagon and his war in Iran.
Trump was working his way through lengthy prepared remarks at the top of the meeting when he rattled off a list of Cabinet members from whom he wanted to hear, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“We have great people, and the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Central Casting,” said Trump, before adding: “He loves war”.
You can read the full report below:
‘He loves war’: Trump slaps Hegseth’s biceps and sends praise in Cabinet kickoff
Trump says US not satisfied yet on deal with Iran
18:41 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he was not yet satisfied on a deal with Iran, adding that the US was not discussing easing sanctions on the country.
Speaking to reporters at a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said that Iran wants to make a deal.
"Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal. So far they haven't gotten there ... we're not satisfied with it, but we will be. We will be either that or we'll have to just finish the job," Mr Trump said.
He added that under a potential framework deal with Tehran, the Strait of Hormuz would open immediately but that it would not be controlled by anybody.
"We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. That's part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it. Nobody's going to control it. It's international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow them up," Mr Trump said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Trump's comment on Oman. Oman's embassy in Washington also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel warns south Lebanon residents to evacuate to north of Zahrani River
18:26 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Israel's military on Wednesday issued an evacuation warning telling residents of southern Lebanon to move to the north of the Zahrani River, saying it would act "with great force" against Hezbollah over what called repeated ceasefire violations.
The military, posting on X, urged civilians to stay away from Hezbollah operatives, facilities and weapons sites, adding that all areas south of the Zahrani river should be considered a combat zone.
The $24bn of frozen Iranian assets standing between Trump and a peace deal
18:12 , Jane Dalton
The $24 billion of frozen Iranian assets standing between Trump and a peace deal
Trump says no country will control Strait of Hormuz
18:06 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the Strait of Hormuz will be open to everyone and not controlled by any country under any deal reached with Iran.
"We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. That's part of the negotiation that we have," Trump told a meeting of his cabinet.
He added he is “not talking” about easing sanctions on Iran, and that he is “not comfortable” with Russia or China taking Iran’s stockpile of uranium.
Trump says 'I don't care about the midterms' when asked about Iran
18:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
US president Donald Trump has said said Tehran was “trying to outwait” him until after the midterms were over during a cabinet meeting.
"They thought they were going to outwait me. You know, ‘we'll outwait him’,” Mr Trump said, parroting Iran’s leaders. “‘He's got the midterms’.
“I don't care about the midterms. Look what happened last night. That was the prelude to the midterms.
“People understand that they know that very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I'm doing that for the world."
Progress made in talks, says Rubio
17:47 , Jane Dalton
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday there has been some progress in negotiations with Iran toward a deal.
"I think there's been some progress and some interest, and we'll see over the next few hours and days whether progress could be made," Rubio said at a meeting of President Donald Trump's cabinet.
Iran expands curbs on global media news outlets
17:29 , Jane Dalton
Iran expands restrictions on distribution of news content by international media outlets
Peace deal in chaos as White House rejects Tehran’s report of draft - full report
16:59 , Jane Dalton
Iran deal in chaos as White House rejects Tehran’s report of draft as ‘fabrication’
Iran talks 'proceeding nicely' – White House
16:44 , Jane Dalton
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales has said negotiations with Iran are proceeding nicely, adding that President Trump has made his red lines clear.
Trump’s Board of Peace is flailing – just like the president
16:28 , Jane Dalton
Chief international correspondent Bel Trew examines what there is of significance - if anything - is behind Donald Trump’s bombastic claims of finding peace deals for Gaza and Iran:
Trump’s Board of Peace is flailing – just like the president
White House denies Iranian deal report
15:48 , Jane Dalton
The White House has dismissed a report from Iranian-controlled media on a memorandum of understanding, saying it was not true and was “a complete fabrication”.
Netherlands to send minesweeper to Mediterranean Sea for possible Strait of Hormuz mission
15:18 , Alex Croft
The Netherlands will send a minesweeper to the Mediterranean Sea as part of a Nato operation to ensure rapid deployment to the Strait of Hormuz is possible, ministers said on Wednesday.
The minesweeper will, contribute to Nato countermeasures group from mid-June after it departs this week, the letter from defence minister Dilan Yesligoz and foreign minister Tom Berendsen said.
Preparations are under way for a possible Dutch role in ensuring safe shipping routes in the Gulf region, they said.
Nato chief Mark Rutte has said several countries are "pre-positioning" logistical and other support such as minehunters and minesweepers near the Gulf to be ready for any possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global waterway for oil and gas transport.
Soldier killed in Israeli strike, says Lebanese army
14:47 , Alex Croft
The Lebanese army said on Wednesday that a soldier had been killed in an Israeli air strike near his post in Bekaa and that it had retrieved his body.
It said the retrieval was delayed from the previous day due to the security situation in the area.
South Korea says ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz likely hit by Iranian missile
14:21 , Alex Croft
An attack on a South Korean cargo ship operated by local shipper HMM in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month likely involved an Iranian anti-ship missile, the country’s foreign ministry has saud.
The ministry made the assessment at a briefing to announce the outcome of a government investigation into the May 4 attack on the bulk carrier, which caused a fire and damaged the lower stern hull.
"Various pieces of evidence point toward Iran," said First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, adding that Seoul had not conclusively determined who was responsible or whether the attack was intentional.
The probe looked at debris from unidentified objects that were found inside the ship after the attack on the vessel.
Read the full report:
South Korea says ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz likely hit by Iranian missile
In full: What does the US-Iran draft agreement contain, according to Tehran's state TV?
13:55 , Alex Croft
As we’ve been reporting, Iranian state TV says it has received a draft of the unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran.
It is worth noting that we haven’t heard from the US side - this is only what we are hearing from Iranian state-controlled TV.
The memorandum framework is not yet finalised, state TV says.
Here is what it said about the agreement:
- US military forces would withdraw from around Iran and lift naval blockade on Iranian ports.
- Iran would restore the number of commercial transit vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within one month.
- Military vessels would not be included in the terms of the draft agreement.
- Iran, in cooperation with Oman, will handle the management and route of ship traffic through the Straight of Hormuz.
- If a full peace agreement is reached within 60 days, it will be approved in the form of a binding UN security council resolution.
Breaking: Draft agreement stipulates US withdrawal and reopening of Strait of Hormuz - Iranian state TV
13:40 , Alex Croft
We’re getting lines in from Iranian state TV, which says it has seen a draft of the unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran.
According to the draft, US military forces would withdraw from the vicinity of Iran and lift its naval blockade on Iranian reports, it said.
In return, Iran has committed to restoring the number of commercial transit vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within one month.
We’ll bring you more as it comes.
Watch: Rubio says Strait of Hormuz ‘will be open one way or another’ as US launches new strikes on Iranian naval base
13:17 , Alex Croft
What are Iran's assets frozen by the US?
12:49 , Alex Croft
Our senior foreign affairs reporter James Reynolds reports:
Iran has long been burdened by Western sanctions, limiting its ability to earn revenues from its lucrative trade in oil and gas.
There are primary sanctions, by which a sanctioning country or bloc, like the EU, bans its companies and citizens from doing work with Iran. And then there are secondary sanctions, or extraterritorial sanctions, which bar entities in third countries from doing business with Tehran.
Washington’s secondary sanctions have resulted in companies suspending payments to Tehran, as international banking restrictions have made transfers illegal under rules set out by the US treasury department.
By way of example, Iran has sought the release of $6bn now held in Qatar. Those funds stem from Iranian oil sales to South Korea that were blocked in South Korean banks after Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 and scrapped a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme.
The figure had been due for release in 2023, under Joe Biden, as part of a US-Iranian prisoner swap before being effectively frozen again in the wake of the October 7 attacks on Israel by Iran’s ally, Hamas.
While no comprehensive public ledger is available, trackers estimate there are around $100bn (£74.4bn) worth of frozen assets around the world, representing between a third and a quarter of Iran’s GDP.
These are mostly held between China, India, Japan, Qatar and Iraq, with smaller amounts tied up in Europe and the United States.
Israel looking at laser defence systems to combat Hezbollah drones
12:22 , Alex Croft
Israel's largest defence contractor is developing hardware to combat explosive Hezbollah drones that have killed Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, its CEO has told Reuters news agency.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has used the cheap, easy-to-assemble kamikaze drones to attack Israeli troops which have remained in southern Lebanon since an April 16 truce.
Difficult for air defences to thwart, the drones are also being used to deadly effect in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Under pressure to address the threat, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Monday to escalate attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. But he did not spell out a plan to address the drones, which can evade Israel's high-tech jamming technologies.
In an interview, Bezhalel Machlis, chief executive of Elbit Systems said the defence giant was actively working with the Israeli defence ministry to develop a quick solution to the drone challenge.
This could include the use of laser-based defence systems, he said.
He said that could involve an "energy weapon solution," adding that the company is "very active in energy weapons such as lasers".
How UK households are paying the cost of Trump’s Iran war — with big energy bill increases on the horizon
11:57 , Alex Croft
The announcement by Ofgem that energy bills will rise up to 13 per cent in July has come as another crushing blow to UK households as they continue to face the consequences of Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East.
Brits are being squeezed from all angles as a result of so-called Trumpflation, fresh on the back of another bout of tax rises brought in by the Labour government. British businesses are also feeling the pinch after rising employment costs and other cost increases over the past year – in addition to this new energy price uplift.
The cost of power, however, is only part of the problem – and one which feeds through into other areas of life including food, manufacturing and transport.
Experts are also warning that the cost-of-living crisis is only set to get worse, with painful energy prices ris es due to hit in October, when demand increases ahead of winter.
Business and money editor Karl Matchett reports:
How UK households are paying the cost of Trump’s Iran war
Iranians celebrate Eid al-Adha as countries fate hangs in balance
11:55 , Alex Croft
Iranian Muslims are celebrating the festival of Eid al-Adha as the fate of the country hangs in the balance, with fears of a resumption of war with the US.
Muslim worshippers joined countrywide prayers on Wednesday morning for the celebration which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage,
The festival is one of Islam’s holiest, and is an official holiday in Muslim majority countries.
Bulletin | Dutch airline extends Middle East flight suspensions until at least August
11:00 , Alex Croft
Dutch airline KLM has extended the suspension of flights to several Middle Eastern destinations, with services to Dubai grounded until at least 2 August and routes to Riyadh and Dammam until 12 July.
Read everything you need to know in just five bullet points with The Independent’s Bulletin:
Dutch airline extends Middle East flight suspensions until at least August
Tanker reports external explosion off Oman coast, crew safe, UKMTO says - ICYMI
10:51 , Alex Croft
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday that a tanker had reported an external explosion on the vessel's port side, close to the waterline, 60 nautical miles off Oman's capital Muscat.
UKMTO said the vessel, identified as the Olympic Life, and its crew were safe, although the tanker reported some bunker fuel had been discharged into the sea. It said the cause of the incident was unknown.
According to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data, the Greek-owned Very Large Crude Carrier was sailing past Muscat at around 0700 GMT, heading out of the Gulf of Oman, and was not carrying cargo.
The ship's technical manager, Springfield Shipping, said the vessel was struck by an unidentified object at about 0920 GMT, but remained stable and operational.
"An initial assessment indicated that there was damage to one of the vessel's bunker tanks. A sheen was reported in the water after the incident," it said in a statement to Reuters, adding that the spill had since been contained.
The vessel is owned by Athens-based Olympic Shipping & Management, the successor to Olympic Management founded by late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, according to the Onassis Foundation's website.
South Korea says cargo ship attack likely involved Iranian missile
09:59 , Alex Croft
South Korea's Foreign Ministry has said an attack on a cargo ship operated by local shipper HMM in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month likely involved an Iranian anti-ship missile.
The Iranian embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
We’ll bring you more from the incident as it comes in.
Watch: Smoke rises over Lebanon as Israeli strikes kill at least 31
09:36 , Alex Croft
The key issues preventing the US and Iran from agreeing a peace deal
09:15 , Alex Croft
As negotiators continue to work on reaching a peace agreement, here are the key sticking points between Washington and Tehran:
Iran’s nuclear programme
Iran’s nuclear programme is the lingering issue that had troubled American negotiators in talks before the conflict erupted on 28 February.
Trump insisted this week that the US will eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Washington believes is destined for a nuclear weapon though Tehran says it is intended purely for peaceful purposes.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not consider the war over until enriched uranium is removed from Iran, Tehran ends its support for proxy militias, and its ballistic missile capabilities are eliminated.
But Iran has so far retained its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, and its ability to threaten neighbours with missiles, drones and proxy militias.
The Strait of Hormuz
The closure of the Strait through the war has created massive disruption to a vital channel of commerce that ordinarily carries a fifth of global oil and LNG. Iran has floated plans to continue charging some $2m for tankers post-war.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea says countries bordering straits cannot demand payment simply for permission to pass through.
But Iran has said it aims to reopen the strait to friendly countries that abide by its terms that could potentially include fees.
It emerged on Thursday that Iran and Oman have reportedly held discussions on enforcing a permanent toll on the Strait of Hormuz, despite Donald Trump’s warnings.
A ceasefire for Lebanon
Iranian state media reported earlier this month that Tehran was insisting upon the need to end the war on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, where proxy group Hezbollah continues to clash with Israeli forces.
Fighting has continued in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire there announced on April 16.
What are Abraham Accords? The Trump-backed deal explained
08:53 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump has said he asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the “Abraham Accords” as he tries to negotiate an agreement to end his war with Iran.
The US president has repeatedly said he wants to expand the accords, brokered by him during his first term in the White House.
Trump said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have already signed the accords, a set of agreements to normalise relations with Israel.
"I am mandatorily requesting that all countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, if Iran signs its agreement with me, as president of the United States of America, it would be an Honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled World Coalition," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The Abraham Accords were a series of diplomatic and commercial agreements forged with US influence between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in 2020.
Peter Smith & Dan Haygarth report:
What are Abraham Accords? The Trump-backed deal explained
In pictures: Israel kills Hamas commander in attack on Gaza
08:35 , Alex Croft
Israel says it killed Hamas military leader in Gaza strike
07:55 , Alex Croft
The Israeli military says it has killed Hamas’ newly-appointed armed commander Mohammad Odeh in a strike on Gaza
Odeh, the leader of the al-Qassam Brigades - Hamas’ military wing in Gaza - was appointed to succeed Izz al-Din al-Haddad last week after the latter was killed in a similar strike on May 15.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Odeh had headed Hamas' intelligence division at the time of the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack into Israel and was appointed about a week ago to replace Izz al-Din al-Haddad.
Sources close to Hamas did not confirm Odeh's appointment as the new military chief but agreed he was seen as Haddad's possible successor, as the group's chief of military intelligence and possibly the last remaining living member of the armed wing's higher leadership council.
Projectile from Lebanon lands in Israel, no injuries reported
07:26 , Alex Croft
A projectile launched from Lebanon fell in an open area in Israel, the military said on Wednesday morning.
Sirens sounded in several northern areas during the attack and no injuries were reported, it added in a statement.
Oil prices remain high as markets eye Iran talks
07:01 , Stuti Mishra
Oil prices remained elevated today as markets looked for signals that a shaky truce between the United States and Iran will be extended.
Brent crude traded near $100 per barrel, and the dollar held gains from the previous session after Iran said the US had violated a ceasefire.
Japan's Nikkei share gauge jumped to a record level, following all-time highs on Wall Street on AI optimism as the US reopened after a holiday. Sentiment remains vulnerable, however, as talks continue to reach a lasting halt to the three-month-long conflict that has rocked energy markets, and central banker comments will be watched for how the crisis is impacting the picture for inflation and interest rates.
UN Security Council condemns attack on UAE nuclear plant
06:07 , Stuti Mishra
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday condemned the attack on Barakah Nuclear Plant in the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement, adding that the attack constituted a violation of international law.
The council did not attribute blame for the attack.
The UAE said last week that six drones had been launched against it from Iraq, including one that caused a fire at the nuclear power plant in the Gulf state.
Iraq is home to powerful Iranian-backed militia groups which have claimed attacks against "enemy bases in Iraq and the region" during the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Israel clashes with Hezbollah along Litani River as Netanyahu orders expanded Lebanon operations
05:30 , Stuti Mishra
Israeli troops have clashed with Hezbollah along the Litani River in southern Lebanon as Israel pushed farther north, a day after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an expansion of military operations and one of the heaviest nights of strikes since a US-brokered ceasefire began in mid-April.
The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah sites across southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, targeting storage facilities, command centres and observation points. One strike on the eastern village of Mashghara killed 12 people, including several members of the same family, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said. Israel also warned residents of the city of Nabatiyeh to leave on Tuesday and struck an area near the Qaraoun Dam, the country's largest along the Litani River, though the Litani River Authority said there was no direct damage to the dam.
Israel has called up an additional battalion to Lebanon, an Israeli security official said on condition of anonymity. Mr Netanyahu said Israel was "operating with large forces on the ground and seizing strategic areas" and vowed to "increase the blows, increase the intensity."
At least 3,213 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war, according to Lebanon's health ministry, with over 9,700 wounded. More than one million people have been displaced. According to Mr Netanyahu's office, 23 Israeli soldiers and a defence contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon.
US military shows off fighter jet flying over Middle East
05:00 , Rachel Dobkin
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighter is refueled by a KC-135 Statotanker while flying over the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/jK7vOVE353
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 26, 2026
At least 31 killed in Lebanon as Israel launches one of heaviest nights of strikes since ceasefire
04:30 , Stuti Mishra
At least 31 people have been killed, including several children, in a heavy wave of Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's health ministry said, after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "press the pedal even harder" against Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah infrastructure sites overnight in one of the heaviest bombardments since a US-brokered ceasefire began in mid-April. Strikes hit the Bekaa Valley village of Mashghara, where 11 people including a woman and two children were pulled from rubble, and Burj al-Shamali in the south. Some strikes hit near Beaufort Castle, a nearly 900-year-old UNESCO-recognised medieval fortress.
Speaking at a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel was "deepening our operation in Lebanon" and that the IDF was "operating with large forces on the ground and seizing dominant terrain."
Hezbollah said it targeted three barracks and a military post in northern Israel in response. Israeli strikes have killed at least 3,185 people in Lebanon since the conflict began on 2 March, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Gas prices in US are heading down - how long will it last?
04:00 , Graig Graziosi
Gas prices have decreased in most US states, but the price relief may be short-lived if negotiations between the US and Iran sour.
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted on Monday that gas prices had fallen to a national average of $4.45 per gallon, while diesel had fallen to a national average of $5.56 per gallon, which was beyond more optimistic predictions heading into the week. According to AAA, the national average for gasoline last week was $4.53 per gallon, and $5.65 per gallon for diesel.
"Average #gasprices continue to fall beyond what seemed optimistic a week ago”, he wrote in a post on X.
He noted that a prospective deal between the Trump administration and Tehran to end the war in Iran may have helped delay the expected volatility, including any potential increase, in prices, as markets wait to see the outcome of the talks. It is "too early to say how long the drop continues”, De Haan added.
On Tuesday, the national average price for gasoline rose to $4.49 per gallon. Diesel was up slightly to $5.58 per gallon.
Read on...
Gas prices are heading down - how long will it last?
Watch: Rubio says Strait of Hormuz ‘will be open one way or another’ as US launches strikes on Iranian naval base
03:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Iran rebuilt military capacity faster than expected during ceasefire, says US intelligence
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Iran has been rebuilding its military capacity much faster than expected during a six-week ceasefire with the US and Israel, according to new US intelligence reports.
The ceasefire provided an opportunity for Tehran to restart its production of drones, replace missile sites and reignite its production capacity, four US officials told CNN.
“The Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC [the intelligence community] had for reconstitution,” one official said.
Top Iranian diplomat and parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said on Wednesday that the country had used the opportunity to “rebuild” its strength and military capability.
The news came before US strikes on Iran resumed on Tuesday morning.
Iran rebuilding military capacity faster than expected, say US intelligence sources
What are the minelaying boats targeted in Trump’s new strikes on Iran?
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The United States renewed attacks against Iran on Monday, targeting missile launch sites and boats they claimed were trying to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Centcom spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said the military “eliminated” two Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps boats seen setting mines in the strait, and also took out a surface-to-air missile site in Bandar Abbas.
The military cast the strikes as defensive actions designed to “protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces” and US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the Strait has to be open “one way or the other”.
Iran has deployed small surface vessels to lay mines across parts of the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to control traffic through the vital waterway, which usually handles around a fifth of global oil and liquified natural gas trade, since the war erupted on 28 February.
You can read more below:
What are the minelaying boats targeted in Trump’s new strikes on Iran?
What could a peace deal between Iran and the US look like?
Wednesday 27 May 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Negotiations for a comprehensive peace deal with Iran could "take a few days," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, tempering expectations for an imminent resolution to the nearly three month-old conflict in the Middle East.
While Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson indicated that conclusions had been reached on many points within a potential 14-point memorandum of understanding, officials stressed this does not signal a swift end to the conflict.
You can read more about what a deal may look like from James C. Reynolds below:
What could a peace deal between Iran and the US look like?
UN Security Council condemns attack on UAE nuclear plant
Tuesday 26 May 2026 23:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday condemned the attack on Barakah Nuclear Plant in the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement, adding that the attack constituted a violation of international law.
The council did not attribute blame for the attack.
The UAE said last week that six drones had been launched against it from Iraq, including one that caused a fire at the nuclear power plant in the Gulf state.
Iraq is home to powerful Iranian-backed militia groups which have claimed attacks against "enemy bases in Iraq and the region" during the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution: ‘Even my mother doesn’t know where I am’
Tuesday 26 May 2026 23:01 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Amirhossein Miresmaeili speaks to protestors on the run from the regime as arrests and executions surge, and finds protestors still riddled with bullets but too scared to go to hospital.
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution by brutal regime
Tanker reports external explosion off Oman coast, crew safe, UKMTO says
Tuesday 26 May 2026 22:49 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday that a tanker had reported an external explosion on the vessel's port side, close to the waterline, 60 nautical miles off Oman's capital Muscat.
UKMTO said the vessel, identified as the Olympic Life, and its crew were safe, although the tanker reported some bunker fuel had been discharged into the sea. It said the cause of the incident was unknown.
According to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data, the Greek-owned Very Large Crude Carrier was sailing past Muscat at around 0700 GMT, heading out of the Gulf of Oman, and was not carrying cargo.
The ship's technical manager, Springfield Shipping, said the vessel was struck by an unidentified object at about 0920 GMT, but remained stable and operational.
"An initial assessment indicated that there was damage to one of the vessel's bunker tanks. A sheen was reported in the water after the incident," it said in a statement to Reuters, adding that the spill had since been contained.
The vessel is owned by Athens-based Olympic Shipping & Management, the successor to Olympic Management founded by late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, according to the Onassis Foundation's website.
In depth: The 75-year-old military deadlock which Trump must learn from in his war with Iran
Tuesday 26 May 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
As the latest US strikes claim to target Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, John W S Clark asks why no one is heeding the lessons of the past: that mine warfare will bring any ill-conceived conflict to a shuddering standstill.
The 75-year-old military deadlock which Trump must learn from in his war with Iran
Recap: Hopes of quick Iran peace deal fade as Tehran accuses US of ‘gross violation’ of ceasefire with new strikes
Tuesday 26 May 2026 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Hopes for an imminent resolution to the conflict in the Middle East faded on Tuesday as Iran accused the US of a “gross violation” of the ceasefire agreement after Washington struck boats it claimed were attempting to lay mines as well as missile launch sites.
Iran’s foreign ministry said US strikes in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, where Iranian media reported sounds of explosions early on Tuesday, undermined the fragile truce agreement, as the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) insisted they retained a right to retaliate.
The IRGC said in a separate statement that air defence units had downed a US drone and fired at another drone and a fighter jet which they said had strayed into Iranian airspace over the Gulf region.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters that the Strait of Hormuz would have to be opened “one way or the other” and cast doubt on a quick end to the war, saying negotiating a deal would still “take a few days”.
The key issues preventing the US and Iran from agreeing a peace deal
Tuesday 26 May 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
As negotiators continue to work on reaching a peace agreement amid the backdrop of “defensive” US strikes in Iran, here are the key sticking points between Washington and Tehran:
Iran’s nuclear programme
Iran’s nuclear programme is the lingering issue that had troubled American negotiators in talks before the conflict erupted on 28 February.
Trump insisted this week that the US will eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Washington believes is destined for a nuclear weapon though Tehran says it is intended purely for peaceful purposes.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not consider the war over until enriched uranium is removed from Iran, Tehran ends its support for proxy militias, and its ballistic missile capabilities are eliminated.
But Iran has so far retained its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, and its ability to threaten neighbours with missiles, drones and proxy militias.
The Strait of Hormuz
The closure of the Strait through the war has created massive disruption to a vital channel of commerce that ordinarily carries a fifth of global oil and LNG. Iran has floated plans to continue charging some $2m for tankers post-war.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea says countries bordering straits cannot demand payment simply for permission to pass through.
But Iran has said it aims to reopen the strait to friendly countries that abide by its terms that could potentially include fees.
It emerged on Thursday that Iran and Oman have reportedly held discussions on enforcing a permanent toll on the Strait of Hormuz, despite Donald Trump’s warnings.
A ceasefire for Lebanon
Iranian state media reported earlier this month that Tehran was insisting upon the need to end the war on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, where proxy group Hezbollah continues to clash with Israeli forces.
Fighting has continued in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire there announced on April 16.
What are Abraham Accords?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Donald Trump has said he asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the “Abraham Accords” as he tries to negotiate an agreement to end his war with Iran.
The US president has repeatedly said he wants to expand the accords, brokered by him during his first term in the White House.
Trump said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have already signed the accords, a set of agreements to normalise relations with Israel.
The Abraham Accords were a series of diplomatic and commercial agreements forged with US influence between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in 2020.
A permanent agreement in Gaza could help pave the path for talks with other majority-Muslim countries.
US plans to slash bombers and warships available to Nato in a crisis, report claims
Tuesday 26 May 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The United States plans to slash vital military contributions available to Europe in a crisis, including fighter jets, warships and strategic bombers, according to a report.
An envoy of US defence secretary Pete Hegseth briefed top officials at Nato headquarters late last week that Washington intends to cut its commitments to the so-called Nato Force Model, according to German outlet Der Spiegel.
The framework sets out how national forces are made available to the alliance, helping to ensure a rapid response in the event of a crisis or conflict.
US envoy Alexander Velez-Green reportedly said during the closed-door meeting that the commitment for US fighter jets would fall by a third, while the US Navy will make fewer destroyers available and no longer provide any submarines.
James C Reynolds has this report:
US plans to slash bombers and warships available to Nato in a crisis, report claims
China says it hopes Iran war parties can meet each other halfway
Tuesday 26 May 2026 19:43 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
China's foreign minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday he hoped parties in the Iran conflict can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway.
Wang spoke to reporters at the United Nations in New York after chairing a meeting of the 15-member Security Council because China has held the council's presidency in May.
British warship awaits peace deal for vital mine-clearing mission in Strait of Hormuz
Tuesday 26 May 2026 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Hundreds of British sailors are currently stationed aboard the RFA Lyme Bay off the coast of Gibraltar, poised for a mine-clearing mission to the Strait of Hormuz, though its deployment remains uncertain.
The operation hinges on a peace agreement in the region, a deal which US President Donald Trump claims has been "largely negotiated" but still requires finalisation.
You can read more below:
British warship awaits peace deal for vital mine-clearing mission in Strait of Hormuz
Watch: Rubio says US will give diplomacy 'every chance to succeed' in Iran negotiations
Tuesday 26 May 2026 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Oil prices surge to $100 a barrel as US-Iran peace hopes fade amid military strikes
Tuesday 26 May 2026 18:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Global oil prices have surged back to $100 a barrel, as diminishing hopes for a US-Iran peace deal cast a shadow over international energy markets.
Despite this, financial markets experienced a mixed morning, with UK stocks seeing gains and government borrowing costs falling to their lowest point in a month.
Brent crude oil prices climbed by approximately 3.5 per cent on Tuesday morning, recovering after a slight dip over the bank holiday weekend.
You can read more below:
Oil prices surge to $100 a barrel as US-Iran peace hopes fade amid military strikes
Netanyahu says military operating with 'large forces on the ground' in southern Lebanon
Tuesday 26 May 2026 18:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the military was operating with "large forces on the ground" in southern Lebanon and taking control of "strategic areas", according to a statement.
His comments at the opening of a security cabinet meeting came after the Israeli military expanded their ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond a demarcation line that Israel has set up several kilometres inside Lebanese territory after an April 16 ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Analysis: Why Trump’s latest demand for Iran peace deal is the fastest way to kill hope of progress
Tuesday 26 May 2026 18:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Donald Trump abruptly warning that a slew of countries must sign divisive diplomatic deals with Israel as a “mandatory” condition for peace with Iran is dangerous and unnecessary, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew.
Why Trump’s new demand for Iran peace deal is fastest way to kill hope of progress
Trump hosting rare Camp David cabinet meeting — including outgoing Tulsi Gabbard — as Iran peace talks stall
Tuesday 26 May 2026 17:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
President Donald Trump will host a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Wednesday, one day after his annual physical at Walter Reed Medical Center and during high-stakes peace talks with Iran that seemed on Tuesday to be breaking down once again.
Multiple news outlets confirmed that attendance at the meeting would include the president’s entire Cabinet as well as departing director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has taken a back seat in the administration amid the war with Iran and whom Reuters reported last week is being “forced out” of her position by White House staffers.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
You can read the latest below:
Trump hosting rare Camp David cabinet meeting as Iran peace talks stall
What's involved in talks to end the Iran war?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Since a ceasefire took effect last month, Iran and the United States have remained at odds on prickly issues including Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israel's war in Lebanon and Tehran's demands for the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets.
After weeks of mainly indirect talks, both sides say they have made progress on a memorandum of understanding that would halt the war and give negotiators 60 days to reach a final deal.
What are the terms?
The framework is focused on an end to the war and a US naval blockade, in exchange for Tehran taking steps to ensure safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei.
Senior Iranian diplomat Hossein Nooshabadi told ISNA news agency that the possible framework deal included the end of the war on all fronts including Lebanon, the release of blocked Iranian assets, the lifting of the US naval blockade and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of US forces from the region and freedom to sell Iranian oil. He said Iran’s draft contained no commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Americans insist the nuclear issue must be resolved as part of any deal. A senior US official told Reuters that Iran has agreed “in principle” to reopen the Strait in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, and to dispose of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.
What happens next?
If Iran's Supreme National Security Council approves the memorandum of understanding, it will then be sent to the country's supreme leader for final approval. The US understood Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed the broad template of the deal, the senior US official said.
If the first phase of the agreement progressed, the nuclear issue could be reviewed and negotiated during the 60-day period, Baghaei and Nooshabadi said.
The last deal over the nuclear programme - struck in 2015 and torn up by Donald Trump in 2018 - took years of negotiations between large teams of technical experts.
‘The one toy I took from my war torn home’: Plight of the 400,000 children displaced by Israel’s war on Lebanon
Tuesday 26 May 2026 16:30 , James Reynolds
Around 400,000 children have been displaced in Lebanon due to Israel’s bombardment and invasion. As a shaky ceasefire is extended for 45 days, they show the toys they brought with them, and share their dreams to one day return home. Alex Croft reports:
‘The toy I took from my war torn home’: The 400,000 children displaced by Israeli war
Internet partly restored in Iran, Netblocks says
Tuesday 26 May 2026 16:00 , James Reynolds
The internet monitoring group Netblocks said in a post on social media on Tuesday that live data showed partial restoration of internet connectivity in Iran.
Iranian state media reported on Monday that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had issued an order to reopen international internet access, after a near-90-day blackout in the wake of the war.
Israel expands Lebanon ground operation beyond Yellow Line
Tuesday 26 May 2026 15:35 , James Reynolds
Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the military had expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond the "Yellow Line", an Israeli-drawn demarcation line near the border, though the reports gave no further details on the extent of the advance.
Cross-border fighting has been escalating between Israel and Hezbollah, despite the declaration of a ceasefire several weeks ago.
Dollar steadies as hopes for Iran peace deal waver
Tuesday 26 May 2026 15:27 , James Reynolds
The dollar steadied on Tuesday as investor hopes of an imminent deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were dented by fresh US attacks on Iranian targets and comments suggesting a swift agreement is unlikely.
The prospect of a peace deal had pushed oil prices below $100 a barrel, eased pressure on emerging-market currencies and provided a slight boost to risk sentiment this week.
Market optimism, however, was tempered on Tuesday by comments from Marco Rubio, who said that negotiations on a deal with Iran could "take a few days" after US forces conducted what Washington called defensive strikes in southern Iran.
The euro was little changed at $1.164 after rising 0.3% on Monday. The British pound fell 0.2% to $1.348, having risen 0.6%.
Recap: Trump calls for more states to normalise ties with Israel
Tuesday 26 May 2026 15:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump has called on more Arab and Muslim states to sign up to the Abraham Accords, brokered during his first term in office and aimed at normalising ties between those states and Israel.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said Saudi Arabia and Qatar should immediately sign and Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey should follow suit, calling his request mandatory.
Saudi Arabia's longstanding position has been that it would not sign the accords unless there is an agreement on a roadmap to Palestinian statehood.
A Pakistani source familiar with the matter said that the statement reflected an attempt to use the Iran diplomacy for a wider push around the accords - but that the two issues were "not interlinked and cannot be made so."
In pictures: Life continues in Tehran as US renews strikes in south
Tuesday 26 May 2026 14:28 , James Reynolds
Who are Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 14:00 , James Reynolds
Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were set up shortly after the 1979 revolution to protect the clerical ruling system.
The IRGC’s mandate is to protect revolutionary values and it answers to the supreme leader of Iran, which means it has at times spoken out against the government.
With a huge military force of some 125,000 personnel (prewar), the IRGC provides a counterweight to Iran’s professional army and operates independently of the armed forces.
It controls the country’s ballistic missile arsenal - a target in Washington’s sights as it tries to negotiate demilitarisation with the state.
Since the Iran-Iraq conflict of the 1980s, the IRGC has funded nonstate armed groups in the region. The Quds Force emerged as its de facto external affairs branch and today manages relations with Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, among others, exporting Iran’s influence and deterring Western influence.
The IRGC also commands the Basij religious militia within Iran, a volunteer paramilitary force loyal to the clerical establishment often used to crack down on anti-government protests.
Tanker reports external explosion off Oman coast
Tuesday 26 May 2026 13:41 , James Reynolds
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)said on Tuesday that a tanker had reported an external explosion on the vessel's port side, close to the waterline 60 nautical miles off Oman's capital Muscat.
UKMTO said the vessel and its crew were safe, although the tanker reported that some bunker fuel was discharged into the sea.
Recap: Tehran warns US to ‘prepare your shelters’ after Trump launches new strikes in Strait of Hormuz
Tuesday 26 May 2026 13:32 , James Reynolds
Iran issued an ominous warning telling the United States to “prepare your bunkers” as renewed US airstrikes cast doubt on hopes of a lasting ceasefire.
Dr Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s national security committee, wrote in the aftermath of Monday’s attacks: “To the owners of glass houses; Prepare your shelters. Get your bunkers ready.”
Iranian officials erupted with pointed threats after US forces conducted strikes in southern Iran against military targets in what it described as defensive actions.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said this morning that the Strait of Hormuz has to be open “one way or the other”, adding that the negotiating language of the deal with Iran could “take a few days”.
Iran’s top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar’s prime minister on a potential deal with the US to end the three-month-old war, an official briefed on the visit said on Monday, after Washington and Tehran played down hopes of a swift end.
What's involved in talks to end the Iran war?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 13:00 , James Reynolds
Since a ceasefire took effect last month, Iran and the United States have remained at odds on prickly issues including Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israel's war in Lebanon and Tehran's demands for the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets.
After weeks of mainly indirect talks, both sides say they have made progress on a memorandum of understanding that would halt the war and give negotiators 60 days to reach a final deal.
What are the terms?
The framework is focused on an end to the war and a US naval blockade, in exchange for Tehran taking steps to ensure safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei.
Senior Iranian diplomat Hossein Nooshabadi told ISNA news agency that the possible framework deal included the end of the war on all fronts including Lebanon, the release of blocked Iranian assets, the lifting of the US naval blockade and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of US forces from the region and freedom to sell Iranian oil. He said Iran’s draft contained no commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Americans insist the nuclear issue must be resolved as part of any deal. A senior US official told Reuters that Iran has agreed “in principle” to reopen the Strait in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, and to dispose of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.
What happens next?
If Iran's Supreme National Security Council approves the memorandum of understanding, it will then be sent to the country's supreme leader for final approval. The US understood Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed the broad template of the deal, the senior US official said.
If the first phase of the agreement progressed, the nuclear issue could be reviewed and negotiated during the 60-day period, Baghaei and Nooshabadi said.
The last deal over the nuclear programme - struck in 2015 and torn up by Donald Trump in 2018 - took years of negotiations between large teams of technical experts.
Iran executes man for 'intelligence cooperation with Israel'
Tuesday 26 May 2026 12:28 , James Reynolds
Iran has executed a man for alleged espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Tuesday.
Unfreezing of Iranian funds 'last sticking point': Iranian source
Tuesday 26 May 2026 12:15 , James Reynolds
A source said to be close to negotiations tells Iran’s Fars news agency that the unfreezing of Iran’s funds is the last serious sticking point with the United States now being resolved through Qatar mediations.
Trump gives Tehran new nuclear warning as US and Iran edge towards peace deal
Tuesday 26 May 2026 12:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump has warned that Tehran “must understand” it cannot have a nuclear weapon as the two sides edge towards a potential peace deal.
The US says it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with expectations rising that a breakthrough could be imminent.
However, while adopting a more positive tone on Sunday, following previous reports the US was considering further strikes against Iran, Trump said his team would “not be rushed”.
His comments came soon after the US secretary of state Marco Rubio suggested an announcement could be made “within hours”.
Trump gives Tehran new warning on nuclear weapons as US and Iran edge towards deal
Iran to turn internet back on after record blackout
Tuesday 26 May 2026 11:56 , James Reynolds
Iran is ending a government-imposed internet blackout that has been in place for nearly three months, according to state media.
President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an official order to reopen international internet access, local broadcasters reported on Monday, though independent monitors say the shutdown remains in effect.
The current blackout was introduced in late February following attacks from the US and Israel. It came just weeks after internet restrictions were eased after a similar blackout in January as a result of anti-government protests.
