Donald Trump has said that Iran believes it is in a “State of Collapse” and wants the US to open the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington considers a new peace proposal.
“Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse’” the US president wrote.
“They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait’, as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!),” he added.
Insiders revealed today that Trump discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war with his top national security aides on Monday, as the conflict remains in a stalemate with energy supplies from the region still disrupted.
Earlier, secretary of state Marco Rubio said Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz represents an “economic nuclear weapon” the regime is using to hold the world’s energy “hostage”.
Marco Rubio told Fox News on Monday that Iran is “bragging” about how it can hold a fifth of the world’s oil and gas “hostage”.
Tehran's latest proposal would see the Strait of Hormuz opened and an end to the war, but with talks on the Iranian nuclear programme postponed.
Read MoreWhy and how European airlines may cancel flights – and why passengers shouldn’t worry about holidays
Oil prices edge higher as Trump weighs Iran’s latest proposal to open Strait of Hormuz
All the alternative routes for Middle East oil and gas to bypass the Strait of Hormuz
Key Points
- Trump 'doesn't love' Iran's peace proposal - report
- Israel orders more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate
- Iran needs 'credible guarantees' against further US-Israeli attacks before peace deal
- UK ambassador to Washington says America’s only ‘special relationship’ is with Israel, not Britain
- Russian offers to store Iran's enriched uranium fall on deaf ears
- BP profits soar as Middle East forces up energy prices
Lebanon 'on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe', warns aid group
20:15 , Alex CroftLebanon is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as Israel once again intensifies its attacks on the country’s south.
The Israeli military has ordered more than a dozen villages to evacuate, with a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah now in tatters.
Now, a chef for the World Central Kitchen warns The Independent that aid agencies are struggling to meet the needs of desperate and displaced people.
“So this is the this is the situation right now,” said Aline Kamakian, a chef for the World Central Kitchen in Beirut. “We continue like this, we have a humanitarian catastrophe. We are at the edge of a catastrophe.
She added: “Central Kitchen gives 25,000 hot meals every day, and it's not even 1 per cent of the need.
“There is the World Food Programme, there are a lot of NGOs here, but all of us, we're not able to feed everyone, all of us together. The need is beyond us.”
China ready to resume exporting jet fuel - FT
19:31 , Alex CroftChina is poised to resume exporting jet fuel, gasoline and diesel with the country's large state oil companies having applied for export permits to ship fuel in May, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing trading sources.
Beijing wished to supply mostly jet fuel to Asian countries that are now running dangerously low, FT said, citing a person with knowledge of China's export intentions.
Watch: Badenoch says 'UK should be on the side of US' in Iran war
18:44 , Alex CroftUK summons Iranian ambassador over 'unnacceptable' social media post
17:59 , Alex CroftIran’s ambassador to the UK has been summoned by the Foreign Office over “unacceptable and inflammatory comments” posted by the embassy on social media.
Seyed Ali Mousavi was called in by Middle East minister Hamish Falconer over an online message reportedly recruiting expats to become martyrs.
The Foreign Office said the minister condemned the “completely unacceptable actions”.
The intervention followed reports in Metro about a message on the embassy’s Telegram channel calling for expats to “sacrifice their lives for the homeland”.
The message called on their country’s diaspora in the UK to “lay down our lives” to “defend Iranian land”, the newspaper reported.
It concluded: “Let us all, one and all, give our lives in battle. Rather than surrender our country to the enemy.”
Energy prices expected to surge by 24% in 2026 - World Bank
17:14 , Alex CroftEnergy prices are expected to surge by 24 per cent in 2026 if the most acute disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East end in May, the World Bank said on Tuesday.
This would mean prices hitting their highest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
Commodity prices could rise even further if hostilities in the region escalated and supply disruptions lasted longer than expected, the global development bank said in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook.
The bank said its baseline scenario assumed that shipping volumes through the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway would gradually return to near pre-war levels by October, but said the risks were "markedly tilted" toward higher prices.
The bank's baseline projects a 16 per cent increase in overall commodity prices in 2026, given soaring energy and fertilizer prices and record-high prices for several key metals.
Oil prices continued to rise on Tuesday as efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war stalled and the Strait of Hormuz remained largely shut, keeping energy supplies, fertilizer and other commodities from the key Middle East producing region out of the reach of global buyers.
UK ambassador to Washington says America’s only ‘special relationship’ is with Israel, not Britain
17:10 , Alex CroftThe UK’s ambassador to Washington has said that America’s only “special relationship” is with “probably Israel” rather than the UK, according to a report.
In remarks likely to exacerbate growing animosity from the Trump administration towards Downing Street, Sir Christian Turner also said it was “extraordinary” that the Jeffrey Epstein scandal had failed to bring down any notable figures in the US.
The comments will also bring discomfort to King Charles, who is currently visiting the White House where he was welcomed in an address by Donald Trump, who hailed the “cherished bond” between the countries.
In the weeks running up to the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February, Sir Christian said: “I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States — and that is probably Israel.”
Full report: Trump aides fear Iran could turn into a drawn-out ‘Cold War situation’ with no deal - but no bombs either
16:45 , Alex CroftPresident Donald Trump’s aides fear that the conflict in Iran could turn into a drawn-out “Cold War-like” situation with no immediate end in sight.
The U.S.-Israel war with Iran has entered its eighth week, and while both sides are in negotiations and bombs have stopped dropping in Iran for now, the president is unlikely to accept Tehran’s latest proposal to end it.
Officials told Axios that they fear the U.S. could be drawn into “a frozen conflict of no war and no deal.”
At the start of the war, Trump promised that the U.S. would not be dragged into a lengthy conflict in the Middle East. But with the largest presence of American military forces in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, critics have warned that there would likely be no quick resolution.
Rhian Lubin reports from New York:
Trump aides fear Iran could turn into a drawn-out ‘Cold War situation’
Superyacht allowed by Iran and US to cross Strait of Hormuz - report
16:23 , Alex CroftA superyacht owned by Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov was able to transit the blockaded Strait of Hormuz after undergoing maintenance in Dubai because neither Iran nor the United States objected, a source close to Mordashov told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.
It has been unclear how the multi-deck pleasure vessel, worth over $500 million (£371m), gained permission to sail on Saturday through the commercially important waterway at the heart of the US-Iran conflict, where traffic has been severely restricted since February.
Sailing under a Russian flag, the yacht, called Nord, crossed the strait on an approved route in compliance with international maritime law, the source said.
"Iran did not interfere with the movement of the yacht, as it is a civilian vessel of a friendly country conducting a peaceful transit. The American side also raised no questions regarding the yacht’s movement, as it did not call at Iranian ports and has no connection to Iran," the source said.
You can read more on the superyacht crossing here.
UAE to leave OPEC and OPEC+ in blow to oil producers group
16:01 , Alex CroftThe United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it was quitting OPEC and OPEC+, dealing a heavy blow to the oil exporting groups and their de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Iran war has caused a historic energy shock and unsettled the global economy.
The loss of the UAE, a longstanding OPEC member, could create disarray and weaken the group, which has usually sought to show a united front despite internal disagreements over a range of issues from geopolitics to production quotas.
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told Reuters the decision was taken after a careful look at the regional power's energy strategies.
Asked whether the UAE consulted with Saudi Arabia, he said the UAE did not raise the issue with any other country.
"This is a policy decision, it has been done after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production," said the energy minister.
With Reuters
Recap: Putin receives message from Iranian Supreme Leader
15:39 , Alex CroftRussian president Vladimir Putin met Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in St Petersburg after receiving a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei.
“We sincerely hope that, drawing on this courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people will, under the leadership of a new Leader, navigate this difficult period of trials – and peace will come,” he said, according to Iran’s Tasnim News agency.
Putin said Russia will support Iran and do what serves the interests of Iran and regional peace.
Watch: Zelensky blames Iran was for stalled weapon supply as Russia continues to attack Ukraine
15:17 , Alex CroftIDF seizes 'hundreds of Hezbollah weapons' as strikes continue despite ceasefire
14:56 , Alex CroftThe IDF on Tuesday shared images of what it said were seizures of weapons from Hezbollah infrastructure sites.
One image shows what appears to be mines, mortars, helmets and bags strewn out across the floor, next to a picture of late Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
Another image shows a haul of AK-style rifle magazines, helmets, bergens and binoculars.
Iran's economy has been battered. Its leaders still think Trump will blink first
14:35 , Alex CroftIn the heartland of Iran’s famed carpet-making industry, manufacturing has ground to a near halt. Dairies struggle to find packages for milk and butter. Giant steel mills that once drove Iran’s economy have gone silent. Hundreds of thousands have lost jobs, and millions more are at risk.
Over more than five weeks of bombardment, U.S. and Israeli strikes hit thousands of factories. The damage is reverberating across Iran’s economy, threatening increasing waves of layoffs, even as Iranians face skyrocketing prices. The cost of chicken is up 75% the past month, and beef and lamb jumped 68%. Many dairy products have increased by half.
It could get worse as the United States blockades Iranian ports, choking off many imports and oil exports that bring in billions of dollars. Economic woes sparked the mass protests that were crushed before the war and could again push Iranians into the streets.
Iran's economy has been battered. Its leaders still think Trump will blink first
Iran says it's in a 'state of collapse', says Trump
14:33 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump writes on social media that Iran has “just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse’.
“They want us to “Open the Hormuz Strait,” as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation,” he claims.
Lebanon 'on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe', warns aid group
14:15 , Alex CroftLebanon is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as Israel once again intensifies its attacks on the country’s south.
The Israeli military has ordered more than a dozen villages to evacuate, with a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah now in tatters.
Now, a chef for the World Central Kitchen warns The Independent that aid agencies are struggling to meet the needs of desperate and displaced people.
“So this is the this is the situation right now,” said Aline Kamakian, a chef for the World Central Kitchen in Beirut. “We continue like this, we have a humanitarian catastrophe. We are at the edge of a catastrophe.
She added: “Central Kitchen gives 25,000 hot meals every day, and it's not even 1 per cent of the need.
“There is the World Food Programme, there are a lot of NGOs here, but all of us, we're not able to feed everyone, all of us together. The need is beyond us.”
Saudi hosts meeting of Gulf countries to respond to Iran war
13:55 , Alex CroftSaudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Jeddah on Tuesday, state media said, the first since the Iran war began.
A Gulf official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting aimed to craft a response to the thousands of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf states.
Saudi state media said the summit discussed "topics and issues related to regional and international developments, and the coordination of efforts regarding them."
Qatar's emir, Kuwait's crown prince, Bahrain's king and the United Arab Emirates' foreign minister attended the summit, Saudi state media reported. It was unclear who represented Oman, the remaining member of the GCC along with Saudi Arabia, which hosts the council's headquarters.
The GCC has faced some criticism from the UAE over what it said has been an inadequate response to the war.
"It is true that, logistically, the GCC countries supported each other, but politically and militarily, I think their position was the weakest in history," senior UAE official Anwar Gargash told a conference in the UAE on Monday.
"I expected such a weak position from the Arab League, and I am not surprised by it, but I have not expected it from the GCC, and I am surprised by it."
Rubio says Iran's use of Strait of Hormuz is 'an economic nuclear weapon'
13:33 , Alex CroftUS secretary of state Marco Rubio has warned stated that Iran’s use of the Strait of Hormuz is the “equivalent of an economic nuclear weapon” as he accused Tehran of seeking to use the critical waterway against the world.
Mr Rubio told Fox News that Iran was seeking to dominate the Middle East
“They’re bragging about it. They’re putting up billboards in Tehran bragging about how they can hold 25 per cent of the world’s energy hostage,” he said.
“Imagine if those same people had access to a nuclear weapon.”
How a facility turning plastic into jet fuel could solve the UK’s next oil crisis
13:12 , Alex CroftA world-first facility that turns plastic into jet fuel could be part of Britain’s solution to the next global oil crisis.
Scientists in Kent are converting non-recyclable waste plastics into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to address the challenges posed by plastic waste and aviation decarbonisation.
With the backing of the government and airlines, Clean Planet Technologies, part of the Clean Planet Group, said it could provide security for the UK the next time it faces major jet fuel shortages.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war has caused widespread disruption to the flow of oil across the world, sending jet fuel prices soaring to roughly twice as high as they were before the conflict.
Some European airlines have already cancelled flights amid the crisis, while others have warned of possible disruption and a rise in airfares.
Read the full report by Harriette Boucher here.
Iran eases internet restrictions for businesses
12:50 , Alex CroftIran's top security body is easing the internet restrictions to allow businesses more access to the global internet, a spokesperson told Iranian media on Tuesday.
Authorities in Tehran had imposed a blackout since the start of the war against the US and Israel.
Most Iranians have been unable to access the worldwide web for the last 60 days according to the internet observatory NetBlocks, with only a few citizens having access to expensive and advanced VPNs that circumvent the restrictions.
"The Supreme National Security Council approved the 'Internet Pro' scheme to preserve businesses during times of crisis," said government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani.
She did not say when the new measures, which had not been previously disclosed by the government, had been introduced.
"Once the situation is announced to be normal by relevant authorities, the situation of the internet will also change," she added.
Supermarket price rises on the way as ‘full force’ of Iran war hits, warn retailers
12:31 , Alex CroftThe “full force” of the Iran war will soon hit supermarket shelves, retailers warn, although shop inflation fell slightly in April.
Retailers say it is the calm before the storm, with soaring fuel prices poised to feed through to farmers, making it more expensive to breed livestock and grow vegetables.
Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “While we’re yet to see the full force of the Middle East conflict feeding into consumer prices, it will not be long before it begins to.”
Shop price inflation in April actually fell year-on-year from 1.2 per cent to 1 per cent.
Retailers have made discounts on clothing, furniture and DIY goods in the face of weakening consumer confidence.
Read more here:
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Supermarket price rises on the way as ‘full force’ of Iran war hits, warn retailers
UK minister warns Tehran is ‘holding the rest of the world to ransom’
12:13 , Alex CroftThe UK does not support the US blockade of Iranian ports, but backs international efforts to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open for global shipping, Stephen Doughty, the UK minister for Europe and North America, has said.
Speaking ahead of a UN Security Council meeting, Doughty said Iran is effectively “holding the rest of the world to ransom”.
Maritime traffic must flow safely and unimpeded through the strait, he said in comments reported by the Associated Press, and “that includes no tolls, no security risk and, of course, adherence to the international laws on freedom of navigation”.
He later said in a statement to the council: “This crisis is not just affecting international shipping, it is driving up costs and sending shockwaves throughout energy markets and supply chains far beyond the region with impact for all of our citizens, our communities and their cost of living.
“So, we must get the strait reopened fully and unconditionally.
“Freedom of navigation must be restored, in line with international law. Shipping and seafarers must not be used as leverage, and there is no place for tolls or permissions in international straits.
“Freedom of navigation means navigation must be free.
“Throughout this crisis, the UK has been clear: Iran must not be able to hold the global economy hostage or indeed threaten regional and international security.”
Watch: Badenoch says 'UK should be on the side of US' in Iran war
11:52 , Alex CroftIsrael tells Lebanese villagers they are 'endangering their life' if they remain home
11:31 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, Israel has issued an evacuation order for more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon.
The order came from the Israeli military’s Arab media spokesperson, Avichay Adraee.
“In light of the terrorist Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Defense Army is compelled to act against it forcefully,” he wrote on X, including a map of the evacuation area.
The military said the villages residents are “required to evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the specified area towards the Sidon District”.
The statement also tells Lebanese residents that they are “endangering their life” if they remain “near Hezbollah elements”.
In pictures: Israel launches fresh attacks on southern Lebanon
11:15 , Alex Croft
Sweden warns of potential jet fuel shortage
10:58 , Alex CroftSweden is issuing an early warning of a potential shortage of jet fuel stemming from the war in the Middle East, energy minister Ebba Busch said on Tuesday.
"This is based on the Energy Agency's assessment," Busch told a press conference.
Sweden could in a worst case scenario face rationing of aviation fuel, but the situation going forward depends to a great degree on how the market adapts, said Energy Agency General Director Caroline Asserup.
Breaking: Israel orders more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate
10:27 , Alex CroftIsrael's military issued an urgent warning on Tuesday to residents in more than a dozen villages and towns in southern Lebanon, urging them to evacuate northward immediately and signalling an imminent attack.
The warning said the action was necessary due to the Hezbollah militia's violation of a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
We’ll bring you more as it comes in.
Recap: Trump discussed new Iran proposal with national security aides
10:12 , Alex CroftDonald Trump met with his national security team on Monday to review a new Iranian proposal to end the war, the White House said.
The proposal reportedly includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and delaying discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme, while Trump’s core demand, that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons, remains unchanged.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said: “What I will reiterate is that the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well.
“I wouldn’t say they’re considering it. I would just say that there was a discussion this morning that I don’t want to get ahead of, and you’ll hear directly from the president, I’m sure, on this topic.”
Watch: Starmer tells Britons ‘don’t panic’ over impact of Iran war
09:56 , Alex CroftIran demands 'credible guarantees' against further US-Israeli attacks before peace deal
09:40 , Alex CroftIran has made clear it needs “credible guarantees” against further US-Israeli attacks before it can ensure security in the Gulf, Tehran’s envoy to the UN has said.
Amir Saeid Iravani told a security council session: “Lasting stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the wider region can only be achieved through a durable and permanent cessation of aggression against Iran supplemented by credible guarantees of non-recurrence and full respect for the legitimate sovereign rights and interests of Iran.”
It follows a recent round of diplomacy by Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who visited Pakistani and Omani mediators before travelling to Moscow to meet with the Russian president.
“The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands,” Mr Araghchi told reporters in St Petersburg on Monday.
Starmer warns Iran war could put holidays and food shopping habits under threat
09:11 , Alex CroftSir Keir Starmer said Britons should not panic over the economic impact of the Iran war but acknowledged people might have to change their shopping habits and holiday plans.
The prime minister, who will lead a meeting of the ministerial Iran crisis committee on Tuesday, said “at the moment” the government was confident about supply chains.
He said the UK was doing “everything we can” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil and gas shipping route which has been effectively closed by Iran since the US-Israeli bombing campaign began.
Sir Keir said the French and the British would lead a “military mission” to provide reassurance to ships passing through the strait, although the initiative, driven by the prime minister and French president Emmanuel Macron, is not expected to begin until hostilities cease.
Read our full report here:
Starmer warns Iran war could put holidays and food shopping habits under threat
Iran war deals devastating blow to malnourished Somalian children
08:55 , Alex CroftMalnourished children in Somalia, already suffering the twin catastrophes of looming famine and radical cuts in foreign aid, are only suffering more after the US-Israeli war on Iran has led to shortages of lifesaving therapeutic foods.
The country was already suffering such shortages, with clinics now forced to turn away severely malnourished children and ration supplies.
Almost half a million children under 5 suffer from "severe acute malnutrition" or "wasting", the most life-threatening form of hunger, and the delays are worsening the effect of the aid reductions.
Here are some images of the worsening food crisis in Somalia.
Russian offers to store Iran's enriched uranium to defuse tensions fall on deaf ears
08:35 , Alex CroftIran has welcomed Russia’s support for diplomacy in the Middle East - but several of its offers have been rejected by the US.
Moscow has repeatedly offered to store Iran’s enriched uranium in its country in order to defuse tensions, a proposal that has been rejected out of hand by Washington.
Russia has offered to mediate to try to help restore calm to the Middle East since the US-Israeli strikes began on 28 February.
But they are unlikely to be called upon, with Pakistan enthusiastically leading mediating efforts as it stands,
Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi still praised the strength of ties between the Tehran and Moscow, after meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, saying recent events had demonstrated the depth of their strategic partnership.
Watch: Zelensky blames Iran was for stalled weapon supply as Russia continues to attack Ukraine
08:27 , James ReynoldsRecap: Trump 'unhappy with Iran's omission of nuclear issue in talks'
08:14 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump is reportedly unhappy with the latest Iranian proposal on resolving the two-month war, dampening hopes for a quick resolution.
Iran's latest proposal would set aside discussion of Iran's nuclear program until the war is ended and disputes over shipping from the Gulf are resolved.
But a US official briefed on Trump’s Monday meeting with advisors told Reuters that the president is unhappy with the proposal, as Washington wants nuclear issues to be addressed from the outset.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said the US “will not negotiate through the press” and has “been clear about our red lines” as the Trump administration looks to end the war against Iran it began in February alongside Israel.
IDF seizes 'hundreds of Hezbollah weapons' as strikes continue despite ceasefire
08:00 , James ReynoldsThe IDF on Tuesday shared images of what it said were seizures of weapons from Hezbollah infrastructure sites.
One image shows what appears to be mines, mortars, helmets and bags strewn out across the floor, next to a picture of late Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
Another image shows a haul of AK-style rifle magazines, helmets, bergens and binoculars.
BP profits soar as Middle East forces up energy prices
07:26 , James ReynoldsBP saw its profits soar in the first quarter of 2026, amid a surge in oil and gas prices driven by the war in the Middle East.
The British energy giant on Tuesday posted underlying replacement cost profit, a proxy for net profit, of $3.2bn for the first three months of the year, well ahead of the $2.63bn forecast by analysts.
That’s up from $1.54bn in Q4 of 2025 and more than double the $1.38bn reported this time last year.
“Overall, our business continues to run well. This was another quarter of strong operational and financial delivery, and we made further progress towards our 2027 targets,” BP CEO Meg O’Neill said in a statement.
Looking ahead, BP expects a drop in fossil fuel production in the current quarter, in part due to the war.
Iran war is latest blow to Somalia's malnourished children
07:22 , James ReynoldsThe closure of the Strait of Hormuz has constrained global supplies of energy and fertiliser, with knock-on effects felt worldwide.
Few places have felt that blow stronger than Somalia, where almost half a million children under five are suffering from ‘severe acute malnutrition’ or ‘wasting’, the most life-threatening form of hunger.
The country had already been suffering twin catastrophes of looming famine and radical cuts to foreign aid when the conflict to its east erupted at the end of February.
Health workers in Baidoa and Mogadishu say they have had to stretch out meagre stocks of specialised milk and nutrient-dense peanut-based paste vital to saving these children.
"Since the needs are large and we don't have a lot of supplies, we have had to keep reducing the amount we give children," nurse Hassan Yahye Kheyre said.
Russian superyacht sailed through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade
07:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarA Russian superyacht, Nord, linked to sanctioned billionaire Alexey Mordashov, “sailed through the Strait of Hormuz” despite the ongoing blockade of the key shipping route, according to the BBC.
The 142m vessel, worth “over $500m (£370m)”, travelled from Dubai to Muscat over the weekend and is “one of a few private vessels to transit through the strait in recent months”.
Iran is simultaneously engaged in talks with Russia amid tensions with the US over the waterway.
In Moscow, Putin hosted an Iranian delegation, where Araghchi praised the “strategic relationship”, while Putin said the Iranian people were “courageously fighting” for sovereignty.
Mordashov, a close associate of Putin, is not officially recorded as the yacht’s owner. However, registry details show that in 2022, Nord was registered under a company owned by his wife.
Putin receives message from Iranian Supreme Leader
06:59 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussian president Vladimir Putin met Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in St Petersburg after receiving a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei.
“We sincerely hope that, drawing on this courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people will, under the leadership of a new Leader, navigate this difficult period of trials – and peace will come,” he said, according to Iran’s Tasnim News agency.
Putin said Russia will support Iran and do what serves the interests of Iran and regional peace.
US treasury chief says businesses working with Iranian airlines risk sanctions
06:47 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has warned that businesses dealing with Iranian airlines could face US sanctions, as part of Washington’s ongoing effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran.
“Doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines risks exposure to US sanctions,” Bessent said in a post on X.
“Foreign governments should take all actions necessary to ensure that companies in their jurisdictions do not provide services to those aircraft, including the provision of jet fuel, catering, landing fees or maintenance,” he said.
Oil prices edge higher as Trump weighs Iran’s latest proposal to open Strait of Hormuz
06:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarOil prices jumped on Tuesday as Donald Trump weighed Iran’s latest proposal to end the war.
The US president is unhappy with the latest Iranian proposal, a US official said on Monday. Iranian sources disclosed that Tehran's proposal avoided addressing its nuclear programme until hostilities cease and Gulf shipping disputes are resolved.
Trump's displeasure with the Iranian offer leaves the conflict deadlocked, with Iran shutting shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries supply equal to about 20 per cent of global oil and gas consumption, and the US keeping in place its blockade of Iranian ports.
Brent crude rose to $108.13 per barrel, hovering near a three-week high, while US West Texas Intermediate went up to $96.48.
Read more here:
Oil prices edge higher as Trump weighs Iran’s latest proposal to open Hormuz
Iran ‘standing up to the world's greatest superpower’, Aragchi claims
06:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is “standing up to the world's greatest superpower [the US]” and claimed Washington “has not achieved a single one of their goals”.
“That is why they have requested negotiations and we are looking into it,” he told reporters in St Petersburg. “We have not heard from Washington,” he added.
He also said the war demonstrated Iran “has great friends and allies like Russia” and thanked the Kremlin for its support.
Putin praises Iran’s ‘courage’ as Iranian foreign minister Araghchi visits Moscow
06:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi visited Russia for high-level talks with president Vladimir Putin as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further escalation.
Araghchi said he travelled to Russia “with the aim of continuing close consultations between Tehran and Moscow on regional and international issues” and described his meeting as “a good opportunity to discuss developments in the war and review the latest situation”.
“I am confident that these consultations and coordination between the two countries in this regard will be of particular importance,” he added.
During the meeting, Putin expressed support for Iran. “We see how courageously and heroically the Iranian people are fighting for their independence and sovereignty,” Putin told Araghchi. He added that he hoped they could get through a “difficult period” and that peace would prevail.
“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Putin said, according to Russian state media.
Trump not satisfied with Iran's peace proposal - reports
05:43 , Maroosha MuzaffarPresident Trump is not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, according to officials cited by several reports.
The Iranian proposal would decouple the issues of the Strait and Iran's nuclear programme, leaving the latter to be discussed further at a later date.
"He doesn't love the proposal," one US official told Reuters news agency.
US officials said accepting the deal could deny Trump a political victory while the White House stressed that “the president will only make a deal that’s good for the American people and the world”.
The talks remain deadlocked, with Iran insisting it will not make any immediate concessions on its nuclear programme.
