UAE’s Gulf Marine Services profit plummets after vessel evacuation
Gulf Marine Services PLC said a 24 per cent fall in first-quarter profit after the UAE-based firm was instructed to evacuate four vessels from a Gulf Cooperation Council country in March as a precautionary measure due to the Iran War, Reuters reports.
The offshore marine support company said crews returned to all evacuated vessels in early April and clients rejoined operations on two of them days later, while Gulf Marine Services maintained its full-year 2026 profit forecast.
Iran accuses US, Bahrain of pushing ‘politically motivated’ UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has criticised a draft UN Security Council resolution sponsored by the US and Bahrain, accusing the two countries of attempting to legitimise what he called unlawful US actions in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu Agency reports.
“The United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain have jointly tabled a deeply flawed, one-sided, and politically motivated draft resolution on the situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
“They claim that their actions are intended to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and make some baseless allegations against my country. The fact on the ground proved otherwise,” Ambassador Iravani told the reporters.
Iravani argued that recent US actions in the Gulf contradict Washington’s stated objectives and have instead increased instability in the region.
“Instead, the US is pushing a flawed, politically motivated draft resolution on the pretext of freedom of navigation to advance its political agenda and legitimise unlawful actions, not to resolve the crisis,” he said.
Iravani said the draft resolution does not seek to protect international navigation.
Iraq denies US claims deputy oil minister helped Iran evade sanctions
Iraq’s oil ministry has denied US accusations against its deputy minister, who the United States hit with sanctions over alleged support for Iran, AFP reports.
The US State Department, a day earlier, announced sanctions on Ali Maarij al-Bahadli, saying he “abused his government position to divert Iraqi oil in support of the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies.” It accused him of fraudulently mixing Iraqi and Iranian oil as part of a scheme to help Iran avoid sanctions.
His ministry says that “it denies the accusations” against Bahadli and stressed “the importance of transparency in addressing all…accusations on the basis of evidence and facts,” according to the INA state news agency.
The ministry said it was prepared to investigate the matter, but added that “crude oil export operations, marketing, loading onto tankers, and related procedures” were not part of Bahadli’s job.
Mitsui O.S.K. says its vessels did not pay fees transiting Hormuz
Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) said three of its vessels that transited the Strait of Hormuz and exited the Gulf in April did not pay transit fees, sticking to a principle of navigation under international law, Reuters reports.
Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels passing through the Strait, in its proposals to end the war with Israel and the United States.
The company does not intend to pay such fees in future, a company spokesperson told Reuters.
Iran’s military accuses US of violating ceasefire
Iran’s central military command has accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by attacking an oil tanker and another ship, saying Tehran’s forces “immediately and in retaliation attacked American military vessels”, Reuters reports.
Oil eases on signs US is loosening Iranian closure of Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices eased more than one per cent after climbing by as much as 6pc in the previous session on signs the US Navy is loosening Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, potentially opening up supply from the Middle East, AFP reports.
Brent oil futures for July fell $1.22, or 1.1pc, to $113.22 per barrel at 0323 GMT after settling up 5.8pc on Monday. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell $2.02, or 1.9pc, to $104.40, after gaining 4.4pc in the previous session.
Iranian media says US killed 5 civilians in Hormuz Strait operation
Iranian state media has reported that six so-called Iranian small boats targeted by the US military in the Strait of Hormuz were not IRGC-affiliated, but civilian vessels carrying goods and passengers, and five people were killed in the attack, Al Jazeera reports.
A military official told the Tasnim news agency that, after US reports of the attacks, an investigation was carried out by Iranian authorities, who found that US forces had “attacked and fired upon two small cargo boats carrying civilians that were moving from Khasab on the coast of Oman towards the Iranian coast”.
Iran says ‘no military solution’ to political crisis as it warns US, UAE over Hormuz tensions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, “Events in Hormuz make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis.“
“As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the US should be wary of being dragged back into a quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the United Arab Emirates,” he said.
“Project Freedom is Project Deadlock,” he said.
Britain condemns Iranian strikes on the United Arab Emirates
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Reuters reports.
Starmer called on Iran to engage in diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, the prime minister’s office said.
“We stand in solidarity with the UAE and will continue to support the defence of our partners in the Gulf. This escalation must cease. Iran needs to engage meaningfully in negotiations to ensure the ceasefire in the Middle East endures, and a long-term diplomatic solution is achieved,” Starmer said.
Saudi Arabia calls to ‘de-escalate’ as US-Iran ceasefire on brink
Saudi Arabia has called to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East after Iran and the United States traded fire, rattling a fragile ceasefire, AFP reports.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s concern regarding the current military escalation in the region, and calls for the need to de-escalate,” the foreign ministry said.
The ministry said it supported “diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution” in the war.
Trump vows Iran will be ‘blown off the face of the Earth’ if it intervenes in Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has threatened that Iran will be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they attack US vessels carrying out “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reports.
The US president tells Fox News he believes Iran has become “much more malleable” in peace negotiations and emphasises that the US military build-up in the region is continuing.
“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” Trump tells Fox News’ Trey Yingst.
“We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”
Trump says US could restart Iran strikes ‘if they misbehave’
US President Donald Trump has said he had been told about the concept of a deal with Iran, but was waiting for the exact wording, while warning there was still the possibility of restarting strikes on the country if Tehran misbehaves, Reuters reports.
When asked about Iran’s proposal before boarding a flight to Miami at West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump replied: “They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now.”
Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now well see. But it’s a possibility that could happen.”
Iran Red Crescent pays tribute to 67 teachers killed in US-Israeli strikes
The Iranian Red Crescent Society has paid tribute to the 67 teachers killed during US-Israeli strikes on Iran, including 26 from the Minab school strike.
Iran’s first vice president visits Tehran’s main squares, streets
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref made an unannounced visit last night to Tehran’s main squares and streets, where he spoke to citizens, the Iranian government says on X.
Iraq begins exporting oil through Syria’s al-Yarubiyah crossing
A convoy of 70 Iraqi crude oil tankers has passed through the al-Yarubiyah border crossing into Syria, marking the first such shipment via the route in 14 years, Al Jazeera reports.
According to Syria’s SANA news agency, the convoy is bound for the Baniyas refinery on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
Feras Rustum, a Syrian official at the al-Yarubiyah crossing, said that “the reopening of the crossing after 14 years is a strategic move to boost the economic ties between Iraq and Syria”.
He added that the decision to reopen the crossing will “facilitate commercial and energy shipments more effectively” and “lead to a long-term partnership between the two countries”.
The shipment comes as Iraq seeks alternative routes for its oil exports while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the US-Israel war on Iran.
Mohamad Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies says US-Iran talks remain in a “holding pattern” because Washington is misjudging the pain it is inflicting on the Iranian regime.
“Trump keeps talking about how everything’s just going to explode within a matter of days. My sense is that that’s not accurate, that Iran could actually hold out for some time, and they believe at least that they have time on their side,” he told Al Jazeera.
Elmasry said Iran is pushing for a short-term agreement to start with because it has a more realistic view of how difficult negotiations over its nuclear programme can be.
“The reasons why the Iranians are saying, let’s make this sort of patchwork agreement and then we’ll hold off on the nuclear file, is because I think they recognise that the nuclear negotiation is going to be very time-consuming and very complicated,” he was quoted as saying.
“The Iranians have a lot of experience in this arena, unlike the Trump administration, which is very inexperienced on the nuclear file. It’s not something that can come together in just a few hours or just a few days.”
Israeli military urges residents of multiple towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate
The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning to residents of 11 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, ordering them to evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 metres away to open areas, according to Reuters.
The military said it was conducting operations against Hezbollah following what it described as a violation of their ceasefire agreement, warning that anyone near Hezbollah fighters or facilities could be at risk.
Israel has continued to carry out strikes across southern Lebanon, and its troops are occupying a strip of the country’s south.
Trump ally-turned-foe Marjorie Taylor Greene slams funding of Israeli ‘atrocities’
Former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has lambasted US President Donald Trump’s funding of Israeli “atrocities”, Al Jazeera reports.
“American Christians speak out!!!” said the former Trump ally, reposting criticism of Israel’s demolition of Christian sites in the Lebanese village of Yaroun.
“America can’t be silent and must stop funding Israel to do such atrocities!!!”
FM Dar discusses regional situation with Kuwait’s FM Sheikh Jarrah: FO
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has discussed the regional situation in the Middle East with the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Foreign Office (FO) has said.
“Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah commended Pakistan’s sincere efforts aimed at fostering lasting peace and security for the Ummah as well as the wider international community,” the FO said on X.
It added that the two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation and exchanged views on its wider economic implications.
US military briefs President Trump on potential new Iran plans
The US-based news outlet Axios reported that two senior American officials confirmed a high-level military briefing was held on Thursday evening with President Donald Trump, according to Al Jazeera.
During the 45-minute session, US Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Dan Caine presented Trump with updated plans for possible renewed action against Iran, the report said.
According to the officials, the strategies centred on potential strikes as the US administration weighs its next steps in the conflict.
Singapore economy to ‘slow’ this year on prolonged Hormuz closure: PM
Singapore’s prime minister warned Friday that economic growth will slow this year and some countries may slip into recession as the Middle East keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed, reports Reuters.
In a May Day speech, Lawrence Wong said the war was not expected “to be over anytime soon” and supply disruptions may worsen in the months ahead.
“Here in Asia, we are especially affected because of our high dependence on energy and other critical supplies from the Gulf,” Wong said.
“Globally, inflation will rise, spreading from energy to food and then other essentials. Some economies may well slip into recession, and Singapore will feel the impact directly,” he said.
“Our growth this year will slow, and inflation will be higher, and all this will put real pressure on businesses, workers and households.”
He did not give any figures, but the trade ministry in February said it expected the economy to expand 2-4 per cent this year, a bump from its previous forecast of 1-3pc.
Iranian embassy rejects being linked to ‘violent activities, incidents’ in the UK
Iran’s embassy in London has issued a statement castigating “the fabricated negative media environment” in the United Kingdom and rejected allegations linking Iran to violent incidents in the UK.
“Such baseless accusations against [the] Islamic Republic of Iran, lack credible evidence and appear to serve narrow political agendas and to mislead public opinion and distract from the real root causes of terrorism and violent extremism,” the embassy stated on X.
It noted that Iran has been a “primary victim of terrorism for decades” amid the killing of large numbers of “innocent civilians, high-ranking officials and scientists”. The embassy added that Tehran “remains at the forefront of the global struggle against terrorism and violent extremism”.
US Congress extends provision that allows warrantless surveillance of foreign targets
The US Congress has approved a short extension to allow US intelligence agencies to collect information from foreign targets without a warrant, after a three-year extension failed to gather enough votes to pass, Al Jazeera reports.
President Donald Trump and intelligence officials have for weeks urged Congress to renew a key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allows agencies like the CIA, National Security Agency and FBI to conduct warrantless surveillance.The temporary patch, which received wide support in the Senate and House, extends the programme through June 12.
US Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said in a CNN interview that briefings and other sources had left him with the impression that an imminent military strike was “very much on the table”, reports Al Jazeera.
He added that the prospect was “deeply disturbing”, warning it could place American troops in harm’s way and result in potentially massive casualties.
US military to brief Trump on new military options against Iran, Axios reports
President Donald Trump will receive a briefing from the leader of the US Central Command, Brad Cooper, on new plans for potential military action against Iran, reports Reuters citing Axios.
The report cited unidentified sources. The White House and the US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes on Iran, likely including infrastructure targets, Axios reported, citing sources.
Another plan expected to be shared with Trump is focused on taking over part of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping, the report added, saying such an operation may involve ground forces.
Washington hopes to make Iran more flexible at the negotiating table on nuclear issues, Axios reported.
Another option that might come up in the briefing is a special forces operation to secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, Axios said. Trump has cited Iran’s nuclear program as an imminent threat.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine is also expected to attend Thursday’s briefing, Axios reported.
Oil at four-year high, stocks slip after Trump blockade warning
Oil prices held around four-year highs while stocks fell after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months as peace talks remained stalled.
Brent for June delivery, which hit a peak of $122.53 a day earlier, was sitting around $120 in Asian trade, while West Texas Intermediate was around $108.
Analysts said traders were beginning to shift to the view that the crisis will not be as short as initially hoped.
IRGC says Tehran at centre of ‘anti-disruption coalition’ despite US efforts
The IRGC has said that Tehran has emerged at the centre of “anti-disruption” efforts instigated by the US, state-run Press TV reports.
“The Trump administration shifted from a strategy of ‘managing global energy’ to one of ‘disruption,’” Press TV quoted the IRGC as saying.
“But after 20 days, the White House is increasingly convinced the project has failed.”
It added that Tehran has emerged as “the centre of an ‘anti-disruption coalition’”.
US Democrats criticise growing costs of war on Iran
The announcement by a senior Pentagon official that the war on Iran has cost the US military $25 billion so far has drawn sharp criticism from the Democrats, Al Jazeera reports.
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier argued that the billions spent “could have helped lower healthcare costs for millions of Americans”.
“Instead, we’ve lost 14 American servicemembers, driven gas prices way up, and made Americans less safe,” DeSaulnier said in a post on X.
Ro Khanna, another Democratic congressman, accused the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, of being ignorant of the war’s true cost to US taxpayers.
“I asked Hegseth how much the Iran war is costing Americans in replacement costs, gas, and food prices? He had no clue of the economic harm,” Khanna wrote on X. “Unbelievable.”
Houthis say they are ‘not neutral’, reaffirm support for Iran and Lebanon
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have condemned the US’s “piracy” in the Gulf of Oman, saying the attacks on Iranian commercial vessels and the detention of their crews violate international law, according to Al Jazeera.
In a statement, the Houthi foreign ministry said the US’s actions have forced the world to pay a heavy price, by disrupting supply chains and shipping, and increasing the price of food and fuel.
However, it supported Iran’s restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, affirming “the right of states to self-defence and to restrict navigation in their territorial waters to counter security threats”.
The statement also warned that “Yemen is not neutral regarding the ongoing attacks against Iran, Lebanon and Palestine”, adding that its position remains “clear, public, and explicit in this regard”.
Iran calls for UNSC to compel Israel to stop attacks on Lebanon
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, has called on the UN Security Council to “act decisively to compel Israel to fully uphold the ceasefire in Lebanon”, Al Jazeera reports.
The council should also ensure that Israel “immediately halt all attacks against civilian and civilian infrastructure and withdraws all its occupying forces” from Lebanon, Iravani said.
Oil rises on reports US will extend Iran blockade, prolonging Mideast supply disruptions
Oil prices have risen according to Reuters, extending a multi-day rally, on reports the US will extend its blockade of Iranian ports, likely prolonging supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region.
Brent crude futures for June rose 52 cents, or 0.47 per cent, to $111.78 a barrel at 01:54 GMT (6:54am PKT), climbing for an eighth day. The June contract expires on Thursday and the more active July contract was at $104.84, up 0.4pc.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for June rose 57 cents, or 0.57pc, to $100.50 a barrel after gaining 3.7pc in the previous session, climbing for seven out of the last eight days.
“The recent rise in oil prices has been driven by the Strait blockade. If Trump is prepared to extend the blockade, supply disruptions would worsen further and continue to push oil prices higher,” said Yang An, an analyst at Haitong Futures.
Lebanese president denounces killing of medics in Majdal Zoun
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned an Israeli attack that killed three civil defence personnel while they performed a rescue mission for people wounded in an earlier strike, Al Jazeera reports.
“This attack is an addition to a series of assaults targeting relief and first aid workers, which demonstrates that Israel continues to violate international laws and charters that protect civilians, paramedics, civil defence, and Red Cross personnel,” Aoun said, according to the state-run National News Agency.
Trump tells aides to prepare for extended blockade of Iran, WSJ reports
US President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, the Wall Street Journal reports according to Reuters, citing US officials.
In recent meetings, Trump opted to continue squeezing Iran’s economy and oil exports by preventing shipping to and from its ports, the report said, adding that he believed that his other options, including resuming bombing or walking away from the conflict, carried more risk than maintaining the blockade.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
US Democrats to force sixth Senate vote on War Powers Resolution
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that the Democrats will force a sixth vote in the US Senate on a war powers resolution this week.
“Senate Democrats will force a SIXTH vote on our War Powers Resolution ending Trump’s war of choice in Iran,” Schumer said on X, terming the war “reckless and unpopular”.
Democrats have tried, and failed repeatedly in both the Senate and House of Representatives, to force Trump to stop the war on Iran and to obtain lawmakers’ authorisation before launching military operations.
Iranian foreign minister praises Russia ties, welcomes Moscow’s support for diplomacy
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said he welcomes Russia’s support for diplomacy and praised the strength of ties between the two countries, after meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, saying recent events had demonstrated the depth of their strategic partnership according to a post on social media.
“Recent events have evidenced the depth and strength of our strategic partnership,” he said. “As our relationship continues to grow, we are grateful for solidarity and welcome Russia’s support for diplomacy.”
Iran says Minab school strike death toll 155: state TV
Iran shared on Tuesday a breakdown of the death toll from a deadly strike on an Iranian school on the first day of the Middle East war, state media reported according to AFP.
Seventy-three boys and 47 girls were killed in the February 28 strike on an Iranian elementary school in Minab, state broadcaster IRIB and local media reported.
Twenty-six teachers, seven parents, a school bus driver, and a pharmacy technician at the clinic next to the school were also killed, IRIB said in a Telegram post. This puts the death toll at 155 instead of more than 175 reported earlier.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack in a video address to the United Nations Human Rights Council as a “calculated, phased assault”.
Gold recoups early losses on softer dollar after Iran peace proposal report
Gold recouped early losses to trade largely steady, helped by a slightly softer dollar, while investors looked for progress on the stalled peace talks between the United States and Iran, reports Reuters.
Spot gold was steady at $4,707.75 per ounce, as of 0233 GMT, after shedding 0.8 per cent earlier in the session. Last week, the metal fell 2.5pc to snap a four-week winning streak.
US gold futures for June delivery fell 0.4pc to $4,720.50.
Lending support to bullion, the dollar eased after a report said that Iran through Pakistani mediators gave the US a new proposal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war.
“We’re just sort of watching now whether there’s progress in the (US-Iran) talks at all in the coming days and that’s going to be the biggest driver for gold,” said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.
China’s industrial profit growth quickens even as Iran war heightens risks
Profits at China’s industrial firms grew at their quickest pace in half a year last month, adding to broader signs of an uneven economic recovery in the first quarter as policymakers brace for the impact of the Middle East war, Reuters reports.
The country’s export engine stuttered last month while retail sales and industrial output cooled, although producer prices emerged from a years-long deflationary stretch, a shift that analysts warn could leave companies boxed in by rising costs but limited pricing power as demand remains fragile.
“The data has likely not reflected the impact of the Iran war yet,” said Lynn Song, ING’s chief economist for Greater China, underscoring growing risks to growth at home and abroad from the conflict as governments and businesses scramble to soften the blow.
Iran loads 4.6 million barrels of crude; 4m more bypass US blockade
Maritime analytics firm TankerTrackers reports that Iran loaded the equivalent of 4.6 million barrels of oil at crude export terminals, according to Al Jazeera.
An additional 4m barrels of Iranian oil appear to have exfiltrated the US blockade line, it added.
US ‘clearly unprepared’ militarily for war on Iran, says Russian lawmaker
A top Russian lawmaker has said that the US was “clearly unprepared” militarily for a war on Iran, because it relied on the “misguided belief” that force could quickly achieve results, Al Jazeera reports.
Alexey Pushkov, chairman of the information policy commission of Russia’s Federation Council, told the TASS news agency the US approach could have been influenced by its experience in Venezuela.
“The kidnapping of (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro and the very, I would say, weak reaction to it from the Venezuelans … convinced (Trump) that a precise surgical military operation is a good tool for forcing a foreign regime to behave as the Americans please,” the senator said. “After this, Trump apparently decided that something similar could be done in Iran.”
Pushkov added that Iran, on the other hand, had prepared well for a conflict with the US, moving “virtually all of their missile facilities underground, where they are extremely difficult to reach” and building up a missile and drone arsenal numbering in the tens of thousands.
Oil jumps more than 2pc as US-Iran peace talks stall
Oil prices have risen as peace talks between the US and Iran have stalled while shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain limited, keeping global oil supplies tight.
Brent crude futures rose $2.22, or 2.11 per cent, to $107.55 a barrel by 22:02 GMT (3:02am PKT) and US West Texas Intermediate was at $96.42 a barrel, up $2.02, or 2.14pc.
Gold falls on firm dollar, oil-driven inflation fears as US-Iran talks stall
Gold has fallen today, pressured by a firm dollar, while higher oil prices have heightened fears of inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates as US-Iran peace talks remain stalled.
Spot gold was down 0.3 per cent at $4,694.26 per ounce, as of 00:59 GMT (5:59am PKT). US gold futures for June delivery fell 0.9pc to $4,697.60.
Top US, UAE diplomats discuss Middle East conflict
UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has discussed the Middle East conflict with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a telephonic call, Al Jazeera reports.
“The two sides reviewed the repercussions of the unprovoked and terrorist Iranian missile attacks targeting the UAE and a number of countries in the region, and their impact on international peace and security, energy supplies, maritime security, and global economic stability,” an Emirati statement said.
Abdullah also expressed his appreciation to the US for its full solidarity with the UAE.
The two officials “explored ways to achieve sustainable regional peace and security through strengthened collective action to address current challenges and support stability and prosperity in the region”.
Oman sultan stresses importance of prioritising diplomacy during meeting with Iran FM Araghchi
Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was briefed by FM Abbas Araghchi “on the Iranian side’s perspectives” regarding the regional developments and the peace efforts, Oman’s foreign ministry says.
Araghchi “listened to His Majesty’s views on ways to advance these efforts in a manner that enhances opportunities for reaching sustainable political solutions and limits the repercussions of crises on the peoples of the region”.
The sultan affirmed the importance of prioritising the language of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing issues, in a way that contributes to consolidating the foundations of peace.
Araghchi expressed Iran’s appreciation for Oman’s positions in “supporting dialogue efforts and enhancing endeavours for security and stability in the region, especially amid the current regional challenges”, the ministry said.
Turkish FM discusses peace talk developments with US negotiators: report
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke to US negotiators on the phone and discussed latest developments in US-Iran peace talks, Reuters quoted a Turkish Foreign Ministry source saying.
Oman’s sultan met Iran’s Araghchi to discuss regional situation: state media
The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, has met Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat, where both sides discussed the regional situation and mediation efforts aimed at ending the Iran war, Reuters reports, citing Oman’s state news agency.
IRGC warns of ‘beyond expectation’ response to any further aggression
Iran’s IRGC has warned of delivering a “beyond expectation” response to further aggression, IRNA reports.
In a statement, it emphasised that the “powerful and intelligent silence” of Iran’s armed forces was “not a sign of weakness”.
The statement warned that this restraint “can at any moment, in the event of miscalculation and any renewed aggressive action by the warmongering and oath-breaking enemy, become the prelude to a ‘hellish storm’ against them”.
