Donald Trump has rejected Iran's response to his proposals to end the war as “totally unacceptable”.
Over the weekend, it emerged that Tehran had responded via Pakistan, which has acted as mediator in the conflict, to the US plan to end the fighting.
But on Sunday night, the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform: "I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called “Representatives.” I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.”
Iranian state media said the country’s response had focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
It followed the US proposal to end fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear program.
Also on Sunday, Iran has issued a threat to the UK and France, warning that any warships in the Strait of Hormuz “will be met with decisive response”.
Tehran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the deployment of destroyers would escalate the crisis and “complicate the situation further”.
It comes after the UK’s ministry of defence announced on Saturday it was sending the HMS Dragon to the Middle East in preparation for a potential international mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Key Points
- Trump says Iran's response to peace proposal 'totally unacceptable'
- Iran issues threat to UK over HMS Dragon
- Tehran sends its response to US proposal aimed at ending the war
- UK authorities say cargo ship hit by unknown projectile near Qatar
- Iran warns countries complying with US sanctions will face Gulf transit difficulties
- Lebanon says 39 killed in intense Israeli airstrikes
UK defence secretary explains warship deployment to Middle East
22:53 , Alex RossAs we’ve been reporting, earlier on Sunday, Iran issued a threat to the UK and France, warning that any warships in the Strait of Hormuz “will be met with decisive response”.
It came after the UK Ministry of Defence said the Royal Navy had sent HMS Dragon to the Middle East.
It is to support a mission led by the UK and France to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
UK defence secretary John Healey said: “The UK is leading this multinational, defensive mission because trade, energy, and economic security for working people here at home depend on it.
“We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“That is why I have directed HMS Dragon to the Middle East, so Britain is in position to support this mission the moment it is needed.
“This government will not stand by when instability drives up costs for British families and businesses.
“We will give people hope for the future by securing Britain and our national interests.”
Iran's proposal included lifting of sanctions on Tehran - report
22:41 , Alex RossAn Iranian proposal sent to the United States through mediator Pakistan stressed the need for an end to the war on all fronts and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Sunday.
The proposal emphasised the necessity of lifting sanctions by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control on Iranian oil sales during a 30-day period and ending the naval blockade on Iran, Tasnim added.
Tasnim also quoted the source as saying that Iran's demands include "Iranian management of the Strait of Hormuz if certain commitments are undertaken by the US." The agency did not specify what those commitments would be.
Trump under pressure to end war ahead of China visit
22:00 , Alex RossWith Donald Trump due to visit China this week, there has been mounting pressure to draw a line under the war, which has ignited a global energy crisis and poses a growing threat to the world economy.
Tehran has largely blocked non-Iranian shipping through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world's oil supply and has emerged as one of the central pressure points in the war.
Addressing whether combat operations against Iran were over, Mr Trump said in remarks aired on Sunday: "They are defeated, but that doesn't mean they're done."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was not over because there was "more work to be done" to remove enriched uranium from Iran, dismantle enrichment sites and address Iran's proxies and ballistic missile capabilities.
The best way to remove the enriched uranium would be through diplomacy, Mr Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes," without ruling out removing it by force.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post that Iran would "never bow down to the enemy" and would "defend national interests with strength".
Despite diplomatic efforts to break a deadlock, the threat to shipping lanes and the economies of the region remained high.
Trump says Iran's response to peace proposal 'totally unacceptable'
21:37 , Alex RossUS president Donald Trump has said he has read Iran’s response to his peace plan, calling it “totally unacceptable”.
As we’ve been reporting today, Tehran has sent its response to the US via Pakistan, which has been acting as mediator.
It’s not yet known exactly what it says.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: "I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called 'Representatives.'
"I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Qatari tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz for first time since Iran war began
21:00 , Harriette BoucherA Qatari tanker carrying liquid natural gas successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the war in Iran broke out.
The Al Kharaitiyat, which is headed to Pakistan, made the crossing via the Iranian-approved route near Qeshm island.
Shipping data shows it is currently located in the Gulf of Oman, and is due to arrive at the Qasim Port on Monday.
US fighter jet captured refuelling midair while ‘patrolling skies over Middle East'
20:30 , Harriette BoucherComment: China’s axis of authoritarians is only growing stronger under Trump
20:00 , Harriette BoucherAs Xi Jinping prepares to host Donald Trump in Beijing, America’s allies are confronting an unsettling reality: Washington no longer looks dependable, says Ben Judah:
China’s axis of authoritarians is only growing stronger under Trump
Iran denies reports of oil leak near Kharg Island export hub
19:30 , Harriette BoucherIran’s Oil Terminals Company denied reports of an oil leak near Kharg Island on Sunday, according to state media, after satellite imagery this week appeared to show a large slick west of the country’s main oil export hub in the Gulf.
The company’s chief executive said inspections had found no evidence of leaks from storage tanks, pipelines, loading facilities or tankers operating near the island.
He added that the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC), a regional marine pollution body, had also reported no sign of leakage in the area.
The official said Iranian teams had conducted additional field inspections and laboratory testing after the reports emerged and had not identified “even the smallest trace” of leakage.
'US will evaluate Iran's response to very clear red line'
19:00 , Harriette BoucheThe US will evaluate Iran’s response to its peace plan proposal to its “very clear red line”, the American ambassador to the UN has stated.
Speaking to Fox News, Mike Waltz said: “We’ll see what the Iranians just came back with overnight in terms of their response to our very clear red line.
“President Trump has been clear they will never have a nuclear weapon and they cannot hold the world’s economies hostage.”
US ambassador to UN insists America is making progress against Iran
18:31 , Harriette BoucherThe US ambassador to the UN has insisted that the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not a sign of weakness or failure from the US, despite Donald Trump’s demands for Iran to open it.
Mike Waltz told ABC: “I think we should take a step back: 50 days to deal with a 50-year-old problem. And, by the way, this isn’t the first time Iran has either threatened or actually done this.
“That’s why we’re pushing now another UN resolution that says Iran cannot do this. No country can do what Iran is doing in international waterways.”
Asked whether the US president’s threats have proven to be empty, Mr Waltz responded: “I’ve got to push back. Something did happen. President Trump put in a blockade with our great US Navy that has stopped Iranian shipping, both coming out and, importantly, the empty tankers coming in that they need for storage. We see now Iran’s economy in absolute free-fall.
“To your point on the ceasefire, look, that’s up to President Trump, as commander in chief, to determine what constitutes a violation, when to go back to military action, or when to continue to give diplomacy a chance”.
Recap: Royal Navy warship heads to Middle East for potential Strait of Hormuz mission
18:00 , Harriette BoucherA Royal Navy warship is being sent to the Middle East to be ready to join an international mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
It comes as Iran’s deputy foreign minister said British and French warships in the Strait of Hormuz “will be met with decisive response”.
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon will “pre-position” in the region, ready to join the UK and French-led initiative once hostilities cease between Iran and US-Israeli forces.
A fragile ceasefire remains in place, although attacks on Friday saw US forces hit two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach the blockade imposed by Donald Trump.
The proposed mission championed by Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron would involve a coalition of nations willing to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait, a vital route for global oil and gas supplies along with other goods including fertiliser.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We can confirm that HMS Dragon will deploy to the Middle East to pre-position ahead of any future multinational mission to protect international shipping when conditions allow them to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
“The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure that the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait, when conditions allow.”
Pakistan hands over Iran’s response to US peace proposal
17:30 , Harriette BoucherPakistan has received Iran’s response to the US’s proposal on the Iran war and the response has been sent to the US, a Pakistani government official involved in the talks said on Sunday.
The source did not provide further detail about the proposal.
This comes after Iranian state media reported on Sunday that Iran had sent its response to a US proposal to begin peace talks to end the war.
Trump has a better understanding of the Bible than Pope Leo, says conservative Christian pastor
17:00 , Harriette BoucherOur Washington Correspondent John Bowden reports:
President Donald Trump has a “better” understanding of the Bible’s lessons than Pope Leo, a conservative Christian pastor has claimed.
Pastor Robert Jeffress made the stunning remark on Fox News this weekend during a discussion about Thursday’s meeting between the first American Pope and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Tensions have flared in recent months after the Pope urged Catholics to pray for a peaceful resolution to the Iran war amid the U.S. president’s threats to “end” Iranian civilization - but he did not mention Trump by name.
Trump then posted a series of angry messages on his Truth Social platform, calling the Pope “weak” on crime and accusing him of not understanding the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
According to Jeffress, one of Trump’s longtime backers in the evangelical community, the differing stances amount to Trump being more of a Christian leader than the head of the Catholic church.
“The Pope is a good man, he’s sincere in his faith, but he’s sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran,” he told Fox News.
Trump has a better understanding of the Bible than the Pope, says Fox News guest
Iran issues threat to UK over HMS Dragon
16:56 , Harriette BoucherBritish and French warships in the Strait of Hormuz “will be met with decisive response”, Iran’s deputy foreign minister has threatened.
He said the deployment of such ships would escalate the crisis, as he warned both countries not to “complicate the situation further”.
In a post on social media, Kazem Gharibabadi wrote: “The British government has also announced that, in coordination with France, it will deploy one of its warships to the Red Sea.
“Any deployment and stationing of extra-regional destroyers around the Strait of Hormuz, under the pretext of "protecting shipping," is nothing but an escalation of the crisis, the militarisation of a vital waterway, and an attempt to cover up the true root of insecurity in the region.
“Maritime security cannot be ensured through displays of military power; especially not by actors who, through their support, participation, or silence in the face of aggression and siege, are themselves part of the problems.
“Accordingly, it is emphasized that the presence of French and British warships, or those of any other country potentially accompanying the illegal and internationally unlawful actions of the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, will be met with a decisive and immediate response from the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Therefore, they are strongly advised not to complicate the situation further.”
Yesterday, the ministry of defence announced it was sending the HMS Dragon to the Middle East to be ready to join an international mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed mission championed by Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron would involve a coalition of nations willing to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait, a vital route for global oil and gas supplies along with other goods including fertiliser.
US fighter jet captured refuelling midair while ‘patrolling skies over Middle East'
16:30 , Harriette BoucherIranian president says negotiations is not surrender
15:37 , Harriette BoucherThe president of Iran has said negotiations with the US does not mean the country is surrendering.
In a post on social media, Masoud Pezeshkian said: “We will never bow our heads before the enemy, and if talk of dialogue or negotiation arises, it does not mean surrender or retreat.
“Rather, the goal is to uphold the rights of the Iranian nation and to defend national interests with resolute strength.”
Iran's response to peace plan proposal focuses on ending all wars, including in Lebanon
15:30 , Harriette BoucherIran’s response to the US’s peace plan proposal focuses on ending the war and the safety of maritime traffic in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, sources have said.
The proposal put forward by the US would formally end the war before the start of talks on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear program.
According to state media, Iran’s response concentrates on ending war on all fronts, especially in Lebanon.
Majority of Americans say Iran war was a mistake, poll finds
15:00 , Harriette BoucherIran will ‘definitely’ play at World Cup but demands visa assurances
14:35 , Harriette BoucherIran's football federation said on Saturday the country will “definitely” participate in the 2026 Fifa World Cup and insisted that the tournament’s hosts – the United States, Canada and Mexico – consider Tehran's concerns around the team’s travel and how it will be treated.
“All players and technical staff, especially those who served their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, should be granted visas without problems,” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran president Mehdi Taj said, according to Iranian media.
The team represents a country in a fragile ceasefire with the United States after the US and Israel sparked a war with attacks on Iran on 28 February, and whose citizens are subject to a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration.
In the statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency, Taj said on Friday that Iran had presented conditions tied to participation – including guarantees over visas, security and treatment of Iranian players and officials – and added that the Islamic Republic would take part “without retreating from our beliefs, culture and convictions.”
The remarks came after Canadian authorities last month denied entry to Taj ahead of a Fifa Congress, reportedly because of his past ties to Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, which both the US and Canada have designated as a terrorist organisation.
Iran says it will ‘definitely’ take part in World Cup but demands visa assurances
Comment: Trump’s claim to be a genius dealmaker has never been more ridiculous
14:10 , Harriette BoucherThe war in Iran has been a disaster for the US president, writes Jon Sopel. But despite his military failure – and faltering approval ratings at home – he shows no sign of loosening his grip on the Republican Party:
Trump’s claim to be the ultimate dealmaker has never looked more ridiculous
Iran sends response to US proposal aimed at ending the war - report
13:56 , Harriette BoucherTehran has sent its response to a US proposal aimed at ending the war in Iran, IRNA news agency said on Sunday.
The proposed plan, sent to mediator, Pakistan, will focus at this stage on ending the war, IRNA said.
No details have been given surrounding what was in the response.
The White House has been contacted for comment.
Trump polls construction workers on Iran war
13:45 , Harriette BoucherSouth Korean ship hit by unidentified object in Strait of Hormuz Monday
13:20 , Harriette BoucherThe stern of a bulk carrier operated by South Korean shipper HMM, was struck by an unidentified object on Monday while stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign ministry has said.
The announcement follows an on-site inspection of the vessel on Friday.
No one was harmed in the incident.
At the time, Donald Trump said the incident was caused by an Iranian attack.
Seoul was investigating the incident, and the vessel was towed to a port in Dubai after the blaze on Monday.
It was not certain what the object was, the ministry said, and authorities said debris would be collected at the site for analysis. Trump urged South Korea to join a currently suspended US-led effort dubbed "Project Freedom," to secure shipping through the strait following the incident.
Iran's embassy in South Korea denied responsibility for the attack.
Using Strait of Hormuz as 'pressure tool' will deepen crisis, Qatari PM tells Iran
12:59 , Harriette BoucherUsing the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool” would only deepen the crisis in the Gulf, Qatar's prime minister has told Iran's foreign minister.
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also told Iran's Abbas Aragchi that all parties in the conflict should respond to mediation efforts to end the war.
Iran's supreme leader briefs military chief on 'new guiding measures' - report
12:55 , Harriette BoucherIran’s supreme leader has given the head of armed forces “new guiding measures to pursue military operations and firmly confront adversaries”.
Ali Abdollahi, who commands the Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, briefed leader Mojtaba Khameneion on the readiness of the country’s armed forces, according to Fars agency.
It did not say when their meeting took place.
“The armed forces are ready to confront any action by the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemies. In case of any error by the enemy, Iran's response will be swift, severe, and decisive,” Abdollahi was reported as saying.
Qatar 'ready to deal with any threats' after intercepting Iranian drones
12:29 , Harriette BoucherQatar’s defence ministry has said it is prepared to deal with any threats after it intercepted two drones coming from Iran.
According to the ministry, no injuries had been reported in the past hours.
“The ministry of defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability and safeguards its interests and national capabilities.”
UAE dealt with drones coming from Iran
11:56 , Harriette BoucherThe UAE’s defence ministry said its air defences dealt with two drones coming from Iran on Sunday.
It comes after the Middle Eastern country said it was targeted with an Iranian missile barrage on Friday.
Earlier today, Kuwait’s defence ministry detected several hostile drones in its airspace, which it said were dealt with.
Cargo vessel struck by drone in Qatari waters
11:37 , Harriette BoucherA cargo vessel was attacked by a drone in Qatari waters on Sunday, the Qatari defence ministry has said.
The vessel continued its journey towards the Mesaieed port and no injuries have been reported.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said authorities were investigating the source of the projectile.
Iran has attacked several ships in the Gulf in recent months, but it is unclear if it is responsible for the attack.
Ships in the Gulf have been attacked by Iran since the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on February 28.
The maritime agency said earlier that a bulk carrier had reported being struck by an unknown projectile while sailing 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha.
Separately, a Qatari tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the Iran broke out.
Crowd erupts in cheers as Kamala Harris criticises 'unauthorised' Iran war
11:07 , Harriette BoucherRecap: Royal Navy warship heads to Middle East for potential Strait of Hormuz mission
10:47 , Harriette BoucherA Royal Navy warship is being sent to the Middle East to be ready to join an international mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon will “pre-position” in the region, ready to join the UK and French-led initiative once hostilities cease between Iran and US-Israeli forces.
A fragile ceasefire remains in place, although attacks on Friday saw US forces hit two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach the blockade imposed by Donald Trump.
The proposed mission championed by Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron would involve a coalition of nations willing to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait, a vital route for global oil and gas supplies along with other goods including fertiliser.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We can confirm that HMS Dragon will deploy to the Middle East to pre-position ahead of any future multinational mission to protect international shipping when conditions allow them to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
“The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure that the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait, when conditions allow.”
Kuwait military says hostile drones detected in airspace
10:36 , Harriette BoucherKuwait has detected several hostile drones in its airspace.
The ministry of defence’s brigadier general Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi said: “The armed forces detected, at dawn today, a number of hostile drones within Kuwaiti airspace, and they were dealt with in accordance with established procedures.
“The armed forces affirm their full readiness to maintain the security of the homeland and the safety of citizens and residents.”
Qatari tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz for first time since Iran war began
10:33 , Harriette BoucherA Qatari tanker, carrying liquid natural gas, has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the war in Iran broke out.
The Al Kharaitiyat, which is headed to Pakistan, made the crossing via the Iranian-approved route near Qeshm island.
Shipping data shows it is currently located in the Gulf of Oman, and is due to arrive at the Qasim Port on Monday.
Activists detained for leading aid flotilla to Gaza deported from Israel
10:13 , Harriette BoucherIsrael has deported two activists, who were detained for leading an aid flotilla to Gaza.
Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Swedish citizen of Palestinian origin and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila were among dozens of activists intercepted by the Israeli navy off the coast of Crete for attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
In a post on social media, Israel’s foreign ministry said the two activists were “professional provocateurs”.
At the time of the arrest, Israeli authorities said the two had been detained for questioning, and that Abukeshek was “suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation” and Ávila was “suspected of illegal activity,” without providing evidence.
Spain and Brazil condemned “the kidnapping of two of their citizens in international waters by the government of Israel" in a joint statement at the time.
Their detention sparked solidarity protests in several countries.
No formal charges against them have been publicised.
In pictures: Mourners grieve during the funeral of people killed in an Israeli strike in Saksakiyeh
10:02 , Harriette Boucher
Trump's religious adviser hits out at Pope Leo after Rubio visit
09:50 , Harriette BoucherA longtime religious adviser to Donald Trump has hit out at Pope Leo, claiming he is “clearly wrong when it comes to Iran”.
Following Marco Rubio’s visit to the Vatican earlier this week, Pastor Robert Jeffress, said: “The Pope ought to know, and I think he does know, God created both the church and government for two distinct purposes.
“The role of the church is to point people to faith and Jesus Christ, but the role of the government is to protect citizens from evil-doers.”
The comments came in an interview with Fox News, which was shared by the US president on Truth Social.
“Three days after this conflict began, I was in the Oval Office with president Trump and a few other faith leaders and he told us that Iran was within weeks of getting a powerful weapon that would destroy Israel, much of the Middle East, and could bring great harm to America and he had no choice but to act.”
Pope Leo has been repeatedly attacked by Donald Trump for his criticism on the Iran war.
A Vatican statement after Pope Leo’s meeting with Marco Rubio, which said the two had pledged to improve bilateral relations, was a recognition of unprecedented tensions, insiders and analysts said.
Bolivia’s fuel shortages and 'junk gasoline' drive a surge in electric cars
09:38 , Harriette BoucherTired of gasoline shortages and skyrocketing prices, Simón Huanca took matters into his own hands.
The 53-year-old Indigenous artisan imported a Chinese electric car to navigate El Alto, Bolivia’s highest city, using the vehicle to transport both his family and the alpaca wool for his weaving workshop.
He also installed a dedicated charger in his own garage, mainly for convenience, but also because there are only three public charging stations serving the vast metropolitan area of El Alto and neighbouring La Paz, home to more than 1.6 million people.
“Since last year, I’ve been trying to get an electric car to save on costs,” Huanca said while driving his electric off-road vehicle through a working-class neighbourhood.
Huanca is one of a small but growing number of Bolivians abandoning their fossil fuel-powered cars for electric vehicles as the South American country grapples with fuel shortages and a presidential decree that ended long-standing fuel subsidies, effectively doubling the cost of gasoline.
Read here:
Bolivia’s fuel shortages and 'junk gasoline' drive a surge in electric cars
The Iran war has made jet fuel twice as expensive. Should we be flying with cooking oil instead?
09:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe financial pressure on airlines to move away from oil is growing, as the Iran war pushes jet fuel to its highest price in years. Experts tell Stuti Mishra there are cleaner alternatives – if the right investment can be found
The Iran war has made jet fuel twice as expensive. Should we use cooking oil instead?
Trump ends 7-hour hiatus from Truth Social with flurry of posts of AI Iran war pictures and golf tournament on TV
09:09 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAfter a roughly seven-hour lull on Truth Social, president Donald Trump resurfaced with a burst of over a dozen posts featuring AI-generated Iran war images and golf tournament snapshots.
His account had been inactive through most of the morning and early afternoon, but at 3:51 p.m., the 79-year-old Republican shared an artificial image showing drones marked with Iranian flags plunging into the sea, describing them as “dropping like butterflies.”
Moments later, he followed up with another fabricated visual depicting a US warship firing laser beams into the sky, triggering explosions. The caption read: “Bye Bye, Drones.”Trump then shifted his focus to criticizing his Democratic predecessors — Joe Biden and Barack Obama — appearing to fault them for not taking military action against Iran.
A split-screen graphic showed a destroyed Iranian naval fleet under the label “Trump,” contrasted with intact vessels under “Obama/Biden,” echoing Trump’s statement last month that U.S. forces had sunk 159 Iranian ships.
Aramco CEO says world deprived of 1 billion barrels of oil since Iran war began
09:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe world has been deprived of about 1 billion barrels of oil over the past two months and even if energy flows resume it will take time for the system to return to normal, the chief executive of the Saudi oil giant said on Sunday.
"Our objective is simple: keep energy flowing, even when the system is under strain," Amin Nasser told Reuters.
Saudi Aramco has reported a net profit of 120.13bn riyals ($32.5bn) in the first three months of 2026, a 25.5 per cent increase over the 95.68bn riyals ($25.4bn) recorded last year. It is one of several oil and gas giants to have reported massive profits since the US-Israeli war on Iran drove up prices.
Israel says weekend attack killed more than 10 Hezbollah members
08:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military this morning said it has killed over 10 Hezbollah operatives and struck some 40 sites in Lebanon over the weekend.
It said the airstrikes targeted buildings used by Hezbollah, weapons depots, a rocket launcher, and other infrastructure.
The operatives were struck after being identified near Israeli troops, it claimed
Putin: 'I want Iran conflict to end soon'
Saturday 9 May 2026 20:20 , Alex RossRussian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he hoped that the Iran conflict would end as soon as possible but that if it did not then everyone would lose out.
US imposes sanctions on companies it accuses of aiding Iran's weapons sector
Saturday 9 May 2026 19:30 , Daniel HaygarthThe US Treasury on Friday announced sanctions against 10 individuals and companies, including several in China and Hong Kong, over accusations they aided Iran's efforts to secure weapons and the raw materials needed to build its Shahed drones and ballistic missiles.
The Treasury move, first reported by Reuters, comes days before Donald Trump plans to travel to China for a meeting with President Xi Jinping and as efforts to end the war with Iran have stalled.
In a statement, the Treasury said it remained ready to take economic action against Iran's military industrial base to prevent Tehran from reconstituting its production capacity.
The Treasury said it was also prepared to act against any foreign company supporting illicit Iranian commerce, including airlines, and could impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions that aid Iran's efforts, including those connected to China's independent "teapot" oil refineries.
Brett Erickson, managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, said the Treasury's actions were aimed at cracking down on Iran's ability to threaten ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz and regional allies.
How Trump’s ‘one page memo’ could take us back to square one in Iran - after thousands of lives lost and economic ruin
Saturday 9 May 2026 19:00 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump once more believes he is closing in on a deal to end the two-month conflict with Iran, despite both sides appearing unwilling to budge on key issues.
Thousands of people have died in strikes across the Middle East since the war began on 28 February. Global trade has been decimated, inflicting massive economic damage and driving millions into poverty and hunger. Violence has spread across the region, notably between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
But the latest proposal to end the war could see the US exit with key questions still unanswered.
Read more:
How Trump’s ‘one page memo’ takes us back to square one in Iran
Recap: Royal Navy warship heads to Middle East for potential Strait of Hormuz mission
Saturday 9 May 2026 18:30 , Dan HaygarthA Royal Navy warship is being sent to the Middle East to be ready to join an international mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon will “pre-position” in the region, ready to join the UK and French-led initiative once hostilities cease between Iran and US-Israeli forces.
A fragile ceasefire remains in place, although attacks on Friday saw US forces hit two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach the blockade imposed by Donald Trump.
The proposed mission championed by Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron would involve a coalition of nations willing to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait, a vital route for global oil and gas supplies along with other goods including fertiliser.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We can confirm that HMS Dragon will deploy to the Middle East to pre-position ahead of any future multinational mission to protect international shipping when conditions allow them to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
“The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure that the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait, when conditions allow.”
Watch: US Navy bombs tanker attempting to breach Strait of Hormuz blockade
Saturday 9 May 2026 18:00 , Dan HaygarthIran can withstand Trump’s blockade for months and retains 70% of its missiles, says US intelligence
Saturday 9 May 2026 17:30 , Dan HaygarthIran is able to withstand the effects of the US blockade for three to four more months and retains significant missile stockpiles, according to US intelligence, casting doubt on Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran needs the war to end imminently.
New analysis by the CIA suggests that the Islamic Republic may be more resilient than expected and could withstand the economic pain of the blockade until later this year.
The confidential report was delivered to officials in the Trump administration earlier this week, four people familiar with the document told The Washington Post.
By storing some of its oil in floating storage aboard tanker ships and decreasing the flows in its oil fields, it has enabled its wells to remain functional, one person said.
Read more below.
Iran ‘can withstand Trump’s blockade for months and retains 70% of its missiles’
Bahrain says it has arrested 41 people 'linked to Iran's IRGC'
Saturday 9 May 2026 17:00 , Dan HaygarthBahrain’s interior ministry said on Saturday it had arrested 41 people it said were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the state news agency reported.
The ministry said security authorities uncovered a group linked to Iran's IRGC, adding that investigations by the public prosecutor had also involved cases related to sympathy with Iranian attacks.
Strait of Hormuz calm after days of sporadic attacks
Saturday 9 May 2026 16:30 , Daniel HaygarthA state of relative calm prevailed around the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after days of sporadic flare-ups, Reuters reports.
Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago, and the United Arab Emirates came under renewed attack on Friday.
On Friday, there were sporadic clashes between Iranian forces and US vessels in the strait, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported. The Tasnim news agency later cited an Iranian military source saying the situation had calmed but warning more clashes were possible.
The US military said it struck two Iran-linked vessels attempting to enter an Iranian port, with a US fighter jet hitting their smokestacks and forcing them to turn back.
Clashes extended beyond the waterway. The UAE said its air defences engaged with two ballistic missiles and three drones from Iran on Friday, with three people sustaining moderate injuries.
The companies getting rich off Trump’s war in Iran as recession fears grow
Saturday 9 May 2026 16:00 , Dan HaygarthThe war in Iran has killed thousands of people across the Middle East, driven millions towards poverty and forced up energy prices around the world.
Even as Donald Trump insists a deal to end the conflict is within reach, analysts warn the consequences could push the world towards a global recession if disruption to the flow of oil continues in the Strait of Hormuz.
But as consumers bear the brunt of higher energy costs and rising inflation caused by the war, a handful of outliers are celebrating record profits from surging oil prices, renewed defence spending and frenzied trading patterns.
The Independent reviews some of the main beneficiaries of the conflict in the Middle East.
Read below:
The companies getting rich off the Iran war as recession fears mount
Merz says Europe wants a strong NATO and shares US goal of ending Iran war
Saturday 9 May 2026 15:30 , Dan HaygarthGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that Europe wants to work to keep the NATO alliance functioning, despite differences with the United States that the Iran war has exposed.
Tensions between Donald Trump's administration and European NATO partners have raised questions about the future of NATO.
Already high after US criticism of Europe over defence spending and issues like immigration policy, the tensions have increased after Germany and other European countries refused to support the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran that began at the end of February.
"We are really willing to keep this alliance alive for the future," Merz said at a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
He also said Sweden and Finland had strengthened the European pillar of the alliance.
"We know that there are some differences. We know that we are seeing challenges, all of us, but our final goal is to bring this conflict to an end and to guarantee that Iran is not able to produce nuclear weapons," Merz said.
"And this goal is a common goal between America and Europe."
