At least 31 people have been killed, including several children, in a heavy wave of Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's health ministry said, after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "press the pedal even harder" against Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah infrastructure sites overnight in one of the heaviest bombardments since a US-brokered ceasefire began in mid-April.
Meanwhile, Iran said the US had violated the fragile ceasefire arrangement after the US conducted what it called defensive strikes in southern Iran.
Iran's foreign ministry said strikes in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, where Iranian media reported sounds of explosions early on Tuesday, represented a "gross violation" of the truce in place for nearly seven weeks.
Both sides had earlier indicated progress on a memorandum of understanding that could halt the war and restart shipping through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, while giving negotiators 60 days to negotiate more complex issues, including Iran's nuclear programme.
US President Donald Trump previously warned that talks with Iran were going ‘nicely’, but threatened renewed attacks if they failed.
Key Points
- US launches fresh strikes against Iran
- Tehran accuses US of ‘gross violation’ of ceasefire with new strikes
- US attacks Iran as Tehran ministers discuss peace deal in Qatar
- Rubio says Strait of Hormuz has to be open 'one way or the other'
UN Security Council condemns attack on UAE nuclear plant
06:07 , Stuti Mishra
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday condemned the attack on Barakah Nuclear Plant in the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement, adding that the attack constituted a violation of international law.
The council did not attribute blame for the attack.
The UAE said last week that six drones had been launched against it from Iraq, including one that caused a fire at the nuclear power plant in the Gulf state.
Iraq is home to powerful Iranian-backed militia groups which have claimed attacks against "enemy bases in Iraq and the region" during the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Israel clashes with Hezbollah along Litani River as Netanyahu orders expanded Lebanon operations
05:30 , Stuti Mishra
Israeli troops have clashed with Hezbollah along the Litani River in southern Lebanon as Israel pushed farther north, a day after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an expansion of military operations and one of the heaviest nights of strikes since a US-brokered ceasefire began in mid-April.
The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah sites across southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, targeting storage facilities, command centres and observation points. One strike on the eastern village of Mashghara killed 12 people, including several members of the same family, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said. Israel also warned residents of the city of Nabatiyeh to leave on Tuesday and struck an area near the Qaraoun Dam, the country's largest along the Litani River, though the Litani River Authority said there was no direct damage to the dam.
Israel has called up an additional battalion to Lebanon, an Israeli security official said on condition of anonymity. Mr Netanyahu said Israel was "operating with large forces on the ground and seizing strategic areas" and vowed to "increase the blows, increase the intensity."
At least 3,213 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war, according to Lebanon's health ministry, with over 9,700 wounded. More than one million people have been displaced. According to Mr Netanyahu's office, 23 Israeli soldiers and a defence contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon.
US military shows off fighter jet flying over Middle East
05:00 , Rachel Dobkin
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighter is refueled by a KC-135 Statotanker while flying over the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/jK7vOVE353
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 26, 2026
At least 31 killed in Lebanon as Israel launches one of heaviest nights of strikes since ceasefire
04:30 , Stuti Mishra
At least 31 people have been killed, including several children, in a heavy wave of Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's health ministry said, after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "press the pedal even harder" against Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah infrastructure sites overnight in one of the heaviest bombardments since a US-brokered ceasefire began in mid-April. Strikes hit the Bekaa Valley village of Mashghara, where 11 people including a woman and two children were pulled from rubble, and Burj al-Shamali in the south. Some strikes hit near Beaufort Castle, a nearly 900-year-old UNESCO-recognised medieval fortress.
Speaking at a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel was "deepening our operation in Lebanon" and that the IDF was "operating with large forces on the ground and seizing dominant terrain."
Hezbollah said it targeted three barracks and a military post in northern Israel in response. Israeli strikes have killed at least 3,185 people in Lebanon since the conflict began on 2 March, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Gas prices in US are heading down - how long will it last?
04:00 , Graig Graziosi
Gas prices have decreased in most US states, but the price relief may be short-lived if negotiations between the US and Iran sour.
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted on Monday that gas prices had fallen to a national average of $4.45 per gallon, while diesel had fallen to a national average of $5.56 per gallon, which was beyond more optimistic predictions heading into the week. According to AAA, the national average for gasoline last week was $4.53 per gallon, and $5.65 per gallon for diesel.
"Average #gasprices continue to fall beyond what seemed optimistic a week ago”, he wrote in a post on X.
He noted that a prospective deal between the Trump administration and Tehran to end the war in Iran may have helped delay the expected volatility, including any potential increase, in prices, as markets wait to see the outcome of the talks. It is "too early to say how long the drop continues”, De Haan added.
On Tuesday, the national average price for gasoline rose to $4.49 per gallon. Diesel was up slightly to $5.58 per gallon.
Read on...
Gas prices are heading down - how long will it last?
Watch: Rubio says Strait of Hormuz ‘will be open one way or another’ as US launches strikes on Iranian naval base
03:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Iran rebuilt military capacity faster than expected during ceasefire, says US intelligence
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Iran has been rebuilding its military capacity much faster than expected during a six-week ceasefire with the US and Israel, according to new US intelligence reports.
The ceasefire provided an opportunity for Tehran to restart its production of drones, replace missile sites and reignite its production capacity, four US officials told CNN.
“The Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC [the intelligence community] had for reconstitution,” one official said.
Top Iranian diplomat and parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said on Wednesday that the country had used the opportunity to “rebuild” its strength and military capability.
The news came before US strikes on Iran resumed on Tuesday morning.
Iran rebuilding military capacity faster than expected, say US intelligence sources
What are the minelaying boats targeted in Trump’s new strikes on Iran?
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The United States renewed attacks against Iran on Monday, targeting missile launch sites and boats they claimed were trying to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Centcom spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said the military “eliminated” two Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps boats seen setting mines in the strait, and also took out a surface-to-air missile site in Bandar Abbas.
The military cast the strikes as defensive actions designed to “protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces” and US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the Strait has to be open “one way or the other”.
Iran has deployed small surface vessels to lay mines across parts of the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to control traffic through the vital waterway, which usually handles around a fifth of global oil and liquified natural gas trade, since the war erupted on 28 February.
You can read more below:
What are the minelaying boats targeted in Trump’s new strikes on Iran?
What could a peace deal between Iran and the US look like?
Wednesday 27 May 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Negotiations for a comprehensive peace deal with Iran could "take a few days," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, tempering expectations for an imminent resolution to the nearly three month-old conflict in the Middle East.
While Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson indicated that conclusions had been reached on many points within a potential 14-point memorandum of understanding, officials stressed this does not signal a swift end to the conflict.
You can read more about what a deal may look like from James C. Reynolds below:
What could a peace deal between Iran and the US look like?
UN Security Council condemns attack on UAE nuclear plant
Tuesday 26 May 2026 23:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday condemned the attack on Barakah Nuclear Plant in the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement, adding that the attack constituted a violation of international law.
The council did not attribute blame for the attack.
The UAE said last week that six drones had been launched against it from Iraq, including one that caused a fire at the nuclear power plant in the Gulf state.
Iraq is home to powerful Iranian-backed militia groups which have claimed attacks against "enemy bases in Iraq and the region" during the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution: ‘Even my mother doesn’t know where I am’
Tuesday 26 May 2026 23:01 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Amirhossein Miresmaeili speaks to protestors on the run from the regime as arrests and executions surge, and finds protestors still riddled with bullets but too scared to go to hospital.
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution by brutal regime
Tanker reports external explosion off Oman coast, crew safe, UKMTO says
Tuesday 26 May 2026 22:49 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday that a tanker had reported an external explosion on the vessel's port side, close to the waterline, 60 nautical miles off Oman's capital Muscat.
UKMTO said the vessel, identified as the Olympic Life, and its crew were safe, although the tanker reported some bunker fuel had been discharged into the sea. It said the cause of the incident was unknown.
According to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data, the Greek-owned Very Large Crude Carrier was sailing past Muscat at around 0700 GMT, heading out of the Gulf of Oman, and was not carrying cargo.
The ship's technical manager, Springfield Shipping, said the vessel was struck by an unidentified object at about 0920 GMT, but remained stable and operational.
"An initial assessment indicated that there was damage to one of the vessel's bunker tanks. A sheen was reported in the water after the incident," it said in a statement to Reuters, adding that the spill had since been contained.
The vessel is owned by Athens-based Olympic Shipping & Management, the successor to Olympic Management founded by late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, according to the Onassis Foundation's website.
In depth: The 75-year-old military deadlock which Trump must learn from in his war with Iran
Tuesday 26 May 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
As the latest US strikes claim to target Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, John W S Clark asks why no one is heeding the lessons of the past: that mine warfare will bring any ill-conceived conflict to a shuddering standstill.
The 75-year-old military deadlock which Trump must learn from in his war with Iran
Recap: Hopes of quick Iran peace deal fade as Tehran accuses US of ‘gross violation’ of ceasefire with new strikes
Tuesday 26 May 2026 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Hopes for an imminent resolution to the conflict in the Middle East faded on Tuesday as Iran accused the US of a “gross violation” of the ceasefire agreement after Washington struck boats it claimed were attempting to lay mines as well as missile launch sites.
Iran’s foreign ministry said US strikes in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, where Iranian media reported sounds of explosions early on Tuesday, undermined the fragile truce agreement, as the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) insisted they retained a right to retaliate.
The IRGC said in a separate statement that air defence units had downed a US drone and fired at another drone and a fighter jet which they said had strayed into Iranian airspace over the Gulf region.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters that the Strait of Hormuz would have to be opened “one way or the other” and cast doubt on a quick end to the war, saying negotiating a deal would still “take a few days”.
The key issues preventing the US and Iran from agreeing a peace deal
Tuesday 26 May 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
As negotiators continue to work on reaching a peace agreement amid the backdrop of “defensive” US strikes in Iran, here are the key sticking points between Washington and Tehran:
Iran’s nuclear programme
Iran’s nuclear programme is the lingering issue that had troubled American negotiators in talks before the conflict erupted on 28 February.
Trump insisted this week that the US will eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Washington believes is destined for a nuclear weapon though Tehran says it is intended purely for peaceful purposes.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not consider the war over until enriched uranium is removed from Iran, Tehran ends its support for proxy militias, and its ballistic missile capabilities are eliminated.
But Iran has so far retained its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, and its ability to threaten neighbours with missiles, drones and proxy militias.
The Strait of Hormuz
The closure of the Strait through the war has created massive disruption to a vital channel of commerce that ordinarily carries a fifth of global oil and LNG. Iran has floated plans to continue charging some $2m for tankers post-war.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea says countries bordering straits cannot demand payment simply for permission to pass through.
But Iran has said it aims to reopen the strait to friendly countries that abide by its terms that could potentially include fees.
It emerged on Thursday that Iran and Oman have reportedly held discussions on enforcing a permanent toll on the Strait of Hormuz, despite Donald Trump’s warnings.
A ceasefire for Lebanon
Iranian state media reported earlier this month that Tehran was insisting upon the need to end the war on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, where proxy group Hezbollah continues to clash with Israeli forces.
Fighting has continued in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire there announced on April 16.
What are Abraham Accords?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Donald Trump has said he asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the “Abraham Accords” as he tries to negotiate an agreement to end his war with Iran.
The US president has repeatedly said he wants to expand the accords, brokered by him during his first term in the White House.
Trump said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have already signed the accords, a set of agreements to normalise relations with Israel.
The Abraham Accords were a series of diplomatic and commercial agreements forged with US influence between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in 2020.
A permanent agreement in Gaza could help pave the path for talks with other majority-Muslim countries.
US plans to slash bombers and warships available to Nato in a crisis, report claims
Tuesday 26 May 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The United States plans to slash vital military contributions available to Europe in a crisis, including fighter jets, warships and strategic bombers, according to a report.
An envoy of US defence secretary Pete Hegseth briefed top officials at Nato headquarters late last week that Washington intends to cut its commitments to the so-called Nato Force Model, according to German outlet Der Spiegel.
The framework sets out how national forces are made available to the alliance, helping to ensure a rapid response in the event of a crisis or conflict.
US envoy Alexander Velez-Green reportedly said during the closed-door meeting that the commitment for US fighter jets would fall by a third, while the US Navy will make fewer destroyers available and no longer provide any submarines.
James C Reynolds has this report:
US plans to slash bombers and warships available to Nato in a crisis, report claims
China says it hopes Iran war parties can meet each other halfway
Tuesday 26 May 2026 19:43 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
China's foreign minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday he hoped parties in the Iran conflict can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway.
Wang spoke to reporters at the United Nations in New York after chairing a meeting of the 15-member Security Council because China has held the council's presidency in May.
British warship awaits peace deal for vital mine-clearing mission in Strait of Hormuz
Tuesday 26 May 2026 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Hundreds of British sailors are currently stationed aboard the RFA Lyme Bay off the coast of Gibraltar, poised for a mine-clearing mission to the Strait of Hormuz, though its deployment remains uncertain.
The operation hinges on a peace agreement in the region, a deal which US President Donald Trump claims has been "largely negotiated" but still requires finalisation.
You can read more below:
British warship awaits peace deal for vital mine-clearing mission in Strait of Hormuz
Watch: Rubio says US will give diplomacy 'every chance to succeed' in Iran negotiations
Tuesday 26 May 2026 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Oil prices surge to $100 a barrel as US-Iran peace hopes fade amid military strikes
Tuesday 26 May 2026 18:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Global oil prices have surged back to $100 a barrel, as diminishing hopes for a US-Iran peace deal cast a shadow over international energy markets.
Despite this, financial markets experienced a mixed morning, with UK stocks seeing gains and government borrowing costs falling to their lowest point in a month.
Brent crude oil prices climbed by approximately 3.5 per cent on Tuesday morning, recovering after a slight dip over the bank holiday weekend.
You can read more below:
Oil prices surge to $100 a barrel as US-Iran peace hopes fade amid military strikes
Netanyahu says military operating with 'large forces on the ground' in southern Lebanon
Tuesday 26 May 2026 18:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the military was operating with "large forces on the ground" in southern Lebanon and taking control of "strategic areas", according to a statement.
His comments at the opening of a security cabinet meeting came after the Israeli military expanded their ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond a demarcation line that Israel has set up several kilometres inside Lebanese territory after an April 16 ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Analysis: Why Trump’s latest demand for Iran peace deal is the fastest way to kill hope of progress
Tuesday 26 May 2026 18:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Donald Trump abruptly warning that a slew of countries must sign divisive diplomatic deals with Israel as a “mandatory” condition for peace with Iran is dangerous and unnecessary, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew.
Why Trump’s new demand for Iran peace deal is fastest way to kill hope of progress
Trump hosting rare Camp David cabinet meeting — including outgoing Tulsi Gabbard — as Iran peace talks stall
Tuesday 26 May 2026 17:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
President Donald Trump will host a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Wednesday, one day after his annual physical at Walter Reed Medical Center and during high-stakes peace talks with Iran that seemed on Tuesday to be breaking down once again.
Multiple news outlets confirmed that attendance at the meeting would include the president’s entire Cabinet as well as departing director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has taken a back seat in the administration amid the war with Iran and whom Reuters reported last week is being “forced out” of her position by White House staffers.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
You can read the latest below:
Trump hosting rare Camp David cabinet meeting as Iran peace talks stall
What's involved in talks to end the Iran war?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Since a ceasefire took effect last month, Iran and the United States have remained at odds on prickly issues including Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israel's war in Lebanon and Tehran's demands for the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets.
After weeks of mainly indirect talks, both sides say they have made progress on a memorandum of understanding that would halt the war and give negotiators 60 days to reach a final deal.
What are the terms?
The framework is focused on an end to the war and a US naval blockade, in exchange for Tehran taking steps to ensure safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei.
Senior Iranian diplomat Hossein Nooshabadi told ISNA news agency that the possible framework deal included the end of the war on all fronts including Lebanon, the release of blocked Iranian assets, the lifting of the US naval blockade and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of US forces from the region and freedom to sell Iranian oil. He said Iran’s draft contained no commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Americans insist the nuclear issue must be resolved as part of any deal. A senior US official told Reuters that Iran has agreed “in principle” to reopen the Strait in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, and to dispose of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.
What happens next?
If Iran's Supreme National Security Council approves the memorandum of understanding, it will then be sent to the country's supreme leader for final approval. The US understood Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed the broad template of the deal, the senior US official said.
If the first phase of the agreement progressed, the nuclear issue could be reviewed and negotiated during the 60-day period, Baghaei and Nooshabadi said.
The last deal over the nuclear programme - struck in 2015 and torn up by Donald Trump in 2018 - took years of negotiations between large teams of technical experts.
‘The one toy I took from my war torn home’: Plight of the 400,000 children displaced by Israel’s war on Lebanon
Tuesday 26 May 2026 16:30 , James Reynolds
Around 400,000 children have been displaced in Lebanon due to Israel’s bombardment and invasion. As a shaky ceasefire is extended for 45 days, they show the toys they brought with them, and share their dreams to one day return home. Alex Croft reports:
‘The toy I took from my war torn home’: The 400,000 children displaced by Israeli war
Internet partly restored in Iran, Netblocks says
Tuesday 26 May 2026 16:00 , James Reynolds
The internet monitoring group Netblocks said in a post on social media on Tuesday that live data showed partial restoration of internet connectivity in Iran.
Iranian state media reported on Monday that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had issued an order to reopen international internet access, after a near-90-day blackout in the wake of the war.
Israel expands Lebanon ground operation beyond Yellow Line
Tuesday 26 May 2026 15:35 , James Reynolds
Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the military had expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond the "Yellow Line", an Israeli-drawn demarcation line near the border, though the reports gave no further details on the extent of the advance.
Cross-border fighting has been escalating between Israel and Hezbollah, despite the declaration of a ceasefire several weeks ago.
Dollar steadies as hopes for Iran peace deal waver
Tuesday 26 May 2026 15:27 , James Reynolds
The dollar steadied on Tuesday as investor hopes of an imminent deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were dented by fresh US attacks on Iranian targets and comments suggesting a swift agreement is unlikely.
The prospect of a peace deal had pushed oil prices below $100 a barrel, eased pressure on emerging-market currencies and provided a slight boost to risk sentiment this week.
Market optimism, however, was tempered on Tuesday by comments from Marco Rubio, who said that negotiations on a deal with Iran could "take a few days" after US forces conducted what Washington called defensive strikes in southern Iran.
The euro was little changed at $1.164 after rising 0.3% on Monday. The British pound fell 0.2% to $1.348, having risen 0.6%.
Recap: Trump calls for more states to normalise ties with Israel
Tuesday 26 May 2026 15:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump has called on more Arab and Muslim states to sign up to the Abraham Accords, brokered during his first term in office and aimed at normalising ties between those states and Israel.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said Saudi Arabia and Qatar should immediately sign and Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey should follow suit, calling his request mandatory.
Saudi Arabia's longstanding position has been that it would not sign the accords unless there is an agreement on a roadmap to Palestinian statehood.
A Pakistani source familiar with the matter said that the statement reflected an attempt to use the Iran diplomacy for a wider push around the accords - but that the two issues were "not interlinked and cannot be made so."
In pictures: Life continues in Tehran as US renews strikes in south
Tuesday 26 May 2026 14:28 , James Reynolds
Who are Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 14:00 , James Reynolds
Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were set up shortly after the 1979 revolution to protect the clerical ruling system.
The IRGC’s mandate is to protect revolutionary values and it answers to the supreme leader of Iran, which means it has at times spoken out against the government.
With a huge military force of some 125,000 personnel (prewar), the IRGC provides a counterweight to Iran’s professional army and operates independently of the armed forces.
It controls the country’s ballistic missile arsenal - a target in Washington’s sights as it tries to negotiate demilitarisation with the state.
Since the Iran-Iraq conflict of the 1980s, the IRGC has funded nonstate armed groups in the region. The Quds Force emerged as its de facto external affairs branch and today manages relations with Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, among others, exporting Iran’s influence and deterring Western influence.
The IRGC also commands the Basij religious militia within Iran, a volunteer paramilitary force loyal to the clerical establishment often used to crack down on anti-government protests.
Tanker reports external explosion off Oman coast
Tuesday 26 May 2026 13:41 , James Reynolds
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)said on Tuesday that a tanker had reported an external explosion on the vessel's port side, close to the waterline 60 nautical miles off Oman's capital Muscat.
UKMTO said the vessel and its crew were safe, although the tanker reported that some bunker fuel was discharged into the sea.
Recap: Tehran warns US to ‘prepare your shelters’ after Trump launches new strikes in Strait of Hormuz
Tuesday 26 May 2026 13:32 , James Reynolds
Iran issued an ominous warning telling the United States to “prepare your bunkers” as renewed US airstrikes cast doubt on hopes of a lasting ceasefire.
Dr Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s national security committee, wrote in the aftermath of Monday’s attacks: “To the owners of glass houses; Prepare your shelters. Get your bunkers ready.”
Iranian officials erupted with pointed threats after US forces conducted strikes in southern Iran against military targets in what it described as defensive actions.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said this morning that the Strait of Hormuz has to be open “one way or the other”, adding that the negotiating language of the deal with Iran could “take a few days”.
Iran’s top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar’s prime minister on a potential deal with the US to end the three-month-old war, an official briefed on the visit said on Monday, after Washington and Tehran played down hopes of a swift end.
What's involved in talks to end the Iran war?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 13:00 , James Reynolds
Since a ceasefire took effect last month, Iran and the United States have remained at odds on prickly issues including Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israel's war in Lebanon and Tehran's demands for the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets.
After weeks of mainly indirect talks, both sides say they have made progress on a memorandum of understanding that would halt the war and give negotiators 60 days to reach a final deal.
What are the terms?
The framework is focused on an end to the war and a US naval blockade, in exchange for Tehran taking steps to ensure safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei.
Senior Iranian diplomat Hossein Nooshabadi told ISNA news agency that the possible framework deal included the end of the war on all fronts including Lebanon, the release of blocked Iranian assets, the lifting of the US naval blockade and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of US forces from the region and freedom to sell Iranian oil. He said Iran’s draft contained no commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Americans insist the nuclear issue must be resolved as part of any deal. A senior US official told Reuters that Iran has agreed “in principle” to reopen the Strait in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, and to dispose of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.
What happens next?
If Iran's Supreme National Security Council approves the memorandum of understanding, it will then be sent to the country's supreme leader for final approval. The US understood Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed the broad template of the deal, the senior US official said.
If the first phase of the agreement progressed, the nuclear issue could be reviewed and negotiated during the 60-day period, Baghaei and Nooshabadi said.
The last deal over the nuclear programme - struck in 2015 and torn up by Donald Trump in 2018 - took years of negotiations between large teams of technical experts.
Iran executes man for 'intelligence cooperation with Israel'
Tuesday 26 May 2026 12:28 , James Reynolds
Iran has executed a man for alleged espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Tuesday.
Unfreezing of Iranian funds 'last sticking point': Iranian source
Tuesday 26 May 2026 12:15 , James Reynolds
A source said to be close to negotiations tells Iran’s Fars news agency that the unfreezing of Iran’s funds is the last serious sticking point with the United States now being resolved through Qatar mediations.
Trump gives Tehran new nuclear warning as US and Iran edge towards peace deal
Tuesday 26 May 2026 12:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump has warned that Tehran “must understand” it cannot have a nuclear weapon as the two sides edge towards a potential peace deal.
The US says it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with expectations rising that a breakthrough could be imminent.
However, while adopting a more positive tone on Sunday, following previous reports the US was considering further strikes against Iran, Trump said his team would “not be rushed”.
His comments came soon after the US secretary of state Marco Rubio suggested an announcement could be made “within hours”.
Trump gives Tehran new warning on nuclear weapons as US and Iran edge towards deal
Iran to turn internet back on after record blackout
Tuesday 26 May 2026 11:56 , James Reynolds
Iran is ending a government-imposed internet blackout that has been in place for nearly three months, according to state media.
President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an official order to reopen international internet access, local broadcasters reported on Monday, though independent monitors say the shutdown remains in effect.
The current blackout was introduced in late February following attacks from the US and Israel. It came just weeks after internet restrictions were eased after a similar blackout in January as a result of anti-government protests.
Iran to turn internet back on after record blackout
Watch: Rubio says Strait of Hormuz ‘will be open one way or another’ as US launches new strikes on Iranian naval base
Tuesday 26 May 2026 11:30 , James Reynolds
The Independent View: Let’s hope Trump has cooled on a new Iran attack
Tuesday 26 May 2026 11:00 , James Reynolds
When Donald Trump said that he would probably not be attending his son’s wedding, citing “a thing called Iran and other things”, and when his vice-president suddenly changed his weekend plans to return to Washington, it was not hard to imagine the worst.
That worst, from a great many perspectives, was that the US president had decided to end the ceasefire with Iran and act on his earlier threat to destroy its “whole civilisation”.
So it was an unexpectedly welcome turn of events when Mr Trump revealed on his Truth Social platform that, for the time being at least, almost the opposite was true.
He said that an agreement had been “largely negotiated” with Iran, and added that he had spoken to the leaders of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries about a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to peace” – peace being spelt out in capital letters.
In full:
Let’s hope Trump has cooled on a new Iran attack
Recap: Israel vows to escalate strikes on Lebanon
Tuesday 26 May 2026 10:30 , James Reynolds
Israel will escalate strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to trade blows despite an April 16 truce aimed at halting the deadliest spillover of the war on Iran.
Tehran has demanded a halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon as a condition in talks with the US aimed at ending the broader war.
Netanyahu said on Sunday he and President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call that Israel would retain the right to confront perceived threats on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Netanyahu doubled down on that message on Monday night, saying in a video released on Telegram: "We are at war with Hezbollah, and we will intensify our strikes."
$24bn in frozen funds must be released in potential MOU with the US: Iranian source
Tuesday 26 May 2026 10:27 , James Reynolds
An Iranian source close to Tehran’s negotiation team tells the Tasnim news agency that the US must agree to releasing $24bn in frozen Iranian funds as part of a potential memorandum of understanding to end the war.
Catch up: US carries out ‘self-defense’ airstrikes on Iran threatening fragile ceasefire
Tuesday 26 May 2026 10:00 , James Reynolds
The U.S. has carried out what it called “self-defense” airstrikes against Iran, threatening a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
The strikes targeted missile launch sites and mine-laying boats in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil passageway in the Middle East that Iran has effectively closed amid the war, according to the U.S. Central Command.
“U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins told the media Monday evening.
US carries out ‘self-defense’ airstrikes on Iran threatening fragile ceasefire
The latest: Trump says Iran will hand over enriched uranium or destroy it
Tuesday 26 May 2026 09:47 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump insisted late on Monday that Iran would hand over its enriched uranium or destroy it, as questions remain over the scope of a permanent ceasefire to end the war.
In another lengthy post on Truth Social on Monday, the US president said talks with Iran were going "nicely", but warned of fresh attacks if they failed.
It "will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all," he wrote.
His secretary of state said that negotiating a deal with Iran could still “take a few days”, quashing hopes for an imminent end to the conflict.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier that nuclear issues would only be negotiated after the framework accord was agreed.
Qatar did not offer Iran money to end the war, says foreign ministry
Tuesday 26 May 2026 09:00 , James Reynolds
Qatar did not offer Iran $12bn to secure a deal, the spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry says on social media.
Dr Majed Al Ansari says the reports are “simply not true” and says they “are being circulated by parties attempting to sabotage the deal”.
The reports suggesting Qatar “offered” $12 billion to Iran to secure a deal are simply not true & are being circulated by parties attempting to sabotage the deal & undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts toward regional de-escalation & stability.
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) May 25, 2026
Qatar’s diplomatic role, in…
IRGC says it reserves right to respond to US aggression
Tuesday 26 May 2026 08:41 , James Reynolds
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says in a statement that it reserves the right to respond to an US breach of the ceasefire arrangement.
It claims to have downed an MQ9 drone after identifying “hostile aircrafts” entering Iranian airspace in the Gulf region.
Khamenei promises new Middle East without US footholds
Tuesday 26 May 2026 08:25 , James Reynolds
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on his Telegram channel on Tuesday that Gulf powers will no longer be a shield for United States bases and the US will no longer have a safe haven in the region, as Tehran and Washington discuss a framework to end their three-month-old war.
Senior Iranian MP threatens US with response to strikes: 'Prepare your shelters'
Tuesday 26 May 2026 07:59 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei has warned the US to "prepare your shelters" and "get your bunkers ready" after Washington launch airstrikes on Iranian naval bases yesterday.
Rezaei posted on X a short while ago, addressing his message to "the owners of glass houses". It comes after the US military said it had struck missile launch sites and mine-laying boats in the Strait of Hormuz.
https://x.com/EbrahimRezaei14/status/2059147425512824833
Rezaei is a senior Iranian MP and spokesperson for the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.
Earlier he posted on X as Iranian lawmakers were in Doha to discuss a peace deal with the US.He said that diplomats representing Tehran in talks with the US “must negotiate from a position of victorious power”.
“The definitive victor of the war has been and remains the valiant Iranian nation,” said Rezaei.
“Yielding to the enemy only makes it more savage and exacerbates our problems. Please do not whitewash the red lines.”
Doubts grow over Trump’s mental fitness, polls find
Tuesday 26 May 2026 07:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Many Americans continue to fear that Donald Trump is experiencing a decline in his mental faculties in a manner similar to what the country came to believe Joe Biden underwent during his own presidency.
With the president’s Oval Office events and rallies around the country increasingly defined by a tendency to wander off into unrelated topics and nonsensical asides Trump himself has dubbed “The Weave”, he’s is set to visit Walter Reed Medical Center Tuesday for a scheduled annual physical.
It isn’t clear yet if he’ll be subjected to one of the “cognitive tests” he boasts about acing on the campaign trail as a means of heading off speculation about his capabilities.
But the president’s test results aren’t convincing more than half of Americans who say that the president has noticeably declined in the past year, according to polling, or boosting his sagging approval ratings that are now in the mid-30s in most surveys.
More here.
Is Donald Trump mentally fit? Doubts grow ahead of president’s annual medical exam
Iranian MP says future of talks depends on US actions
Tuesday 26 May 2026 07:31 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The chief of Iran’s parliamentary national security committee said progress in talks with Washington hinges on whether US confidence building measures deliver tangible results.
“No action will be taken unless the Islamic Republic’s interests are fully secured,” Ebrahim Azizi said this morning.
A team representing the Iranian leadership is currently in Doha to discuss peace talks, even as the US launched fresh strikes on an Iranian naval base in the Strait of Hormuz.
Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns
Tuesday 26 May 2026 07:06 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, has officially begun.
More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the country, Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj passport forces, said Friday. The faithful have been pouring into the country for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related regional tensions and uncertainty.
Egyptian pilgrim Samya Abdul Moneim said she was grateful to God that she made it to the Hajj, which is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it.
“I am in a state of blessing and happiness,” she said in Mecca on Sunday. “It’s an indescribable feeling, truly. I mean, thank God, I am in a blessing.”
More here.
Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns
Minister says joining Abraham Accords ‘not acceptable’ for Pakistan
Tuesday 26 May 2026 06:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif has said that he does not believe that Islamabad should join the Abraham Accords.
The Abraham Accords were a series of diplomatic and commercial agreements forged with US influence to normalise relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in 2020.
Donald Trump says he has urged the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the Abraham Accords as he tries to negotiate an agreement to end his war with Iran.
“Personally, I don’t think that we should join any such accord that clashes with our fundamental ideologies,” Asif told Samaa TV.
“We have a very clear stance that this is not acceptable to us,” he said.
Four Iranian guard troops killed in US strikes - report
Tuesday 26 May 2026 06:32 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
At least four Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops were killed in the US attack on the Iranian naval base in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian news website Tabnak reported.
Iranian state television separately reported blasts around Bandar Abbas, a city on the Strait of Hormuz home to a military port and a dual-use airport.
The US military last night said it carried out “self-defence” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats placing mines.
Trump promoted ‘The Abraham Accords’ for peace. What you need to know
Tuesday 26 May 2026 06:13 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump has said he asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the “Abraham Accords” as he tries to negotiate an agreement to end his war with Iran.
The US president has repeatedly said he wants to expand the accords, brokered by him during his first term in the White House.
Trump said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have already signed the accords, a set of agreements to normalise relations with Israel.
More here.
Trump promoted ‘The Abraham Accords’ for peace. What you need to know
Watch: Rubio says Strait of Hormuz ‘will be open one way or another
Tuesday 26 May 2026 06:02 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices rise after fresh US strikes
Tuesday 26 May 2026 05:43 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices rose again on Tuesday after US military strikes in southern Iran shattered hopes of an imminent peace deal.
Positive noises about peace talks coming from both the US and Iran had sent crude tumbling 7 per cent on Monday – one of the sharpest single-day drops in weeks.
But Brent crude climbed again by $1.40, or 1.5 per cent, to $97.56 a barrel this morning after Washington struck missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to lay mines near the Strait of Hormuz overnight, casting a shadow over negotiations that briefly appeared close to a breakthrough.
More here.
Oil prices rise after fresh US strikes dent hopes of Iran peace deal
What is being discussed at the Doha talks?
Tuesday 26 May 2026 05:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The official briefed on the Iranians' Doha visit said the discussions focused on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while Iran's central bank governor attended to discuss the potential release of frozen Iranian funds as part of a final deal.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier that nuclear issues would only be negotiated after the framework accord was agreed.
US president Donald Trump has said his key aim in the war is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon with its highly enriched uranium. Tehran has consistently denied it has plans to do that.
Baghaei said the potential Iran deal contained no specific details on management of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually flows.
Iran would not charge tolls for ships to pass through but there would be a cost for services offered such as navigation and steps to protect the environment, he said, under a protocol to be agreed with Oman, which lies on the opposite shore of the waterway.
Citing a Middle East diplomatic source, Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported the US and Iran were discussing a plan to open the strait about 30 days after reaching a deal to end hostilities.
Iranian official says there will be no retreat in fight against US
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The newly appointed leader of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in his first public message that “there will be no retreat” in Iran's fight against the US and Israel, according to Tasnim News Agency.
“The military field, the diplomatic field and the people sent forth into the streets demonstrated this through their courageous resistance and brought the enemy to its knees,” Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr said.
Israel continues to bomb southern Lebanon
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:37 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel will escalate strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Netanyahu says
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:35 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel will escalate strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, as a US official said the militia had ignored warnings to halt firing at Israel in a conflict that could threaten US-Iran negotiations.
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to trade blows despite a 16 April aimed at halting the deadliest spillover of the US-Israeli joint war on Iran.
Tehran has demanded a halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon as a condition in talks with the US aimed at ending the broader war.
As the US and Iran appeared to draw closer to a potential deal on Sunday, Netanyahu said he and president Donald Trump agreed in a phone call that Israel would retain the right to confront perceived threats on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Netanyahu doubled down on that message on Monday night, saying in a video released on Telegram: "We are at war with Hezbollah, and we will intensify our strikes."
He said Israel's military was not taking its "foot off the gas. On the contrary, I said to step on the gas even more.
Israel's military has remained deployed in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon since the truce, with its air force striking what it describes as Hezbollah positions and its ground forces demolishing towns where it says the militia holds sway.
Oil prices rise after US attack on Iran
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:31 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices rose this morning and stocks were mixed as investor optimism over an imminent US-Iran peace deal was tempered by new US strikes in the Middle East.
The developments sent Brent futures rising more than 1 per cent in early Asian trade to $98.39 per barrel. The West Texas Intermediate futures also climbed, but there was no settlement on Memorial Day. It remained at $91.79.
Rubio says Strait of Hormuz has to be open 'one way or the other'
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said this morning that the Strait of Hormuz has to be open, "one way or the other", when referring to US strikes on Iran.
"The straits have to be open; they're going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open," Rubio told reporters on his plane in India's Jaipur.
He said a deal with Iran was still being negotiated in Qatar despite the renewed strikes on southern Iran's port of Bandar Abbas.
“There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress,” he said.
“I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days."
Trump rips into Obama's 'Iran policy' in new post
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump has ripped into former US president Barack Obama’s “Iran policy” in a new Truth Social post.
Trump shared a side-by-side illustration Monday night, Washington time. On the left was a picture of a pallet of cash titled, “Obama’s Iran Policy”. On the right was a picture of a US ship firing strikes titled, “Trump’s Iran Policy”.
During Obama’s second term, Tehran signed the so-called Iran Nuclear Deal. Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.
The deal restricted Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions, but Trump argued during his first term, “the deal allowed Iran to continue enriching uranium and — over time — reach the brink of a nuclear breakout”.
Trump's counterterrorism chief who quit over Iran war says US is 'inviting escalation'
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:03 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump's counterterrorism chief, who quit over the Iran war, has said that the US is “inviting escalation,” following fresh strikes.
“Iran would have no incentive to mine the Strait of Hormuz if we weren’t there”, Joe Kent wrote on X in reaction to the US announcing defensive strikes on Iranian missile launch sites and mine-laying boats.
“Pull our forces out & Iran faces major pressure to open the Strait from the rest of the world & loses their justification”, Kent added. “Staying in our current posture is inviting escalation for zero gain”.
Kent, Trump’s former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in March, claiming “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation”.
US attacks Iran as Tehran ministers discuss peace deal in Qatar
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:02 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US launched fresh strikes on Iran while Tehran’s top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar's prime minister on a potential deal with the US to end the three-month-old war.
US Secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters in New Delhi earlier that the US would give diplomacy every chance to succeed before considering whether to deal with Iran in "another way".
There was a "pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait (of Hormuz), get the strait open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off," Rubio said.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said talks with Iran were going "nicely", but warned of fresh attacks if they failed. It "will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all," he wrote.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a briefing that conclusions had been reached on many topics but that did not mean the sides were close to agreement.
The official briefed on the Iranians' Doha visit told Reuters the discussions focused primarily on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium while Iran's central bank governor attended to discuss the potential release of frozen Iranian funds as part of a final deal.
Baghaei said earlier that nuclear issues would only be negotiated on if the framework accord is agreed first.
US launches fresh strikes against Iran
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:01 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US launched fresh airstrikes against Iran, claiming the attacks were in “self-defence”.
American forces “conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Central Command’s Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement.
“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines,” the military spokesperson added.
Two Iranian boats were caught laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil passageway in the Middle East, a senior US official told Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin.
“The US military eliminated both IRGC vessels and also struck at a SAM (surface to air missile) site in Bandar Abbas that was targeting US warplanes,” Griffin wrote in an X post.
Two sources said the strikes do not indicate the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran is broken, per Griffin.
Iran war briefing for Tuesday 26 May:
Tuesday 26 May 2026 04:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
- The US has launched fresh airstrikes against Iran, Central Command said, claiming the attacks were "to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces"
- US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that the Strait of Hormuz has to be open "one way or the other" following the fresh strikes
- The US struck Iran as Tehran's top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar's prime minister on a potential deal with Washington
- Oil prices rose on Tuesday, with Brent futures rising more than 1 per cent in early Asian trade to $97.32 a barrel
