Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that recent events in the Strait of Hormuz have made it clear that there is no military solution to a political crisis.

In a post on X on Monday night, Araghchi highlighted ongoing progress in indirect talks between Iran and the United States, crediting Pakistan for its “sincere and constructive” mediation efforts.

“As talks advance thanks to Pakistan’s gracious efforts, the US should be cautious of being drawn into a quagmire by ill-wishers. The same applies to the UAE,” Araghchi wrote.

The top Iranian diplomat also dismissed President Donald Trump’s so-called “Project Freedom,” a naval initiative aimed at exerting military pressure in the Strait, labelling it “Project Deadlock.”

Araghchi’s comments come as Iran continues to demonstrate its defensive capabilities and firm control over the strategically vital waterway, signalling that attempts to impose outcomes through force or intimidation are unlikely to succeed.

Iranian officials maintain that sustainable regional security hinges on mutual respect, adherence to sovereignty, and serious dialogue free from threats and sanctions.

Pakistan’s role in helping to facilitate these talks has been widely praised, reflecting Iran’s clear desire for dialogue and peaceful solutions rather than confrontation.

US President Donald Trump on Monday again warned Iran of severe consequences, saying Washington would respond forcefully if American ships were targeted, while noting Tehran appeared more flexible in talks.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said that if Iran attacks any American vessel operating under “Project Freedom,” the United States would retaliate decisively.

“We have more modern weapons and equipment than before and are fully capable of dealing with any potential threat,” Trump said.

He added that Iran was showing increased flexibility in negotiations but did not provide further details.

Trump described ongoing US actions in the Strait of Hormuz as a “grand military strategy,” calling it one of the most significant operations in recent times.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have risen in recent days over the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides issuing strong statements.

Trump also said that South Korea should join US efforts to protect shipping near Iran, adding that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth would hold a news conference on Tuesday with Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine.

Earlier, there was a fire and ​an explosion on a vessel operated by ‌South Korean shipper HMM in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the foreign ministry in Seoul said.

The government was ​checking intelligence that the vessel, HMM Namu, ​may have been attacked, Yonhap News reported ⁠, citing government officials.

There were no casualties reported, and ​authorities were investigating what caused the blaze that, ​HMM said, broke out in the engine room of the Panama-flagged cargo ship.

Twenty-four crew members, including six Korean nationals, ​were on board, the company told Reuters.

The ​US military said two US Navy guided-missile destroyers had entered ‌the ⁠Gulf to break an Iranian blockade and that two US merchant ships had transited the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran said it had prevented a ​US warship ​from entering the ⁠Gulf.

“Our government will communicate closely with relevant countries regarding this matter and ​take necessary measures to ensure the safety ​of ⁠our vessels and crew members inside the Strait of Hormuz,” South Korea’s foreign ministry said in ⁠a ​statement.

Seoul has said 26 South ​Korean-flagged vessels were stranded there.

The US military said on Monday it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian ​cruise missiles and drones fired by Tehran as the US ‌launched an operation to free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

US Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, declined to comment on whether he thought a ​ceasefire begun on April 8 remained in effect. But he acknowledged ​ongoing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) efforts to “interfere” with President Donald ⁠Trump’s operation to open the critical waterway to commercial traffic.

“The IRGC has ​launched multiple cruise missiles, drones, and small boats at ships we are ​protecting. We have defeated each and every one of those threats through the clinical application of defensive munitions,” he said.

Cooper said he “strongly advised” Iranian forces to remain well clear ​of US military assets as it launches the operation, which he said ​involved 15,000 US troops, US Navy destroyers, over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft and ‌undersea ⁠assets.

“The US commanders who are on the scene have all the authorities necessary to defend their units and to defend commercial shipping,” he said.

Asked if the US military was escorting ships, Cooper said there were no traditional ​escorts but rather a ​larger, multi-layered defensive ⁠arrangement that included ships, helicopters, aircraft, and electronic warfare to defend against Iranian threats.

“If you’re escorting a ship, ​you’re playing kind of one-on-one. I think ​we have ⁠a much better defensive arrangement in this process,” he said. “We have a much broader defensive package than you would have ever had if you were just escorting.”

Cooper ⁠said ​a US blockade of Iran, which prevents ships ​from going to Iran or departing Iranian territory, also remained in effect and was exceeding ​expectations.

Here’s what $4.40 a gallon looks like: a father at a Georgia gas station, spending more than $100 to fill his Chevy truck. A contractor on Wilmington Island reshaping his workweek to avoid extra trips. A voter who backed Donald Trump twice now pausing, then conceding, “Unless it gets much worse.”

It already is.

Two months into a war with Iran that was meant to be swift and decisive, the United States finds itself in a very different contest — one measured not just in military terms, but in time, prices, and political patience.

The Strait of Hormuz is effectively constricted. Tanker traffic is disrupted. Oil markets are rattled. And the president who promised relief at the pump is watching costs climb steadily higher.

This is no longer just a military standoff. It is a test of endurance. And the uncomfortable reality is this: while Washington is trying to force a quick outcome, Tehran is playing for time.

The disruption that reshaped the battlefield

The turning point came early. Following the initial wave of US and Israeli strikes, Iran responded by targeting the artery it has long threatened but rarely choked at scale — the Strait of Hormuz.

Roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass through that narrow corridor each day, about a fifth of global consumption. Even partial disruption sends shockwaves through energy markets.

Washington’s response was forceful. A naval blockade aimed at Iranian-linked exports has intercepted dozens of vessels, costing Tehran billions in lost revenue. On paper, it signals dominance.

But pressure cuts both ways.

Brent crude has surged past $120 a barrel, briefly touching levels not seen in years. Analysts warn that prolonged disruption could keep prices elevated — or push them higher still.

In the United States, gasoline prices are now hovering around $4.40 a gallon. In some regions, increases have come sharply and suddenly.

Voters have noticed.

The political math is unforgiving

Fuel prices are not abstract indicators. They are lived experiences — felt in daily commutes, delivery costs, and grocery bills.

With mid-term elections approaching, the timing could hardly be worse. Narrow congressional margins leave little room for economic discontent.

Even if the conflict de-escalates soon, the effects will linger. Energy-driven inflation does not recede overnight. There is a delay between falling oil prices and relief at the pump — a delay measured in months, sometimes longer.

That lag is politically dangerous.

The administration faces a difficult balance: sustain pressure abroad while containing the economic fallout at home. The risk is that success in one arena may come at the expense of the other.

Tehran’s advantage: patience

Iran’s position is far from comfortable. Its exports are constrained, its economy strained. By conventional measures, it is under significant pressure.

But it is not trying to win quickly.

Iran’s system has spent decades absorbing sanctions and shocks. It is structured for endurance in ways democratic systems often are not. Where Washington faces electoral deadlines, Tehran operates on a longer horizon.

Every week of disruption shifts pressure outward — into global markets, into fuel prices, into American political life.

Iran does not need a decisive victory. It needs time to do its work.

Why time is not on Trump’s side

The White House appears to be betting that Iran will eventually yield under sustained pressure. That assumption has logic. But it collides with a more immediate reality: political time moves faster than strategic time.

Even a rapid resolution would not instantly reverse the damage. Prices would take time to fall. Voter sentiment would take time to recover.

And time is precisely what the political calendar does not offer.

The administration may argue that short-term economic pain is the cost of a longer-term strategic gain. That case is not without merit. But it is also one that voters, facing rising daily expenses, may be unwilling to accept.

Foreign policy victories rarely outweigh domestic discomfort — especially when it is felt at the pump.

A contest of endurance

At its core, this is a clash of timelines.

Washington is trying to accelerate events — force a breakthrough, restore stability, bring prices down before political consequences set in.

Tehran is doing the opposite — stretching the moment, allowing pressure to accumulate where it matters most: in the economies and electorates of its adversaries.

Both sides are betting on time. But they are betting in opposite directions.

The reckoning at the pump

Back at that Georgia gas station, the calculation is already underway. The contractor who once supported Trump says he can absorb the costs — for now.

But only to a point.

No one knows exactly where that point lies. What is clear is this: every day the Strait remains disrupted, every day oil flows are constrained, every day prices stay elevated, the pressure builds.

Each increase leaves an impression. Each visit to the pump becomes a quiet political moment.

The president faces limited options. Escalation risks widening the conflict. Retreat risks projecting weakness. Waiting risks something else entirely.

Because waiting is not neutral. It favours the side that can endure it longer.

And right now, that may not be the United States.

For Donald Trump, time is no longer just a strategic variable. It is a political liability.

And it is working against him.

The writer is a seasoned journalist covering the economy and international affairs.

A senior Iranian official has said that the United States must reduce its demands in order to facilitate negotiations to end the ongoing two-month-long conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement aired on state television on Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei underscored that Iran’s primary focus at this juncture is bringing an end to the war.

He called on the United States to adopt a more reasonable stance and to abandon what he described as “excessive demands” in the ongoing discussions.

“At this stage, our priority is to end the war. The other side must commit to a reasonable approach and abandon its excessive demands regarding Iran.”

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that a warning shot was fired against a US warship to prevent its entry into the Strait of Hormuz, as conflicting accounts emerged over a tense confrontation in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

Earlier, state TV reported that Iran’s navy prevented “American-Zionist” warships from entering the Strait of Hormuz, while the Fars news agency said two missiles had hit a US warship near Jask island after it ignored Iranian warnings.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, two missiles struck a US Navy frigate near the Strait of Hormuz after it allegedly ignored warnings from Iranian forces.

The report said the vessel was operating near Jask and was accused of violating maritime traffic and security regulations while attempting to transit the strategic waterway.

The ship was unable to continue its route following the strike and turned back from the area, the agency said, citing local news sources.

The US military rejected claims that Iran had struck one of its Navy vessels, calling the allegations false as American forces remained active in waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran had warned earlier that US ​forces not to enter the strategic waterway after President Donald Trump said ⁠the United States would “guide out” ships stranded in the Gulf by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Trump gave few ​details of the plan to aid ships and their crews that have been confined to the vital waterway ​and are running low on food and other supplies for more than two months into the conflict.

“We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on ​with their business,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site on Sunday.

In response, Iran’s unified ​command told commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement that was not coordinated with Iran’s military.

“We have ‌repeatedly ⁠said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces,” Ali Abdollahi, head of the forces’ unified command, said in the statement.

“We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US Army, will be attacked if ​they intend to approach and ​enter the Strait of ⁠Hormuz.”

Iran has blocked nearly all shipping into and out of the Gulf apart from its own since the start of the war, cutting off around a ​fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments and sending oil prices soaring by ​50% or more.

US ⁠Central Command, which for its part is blockading Iranian ports to put pressure on Tehran, said it would support the rescue effort with 15,000 military personnel and more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, plus warships and ⁠drones.

“Our support ​for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and ​the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, said in a statement.

Iran’s military warned US forces on Monday not to enter the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump said the United States would start ​helping to free ships stranded in the Gulf by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Trump gave few details of the plan to aid ships and their crews that have been “locked up” in the vital waterway ‌and are running low on food and other supplies for more than two months since the conflict began.

“We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site on Sunday.

The unified command of Iran’s armed forces responded by warning US forces to stay out of the strait.

Iran’s forces would “respond harshly” to any threat, it added, telling commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement in ​the absence of coordination with Iran’s military.

“We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces,” ​Ali Abdollahi, the head of the forces’ unified command, said in the statement.

“Any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they ⁠intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz,” he warned.

Abdollahi accused the US military of engaging in “piracy and banditry” in international waters, which he claimed threatens global trade and economic stability.

The general also emphasised that Iran would not tolerate any foreign interference and would respond forcefully to any threats or acts of aggression.

“The resistant and courageous Iranian nation, along with its armed forces, will respond to any provocation with a severe and regret-inducing retaliation,” he declared.

The commander also warned commercial vessels and tankers to avoid transiting the Strait without prior coordination with Iranian forces, stressing that failure to do so could jeopardise their safety.

He further cautioned the US’s allies to avoid taking any actions that could escalate tensions in the region.

Following Trump’s announcement, US Central Command said it would support the effort with 15,000 military personnel, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, along with warships and drones.

In a significant development amid ongoing US-Iran tensions, the US military has handed over the crew of a seized Iranian ship to Pakistani authorities.

According to US media reports, the transfer of the crew and the vessel to Pakistan is part of a move to return them to Iran.

A total of 22 crew members from the Iranian ship MV Touska have been handed over to Pakistan.

This follows the earlier transfer of six crew members last week to a regional country for repatriation.

Sources said that MV Touska was seized by the US military on April 19 after the vessel allegedly violated a US blockade while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship will now be returned to its rightful owner.

Foreign Office spokesperson Taher Hussain Andrabi confirmed that the transfer of the 22 crew members was part of a confidence-building measure initiated by the US.

According to Andrabi, the crew members arrived in Pakistan late last night and will be handed over to Iranian authorities today.

Following necessary repairs, the Iranian vessel will be returned to its original owners via Pakistan’s maritime boundaries, he added.

Andrabi added that the return of the vessel and its crew is taking place in coordination between Iran and the US, and Pakistan considers this development as a positive step in promoting trust and diplomacy in the region.

Pakistan remains committed to supporting peace and dialogue in the region, he added.

Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed the transfer of the 22 crew members and noted that six crew members were released last week and are already in Iran.

Oil prices remained largely unaffected by US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US will assist in freeing stranded vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures were flat on Monday morning, at $108.11, down 0.06%, with traders showing little optimism that Trump’s plan would resolve the ongoing energy disruption.

On Sunday, Trump said the US would help “free up” vessels in the Gulf starting Monday, although details on how the operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” would unfold were sparse.

It remains unclear whether the US navy would be involved in escorting ships, a proposal previously dismissed by officials who cited the need for more preparation.

US Central Command later clarified that it would support vessels seeking to transit the waterway, but did not mention naval escorts.

The operation will involve guided-missile destroyers, aircraft, unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.

Iranian officials have signalled their opposition, with Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, warning that any US interference would violate the truce in place since April 7.

Meanwhile, the UK’s military reported an attack on a tanker off the UAE’s coast, hours after another incident involving a bulk carrier near Iran. No casualties were reported.

Iran’s threats have drastically reduced maritime traffic in the strait, which normally handles 20% of global oil and gas shipments.

Goldman Sachs estimates the conflict has cut global daily production by 14.5 million barrels.

Brent prices have surged nearly 50% since the war began, with analysts predicting high prices will persist even after a potential peace deal due to the backlog of energy and the clearing of Iranian mines.

On the most recent day for which data is available, only 20 vessels crossed the Strait, compared to an average of 129 before the war began in late February, according to UNCTAD and maritime intelligence platform Windward.

US President Donald Trump’s plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, part of “Project Freedom,” faces significant logistical and geopolitical hurdles.

Iranian authorities opposed the US move and described it as a violation of the ceasefire, raising tensions.

According to experts, the US navy only has about 12 vessels capable of defending the ships stranded in the Strait.

With over 100 transits per day before the conflict, the navy’s limited resources make large-scale escorts unfeasible.

Experts said that the Iranian marine forces recently laid sea mines, which pose a serious threat to ships passing through the strait.

They added that in the absence of dedicated mine-sweeping vessels, any move to reopen the strait comes with extreme dangers.

Another question posed by experts is whether Iran will allow US warships to operate in the region.

The experts pointed out Iran’s fast-attack boats, which pose a persistent threat to any vessels trying to transit through the strait.

Defence experts argue that the operation could be effective only if Iran does not oppose it.

If Tehran cooperates, the plan could ease global energy pressures. However, if Iran resists, the situation could quickly escalate, further destabilising the region and disrupting oil shipments.

Meanwhile, political commentators criticised what they say changing stance by the US in its war against Iran.

They said that the Iran war started as a mission to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes, but now its focus has been shifted toward securing the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring global oil flow.

While ‘Project Freedom’ aims to alleviate global shipping disruptions, its success hinges on military resources and Iran’s cooperation.

If Iran opposes the operation, the US could quickly run out of assets, and the risks for both the US and shipping companies would rise dramatically.

A senior Iranian lawmaker has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it unrealistic.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s foreign policy and national security commission, also warned that any US involvement in enforcing a new maritime arrangement in the waterway would violate the ceasefire.

Ebrahim Azizi made the remarks in a social media post.

He said any American interference in the Strait’s new regulatory framework would be viewed as a violation of the truce, adding that the waterway “would not be managed” by statements from Washington.

The comments came after Trump announced that US forces would begin escorting commercial vessels through the strategic passage from Monday, amid ongoing restrictions that have disrupted maritime traffic since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February.

Trump described the initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” as a humanitarian effort aimed at assisting ships and crews stranded in the crucial waterway.

He also warned that any attempt to obstruct the operation would be met with a forceful response.

Details of how the plan would be implemented and which countries would be involved remain unclear.

Iran has imposed tight controls on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict, requiring vessels to seek prior approval before transit.

Iranian officials maintain the measures are within the country’s sovereign rights to ensure security, while denying that the strait has been fully closed.

Tehran has also said it will not permit vessels linked to its adversaries or their allies to leave the Gulf without authorisation.

At the same time, the United States has enforced its own naval restrictions on Iranian ports, a move Tehran has described as illegal and a violation of a ceasefire reportedly brokered by Pakistan earlier in April.

Iranian officials have repeatedly criticised the blockade, warning that any attempt to challenge its control of the strait through military means would trigger a strong response.

A tanker reported being hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime security organisation said on Monday, shortly after President ​Donald Trump said the US would start helping free ships stranded in the Gulf by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Trump provided few details about the plan, which he said would ‌start on Monday to aid ships and their crews that have been “locked up” in the vital waterway and are running low on food and other supplies.

“We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site.

Hundreds of ships and as many as 20,000 seafarers have been unable to transit the strait during the conflict, ​according to the International Maritime Organisation.

US Central Command said it would support the effort with 15,000 US military personnel, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, along with warships and drones. ​

The operation aims to “restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping” through the strait, CENTCOM said in a statement.

“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to ⁠regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, said in a statement.

Soon after Trump’s comments, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said ​a tanker had reported being hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait.

UKMTO said all crew were reported safe in the incident, which occurred 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran has ​been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months, sending energy prices soaring.

Some vessels attempting to transit the Strait have reported being fired on, and Iran seized several other ships.

Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports.

The Trump administration has been seeking help from other countries to form an international coalition to secure shipping in the Strait.

CENTCOM said the latest effort would combine “diplomatic action with ​military coordination.”

It was not immediately clear which countries the US operation would aid or how the operation would work.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump threatened that any ​interference with the US operation would “have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Iran said on Sunday it had received a US response to its latest offer for peace talks, a day after Trump said he would probably reject the Iranian ‌proposal because “they ⁠have not paid a big enough price.”

Trump, responding to shouted questions from reporters, said on Sunday evening that talks were going “very well” without elaborating.

Iran reviewing US response

Iranian state media reported that Washington had conveyed its response to Iran’s 14-point proposal via Pakistan, and that Tehran was now reviewing it.

There was no immediate confirmation from Washington or Islamabad of the US response.

“At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations,” state media quoted Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying, an apparent reference to Iran’s proposal to set aside talks on nuclear issues until after the war has ended and the foes ​have agreed to lift opposing blockades of Gulf shipping.

On ​Saturday, Trump said he had yet to review ⁠the exact wording of the Iranian peace proposal, but that he was likely to reject it.

The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, and US and Iranian officials held one round of talks.

But attempts to set up further meetings have so far failed.

Iran’s proposal vs US’s demands

The proposal to delay talks on nuclear issues until a later phase would appear at odds with Washington’s repeated demand that Iran accept stringent restrictions ​on its nuclear program before ⁠the war can end.

Washington wants Tehran to give up its stockpile of more than 400 kg of highly enriched uranium, which the United States says could be used to make a bomb.

Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful, although it is willing to discuss some curbs in return for the lifting of sanctions.

It had accepted such curbs in a 2015 deal that Trump abandoned.

While saying repeatedly he is in no hurry, ⁠Trump is ​under domestic pressure to break Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked off 20% of the world’s oil ​and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices.

Trump’s Republican Party faces the risk of a voter backlash over higher prices in midterm congressional elections in November.

Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal includes withdrawing US forces from nearby areas, lifting the blockade, ​releasing frozen assets, paying compensation, lifting sanctions, ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and creating a new control mechanism for the strait.

Iran said on Sunday it was carefully reviewing a US response to its 14-point peace proposal, which was conveyed through Pakistan, while its foreign ministry emphasised that no nuclear negotiations were underway with Washington.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Tehran had received the American position on the proposal via Islamabad and said authorities were conducting a thorough assessment. He described Iran’s plan as focused entirely on ending the ongoing regional conflict, reducing tensions and laying the groundwork for lasting peace.

“At this stage, there are no nuclear talks between Iran and the United States,” Baghaei said, adding that diplomatic contacts were nonetheless being maintained through various channels.

Key demands in Iran’s 14-point plan include:

US military withdrawal from areas near Iran’s borders.

Lifting of the naval blockade on Iranian ports.

End to Israeli operations in Lebanon.

A comprehensive deal is to be concluded within 30 days.

Focus on a full end to hostilities, not an extended ceasefire.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday stated that Tehran has set a deadline for the US military to end its blockade of Iranian ports, warning of serious consequences if the demand is not met.“

The IRGC intelligence unit stated that “the room for US decision-making has narrowed.”

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the IRGC warned President Donald Trump that he must choose between a disastrous military operation or a “bad deal” with Iran, describing the US options as untenable.

“There is only one way to read this,” the post declared, “Trump must choose between an impossible military operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The comments follow Iran’s recent move to send a 14-point plan to the US, outlining key proposals for an end to the conflict.

Among the conditions, Iran called for guarantees of non-aggression from the US, the lifting of the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and an end to the war in the Middle East, including in Lebanon.

While President Trump has stated that he intends to “soon review the plan Iran has just sent to us,” he remains sceptical about the possibility of striking a deal, adding that he doesn’t believe a resolution will be easily reached.

The US president’s stance highlights the ongoing diplomatic gridlock between Washington and Tehran.

Graveyard of US ships

In a separate statement, Mohsen Rezaee, the former IRGC commander and secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council, likened US forces blockading the Strait of Hormuz to “pirates.”

Rezaee also threatened to turn the waterway into “a graveyard” of US aircraft carriers and troops.

Rezaee warned that the US navy could soon face catastrophic losses in the waterway, one of the world’s most crucial shipping lanes.

“The US is the only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers,” Rezaee said in a post on X.

“Our ability to confront pirates is no less than our ability to sink warships,” he said.

Rezaee warned the US to prepare for its carriers and forces to become “a graveyard,” invoking the memory of the wreckage of a US F-15E fighter jet that was downed in Isfahan the previous month.

Iran’s latest warnings for the US to lift its port blockade suggest that both sides are bracing for further confrontations in what has become a protracted and volatile standoff.

US President Donald Trump’s comments likening American naval operations to “pirates” amounted to a “damning” admission about Washington’s conduct at sea, a senior Iranian official said.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the remarks appeared to confirm Tehran’s long-standing accusations that the United States has carried out unlawful seizures of Iranian vessels.

“The President of the United States has openly described the unlawful seizure of Iranian vessels as ‘piracy,’ brazenly boasting that ‘we act like pirates’,” Baghaei wrote on X.

“This was no verbal slip. It was a direct and damning admission of the criminal nature of their actions against international maritime navigation.”

He called on the international community, including the United Nations and its member states, to reject what he described as efforts to normalise such behaviour, saying it constituted a clear violation of international law.

The comments followed remarks by Trump on Friday, in which he said US naval forces had seized a vessel along with its cargo and oil.

“We land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” Trump said, adding: “We’re like pirates. We’re sort of like pirates. But we’re not playing games.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has praised what it described as an “epic and unparalleled” show of national unity, thanking citizens for participating in mass rallies in support of the country during its recent conflict with the United States and Israel.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the IRGC said millions of Iranians had taken part in demonstrations across the country, including gatherings marking the birth anniversary of Imam Reza, as well as the “Janfada-e-Iran” (Sacrifice for Iran) campaign, in which people pledged their readiness to defend the nation.

“Iran and the Iranian people will never bow before their enemies,” the statement said, adding that no external force could weaken the public’s resolve.

The Guard Corps said the rallies had continued throughout 40 days of “unprovoked aggression” by the US and Israel, describing the sustained turnout as a powerful sign of national solidarity and resistance.

It also framed the demonstrations as a show of allegiance to Iran’s leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed the role following the death of his predecessor, Ali Khamenei, earlier in the conflict.

According to the IRGC, the scale of participation reflected the public’s awareness of external threats and its determination to stand firm during what it called a “sensitive and decisive” period.

It added that the rallies had countered what it described as enemy psychological and media warfare.

The statement urged Iranians to maintain the demonstrations, saying continued public mobilisation alongside the country’s armed forces would be key to achieving “final victory” in what it termed a broader “civilizational” struggle.

It also claimed that the public support was boosting military strength, describing the rallies as “fuel for missiles,” and said they provided firm backing for state policies, including Iran’s approach to managing the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday 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.

A senior Iranian official said on ‌Saturday that an Iranian proposal so far rejected by Trump would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade of Iran while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear programme for later.

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.”

He added on his social ​media channel that he could not imagine the proposals would be acceptable and that Iran had not paid a big enough price for what it had done.

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 we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen.”

Iran says ready for diplomacy

Trump has said repeatedly that Iran can never ​have a nuclear weapon and said on Friday he was not satisfied with the latest Iranian proposal, while Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran was ready for diplomacy if the US changes its ​approach.

Reuters and other news organisations reported over the past week that Tehran was proposing to reopen the strait before nuclear issues were resolved.

The official confirmed that this new timeline had now been spelled out in a formal proposal conveyed to the United States through mediators.

Trump also said on Friday that “on a human basis,” he did not prefer the military course of action and told congressional leaders he did not ​need their permission to extend the war beyond a deadline set by law for that day because the ceasefire had “terminated” hostilities.

While saying repeatedly he is in no hurry, Trump is under ​domestic pressure to break Iran’s hold on the strait, which has choked off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices.

Trump’s Republican Party faces the risk of ‌a voter ⁠backlash over higher prices when the country votes in midterm congressional elections in November.

Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal included the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, lifting the blockade, releasing Iran’s frozen assets, payment of compensation, lifting sanctions and ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, as well as a new control mechanism for the strait.

The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, but appear no closer to a deal to end a war that has caused the biggest disruption ever to global energy supplies, roiled ​global markets and raised worries about the possibility ​of a wider global economic downturn.

Iran has ⁠been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months. Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports.

Washington has repeatedly said it will not end the war, which has led to the deaths of ​thousands of people, without a deal that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the primary aim Trump cited when he launched ​strikes in February in the ⁠midst of nuclear talks. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its latest proposal to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement.

Under the proposal, the war would end with a guarantee that Israel and the United States would not attack again. ⁠Iran would open ​the strait, and the United States would lift its blockade.

Future talks would then be held on curbs to ​Iran’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions, with Iran demanding Washington recognise its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, even if it agrees to suspend its nuclear programme.

“Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated ​nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official said.

US President Donald Trump has said that he is preparing to review a newly submitted proposal from Iran, but cast serious doubt on whether it could ever be acceptable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us,” while adding he “can’t imagine that it would be acceptable” because, in his view, Tehran “has not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.”

The remarks underscore Trump’s scepticism toward the Iranian initiative even before formally examining its contents.

The proposal in question is a reported 14-point plan submitted by Tehran through mediators, aimed at securing a permanent end to the conflict.

According to Iranian media, the framework includes demands for guarantees of non-aggression, the lifting of a naval blockade, and a halt to hostilities “on all fronts,” including in Lebanon.

Trump acknowledged being briefed on what he called the “concept of the deal,” but reiterated that his final judgment would depend on the precise details —details he implied are unlikely to change his current stance.

Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump again highlighted the proposal while maintaining a hard line.

He said Iran appears eager to negotiate, claiming the country has been “decimated,” but repeated that any agreement would need to meet US standards.

Beyond the proposal itself, Trump warned that military action remains on the table.

He said strikes against Iran could resume if the country “misbehaves” or does “something bad,” adding that “there is a possibility it could happen.”

Still, he noted that, for now, the US believes it is “doing very well” in its current position vis-à-vis Tehran.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high on the ground.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it is on standby for a potential return to war, warning that renewed hostilities are “likely” and accusing the US of failing to uphold commitments.

The group’s comments reflect deep mistrust on the Iranian side, even as diplomatic channels remain active.

Iran said Saturday that it was up to the United States whether to pursue a negotiated settlement or to return to open war, but that Tehran was ready for either outcome.

“Now the ball is in the United States’ court to choose the path of diplomacy or the continuation of a confrontational approach,” deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi told diplomats in Tehran, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

“Iran, with the aim of securing its national interests and security, is prepared for both paths,” he said.

Earlier, a senior Iranian military officer said that renewed fighting with the US was “likely”, hours after President Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with an Iranian negotiating proposal.

Iran delivered the new draft to mediator Pakistan on Thursday evening, state media reported, without detailing its contents.

The war, launched by the United States and Israel in late February, has been on hold since April 8, with one failed round of peace talks having taken place in Pakistan.

“At this moment I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” Trump told reporters, blaming the stalled talks on “tremendous discord” within Iran’s leadership.

He added that the decision he faced was between whether to “just blast the hell out of them” or to “try and make a deal”, saying he would rather not take the first option.

On Saturday morning, Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in the Iranian military’s central command, said “a renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely”, in quotes published by Iran’s Fars news agency.

“Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements,” he added.

‘Like pirates’

Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said on Friday that his country had “never shied away from negotiations”, but would not accept the “imposition” of peace terms.

The White House has declined to provide details on the latest Iranian proposal, but news site Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff had submitted amendments to a previous one putting Tehran’s nuclear programme back on the negotiating table.

Iran’s mission to the UN pointed to the United States’ massive nuclear arsenal, accusing it on Saturday of “hypocritical behaviour” towards Iran’s own atomic programme.

It went on to insist there was no legal “restriction on the level of uranium enrichment, so long as it is conducted under the IAEA’s supervision, as was the case with Iran”.

News of the new Iranian proposal had briefly pushed oil prices down nearly five per cent, though they remain about 50 per cent above pre-war levels amid the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has maintained a stranglehold on the strait since the war began, choking off major flows of oil, gas and fertiliser to the world economy, while the United States has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.

Speaking at a rally on Friday, Trump said “we’re like pirates” as he described an earlier helicopter raid on an oil tanker under the blockade.

The vice speaker of Iran’s parliament, meanwhile, said Iran would not “relinquish our rights in the Strait of Hormuz, and the movement of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz will not be the same as before”.

Ali Nikzad added that under legislation before parliament for managing the waterway, 30 per cent of tolls collected would go towards military infrastructure, with the rest earmarked for “economic development”.

“Managing the Strait of Hormuz is more important than acquiring nuclear weapons,” he said.

Despite the ceasefire in the Gulf, fighting has continued in Lebanon, where Israel has carried out deadly strikes despite a separate truce with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Lebanese state media reported a fresh series of strikes in the south on Saturday, while Hezbollah claimed new attacks targeting Israeli troops.

‘Terminated’

In Washington, lawmakers were wrestling with a legal dispute over whether Trump had breached a deadline to seek congressional approval for the war.

Administration officials argue that the ceasefire pauses a 60-day limit, after which congressional authorisation would be required — a claim disputed by opposition Democrats.

“There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump said in letters to congressional leaders, adding that the hostilities “have terminated”.

In Iran, the war’s economic toll is deepening, with oil exports crimped and inflation surging past 50 per cent.

“Everyone is trying to endure it, but… they are falling apart,” 40-year-old Amir, a Tehran resident, told an AFP reporter based outside the country.

“We still have not seen much of the economic effects because everyone had a bit of savings. They had some gold and dollars for a rainy day. When they run out, things will change.”

Major airlines and the US government scrambled to help stranded passengers and employees after bankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday, the industry’s first ​casualty linked to the Iran war.

The collapse overnight of the carrier following a doubling in jet fuel prices during the two-month-old Iran war will cost thousands of ‌jobs. It is a blow to President Donald Trump, who had proposed $500 million to save Spirit despite opposition from some of his closest advisers and many Republicans in Congress.

Spirit’s demise highlights the unintended consequences of the US-Israel war against Iran, despite an uneasy ceasefire. While Spirit was already struggling to turn a profit before the fuel shock, global carriers are contending with surging jet fuel prices as Iran continues to halt nearly all traffic through ​the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy blockades Iranian ports.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told a news conference that creditors had rejected the deal despite intense efforts by the Trump ​administration to keep Spirit alive. The collapse will result in the loss of about 15,000 jobs of Spirit employees and contractors, the airline said.

Some ⁠of Spirit’s largest creditors, including Ken Griffin’s Citadel, a major hedge fund and one of the airline’s top bondholders, opposed the government‑backed rescue, arguing the terms would dilute the value of ​their claims by placing federal financing ahead of existing debt.

FOND TRIBUTES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

No US carrier of Spirit’s size — it accounted for 5% of US flights last year — has liquidated in two ​decades. Spirit helped keep fares lower in markets where it competed against major carriers.

On social media platform X on Saturday morning, where travellers often go to vent about delayed or canceled flights, many sent nostalgic posts about the budget airline’s closure.

“Goodbye SpiritAirlines. Those of us in the “D” (Detroit), or previously known as your Second Hub of #DTW, will miss ya,” said @IUTruthtellers2.

Others on X posted stories of their experiences flying on Spirit, including the hashtag “RIP” ​in their messages.

At the Orlando International Airport, a digital departure display sign was filled with bright red notifications of cancelled Spirit flights that had destinations everywhere from Nashville to San Juan, ​Puerto Rico.

United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and Southwest are all capping ticket prices for Spirit customers who now need to rebook canceled flights and customers must provide a Spirit flight confirmation number to qualify. Rival ‌airlines are ⁠also offering free seats to help Spirit employees get home.

“This is the airline industry stepping up,” Duffy said.

Duffy noted that US low-cost carriers have sought $2.5 billion in government aid to address higher fuel costs, but he did not think a government bailout was necessary “at this point.”

AIRLINE COLLAPSED OVERNIGHT

Duffy took a swipe at the former administration of President Joe Biden, arguing that its blocking of a merger in 2024 between JetBlue and Spirit paved the way for the airline’s collapse. Spirit had filed for bankruptcy protection twice within a year and had not made a profit since 2019.

Spirit ​built its brand around affordable fares for budget-conscious ​travellers ready to eschew add-ons such as ⁠checked bags and seat assignments. That demand tapered off after the pandemic as passengers preferred to opt for comfort and experience-based travel, leaving ultra-low-cost carriers struggling to adapt.

Spirit’s shutdown will benefit rivals such as JetBlue and Frontier Airlines, also reeling from the cost shock. Spirit had 4,119 ​domestic flights scheduled between May 1 and May 15, offering 809,638 seats, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Trump said on Friday ​that the White House ⁠had given Spirit and its creditors a final rescue proposal after talks hit an impasse over a $500 million financing package that would have helped the airline keep operating through bankruptcy.

Spirit had reached a deal with its lenders that would have helped it emerge from its second bankruptcy by late spring or early summer. But the spike in jet fuel prices derailed those plans, upending Spirit’s cost projections ⁠and complicating its ​bankruptcy exit.

Spirit’s restructuring plan assumed jet fuel costs of about $2.24 a gallon in 2026 and $2.14 in 2027, but prices ​had climbed to around $4.51 a gallon by the end of April, leaving the carrier unable to survive without fresh financing. Jet fuel accounts for about a quarter of airlines’ operating expenses.

The airline flew around 1.7 million US domestic passengers ​in February, with a 3.9% market share, down from 5.1% last year, Cirium data showed.

The Israeli military said on Saturday that its forces damaged a “religious building” in south Lebanon, drawing condemnation from a Catholic charity, which identified it as a convent and denounced the “deliberate” targeting of a place of worship.

The military said troops operating in the village of Yaroun had damaged a structure inside a religious compound while dismantling what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in the area.

“It was determined that during the forces’ operations to destroy terrorist infrastructure, one of the houses located in a religious compound was damaged,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee, said on X.

“There were no visible signs indicating this was a religious building,” he continued.

“Once clear identifying features were observed on another building in the compound, the forces acted to prevent any further damage to the compound.”

Adraee justified the presence of troops in the area by citing multiple rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah from within the compound toward Israeli territory, as fighting continues in spite of a ceasefire.

The French Catholic charity L’Oeuvre d’Orient said the troops had “destroyed” a convent belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters, a Greek-Catholic religious order with which the charity is affiliated.

“L’Oeuvre d’Orient strongly condemns this deliberate act of destruction against a place of worship, as well as the systematic demolition of homes in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing the return of civilian populations,” it said in a statement.

But Israel’s foreign ministry denied the site —which it described as “a monastery” — had been destroyed, saying on X the site was “intact and safe”, posting a photograph of a two-storey house.

The incident comes days after the military jailed two soldiers for 30 days for desecrating a statue of Jesus Christ in the Christian village of Debl in south Lebanon, near the border with Israel.

A photograph that went viral on social media showed a soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the statue’s head.

Israel has kept up deadly strikes on Lebanon despite the April 17 ceasefire that sought to halt more than six weeks of war between it and Hezbollah.

The ceasefire text grants Israel the right to act against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”.

Israeli soldiers are operating inside a “Yellow Line” running some 10 kilometres deep inside Lebanon’s border, where they are carrying out wide-scale detonations and demolitions of buildings.

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday announced the full resumption of air traffic operations across the United Arab Emirates, marking a return to normalcy after weeks of disruption linked to the Iran conflict.

In a statement carried by Emirates News Agency (WAM), the authority said temporary precautionary measures imposed at the onset of the war had been lifted following a detailed review.

“The decision was taken after a comprehensive evaluation of operational and security conditions and in co-ordination with relevant authorities,” the aviation authority said.

“Continuous real-time monitoring remains in place to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety.”

Airspace restrictions had been introduced after Iran launched attacks on the UAE and other Gulf states on February 28 in retaliation for US-Israel strikes.

During the conflict, both Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport were targeted by drone strikes.

No further missile or drone attacks have been reported since a conditional ceasefire came into effect on April 8, paving the way for the easing of restrictions.

“The Authority expressed its appreciation for the co-operation of passengers and airlines throughout the precautionary period and confirmed the readiness of its technical and operational teams to respond to any emerging developments,” the statement continued.

Aviation sector rebounds

Air travel across the Gulf is gradually recovering as the truce between the United States and Iran holds, bringing relief to regional markets, the UAE-based media outlet The National reported.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has restored operations to around 80 per cent of its pre-war capacity, while Etihad Airways is operating at approximately 75 per cent. Several international airlines are also beginning to resume flights to the region, although some routes remain suspended.

Senior UAE officials and industry leaders have expressed confidence in the sector’s resilience.

During a visit to Dubai International Airport in April, Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, praised the aviation industry’s response to the crisis.

“I am proud of the teams at Dubai Airports, Emirates and flydubai,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “Our world-class aviation ecosystem continues to maintain smooth, efficient operations amid evolving conditions while ensuring safety, reflecting the resilience and preparedness of Dubai’s systems.“

Meanwhile, Emirates President Tim Clark said the airline remained confident despite the disruption.

“What we have found is that whenever we’ve been through these traumas before, the strength of demand [remains] so strong,” Clark said, adding that the airline could become the “most profitable airline” by the end of 2026.

Authorities have urged the public to rely on official sources for updates as operations stabilise, while reaffirming that technical teams remain prepared to respond to any emerging developments.

Unidentified attackers hijacked an oil tanker on Saturday off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden and directed it towards Somalia, the Yemeni coast guard said.

According to the agency, the tanker EUREKA was seized off Yemen’s Shabwa province by a group who “boarded, took control of it, then steered it… in the direction of the Somali coast”.

The coast guard, which is affiliated with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, vowed to investigate the attack.

“The location of the tanker has been determined, and work is under way to monitor it and take the necessary measures in an attempt to recover it and ensure the safety of its crew,” it said, without identifying the crew’s numbers or nationality.

According to the website Marine Traffic, the EUREKA is a Togolese-flagged oil products tanker that was reported to have been in the UAE port of Fujairah in late March.

Piracy was rampant off the coast of Somalia in the 2000s, peaking in 2011 with hundreds of attacks, but was significantly reduced by international naval deployments and new tactics by commercial shipping.

But in recent weeks attacks have increased again, according to a report by the European Union naval mission deployed off the shores of the troubled east African country.

Operation Atalanta, the EU’s naval force for Somalia, monitored three attacks in late April, according to its information service, the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO).

Since February 28, shipping in the region has also been disrupted by the US-Israeli war against Iran, but there was no immediate indication that Saturday’s hijacking was linked to the conflict.

Last month, a tanker was captured in the Gulf of Aden by a new group of pirates operating from the port town of Garacad in the Puntland state of northeastern Somalia, a local security official told AFP.

China will not comply with US sanctions against five firms targeted for purchasing Iranian oil, Beijing’s commerce ministry said on Saturday.

China is a key customer for Iranian oil, mainly through independent “teapot” refineries that rely on discounted crude from the Islamic Republic.

The United States, seeking to choke off revenue to Tehran, has ramped up sanctions on such refineries.

The commerce ministry’s injunction, relating to sanctions announced separately since last year, states that the US measures “shall not be recognised, implemented, or complied with”.

The sanctions “improperly prohibit or restrict Chinese enterprises from conducting normal economic, trade and related activities with third countries… and violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The Chinese government has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions lacking UN authorisation and a basis in international law.”

The injunction applies to three companies in Shandong province — Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical and Shandong Shengxing Chemical — and two others based elsewhere in China, Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery and Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group.

Washington imposed on Friday sanctions on yet another Chinese firm which it said had imported “tens of millions of barrels” of Iranian crude oil, generating billions of dollars in revenue for Tehran.

The firm, Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., Ltd., was not mentioned in the commerce ministry’s injunction.

The latest sanctions come as Washington and Tehran have been locked in a diplomatic standstill, with no permanent resolution in sight for the conflict that erupted with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

US President Donald Trump is due to visit China for talks with leader Xi Jinping later this month.

A senior Iranian military official has warned that a renewed conflict with the United States appears “likely,” as stalled diplomacy continues to deepen tensions between the two sides.

Speaking on Saturday, Mohammad Jafar Asadi of Iran’s Khatam Al Anbiya central command said recent developments suggest Washington cannot be relied upon to honour agreements.

“A renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely,” he said, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency, adding that evidence indicates the US is “not committed to any promises or agreements.”

His remarks come as negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain deadlocked, with US President Donald Trump recently criticising Iran’s latest proposal aimed at reviving talks.