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- US Iran War News Live Updates: 'Consequences would be more crushing and bitter', Iran warns US against 'foolishly' restarting war
US Iran War News Live Updates: 'Consequences would be more crushing and bitter', Iran warns US against 'foolishly' restarting war
At the same time, frantic diplomatic efforts unfolded across the region. Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir travelled to Tehran for late-night talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, where both sides discussed “latest diplomatic efforts and initiatives to prevent escalation of tensions” and end the ongoing US-Israel-Iran confrontation. A Qatari delegation also arrived in Tehran as part of mediation efforts aimed at securing a diplomatic breakthrough.
Despite the push for negotiations, signs of progress remained limited. Iranian officials said talks were continuing but no final agreement was close, while US officials described the negotiations as “agonizing”. Reports suggested Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with the pace of diplomacy and was leaning more strongly towards military action unless a breakthrough emerges soon.
The growing fears of renewed conflict also triggered political reactions within the United States. The National Iranian American Council warned against what it called a “foolish war”, saying escalating the conflict would be “wrong morally, strategically and politically”. The group argued that a diplomatic off-ramp remains available and pointed to rising public opposition in the US as fuel prices continue to surge because of the crisis.
Meanwhile, international concerns over nuclear tensions deepened after a four-week United Nations conference reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ended without agreement. The failure, the third consecutive collapse of an NPT review conference, came amid sharp exchanges between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Taken together, the developments reflect a rapidly escalating geopolitical moment where military posturing, fragile diplomacy and global anxieties over energy security and nuclear escalation are converging at once.
Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the country’s armed forces had rebuilt their capabilities during the ceasefire and warned that if the United States “foolishly restarts the war,” it would face consequences that are “more crushing and bitter.”
“In the past 24 hours, 25 ships, including oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz after obtaining permission with the coordination and security of the IRGC Navy,” the IRGC said in a statement.
The consignments entered Iran this week through official land routes, Razieh Alishvandi, the society’s deputy for international affairs and humanitarian law, told the Tasnim news agency.
Alishvandi said Iraq sent nine large trucks carrying around 180 tonnes of aid, including 120 tonnes of food supplies such as rice, flour, tea, legumes and canned goods, along with medicines and medical equipment, as cited by AL Jazeera.
She added that Uzbekistan dispatched 15 trucks carrying nearly 300 tonnes of medicines and consumer medical supplies aimed at strengthening the Red Crescent’s relief and treatment operations.
The shipment from Kazakhstan arrived via 30 railway wagons and weighed more than 1,700 tonnes. It included food items such as flour, sugar and canned goods, as well as medicines and medical equipment.
In an official statement posted on his website, Cotton also said he was prepared to work on legislation granting the administration additional powers if needed.
“The PGSA cannot operate without the consent of other nations, and the United States must ensure every actor enabling the terrorist Iranian regime is held accountable. I stand ready to work with you and am preparing legislation to further codify your efforts. In the meantime, I support the use of existing authorities to impose sanctions on the PGSA, its officers, and any foreign entity that pays, processes, or facilitates tolls to Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
In a letter sent to Bessent on Thursday, Cotton described Iran’s alleged efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz as another example of the ongoing threats posed by the “terrorist Iranian regime that Operation Economic Fury rightly targets”.
He also said reports suggesting Iran is coordinating with other governments to jointly regulate traffic through the Strait were “alarming” and added that Congress stands ready to support actions aimed at holding those entities accountable.
During the conversation, the Qatari minister urged all parties to respond positively to mediation efforts to help achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, as cited by Al Jazeera.
He also warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz or using it as a bargaining tool “will only exacerbate the crisis and jeopardise the vital interests of the region’s countries.” Freedom of navigation, he said, is “a fundamental and non-negotiable principle.”
The minister further called on all sides to abide by international law and uphold the principles of good neighbourliness, while prioritising the interests of the region and its people.
One raid on the town of Shahabiya caused multiple casualties, while a separate strike on a house in al-Rafid killed at least one person and injured another, the report said, as cited by Al Jazeera.
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has expressed disappointment after the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended without agreement, calling it a missed opportunity to strengthen global security at a time of mounting international tensions.
In a statement delivered by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres said he welcomed the engagement shown by member states during the talks but regretted that the conference failed to reach consensus.
He said the outcome was particularly concerning, “especially at a time of such pressing challenges that threaten international security”.
The UN chief urged all countries to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tensions and lower nuclear risks, reiterating that achieving a world free of nuclear weapons remains the organisation’s highest disarmament priority.
The conference collapsed amid sharp disagreements between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme and recent attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Izadi said there is a broad belief in Tehran that the current conflict is “Netanyahu’s war” and that the Israeli Prime Minister succeeded in drawing Washington deeper into the confrontation, Al Jazeera reported.
“The general consensus in Tehran is that this is Netanyahu’s war and that he managed to bring the US president in with him,” Izadi said.
He added that Iran’s insistence on achieving a ceasefire across all fronts before negotiations progress stems from concerns over whether agreements can genuinely hold.
Izadi pointed to Lebanon as a key test case, arguing that although a ceasefire formally exists, violence has continued on the ground.
“Lebanon is the litmus test,” he said.
“That is the test for Iran to see whether Trump can finally have an independent foreign policy or not.”
He added that if Tehran secures “a genuine ceasefire in Lebanon and an end to the war on all fronts, negotiations can move forward.”
“The only way out of the third imposed war for the American-Zionist enemy, on both the battlefield and in diplomacy, is to secure the demands of the Iranian people,” Talaei-Nik told Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
“While accepting Iran’s proposal, Trump should also be mindful of preventing further losses and costs in the continuation of the war for the American people and the international community,” he added.
The remarks come amid intensified diplomatic efforts and growing uncertainty over whether ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington can prevent a renewed escalation in the conflict.
The first Japanese-managed oil tanker to successfully transit the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade is expected to arrive in Japan shortly, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The Panama-flagged Idemitsu Maru, carrying around 2 million barrels of Saudi Arabian crude oil, is scheduled to dock at a refining facility in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture on Monday.
NHK reported that the vessel safely passed through the strategically sensitive waterway amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing restrictions affecting maritime traffic in the region.
The report added that the tanker’s three Japanese crew members are in good health.
According to the Israeli military, aircraft were detected over Kiryat Shmona and Rosh HaNikra in northern Israel, triggering alerts in the area amid heightened regional tensions.
Further details about the incident were not immediately available.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi amid intensified diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation in the conflict involving Tehran and Washington.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the two leaders discussed “the latest regional developments and the ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation of tensions and end the war”.
The talks come amid a flurry of regional mediation efforts involving multiple countries as concerns grow over the possibility of renewed US military strikes on Iran if negotiations fail.
In Hebron’s Old City, settlers reportedly stormed the home of a Palestinian resident and conducted what local activists described as provocative tours near the town of Sa’ir, where they also performed prayers and shouted insults at Palestinians.
In Deir Ballut, west of Salfit, Israeli forces fired tear gas at farmers and visitors gathered for harvest activities, Wafa reported.
Meanwhile, in the northern town of Tubas, Israeli forces arrested a 21-year-old man identified as Yusuf Subh after summoning him for interrogation at a military base, according to the local Palestinian Prisoner’s Society.
The latest incidents come amid rising tensions and increasing military operations across the occupied West Bank alongside the ongoing war in Gaza and escalating regional violence.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran as diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent further escalation in the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
According to a post shared on Araghchi’s Telegram channel, the two sides “exchanged views on the latest diplomatic efforts and initiatives to prevent escalation of tensions” and end the ongoing war involving Iran, the US and Israel.
The meeting in the Iranian capital reportedly “lasted until late at night”, signalling the seriousness of ongoing regional mediation efforts amid fears of a broader conflict in West Asia.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency has reported another maritime security incident near Yemen’s Socotra island involving a tanker carrying petroleum products.
According to the UKMTO, the tanker reported being approached by a small craft carrying five people while sailing around 200 nautical miles west of Socotra.
The small boat reportedly came within 100 metres of the vessel before changing course after the tanker deployed its armed security team, the agency said.
The latest episode follows a similar incident reported north of Socotra on Friday, amid heightened tensions and growing security concerns across key maritime routes in the region.
Human rights advocates in Canada are calling on authorities to bar representatives of two major Israeli weapons manufacturers from attending a defence exhibition in Ottawa next week over allegations linked to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The groups said they filed a legal complaint with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), seeking to deny entry to representatives of Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries ahead of the CANSEC arms and defence fair scheduled for May 27 and 28 in the Canadian capital.
According to the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) Canada, the two firms are among the principal defence contractors supplying military technologies, drones, weapons systems and surveillance equipment used by Israeli forces during attacks in Gaza.
“Permitting representatives of these companies to attend Canada’s largest arms and defence exhibition risks undermining Canada’s obligations under domestic and international law,” the group said.
Last year, Amnesty International identified Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries among companies allegedly “contributing to Israel’s unlawful occupation, genocide or other crimes under international law”.
The issue comes amid increasing global scrutiny of arms manufacturers linked to the conflict in Gaza and growing calls for restrictions on military cooperation with Israel.
The White House shared a brief video showing the launch of a nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bomber, a move that quickly fuelled speculation online about a possible restart of the Iran war.
The post came shortly after a Pentagon colonel reportedly stated that “Iran airspace [has been] completely cleared”, echoing language used during the final stages of the March conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.
The one-second clip of the B-2 launch was viewed by many observers as a signal of heightened military readiness amid growing uncertainty over whether diplomacy with Tehran can still prevent renewed strikes.
The development follows reports that US President Donald Trump convened a high-level national security meeting to discuss Iran and is increasingly weighing military options if negotiations fail.
A four-week United Nations conference reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended without consensus, as tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme dominated discussions.
Vietnam’s UN ambassador Do Hung Viet, who chaired the conference, announced that the 191 member states failed to agree even on a diluted final document. He did not specify which countries blocked consensus.
The outcome marks the third consecutive collapse of an NPT review conference, underscoring deepening divisions over nuclear disarmament and global security issues.
The latest deadlock comes amid heightened international tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran, which began with American and Israeli airstrikes on February 28. US President Donald Trump has said the military campaign aimed to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Washington accused Tehran during the conference of showing “contempt” for its obligations under the treaty, while Iran argued that US and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities violated international law.
Iran has continued to insist that its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes, despite enriching uranium to levels close to weapons-grade material.
The previous NPT review conference in 2022 had also collapsed after Russia blocked agreement over references to its invasion of Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Fueling speculation further, the White House shared a short video showing the launch of a nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bomber shortly after reports quoting a Pentagon official claimed that “Iran airspace [has been] completely cleared”, language reminiscent of the final build-up before the March conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.
Even as military signalling intensified, regional diplomacy accelerated behind the scenes. Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir travelled to Tehran for late-night talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with both sides discussing ways to “prevent escalation of tensions” and end the ongoing conflict. Qatar also joined mediation efforts by dispatching a delegation to Tehran as negotiations continued under mounting pressure.
However, optimism over diplomacy remained limited. Iranian officials acknowledged that talks were ongoing but stressed that no final agreement had yet been reached. US officials described negotiations as difficult and slow-moving, while reports indicated Trump had become increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress and was now more inclined towards military action unless something “unexpected” emerged from the talks.
The escalating tensions have also triggered domestic political debate in the United States. The National Iranian American Council warned the Trump administration against “doubling down on a foolish war”, arguing that most Americans and potentially a majority in Congress favour a diplomatic solution rather than renewed conflict.
Global concerns over the crisis were amplified after a United Nations conference reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ended without consensus, largely due to deep divisions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme and recent attacks on nuclear facilities.
With military preparations, diplomatic backchanneling and nuclear anxieties unfolding simultaneously, the region now appears caught between the possibility of a fragile diplomatic breakthrough and the risk of a much larger confrontation.
