Here's the latest
• UAE quits oil cartel: The United Arab Emirates will withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) this week, the UAE’s state news agency reports, as the Iran war roils global energy markets. The price of oil climbed above $110 a barrel for the first time in three weeks today.
• Peace talks: US President Donald Trump does not appear open to Iran’s proposal to end the war, sources said. The proposal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz but leave questions about Tehran’s nuclear program for later negotiations. An LNG tanker passed through the strait for the first time since the start of the conflict, according to a shipping analytics firm.
• In Lebanon: The Israeli military has warned residents in more than a dozen villages to evacuate northward after claiming that Hezbollah “violated” the ceasefire. Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued to trade strikes, with each side accusing the other of breaking the truce.
UAE to withdraw from OPEC, in blow to oil cartel and Saudi Arabia
The United Arab Emirates will withdraw from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1, the UAE’s state news agency WAM said.
“This decision aligns with the United Arab Emirates’ long-term strategic and economic vision and the development of its energy sector, including accelerating investment in domestic energy production,” the statement said.
OPEC is a cartel of major oil-producing nations that coordinates production policies to influence global oil supply and prices.
The UAE is also leaving OPEC+, which includes Russia, the statement said.
The move marks a major blow to OPEC and its leading member, Saudi Arabia. The cartel collectively accounts for 36% of the world’s oil production and together controls almost 80% of the world’s total proven reserves.
“The UAE’s decision to exit from OPEC reflects a policy-driven evolution aligned with long-term market fundamentals,” Suhail Al Mazrouie, the UAE’s energy minister, said in a statement on X. “We remain committed to energy security, providing reliable, responsible, and lower-carbon supply while supporting stable global markets.”
The UAE has long pushed for higher OPEC production quotas as it sought to expand capacity well beyond the levels assigned to it by the cartel.
OPEC was established in 1960 by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Venezuela and Kuwait. The UAE joined seven years later.
The UAE is among the world’s ten largest oil producers, accounting for some 3% to 4% of the world’s oil.
How US-Iran peace talks have developed since the ceasefire began
It has now been three weeks since President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in the war between the US and Iran.
Yesterday, sources told CNN Trump suggested it is unlikely that he will accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, after Tehran proposed a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while leaving questions about its nuclear program for later negotiations.
Here’s a look at what has happened with talks between Tehran and Washington since the ceasefire was announced:
- April 7: Trump warns that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not agree to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hours later, a two-week ceasefire between is announced.
- April 11: US and Iranian officials meet for face-to-face talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, lasting 21 hours.
- April 12: US Vice President JD Vance announces the sides have “not reached an agreement,” largely because of Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program. The leader of the Iranian negotiators, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says the US failed to gain the trust of the Iranian side. Later in the day, Trump says the ceasefire is still “holding well.”
- April 13: The US implements a blockade of Iranian ports, as a US official tells CNN that US and Iran are still engaged in talks. Trump also says that if a deal is not reached by the end of the ceasefire, “it won’t be pleasant” for Iran.
- April 17: After Iran says it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz in response to a separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Trump says the US’ blockade of Iranian ports will continue until a final deal to end the war is agreed. Iran says it will close the strait again if the blockade continues.
- April 18: Iran says it is once again shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the US for “breaches of trust.” Trump says that negotiations are still ongoing but shows frustration, saying Iran “got a little cute” when closing the strait again. Ghalibaf says the US and Iran are “still far from a final agreement” in an interview with state television.
- April 19: Trump says US representatives will be traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of negotiations with Iran. Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations tell CNN that a delegation representing Tehran will also be traveling to Pakistan for talks, though Iranian state media reports that Iran’s presence in Islamabad is not confirmed.
- April 20: Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says they “as of now” have “no plans for the next round of negotiations,” adding: “We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests.” Trump says it’s “highly unlikely” he will extend the ceasefire, which he says will expire in two days time.
- April 21: Trump says he expects to continue bombing Iran if a deal to extend the ceasefire is not reached by the next day. Pakistan’s information minister says he is still trying to convince Iran to participate in talks. In the afternoon, Trump says he will extend the ceasefire until Iran submits a proposal to end the conflict permanently.
- April 22: Ghalibaf says a “complete ceasefire” would be meaningful only if it is not undermined by the US’ naval blockade. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterates this.
- April 23: Trump says he has “all the time in the world” to reach a deal to end the war, also telling reporters at the White House, “don’t rush me,” when pressed on a timetable.
- April 24: Sources tell CNN that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad in the evening. Trump administration officials also tell CNN that Trump is planning to send a US delegation to Pakistan for talks with Araghchi, but Baghaei says “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US.”
- April 25: Araghchi meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, then leaves the country in the evening. Trump says he has canceled the US delegation’s scheduled trip to Pakistan, due to “infighting” among Iran’s leadership.
- April 27: Iran’s state media Fars reports that Araghchi gave a list of Iran’s “red lines” to be conveyed to the US during his trip to Pakistan. A source familiar with the matter tells CNN that Iran has put forward a new proposal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz but leaves the state of talks on key US demands unclear. Sources tell CNN that Trump signaled he is not likely to accept the new proposal.
CNN’s Aileen Graef, Kit Maher, Sophia Saifi, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Sophie Tanno, Kevin Liptak, Tim Lister, Aida Karimi, Riane Lumer, Alayna Treene, Elise Hammond, Nadeen Ebrahim, Adam Pourahmadi, Donald Judd, Alejandra Jaramillo, Mitchell McCluskey, Betsy Klein, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Nic Robertson, Max Saltman and Lex Harvey contributed to this reporting.
Five jailed for life in Bahrain over Iran collaboration charges
Five people in Bahrain have been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of carrying out “terrorist and hostile acts” for Iran, according to the state-run Bahrain News Agency.
Bahrain’s High Criminal Court issued the life-sentence verdict on Tuesday in two separate cases, sentencing two Afghans in one – and three Bahrainis in another, while acquitting a sixth defendant.
Authorities said the Afghans were recruited to assist Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in monitoring and photographing key facilities in Bahrain in exchange for money.
In the second case, three Bahraini citizens were accused of carrying out similar surveillance of vital installations on behalf of the IRGC.
“The Public Prosecution affirms that the crime of collaborating with foreign entities hostile to the Kingdom of Bahrain is among the most serious crimes affecting national security, as it enables such entities to obtain information that may be exploited in carrying out hostile acts targeting the Kingdom and its interests, state officials said.
Bahrain on Monday stripped dozens of people of their citizenship for expressing sympathy for Iran.
Regime-imposed internet blackout in Iran reaches two months, watchdog says
An internet shutdown enforced by Iran’s governing regime entered its 60th day on Tuesday, according to the monitoring group NetBlocks, locking residents into “digital darkness.”
Two months ago, authorities in Iran “cut off access to the global internet,” NetBlocks said in a post on X.
The government had previously imposed a widescale telecommunications shutdown earlier this year while unleashing the most lethal crackdown on its own people in the 47-year history of the Islamic Republic. At the time, rights advocates condemned authorities for trying to block people inside the country from revealing the scale and ferocity of atrocities to the outside world.
Now, as the economic strain of the US-Israeli war on Tehran and retaliatory strikes worsens, Iranians faced with soaring unemployment say the internet blackout has severed another potential lifeline.
One resident in her 50s, from the city of Isfahan, warned that women working from home are less able to access employment opportunities on the internet.
Somayeh, who has been teaching German online for years, told CNN, “Nothing works properly anymore.”
“The drop in income is bad, but what’s worse is this constant uncertainty. You never know what’s going to happen next,” she said.
LNG tanker transits Strait of Hormuz for first time but traffic still limited
A fully laden LNG tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the war in Iran began, shipping analytics firm Kpler said today.
Overall traffic remains limited, underlining the waterway’s effective closure after US President Donald Trump signaled yesterday he was unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the war.
It is not exactly clear when the tanker, Mubaraz, managed to cross the strait, Kpler said, since it had likely turned off its transponder and reappeared off the southern Indian coast last night.
“It could be the case that the vessel managed to cross the strait during the weekend of 18-19 April, when multiple vessels attempted to cross the strait (including seven LNG tankers), however this is not yet confirmed,” said Kpler senior analyst Charles Costerousse.
The vessel loaded its cargo at the UAE’s Das Island almost two months ago and is likely headed to an Asian country but its precise destination is unknown, Kpler added.
Still, only six ships were attempting passage through the waterway this morning, according to their AIS data on vessel tracker MarineTraffic.
They included a container ship traveling from the UAE to the Indian port of Nhava Sheva, two oil tankers – one originating from the Saudi port of Ras Tanura and the other from the UAE’s Hamriya Free Zone – and an Iranian-flagged cargo ship. None of them have as yet completely navigated through the strait, and they could yet be intercepted in the US blockade far from the region during their onward voyage.
Vessels can stop broadcasting their AIS data – which displays their location — meaning that more ships could be slipping through the strait unnoticed by marine trackers.
CNN’s Kevin Liptak contributed reporting.
Oil above $110 a barrel, with "physical scarcity" driving prices
The global oil price climbed above $110 a barrel for the first time in three weeks today, as worries grow that delays in fully reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz pose mounting risks to global oil supply.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was up 2.7% to above $111 a barrel at 7 a.m. ET. WTI, the US benchmark, gained 3.5% to nearly $100 a barrel.
“Physical scarcity is driving prices rather than headlines over the war,” Neil Wilson, a strategist at investment bank Saxo, wrote in a note. “Traders are increasingly watching what’s happening on the water (i.e. nothing) rather than trading the diplomatic stuff,” he added.
US President Donald Trump signaled Monday that he was unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, two people familiar with the matter told CNN. Tehran proposed a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while leaving questions about its nuclear program for later negotiations.
Investors’ concerns that the United States and Iran are no closer to reaching a deal are weighing on stock markets.
At 7a.m. ET, Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures pointed to a modestly weaker open, while Dow futures traded higher. “Markets have been latching on to any signs of peace talks, and the absence of that is raising fears they’re not going to happen,” Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a note.
Major European indexes were trading modestly higher in afternoon trade, while most leading indexes in Asia closed lower.
US gas prices surge to $4.18, a new high for the Iran war
US gas prices jumped 6 cents to $4.18 on average, the highest price since August 2022, according to the latest reading from AAA.
It was the largest one-day increase in five weeks, and rising oil futures suggest that even higher pump prices lay ahead. Oil futures gained about 3% to $111 a barrel Tuesday.
Average US gas prices had fallen for two weeks to $4.02 after the start of the ceasefire in the war in Iran. But concerns over stalled peace talks without an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has sent prices shooting higher once again.
Wholesale gasoline futures have been rising as the United States rapidly draws down its inventories. In past years, the United States has kept about 250 million barrels of gas in storage, but current stockpiles have fallen below 230 million, according to Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates.
As the United States exports record amounts of crude and refined products to offset some of the losses from the Middle East, US prices are expected to rise some more. Average gas prices could rise as high as $4.30 in the next week to 10 days, Lipow predicted.
California, which has long had the highest average price of any state, now has an average price approaching $6 a gallon with a state average of $5.97.
Israel issues urgent evacuation order for more than a dozen Lebanese villages
The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning to residents in more than a dozen villages to evacuate northward, saying it is for their safety after Hezbollah “violated” the ceasefire agreement.
“In light of Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is compelled to act forcefully against it,” the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X today.
“Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives, facilities, or military equipment is putting their life at risk,” he said.
Despite a declared ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Israeli forces and Hezbollah continue to strike each other, with each side accusing the other of breaking the truce. Sunday was the deadliest day for civilian deaths in Lebanon since the ceasefire began, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, which reported 14 civilians killed across the country.
What was the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and why was it important?
Ever since US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, he has mocked the “decaying” and “rotten” agreement brokered by his predecessor.
The Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) capped Iran’s uranium enrichment for 15 years and facilitated UN-led inspections to ensure Tehran’s adherence to the deal, in exchange for partially dissolving sanctions on Iranian oil wealth and unfreezing billions of dollars in assets.
The deal had broad international support, but was opposed by some US and Israeli lawmakers. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to the US Congress insisted the deal left much of Iran’s military power intact.
Trump abandoned the JCPOA in 2018, during his first presidency. Other signatories tried to sustain the agreement, but Iran gradually reduced its compliance from 2019, and the deal ultimately unraveled.
In February of this year, after US-Israeli strikes on Tehran disrupted tense talks to reach a fresh nuclear deal, hopes of achieving a new agreement began to fall apart. Iran has retaliated by effectively shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important energy chokepoint, giving Tehran new leverage over the US.
The White House has repeatedly demanded that Iran stop all uranium enrichment and relinquish its stockpile of near-bomb-grade material, something Tehran refuses to do. Instead, Iran insists on retaining its grip on shipping through the key strait as a tool of pressure to bring an end to crippling economic sanctions. It now says that it will only discuss its nuclear program after the war ends.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi handed Pakistani mediators a proposal to end the war and reopen the choked waterway – without addressing the US president’s call for Tehran to hand over its nuclear program.
Trump suggests he won't accept Iran's latest peace proposal, as oil prices climb
US President Donald Trump signaled yesterday that he was unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the war, sources told CNN, after Tehran proposed a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while leaving questions about its nuclear program for later negotiations.
Here’s what else has been happening
- The US and Iran may not have met for a second round of talks in Pakistan, but the two sides are not as far apart as they seem, according to sources familiar with the mediation process.
- The global oil price climbed above $110 a barrel for the first time in three weeks today, as traders worry that the US and Iran are no closer to a deal to end the war and fully reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.
- BP’s profits more than doubled in the first three months of the year, as the company’s oil traders made the most of the wild swings in oil prices triggered by the Iran war.
- On the ground, several million Iranians have lost their work and are being pushed into poverty amid the conflict.
CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Nic Robertson, Hanna Ziady, Tim Lister and Aida Karimi contributed to this reporting.
BP profits more than double on oil price impact of Iran war
BP’s profits more than doubled in the first three months of the year, as the company’s oil traders made the most of the wild swings in oil prices triggered by the Iran war.
The UK energy giant reported a first-quarter profit of £3.2 billion ($4.3 billion), up from £1.4 billion ($1.9 billion) in the first three months of 2025.
The boost reflected an “exceptional” oil trading result, BP said in an earnings statement Tuesday. Traders benefit from big changes in oil prices, known as volatility, if they can accurately predict the direction of travel.
Improved margins in its oil refining business also helped, as did a stronger performance from its midstream business, which handles the storage and transportation of oil and natural gas. The company’s shares gained 2.8% in London to trade at £5.88 ($8).
CEO Meg O’Neill — who took the helm at the beginning of April and is the company’s first female chief — said BP was “working relentlessly” to maintain reliable production. “We are working with customers and governments to get fuel where it’s needed, helping minimize disruption,” she added.
Brent crude oil climbed above $110 a barrel for the first time since early April Tuesday. The global oil benchmark was trading at around $73 just before the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. It stood at $60 at the start of the year.
Meanwhile, the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, a campaign group, called for a windfall tax on firms profiting from the Iran war-related energy crisis. “These astronomical profits are a startling reminder that when conflict drives up the price of oil and (natural) gas, energy companies profit and households pay,” the group’s co-ordinator Simon Francis said in a statement.
US and Iran not as far apart as they seem, sources say
The US and Iran may not have met for a second round of talks in Pakistan, but the two sides are not as far apart as they seem, according to sources familiar with the mediation process.
Intense diplomacy continues behind the scenes, the sources say, and ongoing talks are centered around a staged process in which the first part of a potential deal would focus on returning to the status quo before the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions or tolls.
The issue of Iran’s nuclear program – which both the US and Israel cited as their casus belli – would be addressed later.
US President Donald Trump has previously said that any deal would require Iran to forfeit its supply of near bomb-grade uranium and give up enrichment, demands Iran has steadfastly refused to accept.
According to the sources, mediators are applying pressure on both sides to reach an agreement, with the next few days being especially crucial. Hanging over it all is the chance that the US may decide to disengage and return to war.
Trump relying on blockade to pressure Iran — but such tactics have not worked, expert warns
President Donald Trump appears to be relying on the US blockade of Iran’s ports to pressure Tehran to cave to his demands, said Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group think tank.
But in the past, he cautioned, Trump’s applying of economic or military pressure on Tehran has “rendered Iran’s position harder rather than softer.”
Vaez discussed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that Moscow can help Iran “in both scenarios: of a return to conflict or a deal.”
Russia has already provided Iran with intelligence and other support during the war, Vaez said. And if the US and Iran come to an agreement, Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, could help Iran fulfill its goals.
For example, if Iran wants to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, it may need a security council resolution to achieve that, Vaez said.
Russia has also offered to store or reprocess Iran’s enriched uranium, though the US has so far rejected this proposal, Vaez mentioned.
Ultimately, both Iran and the US will have to make concessions, or they risk causing further economic turmoil and food insecurity, which “would be a disaster for everyone,” Vaez said.
Analyst discusses report that Vance raised concerns about US missile stockpiles
CNN’s Erin Burnett talks to Seth Jones, president of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about the war with Iran after The Atlantic’s report that Vice President JD Vance raised concerns about US missile stockpiles.
Oil price climbs above $110 a barrel on doubts about Iran war peace deal
The global oil price climbed above $110 a barrel for the first time in three weeks today, as traders worry that the United States and Iran are no closer to a deal to end the war and fully reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was up 2.7% to $111.2 a barrel in early morning trade. WTI, the US benchmark, was trading 2.3% higher at $98.5 a barrel.
US President Donald Trump signalled Monday that he was unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, two people familiar with matter told CNN. Tehran proposed a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while leaving questions about its nuclear program for later negotiations.
“The stalemate and the closure of the Strait are still negative for oil prices,” Mohit Kumar, chief European economist at investment bank Jefferies wrote in a note. “The longer the Strait is closed, the more it would have a negative impact on the global economy,” he added.
What to know about the Strait of Hormuz
As we’ve reported, US President Donald Trump signaled yesterday he was unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the war, a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while leaving questions about its nuclear program for later negotiations.
The waterway has remained a crucial factor since the start of the conflict after it was effectively closed by Tehran.
A narrow waterway that bypasses Iran and Oman, the Strait of Hormuz is the main route for shipping crude from oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the rest of the world.
Iran controls the strait’s northern side. About 20 million barrels of oil, or about one-fifth of daily global production, used to flow through the strait every day, according to the US Energy Information Administration, which calls the channel a “critical oil chokepoint.” According to the EIA, “very few alternative options exist to move oil out of the strait if it is closed.”
The strait also carries about one-fifth of global trade in liquefied natural gas.
Energy analysts have warned that oil and natural gas prices are likely to remain elevated until the strait is passable.
Millions face unemployment in Iran
Several million Iranians have lost their work and are being pushed into poverty amid the US-Israel war with Iran.
Few sectors have been spared. Among the legions of newly unemployed are refinery and textile workers, truck drivers, flight attendants and journalists.
Iran’s economy was in a dire state before the conflict. National income per person had fallen from about $8,000 in 2012 to $5,000 in 2024, ravaged by inflation, corruption and sanctions.
The outlook is even worse. Up to 4.1 million more people could fall into poverty due to the conflict, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The physical damage caused by thousands of airstrikes has caused widespread displacement, according to the UNDP. More than 23,000 factories and firms have been hit, media outlet EcoIran has reported.
That’s cost one million jobs directly, says Iran’s Deputy Work and Social Security Minister, Gholamhossein Mohammadi. And the spillover has pushed another million people out of work, the Iranian publication Etemad Online has estimated.
Disruption to shipping, and therefore imports, has also disrupted Iran’s already fragile economy, “placing 50% of Iranian jobs at risk and pushing an additional 5% of the population into poverty,” according to Hadi Kahalzadeh at the Quincy Institute, a foreign policy think tank.
Official data show a sudden jump in the numbers applying for unemployment insurance – with 147,000 applicants in the past two months, about three times higher than last year.
How Gulf economies are diverging under Iran war pressure
Economist Karen E. Young tells CNN’s Becky Anderson that the Gulf is no longer moving as one, with the war creating clear winners and losers.
Peace talks hit another snag as Trump signals dissatisfaction with Iran's proposal. Catch up here
President Donald Trump signaled Monday he was unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, after Tehran proposed a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while pushing off discussions of the nuclear issue, according to a source.
However, sources familiar with the mediation process said the US and Iran aren’t as far apart as they may seem.
Meanwhile in Russia, where Iran’s top diplomat was shoring up support from its key ally, President Vladimir Putin revealed he received a message last week from the elusive Supreme Leader Motjaba Khamenei.
Khamenei hasn’t been seen or heard from since he was announced as his late father’s successor more than six weeks ago, sparking questions about his wellbeing.
Here’s what else you need to know:
- Trump’s next steps: It wasn’t clear Monday what Trump’s next steps would be. Reopening the strait without resolving issues related to Iran’s nuclear program could remove a key piece of American leverage in the talks, officials said. Yet allowing the waterway to remain blocked would prolong the higher energy prices that have caused the cost of gas to spike in the US.
- Iranian cargo still transiting Hormuz: Most ships that have transited the strait in recent days have taken a route designated by Iranian authorities, and about half of them loaded at Iranian ports, according to shipping data. That’s in defiance of the US blockade aiming to prevent ships from using Iranian ports.
- Energy crisis: Oil prices rose to a three-week high on Monday, while US gas prices nudged up a penny to $4.11 a gallon.
- Iran mulls how to proceed: Iran is reassessing how to move forward with diplomacy to end the war, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during his meeting in Russia, blaming slow progress on Washington’s “destructive habits,” including “unreasonable demands.”
- Fragile Israel-Lebanon ceasefire: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is “aware” of Israel’s strikes on Lebanon during the ceasefire and said the US has urged Israel “to make sure their responses are proportional and targeted.” A CNN review of satellite imagery shows demolitions have continued in Lebanon since the truce came into effect as ground operations begin to take on the appearance of those seen in Gaza. A truce in Lebanon has been a key sticking point in US-Iran negotiations.
- Putin’s well wishes: Putin asked Iranian officials to “convey to the Supreme Leader my appreciation for his message and my best wishes for his good health and well-being,” according to the Kremlin. He also said Russia “will do everything that meets your (Iran’s) interests” to ensure peace.
- Khamenei’s wellbeing: Rubio said the US “has indications” Khamenei is still alive, though he said it’s not clear how much power the new supreme leader holds. A source told CNN last month that Khamenei had suffered a fractured foot, a bruised left eye and minor lacerations to his face in the strikes that killed his father.
- US “humiliated”: Germany’s leader Friedrich Merz said the US is “being humiliated” by Iran, as he criticized Washington’s attempts to extricate itself from the war.
CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Nic Robertson, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Jennifer Hansler and Mostafa Salem contributed reporting.
Sources say Trump does not appear open to Iran’s latest proposal to end war
President Donald Trump signaled Monday he was unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict after Tehran proposed a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while leaving questions about its nuclear program for later negotiations.
Two people familiar with the matter said Trump conveyed his views during a Monday meeting with top national security officials where Iran was discussed. One of the people said Trump was not likely to accept the plan, which was transmitted to the US over the last few days.
Reopening the strait without resolving questions over Iran’s nuclear enrichment or stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium could remove a key piece of American leverage in the talks, officials said.
Yet allowing the waterway to remain blocked would prolong the higher energy prices that have caused the cost of gas to spike in the US.
It wasn’t clear after Monday’s meeting what Trump’s next steps would be. American officials say they remain concerned at what they regard as divisions within Iran’s regime, and are unsure who retains ultimate decision-making power over a prospective deal.
Yet Trump has sounded skeptical in public at the idea of restarting the US bombing campaign, which is on hold after he extended a ceasefire last week.
The White House has declined to comment on the specific contours of the negotiations.
