Overview
- U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were moving “rapidly” and expected a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week, while withholding final approval on a proposed memorandum of understanding.
- Diplomatic channels showed strain after Iran signalled it had suspended mediated exchanges and paused sending texts to Washington until Israel halts operations in Lebanon, making Lebanon a decisive condition for Tehran.
- Military actions flared again with U.S. forces conducting ‘self‑defence’ strikes on Qeshm Island and CENTCOM reporting interceptions of multiple Iranian drones and missiles targeting regional assets.
- Lebanon announced a limited local ceasefire covering parts of Beirut but Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continued, causing civilian deaths and displacements that Tehran and the IRGC cite as grounds to halt talks.
- The standoff keeps the Strait of Hormuz effectively restricted, raising shipping risk and energy price pressure and leaving the proposed deal fragile because verification, sanctions relief and maritime guarantees remain unresolved.