US Iran war highlights: Trump says Iran ‘has come a long way’, questions if it will go far enough

In case you didn't know, UAE will quit OPEC effective May 1, stripping the oil cartel of its third-largest producer and further weakening its leverage over global oil supplies and prices.

The UAE's decision had been rumored as a possibility for some time, as it pushed back in recent years against OPEC production quotas it felt had been too low — meaning it wasn't able to sell as much oil to the world as it had wanted.

Waiel Awwad, Foreign Affairs Expert, said that without an end to hostilities, there cannot be any negotiations between the US and Iran.

Awwad said that the US has no intent to stop the blockade as it rejected Iran's proposal.

"Without ending hostilities, other issues cannot be negotiated. The rejection of Iran's proposal is a clear indication that the United States, which created this problem, intends to continue this blockade, which will cause further danger to global trade," he told ANI.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Amidst intensifying maritime friction, Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations, accusing the US of engaging in "piracy" following the seizure of Iranian vessels. According to the Iranian state media Tasnim News Agency, the protest was detailed in a letter sent by Iran's UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and the Security Council.

The envoy argued that Washington's justification for the maritime interceptions lacked any standing under global statutes. "Reliance on domestic arrangements, which are inherently illegal, can under no circumstances justify such an abhorrent crime committed through the use of force," he stated in the correspondence. (ANI)

US Iran war LIVE updates: Qatar has said it is “unacceptable” to use the Strait of Hormuz as a political bargaining chip as US-Iran peace talks remain stalled.

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told reporters that the strait “must not be used as a bargaining chip,” during ongoing tensions. (Al Jazeera)

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran has formally protested to the United Nations over the US seizure of its vessels, calling the actions “piracy”.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council, Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeed Iravani condemned the move.

“Reliance on domestic arrangements, which are inherently illegal, can under no circumstances justify such an abhorrent crime committed through the use of force,” he said in the letter, as per Iran's Tasnim news agency.

“Such behaviour constitutes illegal coercion, interference in lawful international trade, and the unlawful seizure of property. Simultaneously, it sets a dangerous precedent that severely undermines the international rule of law,” Iravani added.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Traffic through the Panama Canal has risen with about 300 more ships using the route since October compared with the same period last year, Panama Canal Authority’s finance chief has said.

“The expectation is that this will continue until the situation in the Middle East is resolved,” Victor Vial said, according to Reuters.

The increase comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The deputy for political affairs of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, warned that the force has “surprise tactics” in store for the United States if it makes any new miscalculation, according to Iranian media.

He said that in the event of fresh US military action against Iran, the IRGC Navy would deploy its newly developed capabilities.

US Iran war LIVE updates: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated that Kharg Island, the primary oil export terminal for Iran, is reaching its maximum storage limits. In a social media post, Bessent suggested that this saturation could compel Tehran to scale back its petroleum output, potentially resulting in daily revenue deficits of up to USD 170 million and inflicting lasting harm on the nation's energy infrastructure. (ANI)

US Iran war LIVE updates: An Iranian deputy defence minister, Brigadier General Reza Talaei Nik, says the country would allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz after the conclusion of the US-Israeli aggression under protocols that protect Iran’s security, according to Press TV.

Reza Talaei Nik told a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday that Iran recognises international concerns about the current restrictions it has imposed on passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

US Iran war LIVE updates: US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, is set to face intense questioning from lawmakers on Wednesday over the Iran war during his first congressional testimony since the conflict began, according to AFP. His appearance before the House Armed Services Committee will come as part of a hearing on President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Representatives of Iran’s football federation were absent on Tuesday from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress, the continent’s biggest gathering of football officials, held in Vancouver, Canada.

Despite the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, there was no discussion about Iran’s participation in the upcoming World Cup or whether its matches might be shifted away from the United States amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Officials have raised concerns that visa issues could affect Iran’s delegation—not only for the AFC Congress but also for the FIFA Congress on Thursday and the World Cup, which begins June 11. The expanded 48-team tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. (AP)

US Iran war LIVE updates: Senior Iranian officials have told Reuters the proposal carried by Araghchi to Islamabad over the weekend envisioned talks in stages.

A first step would require ending the war and providing guarantees the US cannot restart it. Then negotiators would resolve the US Navy's blockade of Iran's trade by sea and the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran aims to reopen under its control.

Only then would talks look at other issues, including the longstanding dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, with Iran seeking U.S. acknowledgment of its right to enrich uranium. (Reuters)

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran Army spokesperson also says that Tehran was ready to tackle the US' ground invasion. Akraminia claimed that despite repeated threats, adversaries failed to launch a ground invasion. "The enemy did not dare to attack Iran on land," he said, attributing this to the "high readiness" of Iran's ground forces and coordinated operations with the IRGC.

He added that Iranian forces had anticipated potential military escalation based on intelligence assessments and had deployed units across the country in advance. "All units were in full readiness... the ground forces were deployed in various parts of the country, ready to confront any threat," he noted. (ANI)

US Iran war LIVE updates: According to Iran's state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Army spokesperson Amir Akraminia said that the situation remains active from a military standpoint. "The situation is still considered a war, and the bank of objectives and equipment for the forces has been updated," Akraminia said, indicating continued preparedness and operational planning.

He stated that the Strait of Hormuz is under joint control of Iran's military forces, with the western section managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the eastern section overseen by the regular army. (ANI)

US Iran war LIVE updates: Ambassador Danny Danon said it’s impossible to talk about peace in Lebanon without mentioning Hezbollah, the militant group with areas of influence in the south bordering Israel and elsewhere in the country.

“Hezbollah is not just set on Israel’s destruction. It is Lebanon’s greatest obstacle to sovereignty. It has weakened the Lebanese government,” he told a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council. (AP)

US Iran war LIVE updates: The leaders of several wealthy Gulf nations rejected Iran’s “illegal actions” to close the strait and threaten navigation, warning against any disruption to shipping or charging fees for safe passage.

The statement followed a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attended by leaders from Qatar and Bahrain, Kuwait’s crown prince, and the United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister.

They called for restoring “security and freedom of navigation” to prewar levels and urged deeper military integration, including joint infrastructure projects and a ballistic missile early warning system. (AP)

US Iran war LIVE updates: An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army patrol in the southern town of Majdal Zoun, near Tyre, killed five people, including three paramedics, and wounded two soldiers, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The ministry said the toll remains preliminary. (AP)

US Iran war LIVE updates: Donald Trump has asked his aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.

During recent discussions, Trump opted to keep tightening pressure on Iran’s economy and oil exports by restricting maritime traffic to and from its ports. He is said to believe that alternatives such as restarting bombing campaigns or disengaging from the conflict would pose greater risks than sustaining the blockade.

US Iran war LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that King Charles agrees Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb.

He made the comments during a state visit to the U.S. by the British monarch. (Reuters)