Where things stand
• Strait closure: Iran says it is once again shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the US for “breaches of trust” during the ongoing ceasefire. The move may threaten momentum toward a peace deal between the two countries.
• In Washington: President Donald Trump said negotiations were still progressing but hinted at frustration with Tehran, saying the US won’t tolerate “blackmail” over the strait. Senior administration officials have been seen at the White House Saturday as peace efforts approach a critical juncture, though it was not initially clear if they held a formal meeting.
• Ships under fire: Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s announcement, and a second vessel was hit by a projectile, according to maritime authorities.
Peace talks enter key phase, with ceasefire set to expire soon. Catch up here
Top US officials were seen arriving at the White House on Saturday as negotiations with Iran approach a critical juncture, with a ceasefire set to expire in three days.
The administration officials included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the CIA director, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. CNN has asked the White House if they were attending formal meetings.
Meanwhile, Iran says it is reviewing new US proposals after talks with Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir, who has been acting as an intermediary between the two countries.
Here’s what else you should know:
- More on the negotiations: US President Donald Trump said Saturday that talks with Iran are still progressing. But he suggested frustration with Tehran’s approach, saying “they got a little cute.” The president has said multiple times this week that a deal with Iran was very close, but all indications point to a number of hurdles that still need to be resolved. See the main sticking points here.
- Strait of Hormuz: Iran will blockade the Strait of Hormuz starting this evening, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, after the country announced it was backtracking on plans to open the key waterway, blaming “breaches of trust” by the US. Tracking data from Marine Traffic showed tankers turning around at the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, the US maintains its own blockade of Iranian ports.
- Ships attacked: IRGC forces opened fire on a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s announcement, and a second vessel was hit by a projectile in the region, according to maritime authorities.
- In Lebanon: A French soldier serving as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon was killed Saturday, the French President Emmanuel Macron announced. Macron said Iran-backed Hezbollah was likely to blame for the attack, which the group has denied. It comes during a tenuous truce between Israel and Hezbollah that has been central to the US-Iran talks.
CNN’s Issy Ronald, Tim Lister, Alejandra Jaramillo, Ibrahim Dahman, Eugenia Yosef, Eyad Kourdi, Ivana Kottasová, Oliver Sherwood and Kunal Sehgal contributed reporting.
Iran’s IRGC says Strait of Hormuz will be closed until US lifts blockade
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will blockade the Strait of Hormuz this evening, the organization’s naval forces said in a statement on Telegram on Saturday.
“Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and any offending vessel will be targeted,” the IRGC statement read.
After declaring the waterway open on Friday, Iran reimposed restrictions on the passage of ships on Saturday, citing “repeated breaches of trust” by the US in the two sides’ ceasefire.
“In violation of the ceasefire agreement, the American enemy did not lift the naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports. Therefore, starting this evening, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until this blockade is lifted,” the IRGC said.
The military group warned that vessels should not move from their anchor points in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
The IRGC also urged ships and their owner to only follow updates from Iran and said that statements from the US president “hold no credibility.”
In a statement to state media, Iranian parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called the US blockade of the strait an “ill-considered and ignorant decision.”
“It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,” Ghalibaf said.
Top officials seen at White House as discussions over Iran continue
Senior administration officials were seen arriving at the White House on Saturday as the situation with Iran approaches a critical juncture, with a ceasefire set to expire in three days and the president saying Iran got “a little cute” as negotiations for a deal continue.
Trump remained in Washington over the weekend, hosting an Oval Office event where he signed an executive order on psychedelic treatments, as key members of his national security team cycled through the White House.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was already on site during the president’s event alongside HHS secretary RFK Jr.
But shortly after it concluded, CNN spotted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arriving at the White House followed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Earlier in the day, Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade was seen entering the White House complex and General Dan Caine was seen exiting the West Wing entrance.
CNN has asked the White House if an official meeting was convened today.
The flurry of activity comes as the administration weighs next steps ahead of the looming ceasefire deadline, with diplomatic efforts ongoing and the potential for renewed conflict still on the table.
Trump is now at his golf course in Virginia.
As Trump and Tehran quarrel, the path to peace gets bumpier — but remains open for now
It does feel as if we are drifting away from a deal — but not irretrievably.
US President Donald Trump was buoyant yesterday. A deal seemed close. Iran’s foreign minister sounded optimistic. Talks to be held early next week in Pakistan seemed on track.
But Iran’s moves on Saturday — once again shutting down the Strait of Hormuz and then reportedly shooting up a tanker near the waterway — have threatened that momentum.
It could all be maneuvering: Iran signaling anger that Trump didn’t lift his naval blockade after Tehran lifted its own. You might read into the weekend timing of the attacks — when there is no immediate market impact, and therefore no spiking economic pressure for Trump.
Both sides were beginning to believe the deal was possible. Trump, in a classic deal-making move, likely sought to use the looming end of the US-Iran ceasefire next week as leverage. But if so, the Iranians understood, preemptively applying their own pressure with the sudden shutdown of the strait and its violent enforcement.
It’s up to Trump if he chooses to escalate. The Wall Street Journal reports that the US Navy could start boarding Iranian vessels soon — but even in that case, the Iranians will understand that Trump could have taken things further by abandoning the ceasefire.
Both sides make their points. And the increasingly bumpy path to peace remains open for now.
Iran will prioritize Strait passage for ships that pay, official says
Iran will prioritize vessels that pay to cross the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian official told CNN on Saturday.
“Given the limitation on the number of vessels that will be allowed to pass, Iran has decided to give priority to those vessels that respond more quickly to the new Strait of Hormuz protocols and pay the costs of security and safety services,” the official said.
According to the official, vessels that do not pay the fees will have their passage “postponed.”
On Saturday, Iran reimposed restrictions on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “repeated breaches of trust” by the United States in the two sides’ ceasefire.
The senior official described the prioritization measure as a part of Iran’s efforts to manage maritime traffic “in light of the new order governing this strait.”
Here's what we know about Iranian gunboats firing on a tanker
Iran’s military says it is reimposing restrictions on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker transiting the waterway Saturday, and a second vessel has since reported being hit by an “unknown projectile,” according to the UK Maritime Traffic Organization.
CNN’s Nic Robertson reports:
Iranian Revolutionary Guards gunboats fired on two tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to an advisory from the UK Maritime Traffic Organization. CNN's Nic Robertson says the reported incident comes as Iran’s military says restrictions on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz are being reimposed, alleging “repeated breaches of trust” by the United States.
India summons Iranian ambassador after vessels shot at in Strait of Hormuz
New Delhi said two Indian-flagged vessels were involved in incidents in the Strait of Hormuz earlier today and summoned its Iranian ambassador over the matter.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Iran’s ambassador to New Delhi today and conveyed his “deep concern,” the foreign ministry said.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired on a tanker traveling through the strait earlier today, the UK Maritime Traffic Organization (UKMTO) reported this morning, citing a direct notification from the tanker’s captain.
The captain said the ship was “approached by 2 IRGC gunboats,” and fired with no radio warning.
The UKMTO’s report referenced only one vessel as being involved in that incident.
Later, a container ship reported being hit by an “unknown projectile” in the region, according to the UKMTO.
Misri “noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners,” referenced previous ships bound for India which had safely navigated the waterway, and urged Iran to “resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait.”
Tracking data shows tankers turning around in Strait of Hormuz
Tracking data from Marine Traffic earlier today shows tankers turning around at the Persian Gulf side of the Strait of Hormuz.
The vessels, which carry LPG and crude oil, appeared to have changed course after Iran’s military said restrictions on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz were being reimposed, alleging “repeated breaches of trust” by the US.
The red spots on the map above show tankers at a standstill, a number of these have appeared on both sides of the strait since the restrictions were announced.
The red arrows reflect tankers, carrying LPG and crude oil. The green arrows represent cargo vessels often carrying containers.
Iran says it is examining new US proposals after talks with intermediary Pakistan
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says Tehran is currently examining new US proposals following talks with Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir, who has been acting as an intermediary between the two countries.
While Tehran has not given any official response, the council doubled down on several previously stated demands, including extended control over the Strait of Hormuz, in a statement released today by semi-official Mehr News.
“Iran is determined to exercise supervision and control over transit through the Strait of Hormuz until the definitive end of the war and realization of lasting peace in the region,” the council said, citing the need to cut off American military bases in the region from their supply routes.
This would be imposed by a system of fees, transit certificates and allowing ships to only travel specific routes, the council added.
Pakistan’s Munir completed a three-day official visit to Iran earlier today, where he and a Pakistani delegation met with high-level Iranian officials in an attempt to push Tehran back to the negotiating table with the US before a two-week ceasefire expires.
High-level talks between the US and Iran last weekend failed to yield any agreement. Since then, the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
The council said it considers this a “violation of the ceasefire” and that Iran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the blockade ends.
Macron: French soldier killed in Lebanon, likely by Hezbollah
A French soldier serving as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon was killed today, the French President Emmanuel Macron announced.
Macron named the soldier as Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment, who was serving in Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL). Three other soldiers were wounded, he said.
Macron said that “everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” and demanded that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators.
Hezbollah denied the allegation. In a statement, it called for “caution in assigning blame and responsibility over the incident pending the Lebanese army’s investigation to fully determine the circumstances.”
UNIFIL said in a statement that its patrol was clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah in southern Lebanon when it “came under small-arms fire from non-state actors.” The force said two of the three wounded soldiers suffered serious injuries.
Nawaf Salam, the prime minister of Lebanon, condemned the attack and said he gave instructions for an immediate investigation.
“It goes without saying that this irresponsible behavior inflicts serious damage on Lebanon and its relations with its friendly and supportive countries around the world,” he added.
The attack comes amid a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon held their first direct talks in decades earlier this week in Washington, DC.
Israel’s military accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire earlier on Saturday, saying it had identified several “terrorists” approaching its soldiers and posing an immediate threat. The force said it “conducted precise strikes against the terrorists.”
This post has been updated with a statement from Hezbollah.
Trump has said a deal with Iran is close. Here are 3 key sticking points
US President Donald Trump said multiple times this week that a deal with Iran was very close, claiming Tehran has made some key concessions.
But all indications point to a number hurdles that still need to be resolved — and Trump has threatened he would not extend the current ceasefire, due to expire on Tuesday, if Iran doesn’t strike an agreement.
Here are the main sticking points:
The fate of Iran’s uranium stockpiles: Trump suggested this week that Iran agreed to ship its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US, a claim that was quickly rebuked by a senior Iranian official who said the demand was a “non-starter.”
Iran has about 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium — a significant amount. One proposal that has been floated involves unfreezing Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran turning over its stockpile.
Iran has asked for major sanctions relief and unfreezing of assets north of $20 billion, a source familiar with the negotiations told CNN.
Curbs on uranium enrichment: The length of any suspension to Iran’s enrichment program remains another point of contention. The Iranian official who spoke to CNN rejected Trump’s assertion that Tehran agreed to halt the program indefinitely, saying Iran “will never accept” being an “exception from international law.”
During talks last weekend, American negotiators proposed a 20-year pause on Iran enriching uranium, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN. Iran responded with a proposal for a five-year suspension, which the US has rejected, according to a US official.
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz: The world breathed a sigh of relief on Friday when Iran announced it would reopen the key shipping route, which has been effectively shuttered for almost two months.
But the reprieve was short-lived. Iran says it is reimposing strict limits on shipping in response to Trump saying a US blockade on Iranian ports will continue until a deal is reached. Two vessels have since reported attacks while trying to pass through the strait.
CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen, Alayna Treene and Kevin Liptak contributed reporting.
Trump says Iran “got a little cute” as negotiations for a deal continue
President Donald Trump said Saturday that negotiations with Iran are ongoing but suggested frustration with Tehran’s approach, saying “they got a little cute,” even as he described talks as progressing.
“We have very good conversations going on,” Trump said on Iran. “They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years,” Trump added.
“They wanted to close up the strait again, as they’ve been doing for years. They can’t blackmail us,” Trump said, adding that he will have some more information “by the end of the day.”
“We’re talking to them, and you know, we’re taking a tough stand. They killed a lot of people. A lot of our people have been killed,” Trump said.
Container ship reportedly hit by "unknown projectile" in second incident in Strait of Hormuz
A second incident has occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker transiting the waterway, according to the UK Maritime Traffic Organization (UKMTO), the maritime authority which has responsibility for the region.
A container ship was hit by “unknown projectile which caused damage to some of the containers” about 25 nautical miles (46km) off the coast of Oman, the UKMTO said, without specifying who was responsible for the incident.
No fires or environmental damage have been reported and authorities are investigating, the shipping body added.
The incident came shortly after the UKMTO reported that Iranian Revolutionary Guards gunboats fired on a tanker traveling through the strait.
Both incidents were reported in the hours after Iran reimposed restrictions on shipping attempting to navigate through the crucial chokepoint in response to US President Donald Trump saying that the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue.
Here is what's on Trump's schedule today
US President Donald Trump is signing an executive order from 9 a.m. ET.
The executive order, according to a person familiar, will encourage more research into the psychedelic ibogaine, as we reported earlier this week.
We’ll bring you any relevant updates from this as we get them and you can watch our stream at the top of this page.
Speaking aboard Air Force One yesterday, Trump said that he may not extend the ceasefire between the US and Iran if negotiations fail to produce an agreement to end the war by Wednesday.
He also said that the US would obtain Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium one way or another, warning it could come “in a much more unfriendly form” if negotiations fail.
US blockade forced 23 vessels to turn around, says CENTCOM
The US has forced 23 vessels to turn around since it began blockading Iranian ports on April 13, US Central Command said this morning.
“Since commencement of the blockade, 23 ships have complied with direction from US forces to turn around,” CENTCOM said.
The update followed a chaotic 24 hours during which the Strait of Hormuz, which is not being directly blockaded by the US, was declared reopened by Tehran, and then effectively closed again.
During the brief period when Iran eased restrictions, CNN estimates at least nine vessels passed through the crucial waterway.
CNN’s Oliver Sherwood contributed reporting.
Iran restricts movement in Strait of Hormuz, residents of southern Lebanon begin returning
Today we’ve been bringing you the latest developments regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping route Iran announced it was reopening yesterday, before saying it would be reimposing restrictions today.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what else has been going on in the region:
- Gunboats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz today, according to the UK Maritime Traffic Organization.
- People displaced from southern Lebanon by the Israeli military continued making the journey home this morning after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect yesterday.
- Israel will impose a so-called “yellow line” in Lebanon, barring residents from returning to areas occupied by the Israeli military, according to senior Israel Defense Forces officials. Residents will not be allowed to return to the 55 Lebanese villages inside the area, the officials said.
- Pakistan’s military chief, who mediated last weekend’s Islamabad talks between the US and Iran, has wrapped up an official three-day visit to Iran focused on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.
- Yesterday, the US Treasury Department issued another waiver allowing the delivery and sale of sanctioned seaborne Russian crude, as it tries to alleviate the prices amid the ongoing war.
CNN’s Tim Lister, Eugenia Yosef, Helen Regan, Laura Sharman, Sophia Saifi, Aleena Fayaz and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this reporting.
Ships are turning around in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran reimposes restrictions
Shipping heading towards the Strait of Hormuz today has started to turn around after the Iranian military reiterated that transits for commercial shipping would be tightly restricted – so long as a US blockade continues.
Vessels such as the Al Ghashamiya, carrying LNG, or the Sti Elysees, carrying crude oil, were both bound for ports in India but remain stuck in the Gulf, with shipping monitors showing them reversing course.
Three tankers under US sanctions - Gardian, Raine and Crave - were seen transiting the Strait earlier today and have now reached the Gulf of Oman unopposed, though the US blockade could still turn them around.
During the brief period when Iran eased restrictions CNN estimates at least nine vessels passed through the strait.
Regional powers meet to push for more talks between US and Iran
Foreign ministers representing Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt met earlier today at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum (ADF), seeking to push for diplomatic solutions to the war in the Middle East.
They spoke about their continued “joint efforts to de-escalate tensions and contain escalation” as well as “the future of the regional order after the current war ends,” a statement released by Egypt’s State Information Service said.
They also discussed ways to mitigate the war’s impact on “international shipping, supply chains, food security, energy security and oil prices,” the statement added.
The four regional powers, whose borders, airspaces and economies have been directly threatened by the US and Israel’s war with Iran, have pushed for talks for weeks. Pakistan in particular has emerged as a key diplomatic bridge between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the ADF, an annual diplomatic conference hosted by Turkey, the country’s foreign minister said.
He told AFP that Egypt and Pakistan are “working very” hard to help bring about “a final agreement between the United States and Iran.”
“We are pushing very hard in order to move forward,” he added.
CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman contributed reporting.
Disagreement over Hormuz expose deeper divisions in Iran’s leadership
Recent internal divisions over the Strait of Hormuz have exposed deeper disagreements within Iran’s leadership over its strategy towards the United States, a regional expert told CNN.
“These internal divisions are not merely political theater; they reflect a deeper struggle over Iran’s long-term strategy toward the United States,” Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), told CNN.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the Strait of Hormuz was open to traffic, but within hours Iranian state media confirmed the “full supervision of Iranian armed forces over the passage of ships, and such passage is considered null and void if the alleged naval blockade continues.”
A number of state-backed media outlets slammed Araghchi for his Hormuz post on X. The hardline news outlet Tasnim described his tweet as “poor and incomplete,” causing “a lot of criticism and speculation” and even aiding US President Donald Trump’s position.
Another conservative news outlet, Mehr News, called on the relevant officials “to provide the necessary clarification on this matter.”
Iran’s short-lived victory in briefly opening the Strait has exposed “significant internal tensions within Iran’s leadership,” Citrinowicz said.
“In particular, it has highlighted growing distrust between elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the more pragmatic political leadership led by President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi,” he added.
The criticism of the foreign minister’s tweet exposes the fragility of the unity that the Islamic Republic has been at pains to portray, Citrinowicz told CNN, adding that the balance of power appears to favor the hardliners, including the IRGC.
“As the possibility of renewed talks emerges, one conclusion stands out: Iran is not retreating from its red lines,” he said. “On the contrary, control over the Strait of Hormuz has now become an even more central pillar of its strategic posture.”
Iran's navy ready to inflict "new defeats" on enemies, Supreme Leader warns in new message
A message purportedly from new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warns that Iran’s navy “stands ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats.”
Khamenei, who hasn’t been seen in public or released any video messages since his appointment as Iran’s Supreme Leader six weeks ago, didn’t reference any of the recent confusion over the status of the Strait of Hormuz in the written message.
Instead, it praised Iran’s army for “courageously defending the territory, waters and the flag that belongs to it.”
Only a handful of statements have been attributed to Khamenei. This one marked the occasion of Army Day, which coincided this year with the birthday of his late father, Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in joint US-Israeli airstrikes at the start of this war.
