Donald Trump has said that a deal with Iran, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, has been "largely negotiated", with leaks of the draft details showing significant progress has been made.
The US president said on Saturday that the final aspects and details of the deal are being discussed and will be announced "shortly” but was not more specific about the timetable for a further announcement.
Reported details include the US lifting its blockade on Iran ships and issuing some sanction waivers to allow Iran to sell oil freely. The US has also agreed to negotiate over the lifting of sanctions and unfreezing of Iranian funds. In exchange, Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, among other commitments.
Iran’s Fars news agency reported that it would remain under Iran’s management and dismissed Trump's announcement of reopening the Strait as "incomplete and inconsistent with reality."
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Key Points
- Proposed Iran deal would reopen Strait of Hormuz during 60-day ceasefire extension, report says
- Details of US-Iran draft deal emerge including sanction waiver on Iran oil
- Marco Rubio says 'significant progress' has been made but says deal 'not final'
- Potential deal 'will include Iran commitment to not pursue a nuclear weapon'
- 'Either we reach a good deal or I'll blow them to a thousand hells', Trump says
Netanyahu 'told Trump Israel will remain free to act against threats'
14:57 , Sam RkainaBenjamin Netanyahu told Donald Trump Israel would remain free to act against threats in Lebanon during a call about an emerging agreement between Washington and Iran on Saturday, an Israeli source said.
Trump said Washington and Iran had "largely negotiated" a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping passage that has been effectively closed since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran in February.
“In last night's conversation with President Trump, the Prime Minister emphasized that Israel will maintain freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump reiterated and supported this principle,” the Israeli political source told Reuters on Sunday, asking not to be named.
Israel wants freedom to act against threats despite peace deal - reports
14:22 , Holly BancroftIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly told US president Donald Trump that he wants to maintain freedom to act against all threats, including in Lebanon, under the terms of the peace deal.
Iran's Fars news agency said the draft also stipulates that the US and its allies will not attack Iran or its allies, and in return Iran pledges not to launch preemptive attacks on them.
However, prominent Israeli politician Benny Gantz said it would be a strategic mistake for Israel to accept a ceasefire in Lebanon, which its troops have entered to fight the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia, as part of a deal with Iran. Israeli media cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Mr Netanyahu had told Mr Trump that his country would maintain freedom to act against all threats, including in Lebanon, and that Mr Trump had agreed.
Mr Trump himself merely wrote on Truth Social that a call with Netanyahu had gone "very well".
Deal to end war between US and Iran likely to unfold in stages
14:06 , Holly BancroftThe draft deal between US and Iran to end the war is likely to unfold in three stages, according to reports. The first stage will be formally ending the war, then resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and launching a 30-day window for negotiations on a broader agreement, which can be extended, sources have told Reuters.
Two Pakistani sources said that, according to the memorandum, the Strait would be opened immediately after the US lifted its blockade on Iranian shipping.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that, if the outline was agreed on, it would mean "completely open straits", and "without tolls".
Iranian news agency Tasnim said any changes in navigation through the Strait of Hormuz were conditional on implementation of other commitments by the US. It also said some Iranian funds that have been frozen globally as part of sanctions must be released in the first phase of the deal.
One of the Pakistani sources said if the US accepted the memorandum, further talks could take place after the Muslim Eid holiday ends on Friday.
Israeli airstrike in central Gaza 'leaves three people dead'
13:43 , Holly BancroftAn Israeli airstrike on an apartment in a refugee camp in central Gaza on Sunday left three people dead, including a six-month-old child, health officials said.
Medics named the three who died in the Nuseirat refugee camp as Mohammad Abu Mallouh, the infant's father, Alaa Zaqlan, the mother, and their child, Osama, Reuters news agency has reported.
Later on Sunday, Israeli gunfire killed a Palestinian man in the north of the enclave, near a UN-run medical clinic in Jabalia refugee camp, medics said.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on either of the incidents.
At the morgue in Al-Aqsa `Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, relatives of three dead family members arrived to bid farewell to their white-shrouded bodies. "A man sleeping along with his wife and their 6-month infant son in their bed. The rocket fell on his bed, and it took him, with his wife and son, leaving behind six young girls," said the infant's grandmother, Umm Hamza Abu Mallouh, with tears in her eyes.
Israel has recently resumed issuing evacuation orders to residents of the enclave, a practice that had largely subsided after an October ceasefire. But, Yehia Abu Mallouh, whose brother was killed in the strike, said they woke up to the sound of an explosion, without any prior warning.
"We discovered that my brother's house has been targeted while he was sleeping safely in his home,” he told Reuters.
Bahrain jails nine people for life for collaborating with Iran
13:21 , Holly BancroftA Bahraini court has sentenced nine defendants to life in prison and two others to three years in jail for collaborating with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out what it described as "hostile and terrorist acts" against Bahrain, the state news agency reported on Sunday.
The defendants were `involved in gathering information on sensitive sites and facilitating related financial transfers, the statement said.
Bahrain's interior ministry said on May 9 that it had arrested 41 people it said were linked to the IRGC.
The ministry said security authorities had uncovered a group tied to the IRGC while public prosecutor investigations also involved cases related to sympathy with Iranian attacks.
Britain's navy prepares to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz while waiting for a peace deal
13:00 , Holly BancroftAboard the RFA Lyme Bay docked off the coast of Gibraltar, hundreds of British sailors are waiting to be deployed for a mine-clearing mission to the Strait of Hormuz that is still in doubt.
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at allies for not doing more to support the United States' war effort in Iran, whose chokehold on the strait has crippled international shipping and sent energy prices soaring. In March, Trump told NATO allies to “go get your own oil” and secure the strait themselves.
On the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, the UK’s Royal Navy is preparing to do that — but only once a peace agreement is reached. Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region, but it still needs finalising.
Read more of this report aboard the RFA Lyme Bay:
Britain's navy prepares to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz while waiting for a peace deal
Watch: Rubio signals progress on Strait of Hormuz with 'more news coming out'
12:44 , Holly BancroftIran's president: We are ready to reassure the world we are not seeking nuclear weapons
12:21 , Holly BancroftIran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the country is “ready to reassure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons” as the US and Iran seek to reach a peace agreement.
Mr Pezeshkian also said on Sunday morning that Tehran’s negotiating team will “not compromise when it comes to our country’s honour and dignity”.
He had also said there will be no decision on the agreement without the supreme leader of Iran Khamenei’s approval.
In full: All we know about the latest draft US-Iran peace deal
12:06 , Holly BancroftThe US and Iran have “largely negotiated” a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to US president Donald Trump, with expectations rising that a breakthrough could be imminent.
The closure of the vital shipping passage has sparked a global energy crisis since US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said that the “final aspects and details of the deal” were being discussed, with his comments confirmed by US secretary of state Marco Rubio who said that “significant progress” had been made.
Rubio also hinted at further good news to come on Sunday “at least in regards to the Strait”.
Read more about the details that have emerged so far here:
All we know about latest draft US-Iran peace deal that could reopen Strait of Hormuz
Potential deal 'will include Iran commitment to not pursue a nuclear weapon'
11:44 , Holly BancroftThe potential deal will include Iran’s commitment that it won’t pursue a nuclear weapon, and Tehran agreed to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to two regional officials who spoke to the Associated Press.
One official, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, said how Iran will give up its highly enriched uranium is a subject of further negotiations over the course of a 60-day period.
It’s highly likely that a part of the amount will be diluted, while the rest will be transferred to a third country, potentially Russia, he said.
Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60 per cent purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Strait of Hormuz will be gradually open in parallel with the US ending its blockade of Iran’s ports, said the official.
The US will also allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said the second official who has been briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and release of Iran’s frozen funds will be negotiated during the 60-day time frame, he said.
Both officials said the draft deal includes an end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as a commitment of not interfering in the domestic affairs of countries in the region. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations.
How long will the draft deal last?
11:20 , Holly BancroftThe US and Iran are close to signing a peace agreement that could see the Strait of Hormuz reopen. But how long will this memorandum between the two sides last for?
According to reports in American news outlet Axios, the deal could be announced on Sunday if it is finalised and it would last for 60 days. It could then be extended by mutual consent, according to Axios.
During that initial 60-day period, the Strait of Hormuz would be open with no tolls and Iran would agree to clear its mines to allow ships to pass freely.
The US would lift a blockade on Iranian shipping and waive some sanctions on Iranian oil. Further negotiations would then take place during the 60 days over other aspects of the draft agreement, such as unfreezing Iranian funds and conditions over Iran’s uranium stockpile.
President of EU Commission calls for deal to guarantee 'toll free' shipping
10:58 , Holly BancroftUrsula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has welcomed the progress on a peace deal between the US and Iran, but called for an agreement that “truly de-escalates the conflict, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and guarantees toll free full freedom of navigation”.
In a post to social media platform X on Sunday morning, she added: “Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. It must also end its destabilising actions in the region, directly or through proxies, as well as its unjustified and repeated attacks on its neighbours.
“Europe will continue working with international partners to seize this moment for a lasting diplomatic solution. And to contain the spillover of this conflict, notably on supply chains and energy prices.”
Sooner Strait of Hormuz can open the better, UK cabinet minister says
10:38 , Holly BancroftThe sooner the Strait of Hormuz can open the better, Cabinet minister Darren Jones said after Donald Trump said a deal with Iran was “largely negotiated”.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr Jones said British involvement in a peacekeeping mission to the Gulf was not on the table “right now”.
He told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips he hoped a deal could be done to end the Middle East crisis.
“As we’ve said from the beginning, this is a war that we did not want to happen. We’ve had to prepare ourselves for the domestic implications of the conflict in the Middle East on the UK economy and the sooner we are able to get to the point of de-escalation and, crucially, get the Strait of Hormuz open again for the flow of oil and trade, the better for all of us.”
Asked if the UK would contribute to a peacekeeping force, he said: “I’m not sure that that’s on the table right now.
“We have long-standing defence partnerships with countries in the region, anyway, as well as British military bases there, which we’ve talked a lot about in the last few weeks, as this conflict has flared up.
“But I think what is really the question here is how we get the Strait of Hormuz open, how the Americans and others can help to clear mines that may have been laid in the Strait of Hormuz, so that commercial shipping companies have the confidence again to be able to travel through it.”
One or two issues still to be decided in draft deal, Iranian media reports
10:20 , Holly BancroftOne or two clauses of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran are still to be decided, Iranian media has reported.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency has said there is still conflict over a small number of items, but has not given details about which aspects these are.
A senior Iranian source has also told Reuters that, if Iran’s Supreme National Security Council approves the memorandum, then it will be sent to the Supreme Leader for final approval.
Tehran has also not agreed to hand over its uranium stockpile, with a source telling the news agency that this is not part of the preliminary agreement with the US.
Sir Keir Starmer welcomes progress towards US-Iran peace deal
10:00 , Holly BancroftUK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the progress towards a peace deal between the US and Iran.
In a post to X on Sunday morning, Sir Keir added: “We need to see an agreement that brings the conflict to an end and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation.
“It’s vital that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. My government will continue to do everything we can to protect British people from the impact of this conflict.
“We will work with our international partners to seize this moment and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement.”
Marco Rubio says 'possibility of good news over next few hours'
09:38 , Holly BancroftUS secretary of state Marco Rubio has hinted that there “is a possibility of good news over the next few hours” on the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking in India, where he is meeting India’s foreign minister, Mr Rubio said that “some progress has been made in the past 48 hours on an outline that could resolve the Strait of Hormuz situation”.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that a "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as expectations rose that a turning point might be imminent in the three-month-old war.
Mr Trump posted on social media that the emerging agreement would reopen the strait, the vital shipping passage whose closure has sparked a global energy crisis since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. He did not say what else would be included in an agreement.
"Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly," Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution: ‘Even my mother doesn’t know where I am’
09:29 , Holly BancroftOver 100 days after the brutal and unprecedented crackdown during Iran’s national uprising, life will never be the same for many of the young people who took to the streets.
As waves of arrests, executions and heavy sentences continue to mount, dozens of young protesters are now in a state of limbo between hiding and constant flight. They cannot return home, switch on their phones or even spend two nights in the same place.
Independent Persian has learned from sources in Tehran, Karaj, Zanjan, Mashhad, Isfahan, Rasht, Shiraz, Kermanshah and Kish that some individuals who took part in demonstrations in January have gone into hiding after repeated summons and attempted arrests by security forces.
The constant fear of arrest has turned every ringing doorbell, unknown phone call or checkpoint into a potential nightmare of torture, disappearance, execution or death in custody.
Read more from Amirhossein Miresmaeili here:
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution by brutal regime
Marco Rubio says 'significant progress' has been made but says deal 'not final'
09:12 , Holly BancroftSpeaking about the draft Iran deal, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that “some progress has been made - significant progress, although not final progress”.
He hinted that “there will be, maybe, more news coming out a bit later today”. Mr Rubio, who is speaking at a news conference with India’s foreign minister in New Delhi, emphasised that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
He said that it was possible that further good news is to come “at least in regards to the Strait”.
Watch: Trump says peace deal with Iran ‘largely negotiated’
09:00 , Holly BancroftIran stresses need for US to withdraw troops as part of deal, local media reports
08:41 , Holly BancroftThe US has committed to withdraw forces from the region under the draft deal negotiated with Iran, Iranian media has said.
Iran’s Fars news agency has also said that the draft memorandum includes a temporary lifting of sanctions on Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemicals during the negotiation period. There is not yet detail on what this might look like.
Iran has also stressed its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and more details on this will be announced soon, according to Tasnim news agency.
What has Iran said about reopening the Strait of Hormuz?
08:27 , Holly BancroftA potential memorandum on ending the war between Iran and the US includes a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency has said that, if the deal is reached with the US, the Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions. They predict that the number of ships that are able to transit the Strait will return to pre-war levels in 30 days . No change will reportedly occur in the Strait unless the blockage of Iranian vessels by the US is lifted.
The Tasnim news agency has reported this morning that the reopening of the Strait will be conditional on the implementation of other commitments by the US in the draft agreement.
Iran executes man for sending defence information to US and Israel during war
08:20 , Stuti MishraIran has executed a man for sending information about its defence industry to the US and Israel during the war, the Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency just reported.
The individual, identified as Mojtaba Kian, was sending data to "the enemy", the agency said.
Details of US-Iran draft deal emerge including sanction waiver on Iran oil
08:17 , Holly BancroftThe US would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and issue some sanction waivers to allow Iran to sell oil freely, under the terms of the memorandum that has been negotiated overnight, according to Axios.
Under terms of the reported deal, the US would also agree to negotiate over the lifting of sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian funds.
According to Iranian media, the draft memorandum also includes a stipulation that Washington and its allies will not attack Iran and its allies. Iran will also pledge not to launch any preemptive military attacks.
Plans for Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium are still to be negotiated, the New York Times is reporting.
Proposed Iran deal would reopen Strait of Hormuz during 60-day ceasefire extension, report says
08:00 , Stuti MishraThe US and Iran are close to signing a deal involving a 60-day ceasefire extension during which the Strait of Hormuz would also be reopened, according to a report by Axios citing a US official.
Under the proposed deal, the strait would be open with no tolls and Iran would agree to clear the mines it deployed in the waterway. In exchange, the US would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and issue sanctions waivers allowing Iran to sell oil freely.
The draft agreement also includes commitments from Iran to never pursue nuclear weapons and to negotiate over a suspension of its uranium enrichment programme and the removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, Axios reported. Iran gave the US verbal commitments through mediators about the scope of concessions it was willing to make on enrichment and nuclear material, two sources told Axios.
The US would also agree to negotiate over lifting sanctions and unfreezing Iranian funds during the 60-day period.
Turkey ready to support potential Iran deal, Erdogan says
07:50 , Stuti MishraTurkish president Tayyip Erdogan said today that Turkey was ready to provide every kind of support during the implementation of a potential deal with Iran, speaking on a call with US president Donald Trump and regional leaders.
An agreement to secure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz would support stability in the region and provide relief to the global economy, Erdogan said, according to his office.
Pakistan says 'meaningful progress' achieved in US-Iran negotiations
07:33 , Stuti MishraPakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that "meaningful progress" had been achieved in US-Iran negotiations, offering grounds for optimism that "a positive and durable outcome is within reach," Reuters reported.
Earlier today, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated US president Donald Trump for what he described as "extraordinary efforts" to pursue peace, adding that Pakistan remained committed to continuing talks and hoped to host the next round soon.
I congratulate President Donald Trump on his extraordinary efforts to pursue peace and for holding a very useful and productive telephone call earlier today, with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Pakistan. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 24, 2026
Draft US-Iran MOU would bar both sides from attacking each other's allies, Fars reports
07:21 , Stuti MishraA draft memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran stipulates that Washington and its allies will not attack Iran or its allies, with Tehran in return pledging not to launch any preemptive military attack on the US and its allies, Iran's Fars news agency reported.
The report comes as both sides inch toward a potential framework to end the war. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Saturday the parties were finalising a 14-point MOU that would create a temporary framework for diplomacy, under which Iran and the US would spend 30 to 60 days negotiating the most contentious issues — including Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s Iran war risks becoming a humiliating strategic failure, say analysts
03:00 , Dan HaygarthThree months after launching an offensive against Iran, questions are mounting over whether Donald Trump, despite securing numerous tactical victories, is now losing the broader conflict.
While the US military has achieved successes, Iran’s firm grip on the Strait of Hormuz, its steadfast refusal to make nuclear concessions, and its theocratic government remain largely intact. This has led to growing doubts among observers that Mr Trump can effectively translate these military gains into a geopolitical triumph he can convincingly present.
Read more below.
Trump’s Iran war risks becoming a humiliating strategic failure, say analysts
Trump says Strait of Hormuz to reopen after Iran peace deal ‘largely negotiated’
02:00 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump announced on Saturday that a major peace agreement with Iran is near finalization, following a high-level conference call from the Oval Office with key regional leaders.
Writing on Truth Social, the US president stated that a Memorandum of Understanding has been “largely negotiated,” subject to final details being settled between the US, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and a broad coalition of Middle Eastern and South Asian nations.
The breakthrough comes after a series of calls involving the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Turkey and Pakistan's military chief.
Trump also confirmed he held a separate, concurrent call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the framework, which he described as having gone “very well.”
A central element of the emerging deal is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical channel for global oil supplies that the conflict has heavily disrupted.
Read more below.
Trump says Strait of Hormuz to reopen after Iran peace deal ‘largely negotiated’
Trump's Truth Social post in full
Sunday 24 May 2026 00:01 , Dan Haygarth
Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iran's management, Iran's Fars says
Saturday 23 May 2026 22:37 , Dan HaygarthThe Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iran's management according to the latest exchanged text between Iran and the US, Iran's Fars news agency reported on Sunday.
It dismissed Donald Trump's announcement of reopening the strait as part of a "largely negotiated" deal as "incomplete and inconsistent with reality."
Iran and US signal some progress in talks as Trump weighs striking again
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:15 , Dan HaygarthIran on Saturday signaled "narrowing differences" in negotiations with the US after Pakistan's army chief held more talks in Tehran and the United States weighs a new round of attacks on the Islamic Republic, AP reports.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in India that "there's been some progress made" and "there may be news later today."
Iran has rebuilt military assets after weeks of war and then a fragile ceasefire, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said after the meeting with Field Marshal Asim Munir, state TV reported.
Qalibaf, the lead negotiator in historic face-to-face talks with the US last month, also said the result would be "more crushing and more bitter" than at the start of the war if Donald Trump resumes attacks.
Separately, Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying that nuclear issues are not part of the current negotiations, as Tehran first seeks to end the war before discussing its nuclear program that has long been at the heart of international tensions.
Trump: 'Either I hit them harder than they have ever been hit, or we are going to sign a deal that is good'
Saturday 23 May 2026 17:19 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump said on Saturday he will discuss the latest Iran draft agreement with advisers and might make a decision on whether to resume the war by Sunday, Axios reported, citing an interview with the president.
"I think one of two things will happen: either I hit them harder than they have ever been hit, or we are going to sign a deal that is good," Trump said.
He added it was a "solid 50/50" as to whether he would be able to make a "good" deal or else "blow them to kingdom come."
'Either we reach a good deal or I'll blow them to a thousand hells', Trump says
Saturday 23 May 2026 16:45 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump said on Saturday he will discuss the latest Iran draft agreement with advisers and might make a decision on whether to resume the war by Sunday, Axios reported, citing an interview with the president.
"Either we reach a good deal or I'll blow them to a thousand hells," he was quoted as saying.
US is not an honest party in negotiations, Iran says
Saturday 23 May 2026 13:39 , Sam RkainaIran's top negotiator has accused the US of not being an honest party in negotiations to end their war and insists Tehran will not compromise on its national rights.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf made the remarks to Pakistani army chief Asim Munir during talks in Tehran on Saturday.
Qalibaf said Iran would pursue its “legitimate rights”, both on the battlefield and through diplomacy, but added that it could not trust “a party that has no honesty at all”, an allegation Iran has made several times before.
He said Iran's armed forces had rebuilt their capabilities during the ceasefire and that, if the United States “foolishly restarts the war”, the consequences would be “more forceful and bitter” than at the start of the conflict.
Trump faces a stark choice to end unpopular war
Saturday 23 May 2026 12:24 , Sam RkainaThe continuing standoff between Iran and the US comes as Trump faces domestic pressure over high gasoline prices and low approval ratings after he embarked on the unpopular war ahead of November’s midterm elections.
His Republican Party is struggling to maintain control of Congress.
As a result, more than six weeks into a ceasefire, some analysts believe Trump faces a stark choice: to accept a potentially flawed deal as an off-ramp or escalate militarily and risk an even longer crisis.
Among his options if diplomacy collapses, they say, would be to launch a round of sharp but limited strikes, frame it as a final victory and move on.
Another possibility, analysts say, is that Trump could attempt to shift focus to Cuba, as he has suggested, in hopes of changing the subject and trying to score a potentially easier win.
If so, he might end up misjudging the challenges posed by Havana, much as some Trump aides privately acknowledge that he mistakenly thought the Iran operation would resemble the January 3 raid that captured Venezuela's president and led to his replacement.
'Short term rump has become strategic failure'
Saturday 23 May 2026 11:15 , Sam RkainaSome experts predict a grim post-war outlook for Trump.
“We’re three months in, and it’s looking like a war that was designed to be a short-term romp for Trump is turning into a long-term strategic failure,” said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator for Republican and Democratic administrations.
For Trump, that matters, especially given his famous sensitivity to being perceived as a loser, an insult he has often lobbed at opponents.
In the Iran crisis, he finds himself commander-in-chief of the world’s mightiest military pitted against a second-tier power seemingly convinced it has the upper hand.
And this predicament could make Trump, who has yet to define a clear endgame, more likely to resist any compromise that looks like a retreat from his maximalist positions or a repetition of the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran that he scrapped in his first term, analysts say.
But White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales insists the U.S. has “met or surpassed all of our military objectives in 'Operation Epic Fury'.”
“President Trump holds all the cards and wisely keeps all options on the table,” she added.
Three months in, is Trump losing the war?
Saturday 23 May 2026 10:40 , Sam RkainaDonald Trump may have won just about every battle against Iran, but three months after attacking the Islamic Republic he now faces a bigger question: Is he losing the war?
With Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, its resistance to nuclear concessions and its theocratic government largely intact, doubts are growing that Trump can translate the US military’s tactical successes into an outcome he can frame convincingly as a geopolitical win.
His repeated claims of complete victory ring hollow, some analysts say, as the two sides teeter between uncertain diplomacy and his on-again-off-again threats to resume strikes, which would be sure to draw Iranian retaliation across the region.
Trump is now at risk of seeing the US and its Gulf Arab allies emerge from the conflict worse off while Iran, though battered militarily and economically, could end up with greater leverage, having shown it can throttle one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies.
US arms sales to Taiwan 'unrelated to Iran war'
Saturday 23 May 2026 09:56 , Sam RkainaUS arms sales to Taiwan are unrelated to the war with Iran, it has been claimed, after a senior US official suggested there was a pause due to the need to have enough arms for the conflict.
Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has been waiting for the U.S. to approve an arms sale that Reuters reported could be worth up to $14 billion.
President Donald Trump sowed uncertainty in Taipei by saying, after meeting China's President Xi Jinping this month, that he was undecided on whether to approve the package.
On Thursday, acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing that there was a pause on arms sales to Taiwan to make sure the US had the munitions needed for the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran.
A source familiar with the matter noted that Trump has said he would decide on the Taiwan arms sales soon.
“These sales take years to process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury,” the source told Reuters.
“The United States military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump's strategic goals and beyond.”
Trump snubs son's wedding as he maintains focus on government business - including Iran war
Saturday 23 May 2026 09:16 , Samantha BeechUS President Donald Trump does not plan to attend the wedding celebration of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, because he has to stay in Washington for government business, he has revealed.
Trump Jr celebrating his marriage to Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson on a small island in the Bahamas, CNN reported.
Trump told reporters that Donald Trump Jr. wanted his father to attend, but that it was going to be a "small private affair."
Trump said then he would try to make the wedding but the timing was bad for him.
"I have a thing called Iran and other things," Trump said.
"While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon-to-be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
"I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time," the post continued.
Trump 'has other options' if diplomacy doesn't work, Rubio says
Saturday 23 May 2026 08:49 , Stuti MishraTrump “has other options” if diplomacy doesn't work, Marco Rubio said, admitting that there was still work to be done.
The United States has seen some progress in talks with Iran and is in constant communication with the Pakistani mediators, but there is more work to be done, Rubio said today.
“There's been some progress. I wouldn't exaggerate it. I wouldn't diminish it,” Rubio told reporters after a Nato ministers meeting in Sweden.
“There's more work to be done,” he admitted. “We're not there yet. I hope we get there.”
Rubio said Trump would prefer to make a good deal, but will need to discuss concerns about Iran’s possible access to nuclear weapons, the issue of future uranium enrichment, and the Strait of Hormuz.
“We're dealing with a very difficult group of people, and if it doesn't change, then the president's been clear he has other options,” Rubio said.
Rep. Pat Ryan blasts Republicans for pulling Iran War vote as 'Chickenhawk motherf***ers'
Saturday 23 May 2026 08:00 , Stuti MishraUS pauses major arms sale to Taiwan over Iran war
Saturday 23 May 2026 07:40 , Stuti MishraThe US Navy has put a major arms sale to Taiwan on “pause” to ensure the military has enough munitions for its war in Iran.
Hung Cao, the acting secretary of the US Navy, said during a congressional hearing about the stalled $14bn weapons purchase, that “right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury - which we have plenty”.
“But, we're just making sure we have everything, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.”
Oil and gas prices to remain high in Europe at least until the end of 2027, officials say
Saturday 23 May 2026 07:20 , Stuti MishraEuropean Union officials said Friday that Europeans can expect oil and gas prices to remain above what they were before the Iran war for at least until the end of 2027, with prices of other goods also following an upward trajectory.
EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said that higher energy prices are primarily responsible for driving inflation to a forecast 3.1% for this year and 2.4% for 2027. That’s significantly higher than the earlier forecast for this year of 1.9%.
“We expect that this energy inflation will gradually also trickle down to different sectors of the economy,” Dombrovskis said after a meeting of the 21-member eurozone's finance ministers, who make up the Eurogroup.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said that even if the conflict in the Middle East ended now, “lagging effects” would keep the prices of goods elevated.
“And it’s probably a fact that price levels will be higher at the end of this crisis, when we see the end of the crisis,” Lagarde said.
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Oil and gas prices to remain high in Europe at least until the end of 2027, officials say
Pakistan army chief holds late-night talks with Iran's foreign minister in Tehran
Saturday 23 May 2026 06:20 , Stuti MishraPakistan's army chief Asim Munir held talks with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi in Tehran yesterday lasting late into the night, as Islamabad steps up diplomatic efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States, Iran's state media just reported.
Both sides exchanged views on the latest diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing further escalation and ending the war, the report said.
Trump 'has other options' if diplomacy doesn't work, says Rubio, admitting there's still work to be done
Saturday 23 May 2026 05:40 , Stuti MishraThe United States has seen some progress in talks with Iran and is in constant communication with the Pakistani mediators, but there is more work to be done, Marco Rubio said today.
“There's been some progress. I wouldn't exaggerate it. I wouldn't diminish it,” Rubio told reporters after a NATO ministers meeting in Sweden.
“There's more work to be done,” he admitted. “We're not there yet. I hope we get there.”
Rubio said Trump would prefer to make a good deal, but will need to discuss concerns about Iran’s possible access to nuclear weapons, the issue of future uranium enrichment, and the Strait of Hormuz.
“We're dealing with a very difficult group of people, and if it doesn't change, then the president's been clear he has other options,” Rubio said.
Trump preparing for fresh round of military strikes against Iran: report
Saturday 23 May 2026 05:00 , Stuti MishraDonald Trump’s administration is preparing for a fresh round of military strikes against Iran, according to a new report.
Military and intelligence officials have canceled their Memorial Day weekend plans in case of possible strikes, sources told CBS News.
"The President always maintains all options at all times, and it is the job of the Pentagon to be ready to execute any decision the Commander-in-Chief could make," a White House spokesperson told the outlet.
No final decision to launch the strikes had been made as of Friday afternoon, local time.
