Iran, US-Israel war latest developments (May 24):
- US-Iran deal close, not final: The US is close to a deal with Iran to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address Tehran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, regional officials told AP.
- Trump says talks constructive: US President Donald Trump said negotiations were moving in an “orderly and constructive” manner, but added that the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a deal is signed.
- Iran says it is not seeking nukes: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was ready to assure the world it was not pursuing nuclear weapons, even as Iran insisted on its right to nuclear technology, AP reported.
- Israel seeks firm nuclear curbs: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said any final Iran deal must “eliminate the nuclear danger” and preserve Israel’s right to defend itself.
- Deal subject to finalisation: Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump announced via social media that a potential peace deal with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” but was still “subject to finalisation” between Washington, Tehran and “various other” West Asian nations.
- Iranian leadership cite ‘excessive’ US demands for delay: ‘Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously blamed “excessive” US demands as the main obstacle hindering peace talks during a phone call with the UN chief.
- ‘Hormuz to be under Iranian management’: Iran has since also disputed Trump’s statement that the potential peace proposal will involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “in the event of a possible agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will still be under Iranian management.”
US lawmakers split over possible Iran deal as Democrats slam Trump’s approach
US lawmakers appearing on Sunday talk shows were sharply divided over a potential deal to end the Iran war, Reuters reported. Republicans largely backed the reported contours of an agreement being negotiated by President Donald Trump, while Democrats said it appeared to achieve little.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said the reported outline sounded like a return to the “pre-war status quo” with Iran, calling Trump’s approach a “blunder”. Republican Representative Mike Lawler, however, praised the administration, saying it had forced Iran into “a real negotiation” for the first time in decades.
Democratic Senator Cory Booker also criticised Trump, saying the President was being “played as a fool” in the talks and arguing that the Strait of Hormuz had now become a leverage point for Iran.
In a notable development, Naim Qassem, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, has called upon the Lebanese government to “reverse the decisions it has taken to criminalise the resistance”.
As per reports published by Lebanon’s National News Agency, Qassem vowed that recent US sanctions against nine people linked to Hezbollah “will only strengthen our resolve”, and criticised Beirut for not taking a stance against them.
He also claimed that Israel’s ultimate goal is to occupy Lebanon.
United States and Iran have agreed in principle to a deal regarding Hormuz: NYT report
As per a report recently published by the New York Times (NYT), the United States and Iran have agreed in principle to a deal that would wind down the war in the Middle East by reopening the Strait of Hormuz with a commitment from Iran to dispose of its highly enriched uranium, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Sunday.
On Sunday, the U.S. official said a deal had not yet been signed and was still subject to final approval from President Trump and Iran’s supreme leader, which could take days, NYT reported.
Death toll in Lebanon rises to 3,151
Since March 2, Israeli air strikes in Lebanon have killed 3,151 people and wounded 9,571, the Health Ministry has said in a statement carried by the National News Agency.
Just today, the Israeli army has intensified its attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon despite a ceasefire that came into effect on April 22.
White House says Iran war deal unlikely on Sunday, approval process may take days: Report
The White House does not expect a deal to end the war with Iran to be finalized on Sunday. A senior US official told Axios that the agreement still requires approval from Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Final Iran deal must dismantle Tehran’s nuclear threat, Netanyahu says after call with Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and US President Donald Trump agreed that any final agreement with Iran must “remove the nuclear threat”. Netanyahu said this would mean dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities and removing enriched nuclear material from Iranian territory. He added that Trump reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself against threats on all fronts, including in Lebanon. “My policy, like President Trump’s policy, remains unchanged: Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said.
Trump says Iran blockade stays until deal is signed
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he has told his diplomatic representatives not to rush into a deal with Iran because "time is on our side," less than a day after announcing that an agreement with Tehran had been largely negotiated.
"The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"There can be no mistakes! Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one."
Claims of progress on the peace deal| What all took place today ?
The United States is close to reaching a deal with Iran that would end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, with the details and timelines to be worked out later, regional officials told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Iran has not publicly committed to giving up its uranium - a key demand of US President Donald Trump - and the sides have seemed close to a deal in recent weeks without clinching one.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to India, said that "significant progress, although not final progress, has been made" in the negotiations, and that the world would no longer need to fear Iran getting a nuclear weapon, without elaborating.
Iran's embassy in India responded to Rubio on social media, saying Tehran has an "inalienable" right to nuclear technology. Iran has always insisted its program is peaceful while enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told state TV they were ready "to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon."
Israel's warning to Trump
As per a report published by Times of Israel earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Trump that Israel maintains freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, according to an official familiar with the conversation. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The official said Trump made it clear to Netanyahu that he would not sign any final agreement without the conditions that Iran dismantle its entire nuclear program and give up all its enriched uranium.
Israel's Science Minister Gila Gamliel, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party and part of his national security cabinet, told Israel's Army Radio that Israel is taking a "wait-and-see" approach.
Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah remains a serious threat to Israel and that Lebanon is ill-equipped to disarm it.
US President Donald Trump has posted an AI-generated image on his Truth Social account captioned “Adios” (Spanish for goodbye), showing a US drone destroying an Iranian navy ship.
The post comes after news of a potential deal between the US and Iran had emerged earlier today after US representative Marco Rubio hinted at a potential breakthrough between US and Iran during his ongoing India visit.
'Management of the Strait of Hormuz is Iran's legal right to ensure national security' Adviser to Iran's supreme leader
An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader said Tehran’s management of the Strait of Hormuz is its “legal right” to safeguard national security, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. The adviser also claimed Iran’s role in managing the strategic waterway would mark the end of “50 years of insecurity” in the Gulf region.
Israeli military issues forced displacement order for 10 towns, villages in Lebanon
It has threatened residents of 10 towns and villages in southern and eastern Lebanon, forcing them to flee their homes before expected strikes against alleged “Hezbollah targets”.
The displaced people must immediately move at least 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) away from the soon-to-be-targeted areas, said the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee, on X.
The affected towns and villages include Machghara, Deir ez-Zahrani, al-Sharqiyah, Doueir, Qlailah, Sohmor, Zibdin, Nabatieh at-Tahta, Arab Salim and Kfar Jouz.
33 ships passed Hormuz in past 24 hours: FARS
Iran's IRGC Navy says 33 ships passed through Strait of Hormuz after obtaining permission from Iran in the last 24 hours.
IDF says Hezbollah drone detonated in northern Israel near Lebanon border; no injuries
The IDF in its statement has said that a drone launched by Hezbollah at troops a short while ago detonated inside Israeli territory near the Lebanese border. There were no injuries, the military says.
Iran shoots down an Israeli surveillance drone, news agency says
The Iranian army downed an Israeli spying and surveillance drone in the Hormozgan province, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on Sunday, as expectations rose that a memorandum of understanding regarding a peace deal between Iran and the U.S. could be imminent.
The wreckage of a shattered Orbiter drone, an Israeli product, was discovered in cooperation with Iranian naval forces, the agency said.
Iran's President makes big announcement after Rubio hints at breakthrough
Iran's President Pezeshkian says our negotiating team will not compromise when it comes to our country's honor and dignity. "We are ready to reassure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons," he added.
EU chief hails progress towards US-Iran agreement
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed “the progress towards an agreement between the US and Iran”.
“We need a deal that truly de-escalates the conflict, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and guarantees toll-free full freedom of navigation. Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” von der Leyen wrote on X.
Donald Trump reassures Netanyahu that any final agreement with Iran will include :Times of Israel report
US President Donald Trump reassured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call last night that the final agreement with Iran will fully dismantle Tehran’s nuclear program, a senior Israeli official says in a statement.
Trump “clarified that he will stand firm in the negotiations on his long standing demand for the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement without these conditions being met,” the official says.
Washington is keeping Jerusalem updated on the negotiations “over a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and enter negotiations toward a final agreement on the points that remain in dispute,” the statement reads, adding that Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “exceptional commitment to Israel’s security.”
Yesterday, The New York Times reported that the US has almost completely excluded Israel from the negotiations.
For his part, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel will preserve its freedom of action against “all threats in all arenas,” the official says.
“The prime minister emphasized that Israel will preserve its freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump reiterated his support for this principle,” the official says.
Disagreement over some clauses of likely peace deal still exists: Report
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reports that a disagreement over two or three clauses persists Tehran and Washington.
'Good news in next few hours,' Marco Rubio hints at US-Iran peace deal breakthrough
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday indicated that "significant progress" has been made in ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning Iran, stating that an announcement could be possible later today regarding a deal with Iran.
Any potential breakthrough over the Strait of Hormuz would depend on Iran accepting and complying with a proposed framework under discussion, Rubio said, stressing that Tehran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.
Addressing reporters in New Delhi, alongside External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Rubio suggested that further announcements on the issue could come later in the day from US President Donald Trump.
"On the Iran situation, there'll be, I believe, maybe more news coming out a little bit later today on this topic, and I'll leave it to the President to make further announcements on it," Rubio said.
British PM Starmer welcomes progress in US-Iran talks
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed progress towards an agreement between the US and Iran.
“We need to see an agreement that brings the conflict to an end and reopens the Strait of Hormuz,” Starmer said on X.
The British leader also said it is “vital” that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
“We will work with our international partners to seize this moment and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement,” he added.
Israeli attack on southern Lebanon kills 1 person
At least one person has been killed and two people injured in an Israeli attack on the municipality of Bazouriyeh in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
Separately, an overnight Israeli air strike targeted a house in the town of Toura, also in the Tyre district, resulting in one death and two injuries, NNA said.
Iran's president says no decision will be made without Supreme Leader's approval
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said over the weekend that no decision regarding the US-Iran peace deal will be made without the Supreme Leader's approval, according to Tasnim news agency.
Pezeshkian also said no decision would be made outside the framework of the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s constitutional authority for defense and national security. Meanwhile, Trump insisted that a peace agreement has been "largely negotiated," despite continued clashing narratives from both sides on the matter.
Over 100 ships redirected as part of US blockade
US Central Command issued a new statement saying that more than 100 commercial ships have been redirected from the Strait of Hormuz by US forces amid the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran hasn't accepted 'any actions in nuclear domain': Media report
According to the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency, Iran hasn't agreed to any news measures related to its nuclear program.
“Iran has not accepted any actions in the nuclear domain at the current juncture,” Tasnim said Sunday on X.
A potential deal is still being negotiated through mediators. The report added, "A 30-day period has been envisioned for implementing measures related to the maritime blockade and the Strait of Hormuz, and simultaneously, a 60-day period for negotiations on the nuclear issue will be defined.”
Meanwhile, in a separate report on Telegram, the outlet said, the Hormuz Strait "will not return to its pre-war status.”
“Iran continues to emphasise the exercise of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz through various means, the details of which will be announced later,” Tasnim said.
“Additionally, the maritime blockade must be completely lifted within 30 days according to the understanding. If the naval blockade is not lifted, no changes will be made in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran disputes uranium stockpile handover claim
In addition to dispute Trump's statement that a "largely negotiated" peace deal with Iran will see Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has challenged US officials' claims that the country must hand over its uranium stockpile.
An NYT report citing US officials initially suggested that Iran had agreed to giving up its highly enriched uranium stockpile. However, a senior Iranian source has since refuted these claims in a statement to Reuters, noting that Iran's nuclear issue was not part of the preliminary agreement with the US.
"The nuclear issue will be addressed in negotiations for a final agreement and are therefore not part of the current deal. There has been no agreement over Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile to be shipped out of the country," the Iranian source told Reuters.
Iran can never have a nuclear weapon: Rubio in India
During a joint press briefing with India's External Minister of Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, in India US State Secretary Marco Rubio reiterated that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Aligning with President Trump's statements, he said that more news was awaited on the finalisation of a US-Iran deal.
Axios reports US-Iran 60-day ceasefire MOU nears approval
An Axios report citing US officials indicated that a 60-day US-Iran ceasefire memorandum is close to being approved. The draft is contingent on a strict diplomatic architecture of "relief for performance."
A US official, as cited by Axios, described the mechanism as conditional, stating, "the faster the Iranians clear the mines and let shipping resume, the faster the blockade will be lifted."
Under the the 60-day MOU, Iran would be required to clear naval mines in the Hormuz Strait to restore safe traffic passage, as per the report.
The US, in exchange, would lift port restrictions and issue sanctions waiver to allow Iranian oil exports to resume. If implemented, the deal would immediately reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan's Ishaq Dar hails 'meaningful progress' in US-Iran talks
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hailed "meaningful progress" in US-Iran negotiations after Trump said a potential peace deal was nearing approval.
"Today’s important telephone call led by President Donald J. Trump with the leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan marks a significant step closer toward the shared objective of regional peace, stability, and an early diplomatic outcome, InshaAllah," Dar wrote in a lengthy post on X.
"Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at lasting peace, mutual respect, and regional stability. The achievements of these negotiations offer grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach InshaAllah. Dialogue and diplomacy must prevail over conflict and confrontation for the collective prosperity and security of our region and beyond."
Turkey ready to support Iran deal
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a call with US President Trump and regional leaders that his country is ready to provide every kind of support while a potential deal with Iran is implements.
Erdogan's office on Sunday cited him as saying during the call that an agreement to secure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz would support stability in the region, providing relief to the global economy, Reuters reported.