Iran plans fees for Strait of Hormuz transit; Israel strikes southern Lebanon
Iran–US talks stall after rejected proposals; Pakistan minister in Tehran for mediation
Iran is preparing to introduce a “professional mechanism” to manage maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at streamlining vessel movement along designated shipping routes amid regional tensions. Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel, with Pakistan’s Interior Minister arriving in Tehran for talks aimed at reviving stalled Iran–US negotiations. Meanwhile, hostilities persist in the region, with Israel carrying out airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite an extended truce, while Hezbollah said it responded with attacks on Israeli military positions in northern Israel, underscoring ongoing cross-border violence. Follow our live coverage for the latest updates:
Iran has said it will no longer allow what it described as “enemy” military equipment to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a tougher stance on maritime security in the strategic waterway.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Tehran would assert greater control over the passage, claiming that weapons previously allowed through the strait had been used against Iran.
The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and renewed focus on security in one of the world’s most critical energy and shipping corridors.
We had given up our right of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and we previously allowed the passage of military equipment that was intended to be used against us. We will not permit that again.Mohammad Reza Aref
Israel says it has carried out strikes on around 100 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since Friday, despite the ongoing ceasefire.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operations were launched in response to what it described as Hezbollah attacks involving “hostile aircraft, mortar shells and explosive drones” near Israeli troops in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours.
In retaliation, Israel said it targeted observation posts, weapons storage sites and other infrastructure linked to Hezbollah. The military also confirmed additional strikes in the southern city of Tyre on Friday.
The developments highlight continued volatility along the Israel–Lebanon border, where tensions remain high despite ceasefire arrangements.
Iran's World Cup squad will travel to Turkey for a training camp, friendlies and to complete visa applications before heading to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday.
Team Melli will be returning to Antalya where they trained and played friendlies in March.
They are taking a squad of 30 players, which will have to be trimmed to the World Cup maximum of 26. Perhaps the best known is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, now with Olympiacos.
"Selecting 30 players for this final training camp ahead of the World Cup was the most difficult technical decision of my coaching career," Ghalenoei told the Iranian football federation website, adding that he had selected players solely on "technical criteria".
Iran hope to play two friendlies in Antalya. They have already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
"No visas have been issued yet," Mehdi Taj, the Iranian football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Antalya to Ankara.
Taj is expected to hold talks with FIFA president Gianni Infantino as Tehran seeks assurances for its squad amid tensions increased by the ongoing war.
When the squad reaches the US, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona. They are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle, in Group G.
Iran has strongly condemned Israel following the reported killing of Hamas Qassam Brigades leader Izz Al Din al Haddad in Gaza, describing the incident as a “terrorist act”.
According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the strike targeted Gaza City’s Remal neighbourhood on Friday and also resulted in the deaths of several civilians, including al-Haddad’s wife and daughter.
The ministry said such actions reflect Israel’s “desperation” and constitute ongoing violations in Gaza, adding that they will not weaken Palestinian resistance movements.
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The United Kingdom has deployed a new low-cost anti-drone capability on Royal Air Force aircraft operating in the Middle East, aimed at strengthening defence against unmanned aerial threats in the region.
According to an official statement, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) will be integrated into RAF Typhoon fighter jets. The system is designed to engage and destroy drone targets with high precision at a significantly lower cost compared with traditional missile systems.
The move comes amid sustained regional tensions, including repeated drone and missile attacks attributed to Iran on several Gulf states.
India has raised strong concerns over disruptions to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that targeting commercial shipping and endangering civilian crews is unacceptable under international law.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, outlined New Delhi’s position at a Special Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) focused on safeguarding global energy and supply chains amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
He stressed that the region’s escalating energy and fertiliser crisis requires a balanced response combining immediate relief measures with long-term structural solutions, backed by strong international cooperation.
Reiterating India’s position on maritime safety, Harish highlighted that freedom of navigation in critical sea lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz must be protected and fully aligned with international law. He warned that any obstruction to commercial shipping risks worsening global supply chain vulnerabilities at a time of heightened energy insecurity.
India’s intervention comes as global markets continue to face pressure from geopolitical tensions affecting key energy routes and fertiliser flows, underscoring calls for coordinated global action.
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The Trump administration has not extended the sanctions waiver that facilitated increased sales of Russian oil.
The waiver expired at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 16, and the US Treasury Department has not issued an extension, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) website.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously said there were no plans to renew the authorization.
The temporary license, first renewed on April 17, had allowed countries to continue purchasing Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea despite broader US sanctions.
US President Donald Trump has shared an AI-generated image suggesting heightened tensions with Iran, amid reports that the conflict could potentially escalate again.
The graphic shows Trump alongside a US Navy admiral standing before stormy seas, with multiple military vessels in the background, including one reportedly displaying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The image carries the caption: “It was calm before the storm,” a phrase widely associated with signalling impending escalation.
The post comes amid growing speculation over the possibility of renewed hostilities involving Iran, following months of heightened regional tensions and military activity in the Gulf and surrounding waters.
Hezbollah said Saturday it struck a military target in northern Israel, as the fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has not stopped fighting in the war that began on March 2.
In a statement, the Iran-backed militant group said its fighters targeted "the Ya'ara barracks... with a swarm of attack drones", after announcing multiple operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, where they are occupying territory near the border between the two countries.
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Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State, met International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to discuss rising security threats to vessels and seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf. The talks focused on reported attacks, risks to maritime navigation, and the need to restore safe and uninterrupted shipping routes.
The UAE reiterated its support for the IMO and international maritime law, stressing the importance of freedom of navigation and condemning threats to commercial shipping, which it described as a form of economic coercion that endangers regional and global stability.
Both sides also discussed ongoing international efforts to protect seafarers, maintain maritime security, and ensure the continued flow of global trade, particularly energy supplies passing through the strategic waterway.
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