The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz between the US and Iran continues. After reopening following the truce in Lebanon , Tehran has announced a new closure following the continued US blockade of Iranian ports.
US President Donald Trump, for his part, retorts that the crackdown will remain until an agreement is reached . "We are very close," the tycoon assured reporters aboard Air Force One, stating that the regime has agreed to suspend its nuclear program and reiterating that enriched uranium will be transported to the US. The tycoon, however, demands that Iran put an end to what he calls "blackmail." In short, the stalemate is underway, and US officials fear that without a real "breakthrough" in the negotiations, the war could resume.
Netanyahu and his advisers, meanwhile, stressed that they were " shocked " by Trump's post in which he claimed that Washington had forbidden Israel from bombing Lebanon , according to American media, which said Tel Aviv had asked the White House for clarification.
THE NEWS OF THE DAY:
US: "Without breakthroughs, the war will resume."
Donald Trump has called a meeting in the Situation Room to discuss the new crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Axios reports, citing two American officials, one of whom said that if there isn't a breakthrough soon, the war could resume in the coming days.
Macron: "One French peacekeeper killed and three wounded in Lebanon."
A French UNIFIL soldier was killed and three wounded in an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, Emmanuel Macron announced. "Everything points to Hezbollah being responsible," he added.
IDF: "First airstrikes against Hezbollah since ceasefire in Lebanon"
The IDF confirmed it conducted several raids in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours against Hezbollah militants who "violated ceasefire agreements," according to The Times of Israel, specifying that this is the first such violation since the ceasefire took effect in the country.
Mojtaba Khamenei: "Iranian Navy Ready to Inflict Bitter Defeats"
"Just as the Iranian Army's drones strike the United States and Zionist murderers like lightning, its valiant navy is also ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies." This is according to a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, released on the anniversary of the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
Iran's Hormuz River closed again due to US blockade
Iran's military command says it has again closed Hormuz due to the US blockade.
Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz
A convoy of oil tankers departing from the Gulf is transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to MarineTraffic data cited by the BBC. Several vessels can be seen moving, including, according to the site, vessels designed to transport oil, liquefied petroleum gas, and chemicals.
Iran partially reopens its airspace
Iran's Civil Aviation Agency has announced the partial reopening of the country's airspace.
Trump: Without a peace agreement, the blockade of Iranian ports remains
US President Donald Trump has stated that he will maintain the US blockade of Iranian ports if a peace agreement with Tehran is not reached, adding that he may not extend the ceasefire after it expires on Wednesday. "I may not extend it, but the blockade will continue," Trump told reporters in response to a question about what he would do if no deal with Iran was reached. But "I think it will happen," he added regarding the potential peace agreement.