Iran‘s top negotiator said recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, while President Donald Trump cited ‘very good conversations’ with Tehran despite warning against ‘blackmail’ over the key shipping channel.
Neither side offered any specifics about the state of negotiations on Saturday, days before a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire.
The war, now in its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and sent oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
An Israeli soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon and nine were wounded, including one seriously injured, the Israeli military said early on Sunday.
Iranian president says Trump has no authority to deprive Iran of its nuclear rights
Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian has hit out at Donald Trump over attempts to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking in comments carried by the state-linked Iranian Student News Agency and reported by Reuters, Pezeshkian questioned Trump’s authority to limit Iran’s nuclear rights.
He said:
Trump says Iran cannot make use of its nuclear rights but doesn’t say for what crime. Who is he to deprive a nation of its rights?
Pakistan ramps up security ahead of potential second round of talks
Fresh uncertainty surrounds efforts to de-escalate tensions, after Iran signalled that no date has been set for a second round of peace talks.
Security has meanwhile been stepped up in Islamabad, with additional police deployed and checkpoints erected across the capital this morning – though the measures stop short of the extensive lockdown seen last weekend.
Traffic at a standstill in the Strait of Hormuz
Shipping chaos continues in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz after Iranian gunboats opened fire on merchant vessels yesterday.
Iranian authorities shut down traffic just hours after briefly reopening the narrow waterway, as tensions escalated and Tehran demanded the US lift its naval blockade on key ports.
The disruption has left fleets stranded across the Middle East Gulf, with Lloyd’s List reporting that most shipowners are now retreating to previous positions amid growing fears for safety.
Movement through the strait remains at a standstill after radio warnings declared the route back under “strict management and control by the Iranian armed forces.”
Kamala Harris says Donald Trump has been “pulled” into war with Iran by Israel
Former US Vice President Kamala Harris has claimed Donald Trump was effectively “pulled” into a conflict with Iran by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking at a fundraising event on Saturday, Harris told supporters: “He entered a war, got pulled into it by Bibi Netanyahu – let us be clear about that – entered a war that the American people do not want, putting at risk American service members.”
Trump has not directly responded to Harris’s remarks. However, he did take to social media to praise Israel, describing it as a “great ally” of the United States.
In his post, he wrote: “Whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America. They are Courageous, Bold, Loyal, and Smart and, unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress, Israel fights hard, and knows how to WIN!”
Pictured: Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman
Another Israeli soldier dies in combat
Israel’s military says another soldier died in combat in southern Lebanon, the second death announced in under twelve hours.
It brought the total number of soldiers killed in Lebanon to 15, and was the second soldier killed in combat since the ceasefire.
The military said another soldier was badly wounded in the same incident, along with four moderately wounded and four lightly injured.
It was the second soldier to die since the ceasefire. The first died because of wounds sustained during combat, the military said.
Iranian Gunboats open fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz
Two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.
It reported the tanker and crew as safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination.
TankerTrackers.com reported vessels were forced to turn around in the strait, including an Indian-flagged supertanker, after they were fired on by Iran.
Saturday’s developments came after US President Donald Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US that includes its nuclear program. Tehran had reopened the strait Friday to commercial vessels.
Iran’s Foreign Minister’s ‘bad and incomplete tweet’ lead to escalation
Iran blasts its own Foreign Minister over a ‘bad and incomplete tweet’ that created ambiguity during the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a tweet they said: “Our country’s Foreign Minister wrote in a tweet just minutes ago that, following the ceasefire in Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz will be fully open for the passage of commercial ships for the remaining duration of the ceasefire period.”
Iran reverses decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Iran reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and fired on a tanker attempting to pass the waterway on Saturday. It also warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach.
Iran’s joint military command said on Saturday that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.”
Welcome to the Daily Mail’s live blog
Good morning and welcome to the Daily Mail’s live blog.
We’ll be bringing all the latest updates on the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz throughout the day.
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Iran and United States ‘far’ from deal as ships in Strait of Hormuz warned they will be targeted if they attempt to cross: live updates
