Iran-US war latest: Trump ‘to consider lifting blockade in Strait of Hormuz’ to break deadlock in peace talks

“Vacate your engine room. We’re prepared to subject you to disabling fire,” warned US naval forces as an Iranian-flagged commercial tanker attempted to break through an American blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

After a six-hour stand-off, the Touska is reported to have shown no signs of heeding the warnings and attempted to push through regardless.

Moments later, US naval forces deployed a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Spruance, to fire at the ship, followed by marines rappelling on to the vessel shortly after.

It is the first such interception of an Iranian vessel since a US blockade was implemented on the country’s ports and coastal areas last week and marks an escalation in the protracted conflict between the warring countries.

Foreign affairs reporter Maira Butt reports:

Pope Leo lamented that many around the world are being “exploited by authoritarians and defrauded by the rich”, the latest example of his forceful new speaking style.

The first US pope, who has been heavily criticised by US president Donald Trump with his more outspoken comments, told worshippers at a Mass in Saurimo, near the Democratic Republic of Congo border, that violence and oppression went against the Christian message.

“Every form of oppression, violence, exploitation and dishonesty negates the resurrection of Christ,” the pontiff said, referring to the core belief of Christianity that Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified.

Israel says it has uncovered an Iranian network that planned to attack a pipeline carrying crude oil from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean, as well as further Israeli and Jewish targets in Azerbaijan.

In a joint statement, the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies said a plan by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to attack the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline through Georgia to Turkey several weeks ago had been thwarted.

They said the cell had also planned attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets in Azerbaijan including the Israeli embassy and a synagogue in Baku, as well as leaders of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan.

Iran’s foreign ministry has not immediately responded.

Israeli forces have destroyed to different degrees 39 villages in southern Lebanon since a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah last week, a senior Hezbollah-allied politician said on Monday.

Ali Hassan Khalil, a top aide to Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri, said the powerful explosions carried out by Israeli forces had destroyed civilian homes in the south and this amounted to “a clear war crime”.

The Israeli military has said it is acting against Hezbollah infrastructure in the south.

Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, has said that global fuel prices will only stabilise if economic and military pressures on Iranian oil exports end.

“One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others,” Aref wrote on X.

“The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone,” he said.

Chinese president Xi Jinping called for the normal passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to be maintained in a phone call on Monday with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, state news agency Xinhua reported.

China advocates an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, and insists on resolving conflicts in the Middle East through political and diplomatic channels, Xinhua cited Xi as saying.

We’ve heard now from the Kremlin, which has expressed its hope that Iran-US negotiations will continue imminently to avoid further negative consequences in the region.

While Russia is not acting as a mediator, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, it is ready to assist if needed.

“We can see that the situation in the Gulf remains fragile and unpredictable. We hope that the negotiation process will continue and that we will be able to avoid a further escalation towards a military scenario,” he told reporters.

Peskov said Russia was not acting as a mediator in talks on Iran but stood ready to help if requested.

“Russia is not currently a mediator in the negotiation process, but we are ready to provide any assistance to facilitate a peaceful resolution and help reach an agreement,” Peskov said.

Yvette Cooper has said that any talks between the US and Iran must result in toll-free passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

The foreign secretary said that proposals have been circulating from Tehran to introduce tolls on the crucial waterway once the conflict concludes.

Cooper was travelling to Japan on the final leg of a diplomatic mission ahead of the US-Iran ceasefire expiring on Tuesday.

Cooper said: “This is a critical diplomatic moment with the end of the ceasefire looming. Further talks on a lasting settlement are welcome – they must lead to a toll-free Strait of Hormuz.”

She added: “This argument is not just about the Strait of Hormuz, it is about the precedent this will set for freedom of navigation all over the world.”If the wrong precedent is set, it would be deeply damaging not just for the global economy, but for global security, and that is why it is an argument we must win.”