US-Iran war highlights: Trump Situation Room meeting ends; White House says deal must meet ‘red lines’

Iran news LIVE: The US and Iran have reached a preliminary deal to extend a ceasefire by 60 days and discuss the future of Tehran’s nuclear program, a person with knowledge of the matter said, buoying hopes for a resolution to a three-month conflict that has killed thousands and roiled the global economy.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private, confirmed an earlier report from Axios. President Donald Trump has yet to agree to the terms. Both countries have previously hailed progress, with Trump repeatedly indicating the US was close to securing an agreement — only for the standoff to drag on.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters Thursday that the US and Iran are “going back and forth on a couple of language points,” including over issues relating to Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. Iran appears to be negotiating in good faith and progress is being made, he added. (Bloomberg)

Iran news LIVE: Lebanon's culture minister told AFP on Friday that Israeli strikes on the country's south were putting heritage sites in "serious danger", adding that a castle was directly hit.

A ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah was supposed to have taken effect on April 17 but has never been observed. Both sides accuse each other of violating it and justify their attacks by the other camp's alleged breaches.

"Bombings fell very close to the ruins of Tyre," a UNESCO World Heritage site, Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said.

The medieval Beaufort castle overlooking Nabatieh was "directly hit... we know that several bombs fell on this fortress", he added.

"The intensification of the battles means that these sites are in serious danger."

Iran news LIVE: Israeli forces have closed Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in the West Bank, Al Jazeera quoted Wafa news agency as saying. Reportedly, worshippers at the mosque have been asked to vacate the site.

Iran news LIVE: Amid the negotiations and renewed strikes, the United States and Iran are reportedly close to signing a peace deal. As per a report by Axios, delegations from Washington and Tehran have closed down on all aspects of the deal, but a final approval from US President Donald Trump is awaited.
Citing US officials, the report stated that among the key points of the deal is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas supply. Shipping and vessel movement in the area have been restricted due to the ongoing conflict, which prompted Iran to close the strait. Read full article here

Iran news LIVE: The MEA on Friday said that 11 Indian-flagged vessels are still stuck in the Persian Gulf, while 14 have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and reached India.

Iran news LIVE: Lebanon's culture minister on Friday told AFP that Israeli strikes on the country's south are putting heritage sites in “serious danger”.

Ghassan Salame said that “bombings fell very close to the ruins of Tyre”, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The minister added that the medieval Beaufort castle overlooking Nabatieh was “directly hit.”

Iran news LIVE: 11 children were killed or injured on average every 24 hours in the past week in Lebanon, Reuters news agency reported citing the UN children's agency.

Iran news LIVE: An Iranian leader has reportedly called for a regional security framework excluding the US and Israel. According to Iran International, Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the Middle East would not be stable till a US-led “Greater Middle East” or an Israeli pursuit of “Greater Israel” remained.

Iran news LIVE: Oil prices fell this morning as hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran emerged, with reports saying both sides have tentatively agreed to extend a ceasefire by 60 days.

According to a Reuters report, Brent dropped toward $92 a barrel, down 19% this month, while West Texas Intermediate was near $87.

Iran news LIVE: Gold prices were headed for a third consecutive monthly loss on Friday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran heightened concerns over inflation and the prospect of further U.S. rate hikes.

Spot gold was up 0.6% at $4,518.57 per ounce, as of 0807 GMT, as investors assessed reports of an extension to the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Bullion fell to a two-month low of $4,365.76 on Thursday, but closed higher.

The metal has lost 2.2% so far this month and roughly 15% over the past three months.

-Reuters

Iran news LIVE: The spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry strongly condemned the threats issued by US against Oman.

Esmaeil Baqaei considered the threat by the US treasury secretary to impose sanctions on Oman, which came after the previous threat to "destroy" Oman – an attempt to blackmail an independent state and a member of the United Nations, and further evidence of moral bankruptcy.

Iran news LIVE: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in US on Friday for a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss “Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy," Bloomberg reported.

He was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior officials of the Embassy of Pakistan.

During the visit, he is also expected to discuss matters of bilateral and regional significance with US secretary of state Marco Rubio

This comes after United States on Thursday said a tentative deal between the two countries is ‘close’. Iran has stayed quiet over this, and Trump has not yet signed the deal, saying “he needs time to think.”

Iran news LIVE: Among the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day ceasefire is what will happen to Iran’s highly enriched uranium, the first official said. The Islamic Republic has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Vance suggested on Thursday evening that negotiators were trying to strike general terms on the highly enriched uranium settled in the tentative agreement, with the specifics to be hammered out in the ensuing talks.

Vance said the continued back and forth involved “a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment.”

- AP

Iran news LIVE: May 28 marks three months since 168 children and 14 teachers were killed in a missile strike that hit a girls’ school in Iran.

CNN previously reported that the US military accidentally struck the school, likely due to outdated information about a nearby naval base, according to sources briefed on preliminary findings.

Earlier on Thursday, CENTCOM said its investigation is ongoing, but coming to a close.

- CNN

Iran news LIVE: On the US–Iran war crossing the three-month mark, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the conflict, which he described as “something no one voted for,” has cost thousands of civilian lives. He added that during this period, Americans have seen rising prices at the pump and in grocery stores, with household budgets strained by a conflict launched without a vote from Congress.

“Three months ago today, a war began that no one voted for — and the cost has been paid by people who had no say in it. Thousands of civilians have lost their lives. Thirteen U.S. servicemembers will never come home to their families,” he wrote in a post on X.

“Americans across this country and our city have watched prices rise at the pump and the grocery store, their budgets strained by a conflict launched without a single vote of Congress.”

“Every life lost abroad and every dollar squeezed from a working family here is part of the same reckless bill, handed to the people who could least afford it by those who will never pay it themselves.”

“I opposed this war from the first day. I oppose it still. It must end.”

US-Iran war news LIVE: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized. All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorizing the region and the world are over,” he said on X.

US-Iran war news LIVE: US Central Command on Friday refuted Iranian claims that a US plane was shot down near Bushehr, Iran, saying all US air assets are accounted for.

Taking to X, it said, “No U.S. aircraft were shot down. All U.S. air assets are accounted for.”

This comes after Iranian state media early on Friday said that a U.S. aircraft was destroyed in Iran's Jam governorate in Bushehr, citing its governor Masoud Tangestani.

US-Iran war news LIVE: US Vice President JD Vance said it remains uncertain whether President Donald Trump will sign a proposed memorandum of understanding with Iran, noting that negotiations are still ongoing over several wording issues, CNN reported.

Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday, Vance said, “It’s still to be determined whether or when the president will sign the MOU. We’re continuing discussions over a few language details.”

US-Iran war news LIVE: The US and Iran exchanged strikes on Thursday in their most serious confrontation since the April ceasefire, raising fears over the stability of ongoing peace efforts and the reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

In fresh escalation in the war between the United States and Iran, the American forces on Wednesday struck Iran for the second time in a week on Wednesday and claimed that the strike was done in self defence after they observed some aggressive activity from the forces of the other side.

US-Iran war news LIVE: US officials told Axios that a deal could be announced by Sunday, though it has not been finalised and could fall apart. Trump has been briefed about the proposal but has not signed it yet. A US official provided an outline of the deal, much of it was verified. These details have not been confirmed by Iran, though it says a deal is getting close.

"The president relayed to the mediators that he wants a couple of days to think about it," a US official told Axios.

Iran war news LIVE: The United States on Thursday (local time) slashed a new set of sanctions targeting Iran’s alleged “shadow oil economy,” accusing Tehran of using illicit oil revenues to fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), regional proxy groups and military operations across West Asia.

US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the sanctions are part of Washington’s “Economic Fury” campaign aimed at increasing pressure on Iran.

"The US is targeting the Iranian regime's dark fleet and illicit oil networks under Economic Fury," Pigott said in a post on X. "Today's sanctions cut off billions in revenue that funds the IRGC, proxy forces, and attacks on our partners. Any entity trading Iranian oil faces serious risk of US sanctions."

Iran war news LIVE: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he spoke with Omani ambassador and was assured that there were no plans for tolling the strait.

“Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up,” Bessent said, seconding US President Donald Trump's stance.

“As he said, our countries have had 200 years of good relations,” Bessent said. “He wants to have another 200 more.”

Iran war news LIVE: Iran war news LIVE: On US plans to shut down Iranian airlines’ access to landing spots, refuelling, and ticket sales, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iranians who want to visit Mecca or Medina will be allowed.

"... We're not going to restrict movement for religious reasons. Iranians who want to make the pilgrimage to Mecca or Medina will be allowed. We will also allow valid humanitarian reasons. But the other thing we can do is that when these airlines fly, they have to be refuelled. They sell tickets. They pay landing fees. Anyone who accepts those, we will sanction. So they should be very clear that the state-owned Iranian airlines are outlaws and cannot do this..."

Iran war news LIVE: US vice president J D Vance said Washington is in a position where it could set back Iran’s nuclear program, not just for President Trump’s term, but “over the long term.”

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Vance said, “If you look at what we've already accomplished here, assuming that we're able to get to a final agreement here, we're reopening the Strait of Hormuz, we've already decimated their conventional military, and we're in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this President, but over the long term. That's a very, very good thing for the American people. So, we're not there yet, but we're very close. We're going to keep on working at it.”

Iran war news LIVE: As a deal between US and Iran comes close, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that President Trump has done something “no other” administration was able to do. He was talking about getting Iranians to talk about their nuclear weapon, perhaps commtting to not have one.

“This administration, President Trump, has done something that no other administration was able to do. We have gotten the Iranians to talk about their nuclear programme and perhaps commit to not having one. That has never happened before. It had been off the table. When you look at the results of the kinetic action of our economic pressure, it has worked to bring them to the table and have a discussion on this,” he said.