Iran-US war highlights: Progress in talks but far from deal, says Iran's Ghalibaf; ships return after Hormuz closure

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran had announced its temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, following a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.

Maritime trackers even showed a convoy of eight tankers transiting the strait in the first major movement of ships since the US-Israeli war on Iran began seven weeks ago.

US President Donald Trump on Friday cited "some pretty good news" about Iran, declining to elaborate. But he also said fighting might resume without a peace deal by Wednesday, when a two-week ceasefire expires. And Trump said that the US blockade of the Iranian ports would continue till a deal is reached with Tehran.

Hours after that on Saturday, Iran's armed forces command said transit through the strait had reverted to a state of strict Iranian military control, citing what it described as repeated UA violations and acts of “piracy” under the guise of a blockade.

Some vessels reported that Iran's navy had been broadcasting a VHF message saying the Strait of Hormuz was closed again.

"Attention all ships, regarding the failure of the US government to fulfil its commitment in the negotiation, Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz completely closed again. No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," the radio message said.

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran partially reopened its airspace to international flights crossing the eastern part of its territory.

"Air routes in the eastern section of the country's airspace are open for international flights transiting through Iran," the country's Civil Aviation Authority said, adding that some airports had also reopened. (AFP)

Iran US war news LIVE: French soldier killed in attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon imputed to Hezbollah, Macron was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Iran US war news LIVE: Since the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, 23 ships have complied with US forces orders to turn back toward Iran, the US military said on Saturday. (Reuters)

Iran US war news LIVE: US Central Command said American forces are blocking vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas.

Iran US war news LIVE: A statement said to have been issued by Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that Tehran's navy was ready to defeat US forces.

In a statement on his Telegram channel, Khamenei -- who has not been seen in public since before the start of the war -- said Iran's "brave navy stands ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats". (AFP)

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran has rowed back on its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would continue to block transit through the hugely important waterway as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.

The announcement Saturday came after U.S. President Donald Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Tehran had reopened the strait Friday to commercial vessels.

Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again. Iran’s Friday announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water, through which 20% of the world’s oil is shipped, came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold. (AP)

Iran US war news LIVE: At least two merchant vessels said they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, news agency Reuters reported, citing three maritime security and shipping sources.

Iran US war news LIVE: At least eight oil and gas tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after Iran briefly declared the crucial trade route open during a ceasefire in the Middle East war, maritime tracking data showed.

One crude oil tanker, four liquified petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers and one classified as an "oil products" vessel crossed the strait early Saturday after the Iranian announcement on Friday afternoon, data from tracking firm Kpler indicated.

Around a fifth of the world's oil and liquified natural gas pass the strait in peacetime but traffic through the route had come to a near-standstill after the war erupted on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. (AFP)

Iran US war news LIVE: The United States "cannot impose their will" and block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday, after Iran's military declared the waterway closed again.

"Americans cannot impose their will to do a siege over Iran while Iran, with good intention, is trying to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual Turkish diplomatic forum in the southern province of Antalya. (AFP)

Iran US war news LIVE: US President Donald Trump has said the ceasefire may end if no long-term deal is reached by Wednesday, the deadline for the two-week pause to Middle East fighting, Reuters reported. Trump also said the US blockade of Iranian ports will 'remain' if no deal is reached.

"Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade (on Iranian ports) is going to remain," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona. "So you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again."

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran has announced a partial reopening of its airspace after a seven-week hiatus because of the war, state media reported.

The Civil Aviation Organization said air routes over eastern Iran were reopened at 7 a.m. (0330 GMT), according to the state-owned IRAN newspaper. It said flights at the country’s airports would gradually resume but did not give a timeframe.

Iran’s airspace had been closed since the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran on Feb. 28. The partial reopening has come more than a week into a ceasefire between Iran and the US.

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran has reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reimposing restrictions on the critical waterway after the U.S. said the move would not end its blockade.

The country’s joint military command said “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state ... under strict management and control of the armed forces.”

It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.

The announcement came the morning after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. (AP)

Iran US war news LIVE: The meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam came during a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

According to a statement from Aoun’s office, the pair discussed Lebanon’s “readiness for negotiations” with Israel. Lebanon and Israel have been in a state of war since 1948.

Earlier this week, the two countries’ ambassadors to the U.S. held a meeting, in the first direct talks in decades. (AP)

Iran US war news LIVE: Almost a week after the Islamabad talks between the United States and Iran collapsed without a deal, the two sides will sit for negotiations in Pakistan's capital city once again on Monday, CNN reported, citing Iranian sources. There is no update from the American side on next round of talks, though Trump on Thursday had said that the US and Iran were ‘close to a deal’ and that the Iran war should end ‘pretty soon’.

Direct talks between the US and Iran last weekend were inconclusive, as the two nations could not agree about Iran’s nuclear program and other points.

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran's central military command announced on Saturday it would resume "strict management" of the Strait of Hormuz, reversing a decision to unblock the strategic channel as part of negotiations with Washington.

In a statement shared on state television, the headquarters said Washington had broken a promise by continuing its naval blockade of ships sailing to and from Iran's ports.

Until the United States restores freedom of movement for all vessels visiting Iran, "the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled," the statement said. (AFP)

Iran US war news LIVE: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday called for de-escalation in West Asia and the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need to keep the route free from tolls and privatisation amid the ongoing conflict.

In a post on X, following his participation in a virtual Leaders' Summit on the Strait of Hormuz co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Albanese said 49 countries had come together with a "consistent approach" focused on ensuring freedom of navigation.

Iran US war news LIVE: Almost a week after the Islamabad talks between the United States and Iran collapsed without a deal, the two sides will sit for negotiations in Pakistan's capital city once again on Monday, CNN reported, citing Iranian sources. There is no update from the American side on next round of talks, though Trump on Thursday had said that the US and Iran were ‘close to a deal’ and that the Iran war should end ‘pretty soon’.

Iran US war news LIVE: President Donald Trump flatly rejected the idea when a reporter asked about the prospect of restrictions or tolls managed by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz.

“Nope. No way. No. Nope,” Trump said. He said there can’t be tolls along with restrictions. “No, they’re not going to be tolls.”

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran’s Defense Ministry spokesperson said the Strait of Hormuz is only open during a ceasefire and conditionally, two Iranian semiofficial news agencies reported.

Brig. Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik said “military vessels and those linked to hostile forces have no right” of transit, according to the ISNA and Mehr news agencies.

Iran US war news LIVE: A senior Iranian lawmaker said only commercial vessels authorized by the Revolutionary Guard are allowed to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission, said in a social media post late Friday that commercial vessels must pay “required tolls” before transiting the strait, using a route set by Iran last month.

“The time has come to comply with the new Maritime Regime of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “These regulations are determined by Iran, not by social media posts!”

He warned that the mechanism could change “if the U.S. attempts to create any disturbance for Iranian ships.”

Iran US war news LIVE: onvoy of oil tankers was crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the first major movement of ships in the crucial waterway since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran seven weeks ago.

The group of four liquefied petroleum gas carriers and several oil product and chemical tankers, was passing through Iranian waters south of Larak Island with more tankers following from the Gulf, according to MarineTraffic data.

via Reuters

Iran US war news LIVE: Pakistan's powerful military chief and prime minister on Saturday concluded separate visits aimed at ending the Iran war, with Field Marshal Asim Munir leaving Tehran and premier Shehbaz Sharif headed home from Turkey.

Munir met Iran's top leadership and peace negotiators during a three-day visit to Tehran, a Pakistani military statement said.

The visit showed Pakistan's "unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement... and to promote peace, stability, and prosperity", the military said ahead of expected US-Iran talks in Islamabad in the coming days.

Munir held talks with the country's president, foreign minister, parliament speaker and the head of Iran's military central command centre.

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran partially reopened its airspace on Saturday to international flights crossing the eastern part of its territory, the country's Civil Aviation Authority said.

"Air routes in the eastern section of the country's airspace are open for international flights transiting through Iran," it said, adding that some airports had also reopened at 7:00 am (0330 GMT).

More than three hours later, however, flight tracker websites still showed no international flights crossing Iran, and several avoiding its airspace by making long detours.

via AFP

Iran US war news LIVE: Several oil tankers have u-turned in the Persian Gulf after appearing to try to transit the Strait of Hormuz, as shipowners and oil traders remain in a state of disarray as they try to figure out whether Iran would stick to its promise to keep the chokepoint open for all.

The halted journeys of five Greek and Indian tankers early Saturday paint the first picture of how traffic is navigating through the energy artery, after Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday that it was completely open. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency later reported that the passage will still be closed if a US naval blockade was still in effect.

via Bloomberg