Iran, US-Israel War Highlights | Military ​vessels ​approaching Hormuz ‌will ⁠be ‌​dealt ​with ​strongly: Iran

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iranian delegation reaches Islamabad for peace talks with US as world waits for deal to end conflict

An Iranian delegation landed here in the wee hours of Saturday for talks with the US, as the world keeps its fingers crossed for an agreement to end the conflict between the two sides.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while announcing a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, had said that the US and Iran would hold talks in Islamabad, tagging the presidents of the US and Iran in his statement on X.

The Iranian delegation led by its Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, would participate in the Islamabad Talks slated to begin later Saturday, after the arrival of the US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance, which was on its way to Islamabad.

(PTI)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | West Asia war to cut growth, deliver cascading impact, World Bank chief says

The war in West Asia will have a cascading impact on the global economy, even if a ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump takes hold, World Bank ⁠President Ajay Banga told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

And the damage will be far deeper if the ceasefire fails and the conflict escalates, he said.

Banga on ⁠Tuesday said global growth could be lowered by 0.3 to 0.4 percentage point in a baseline scenario, with ‌an early end to the war, and by as much ​as 1 percentage point if it endures. Inflation could increase by 200 to 300 basis points, with a much higher impact - of up to 0.9 percentage point - if the war continues, he said.

(Reuters)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | 'I have to see what happens tomorrow. They've been talking for 47 years with other Presidents': Donald Trump on peace talks

US President Donald Trump told the press on Saturday that regarding the peace talks, "I have to see what happens tomorrow. They've been talking for 47 years with other Presidents — and we're not doing much talking."

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran has good will, but distrusts US: Iran's Parliament Speaker

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf underlined Tehran’s distrust to the US as Iranian and the US negotiating teams are slated to hold talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday, reports Iran's Tasnim news agency.

"Twice within less than a year, in the middle of negotiations, and despite the Iranian side’s good faith, they attacked us and committed numerous war crimes," he said.

"We have goodwill, but we do not have trust (in Americans),” Qalibaf reiterated.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Israel won't discuss ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon talks: envoy, reports AFP

Israel said Friday it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah when it holds talks with Lebanon's government next week in Washington, reports AFP.

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors spoke to set up the talks that will open Tuesday at the State Department.

Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, said the Israeli ambassador, Yechiel Leiter.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US intelligence indicates China preparing weapons shipment to Iran, CNN reports

U.S. intelligence ⁠indicates ⁠China is  preparing ‌to deliver ​new air ​defense ⁠systems to Iran  within the ⁠next ‌few ‌weeks, CNN ⁠reported late on ‌Friday, ‌citing ‌three  people ‌familiar with recent ⁠intelligence ⁠assessments.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US plane carrying team for talks with Iran lands in Islamabad, two Pakistani sources say

A U.S. government plane carrying ⁠top U.S. officials ⁠landed in ‌the ​Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday for peace talks ​with ⁠Iran, two Pakistani sources told Reuters.

Washington and ⁠Tehran ‌are due to begin ‌negotiations seeking to ⁠end the six-week-old Iran war ‌that ‌has killed thousands ‌of people ‌across the Middle East, disrupted energy ⁠supplies, ⁠fed inflation and slowed the global economy. 

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US Vice Prez J D Vance arrives in Islamabad for talks

⁠US Vice ⁠President ‌JD Vance ​arrived in ​Pakistan ⁠on Saturday to ⁠hold ‌peace ‌talks ⁠with Iran, a Pakistani ‌source ‌told ‌Reuters

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran-US Talks Likely to Begin in the Afternoon, reports Tasnim News Agency

According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, Iranian and American delegations will first meet separately with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, and the potential talks will begin afterwards.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Hezbollah continues to target Israeli forces with missiles, drones, reports Al Jazeera

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Pakistan foreign minister hopes US, Iran will engage constructively in peace talks

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq ⁠Dar said on ⁠Saturday that ‌he ​hoped the United States and Iran would ​engage ⁠constructively in peace talks as the U.S. ⁠delegation ‌landed in the ‌Pakistani capital.

Dar ⁠also reiterated Islamabad's desire ‌to ‌continue facilitating the ‌parties to ‌reach a "lasting and durable solution to ⁠the ⁠conflict", according to a statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry. 

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Vance arrives in Pakistan for talks with Iranian officials to shore up shaky ceasefire, reports AP

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump wished Vance good luck. "We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated."

In Islamabad, the streets of a normally bustling capital were deserted Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of the talks.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran's new supreme leader has severe and disfiguring wounds, sources say

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in ​the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters.

Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the supreme leader's compound in central Tehran and he suffered a significant injury to one or both legs, all three sources said.

The 56-year-old is nonetheless recovering from his wounds and remains mentally sharp, according to the people, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. He is taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio ⁠conferencing and is engaged in decision-making on major issues including the war and negotiations with Washington, two of them said.

The question of whether Khamenei's health allows him to run state affairs comes during Iran's moment of gravest ⁠peril for decades, with high-stakes peace talks with the United States opening in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad Serena Hotel for talks, reports Tehran Times

Iranian source says US has agreed to release frozen Iranian assets in Qatar, other banks

A senior Iranian source said on ⁠Saturday the U.S. had ⁠agreed to release ‌Iranian frozen ​assets that were held in Qatar and other foreign banks, ​welcoming the move ⁠as a sign of "seriousness" in reaching a deal with Washington ⁠in ‌talks in Islamabad.

The United States has ‌not made any ⁠public comments on the issue of unfreezing ‌assets.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran delegation meets Pakistan PM in Islamabad, reports Al Jazeera

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Hezbollah MP says direct talks with Israel are 'blatant violation' of constitution

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah reiterated his Iran-backed group's rejection of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, a day after Lebanon's president said such talks would take place next week in Washington.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US Vice President JD Vance holds talks with Pakistan PM Shebaz Sharif

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US has not agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, White House official says

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | India-flagged LPG tanker Jag Vikram crosses Strait of Hormuz

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran's Red Lines have been submitted to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sherif

Iran's Red Lines include Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations, release of Iran's blocked assets and ceasefire across region.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | UK PM Keir Starmer hails Pakistan’s ‘critical role’ in US-Iran ceasefire

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | France's Macron says discussed Iran ceasefire, Ukraine with Turkey's Erdogan

"We ⁠initially discussed the situation in the Middle East, and ⁠called ‌for all parties to respect ‌the ceasefire ⁠and to make sure this applies ‌to Lebanon, ‌and for all ‌parties ‌to respect the freedom of navigation in the ⁠Straits of ⁠Hormuz, and we highlighted the importance of getting a strong and lasting diplomatic ​solution," wrote Macron ​on X

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran is in touch with Lebanon during peace talks

Iran in touch with Lebanon to make sure commitments on ceasefire are respected on all fronts: Iranian foreign ministry

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Talks in Islamabad have begun, reports Iranian media

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | All 29 of Iran's mine dropper boats are lying at the bottom of the sea, claims US President Donald Trump

Trump added that the US is now clearing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran delegation expected to continue discussion of violation of ceasefire in Lebanon, Reuters reports citing local media

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iranian experts team join talks, local media reports

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Israel army says hit over 200 Hezbollah targets in last 24 hours

"The Israeli air force continues to strike Hezbollah infrastructure and aid the ground forces operating in southern Lebanon," the military said.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US official denies receiving any warning of a ship being targeted

This comes after Iranian media reported that a US ship was retreating after a warning from Tehran.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Tankers exit Gulf via Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran talks begin

Three supertankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz, marking ⁠what appeared to be the first vessels to ⁠exit the Gulf since the US-Iran ‌ceasefire deal and ​as peace talks got under way in Pakistan.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US warships transit Strait of Hormuz

Two US warships have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the first such transit since the war with Iran began, Reuters reports citing WSJ

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Direct negotiations between US and Iran commenced in Islamabad, Pakistan media reports

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Planes fly from Beirut airport despite Israeli bombing, AFP reports

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | 312 stranded Indian fishermen in Iran return home via Armenia

The fresh batch was brought back home a week after 345 Indian fishermen were evacuated from Iran.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to his Iranian counterpart

Macron says urged Iran president to use Islamabad talks to achieve 'lasting de-escalation'.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Trump says he has 'no idea' how talks will go with Iran

The US president said he would know shortly if he felt Iran was acting in good faith about resolving the war.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US military says two of its ships crossed through Strait of Hormuz

Sending the ‌ships ‌through the strait ‌was ‌aimed at "setting conditions for clearing mines ⁠in ⁠the Strait of Hormuz," U.S Central Command posted on X. 

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Pope Leo XIV says 'delusion of impotence' fuelling the US-Israeli war in Iran

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Third round of US talks expected 'tonight or tomorrow', Iranian media reports

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Lebanon says war death toll from Israeli strikes crosses 2,000

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Last efforts being made to close gaps in truce talks, Iranian media reports

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | More than 2,000 killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon during Israel-Hezbollah war, health officials say, reports AP

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US-Iran talks pause for now, disagreements remain

Negotiations between the United States and Iran appeared to have concluded for now, Iran's government said early on Sunday, after a series of talks in Pakistan to end the ⁠six-week war between Washington and Tehran. (Reuters)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran warns military vessels against transiting Strait of Hormuz

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Trump says China will have big problems if it ships arms to Iran

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Vance departs Pakistan after failing to reach deal with Iran: pool

 US Vice President JD Vance is departing Pakistan on Sunday, according to a pool report, soon after saying that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement.

Vance boarded Air Force Two at 7:08 am (0208 GMT) and waved to Pakistani officials from the top of the stairs.

"We have been at it now for 21 hours, and we have had a number of substantive discussions, that's the good news," Vance said.

"The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement," he added.

"We have made very clear what our red lines are, what things we are willing to accommodate them on and what things we are not," the US vice president said, adding that the Iranian delegation had "chosen not to accept our terms".

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran state media says talks failed over 'unreasonable' US demands

 "Unreasonable demands" by the United States scuppered talks in Islamabad to end the war in the Middle East, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said on Sunday, reports AFP.

"The Iranian delegation negotiated continuously and intensively for 21 hours in order to protect the national interests of the Iranian people; despite various initiatives from the Iranian delegation, the unreasonable demands of the American side prevented the progress of the negotiations. Thus the negotiations ended," IRIB said on Telegram.

Iran's Tasnim citing informed source: As long as the US does not agree to a reasonable deal, there will be no change in situation in Strait of Hormuz

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US must refrain from 'excessive demands and unlawful requests': Iran foreign ministry after Iran-US talks

Pakistan foreign minister says 'imperative' for US, Iran to uphold ceasefire after talks end, reports AFP

Tehran says no one had expectation of reaching agreement with US in one session: state TV

Iran's foreign ministry said no one had held any expectation that talks with the United States could have reached an agreement within one session after the negotiations in Islamabad stalled on Sunday.

"Naturally, from the beginning we should not have expected to reach an agreement in a single session. No one had such an expectation," ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

He said Tehran was "confident that contacts between us and Pakistan, as well as our other friends in the region, will continue".

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iranian delegation leaves Islamabad for Tehran

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Trump posts news article highlighting possibility of naval blockade

US President Donald Trump shared an article by Just The News that states , "It would be very easy for the US Navy to exert complete control over what does and does not go up and down the Strait now.”

Trump's posting of this article has caused speculation over the possibility of naval blockade.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Pakistan to continue facilitating US-Iran talks, says Dar; urges ceasefire

 Pakistan on Sunday said it will continue to facilitate talks between the US and Iran, while urging both sides to uphold the ceasefire.

In a brief statement to the media after marathon negotiations between the US and Iran ended without a breakthrough, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan has helped mediate several rounds of "intense and constructive" discussions over the past 24 hours.

"I, along with the Defence Forces Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Sim Munir, helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations between the two sides that continued through the last 24 hours and ended this morning," he said.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | 'West Asia war a good opportunity for energy reforms, lower costs for industry'

The conflict in West Asia, which exposed India's limitations on the energy front, provides a good opportunity to start reforms in the sector critical for growth and cut electricity prices for industry, a senior economist has said.

Neelkanth Mishra, the chief economist of Axis Bank and a member of the External Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, said it is essential to use energy "carefully" for future growth.

"We have the cheapest energy in the world, cheapest electricity in the world for households and farmers, and we have the most expensive electricity in the world for industry and commercial use," Mishra said, speaking at an event organised by Kotak Private Banking here recently.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran-US talks in Islamabad held via indirect, direct channels: sources

The Iran-US peace talks were conducted first indirectly through Pakistan and later through direct negotiations between the two sides, official sources said on Sunday.

Pakistan remained involved at every stage of the process, with the talks beginning with separate meetings of the US and Iranian delegations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday.

This was followed by an exchange of messages between the two sides through Pakistani interlocutors, the sources said.

The Iranian delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Galibaf, while the US team was headed by Vice President JD Vance.

According to sources, the negotiations then moved to direct talks between the visiting delegations, which continued for about two-and-a-half hours in the presence of Pakistani officials.

(PTI)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | UK minister says 'disappointing' no breakthrough in Iran war talks

UK government minister Wes Streeting on Sunday said it was "disappointing" that negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad had stalled, adding that US President Donald Trump's earlier social media comments had been "extraordinary".

"It's obviously disappointing that we haven't yet seen a breakthrough in negotiations and an end to this war in Iran that is a sustainable one," Streeting told Sky News.

"As ever in diplomacy, you're failing, until you succeed. So while these talks may not have ended in success, (it) doesn't mean there isn't merit in continuing to try," the health minister added.

Streeting also criticised Trump's rhetoric during the crisis.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran aims to restore majority of refining capability within two months, oil ministry official says

 Iran expects to restore most damaged ⁠refining and distribution ⁠facilities to ‌70–80% of ​their pre-attack capacity within one to two months, ​a senior ⁠oil official said, as authorities work to recover ⁠from ‌a wave of strikes on energy ‌infrastructure.

Deputy Minister ⁠of Oil Mohammad Sadeq Azimifar ‌told ‌the Student News Network ‌that repair ‌work had begun and that part of the ⁠Lavan ⁠refinery is expected to resume operations within about 10 days, with other ​units coming back ​online ​gradually.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Six killed in Israeli raid on Maaroub, southern Lebanon, reports Al Jazeera

Iran's ex-FM Zarif blames talks failure on US push to 'dictate' terms, reports AFP

Iran's former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who led his country's delegation at 2015 nuclear talks, on Sunday blamed the failure of negotiations to end the Middle East war on US attempts to "dictate" its terms.

"No negotiations - at least with Iran - will succeed based on 'our/your terms'," said Zarif, one of the architects of the nuclear deal with the United States and other world powers, which was abandoned in 2018 by US President Donald Trump.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Opposing side ultimately failed to gain trust of Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations: Iran's Parliament Speaker

Iran's Parliament Speaker said, "Iranian Delegation Raised Forward-Looking Initiatives, but the Opposing Side Ultimately Failed to Gain the Trust of the Iranian Delegation in This Round of Negotiations"

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Hezbollah denies link to cell accused of planning Damascus attack

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran's chief negotiator blames US for failure of talks

Iran's chief negotiator to the Islamabad talks has blamed the United States for failing to reach a deal.

In a series of posts on X, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the Iranian delegation provided "forward-looking initiatives" during the 21-hour talks, but the Americans could not gain Iran's trust.

He said now is the time for the US "to decide whether it can gain our trust or not."

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | UK minister says 'disappointing' no breakthrough in Iran war talks

UK government minister Wes Streeting on Sunday said it was "disappointing" that negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad had stalled, adding that US President Donald Trump's earlier social media comments had been "incendiary".

"It's obviously disappointing that we haven't yet seen a breakthrough in negotiations and an end to this war in Iran that is a sustainable one," Streeting told Sky News.

"As ever in diplomacy, you're failing, until you succeed. So while these talks may not have ended in success, that doesn't mean there isn't merit in continuing to try," the health minister added.

Streeting also criticised Trump's rhetoric during the crisis. (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran's chief negotiator blames US for failure of talks, reports AP

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Israel's Ben-Gvir visits flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Israel's far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday, saying he was seeking greater access for Jewish ⁠worshippers and drawing condemnation from Jordan and the Palestinians.

The compound in ⁠Jerusalem's walled Old City is one of the most ‌sensitive sites in the ​Middle East. Known to Jews as Temple Mount, it is the most sacred site in Judaism and is Islam's third-holiest site.

Under a delicate, decades-old arrangement with Muslim authorities, it is administered by a ​Jordanian religious foundation and Jews ⁠can visit but may not pray there.

Suggestions that Israel would alter the rules have sparked outrage among Muslims and ignited violence in the past. (Reuters)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Putin says ready to help mediate Middle East peace in call with Iran president

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday that he was ready to help mediate efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, the Kremlin said.

"Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict, and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East," the Kremlin said in its readout of the call. (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | All US negotiators left failed Iran talks in Islamabad: US official

The entire US negotiating team has left the failed Iran talks in Islamabad, a US official said Sunday, leaving nobody in the Pakistani capital to pursue back-channel discussions.

During a refuelling stop in Germany's Ramstein Air Base for Air Force 2, carrying Vice President JD Vance back from negotiations on ending the Middle East war, a US official told reporters that no team members stayed behind in Islamabad, including chief negotiators Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Speculation had risen that one or both of Trump's envoys might stay behind to pursue further discussions, after the marathon talks failed to produce any substantive progress over the conflict with Iran. (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US Navy will start blockading any and all ships trying to pass Hormuz: Trump

President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would ⁠immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz ⁠and would also interdict ‌every vessel ​in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran.

Trump made his remarks in a Truth Social ​post hours ⁠after U.S-.Iran peace talks ended without a deal. Trump said the meeting "went well, most points were agreed," ⁠but ‌added the two sides had not agreed on Iran's nuclear ‌program.

"Effective immediately, the United States Navy, ⁠the Finest in the World, will begin the process ‌of BLOCKADING any and ‌all Ships trying to enter, or ‌leave, the Strait of ‌Hormuz," said Trump, who is strongly opposed to the idea of Iran charging ships a ⁠toll ⁠to pass through the strait.

"I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to ​Iran. No one who pays an illegal ​toll will ​have safe passage on the high seas," he ​said.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran war has cost Israel $11.5 billion in budgetary expenses, ministry says

Israel's war ⁠with Iran incurred ⁠35 ‌billion shekels ($11.52 ​billion) in budgetary expenses, with ​22 ⁠billion shekels of that ⁠going ‌to defence, the Finance ‌Ministry ⁠said on Sunday, citing ‌a ‌preliminary ‌estimate.

The ‌amount has already been ⁠added ⁠to the 2026 budget, it said.

($1 = 3.0386 ​shekels)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | China, Iran weaponised global economy to beat US at its own game: Report

China and Iran have weaponised the global economy to corner the US by squeezing global supply chains, leveraging commercial links to make strategic gains, according to a report in The Washington Post.

The report cited China limiting rare earth minerals exports to the US last year and the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran that led to a rise in oil prices across the world as examples of adversaries beating Washington at its own game of economic warfare.

"Washington once enjoyed a near-monopoly over this type of economic warfare, punishing wayward nations by barring them from using the dollar or enjoying access to Silicon Valley's most advanced technologies," the report said.

The US Treasury Department had performed no pre-war analysis of the conflict's potential energy market consequences, the report said, quoting Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

Sriprakash Kothari, nominated to become assistant treasury secretary for economic policy, told committee staffers "that not only did he not perform any work related to energy markets leading up to the war, but that he wasn't aware of anyone at Treasury who did," Wyden said in an April 9 letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. (PTI)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Talks with Iran were 'very friendly' towards the end: Trump

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Social media post about wiping out Iranian civilization brought Iranians to the table: Trump

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran Guards threaten to trap enemies in 'deadly vortex' of Hormuz (AFP)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Sunday said Iranian security forces had the Strait of Hormuz key shipping bottleneck under full control, warning that enemies would be trapped in its "deadly vortex" in case of any miscalculation.

"All traffic... is under the full control of the armed forces," the Guards naval command said in a Persian language post on X after President Donald Trump ordered a US naval blockade of the Strait.

"The enemy will become trapped in a deadly vortex in the Strait if it makes the wrong move," it added, posting a video showing vessels in crosshairs.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Trump threatens China with 50% tariff if it helps Iran militarily (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran's ​president ⁠in ⁠call ‌with ​Russian counterpart: ​Reaching ⁠an ⁠agreement ‌is ‌not far ⁠off, ‌if ‌US 'returns ‌to ‌the ⁠framework ⁠of international ​law', reports Iranian ​state ​media

The Iranian ​president said that Iran ⁠is ⁠ready ‌for ‌a 'balanced ⁠and fair' ‌agreement ‌that ‌ensures ‌stable ⁠peace ⁠and ​security - ​iranian ​state ​media

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran rejected call to stop funding Hamas, ‌Hezbollah, ‌Houthis: US Official

A senior ​US official ⁠said Iran ​​rejected ⁠call ⁠to ‌end ‌funding for Hamas, ‌Hezbollah, ‌Houthis, ‌and ‌to ⁠fully ⁠open ​the ​Strait ​of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

The official added that Iran rejected demand for end to uranium enrichment, dismantling of major enrichment facilities.

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Lebanon says at least five dead as Israel pounds country's south

Lebanese official media reported extensive Israeli strikes across the country's south on Sunday as the health ministry said at least five people were killed and the war's overall toll rose to 2,055 dead.

Israel says the fragile Middle East ceasefire does not apply to its battle with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and has kept up its attacks on the country, while the militants fight back.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israel attacks on around 30 locations in the country's south on Sunday, with additional strikes on the adjacent West Bekaa area.

The health ministry said an Israeli strike on Qana killed five people, including three women, and wounded 25 others, while the NNA said the raid targeted "homes and infrastructure". (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Saudi summons Iraq ambassador over 'attacks' from its territory: state media

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry summoned the Iraqi ambassador to deliver a formal complaint, state media reported Sunday, saying the protest concerned attacks launched from the country.

The ministry "stressed the kingdom's condemnation and denunciation of attacks originating from Iraqi territory against the kingdom and the Gulf states", the Saudi Press Agency said in a post on social media that included a photo of a meeting between the ambassador and a Saudi envoy.

The statement marks one of the first official accusations in the region suggesting that attacks targeting the Gulf states during the fighting between Iran and the US and Israel may have been launched from Iraq.

The diplomatic protest comes just days after a similar complaint was issued by the US. (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran's ​Revolutionary ⁠Guards ⁠say ‌military ​vessels ​approaching ⁠Strait ⁠of ‌Hormuz ‌will ⁠be ‌considered ‌a ‌ceasefire ‌breach ⁠and ⁠will ​be ​dealt ​with ​strongly (Reuters)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Israel's Netanyahu, in south Lebanon, says threat of invasion removed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israeli forces had eliminated the threat of an invasion by Hezbollah militants during a visit to troops in southern Lebanon.

"The war continues, including within the security zone in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, which showed him wearing a flak jacket and surrounded by masked soldiers.

"What we are seeing is that we have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon through this security zone," he said, adding that he was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz. (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | Iran parliament speaker says country 'will not bow to any threats'

Iran's parliament speaker, who led peace talks with the United States in Pakistan, said Sunday that his country would not give in to threats after US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. (AFP)

Iran, US-Israel War Live Updates | US Central Command says it will begin blockade of Iranian ports Monday at 10 am Eastern, reports AP