US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: US imposes sanctions on 10 individuals, companies for aiding Iran's weapons sector

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and companies, including entities based in China and Hong Kong, accusing them of helping Iran procure weapons components and raw materials used in its Shahed drones and ballistic missile programme.

The sanctions, announced by the US Treasury Department, come days before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the conflict involving Iran.

In a statement, the Treasury said it remained prepared to take economic measures against Iran’s military-industrial network to stop Tehran from rebuilding its production capabilities.

The department also warned it was ready to act against foreign companies involved in illicit Iranian trade, including airlines, and could impose secondary sanctions on financial institutions assisting Iran, particularly those linked to China’s independent “teapot” oil refineries.

Brett Erickson, managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, said the sanctions were aimed at limiting Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and regional allies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage between Iran and Oman through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes, after the US and Israel carried out strikes on multiple Iranian targets on February 28. Shipping activity through the strategic waterway has nearly halted since the conflict began, triggering a sharp rise in global energy prices.

According to the British government-funded Centre for Information Resilience, Iran has the capacity to manufacture around 10,000 drones a month.

Erickson, however, said the sanctions remained narrowly targeted, giving Iran time to redirect procurement operations through alternative suppliers. He added that the Treasury had not yet targeted Chinese banks that continue to support Iran’s economy.

Among the entities sanctioned were China-based Yushita Shanghai International Trade Co Ltd, accused of helping Iran purchase weapons from China, and Dubai-based Elite Energy FZCO, which allegedly transferred millions of dollars to a Hong Kong-based company involved in procurement operations.

The sanctions list also included Hong Kong-based HK Hesin Industry Co Ltd and Belarus-based Armory Alliance LLC for allegedly acting as intermediaries in procurement deals, as well as Hong Kong-based Mustad Ltd for facilitating weapons procurement for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran-based Pishgam Electronic Safeh Co was accused of procuring drone motors, while China-based Hitex Insulation Ningbo Co Ltd was sanctioned for allegedly supplying materials used in ballistic missiles.

US President Donald Trump said he was “expecting a response from Iran soon” on Washington’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, as renewed clashes in the Strait of Hormuz threatened to destabilise a fragile month-long ceasefire.

According to reports, the one-page US proposal suggests that Iran’s acceptance could bring an end to the 10-week war, which has killed thousands across West Asia and driven global energy prices higher. However, both sides would still need to continue negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said that Washington is expecting a response from Iran on Friday to its proposals for an interim deal to end the conflict in the Middle East, as Iran accused the US of breaching the increasingly fragile ceasefire announced last month.

In recent days there have been the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the contested strait of Hormuz since the informal truce began. The rise in violence followed Donald Trump’s announcement – then rapid pause – of a new naval mission aimed at opening the strategic waterway.

On Friday US forces fired on and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers that attempted to violate the American blockade of Iran’s ports, the US military said.

Despite the clashes diplomatic efforts continue, with the mediators Pakistan passing to Iran a brief memorandum that the US has said could act as a basis for a more solid ceasefire allowing new talks.

During a visit to Rome, Rubio said: “We’re expecting a response from them today at some point … I hope it’s a serious offer, I really do … The hope is it’s something that can put us into a serious process of negotiation.”

There have been wild swings from hope to despair in recent days, as the US and Iran test each other’s resilience and will, seeking leverage in any talks through belligerent rhetoric, defiance and sporadic violence.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, accused the US of breaking the ceasefire, posting on X on Friday: “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure.”

Araghchi also boasted that Iran’s ballistic missile stocks and launcher capacity had not only been repaired and restocked during the pause in hostilities, but expanded.

Control of the strait and the threat to restart attacks on nearby countries’ oil and other infrastructure in the Gulf are the two main cards Iran can play in negotiations. The US has blockaded Iran, stopping all Iran-linked shipping trying to leave the Gulf, to put pressure on Tehran.

The elimination of Iran’s missile armoury and production facilities were repeatedly stated as a key objective by US officials early in the war. Their restriction is also likely be a demand during any negotiations.

An Iranian official said on Friday that US attacks overnight in and near the strait of Hormuz struck an Iranian cargo vessel, wounding 10 sailors, with five others missing. It was not immediately clear whether the vessel was directly targeted.

US Central Command said Iranian forces had launched missiles, drones and small boats at three US warships overnight but that none were hit, while US forces destroyed the incoming threat and retaliated against land bases in Iran.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said it had responded to another Iranian missile barrage on Friday. The UAE’s defence ministry said three people were wounded after air defences engaged two ballistic missiles and three drones launched by Iran. It was not clear if all were successfully intercepted. The authorities told people to stay away from any fallen debris.

Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at the UAE during the war, frequently hitting civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities and luxury hotels.

Trump said on Thursday that the ceasefire was holding, but hopes earlier this week that an “interim” deal between Tehran and Washington might be agreed before the US president travelled to China next week now look premature.

Efforts to end the war between the US and Iran appeared to stall as the two ​sides traded fire in the Gulf on Friday, while ​a US intelligence analysis concluded Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for another four months.


The CIA assessment also ​concluded that the US bombing campaign of Iran, hailed as a success by US President Donald Trump, has also failed to force Iran's leaders to capitulate, according to a US official familiar with the analysis, which was first reported by the Washington Post.


The analysis indicated that the conflict may not come to a close any time soon, ‌despite Trump's efforts to ⁠wrap up ⁠the conflict, which has proven unpopular with US voters.


Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago, ​and the United Arab Emirates came under renewed attack on Friday.


Washington is awaiting Tehran's response to a US proposal that would formally end the war before talks ​on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear program.


"We should know something today," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Rome earlier in the day. "We're expecting a response from them."


Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said Tehran was still weighing its response, and none was reported by mid-afternoon in Washington, ​just before midnight in Tehran.

Washington has revised its proposed UNresolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining in ​the Strait of Hormuz but the ​changes are unlikely to avert Chinese and Russian vetoes, diplomats said on ​Friday.


A Chinese veto would be awkward ahead of US President Donald Trump's trip to China next week, where the Iran war is likely to be high on the agenda.


An updated draft shared with Security Council members on ‌Thursday afternoon and ⁠seen ⁠by Reuters removed a clause invoking Chapter VII of the US Charter, which allows the council to impose measures ranging ​from sanctions to military action.


However, tough language against Iran remained, as well as a clause that in ​the event of non-compliance the council would "meet again to consider effective measures ... including sanctions measures, in order to ensure the freedom of navigation in the area."


It was unclear when the council might ​vote on the resolution.


While the text does not explicitly authorize ⁠force, it ‌does not rule it out, and "reaffirms the right of member States ... to ​defend their vessels ​from attacks and threats, including those that undermine navigational rights and freedoms."


A ⁠previous resolution backed by the United States that appeared to open ​a path to legitimizing US military action against Iran failed last ​month after Russia and China exercised their vetoes in the 15-member U.N. Security Council.


Diplomats said the original version of the current resolution, drafted by the United States and Bahrain, and submitted to council members for review this week ran into strong Chinese and Russian objections.


A UN diplomat said that despite dropping the Chapter VII reference, which was also done with the last ‌month's resolution, the new draft did not address Chinese and Russian objections.


China's UN mission said it had no comment on the new draft, and the Russian ​mission did not ​immediately respond.


A statement from ⁠Russia's mission on Thursday said Security Council members should refrain from "pushing through one-sided and confrontational draft resolutions" that could "trigger a new wave of escalation in the Middle East."


"It is precisely for this ​reason that on April 7, Russia, along with China, blocked the adoption of a draft resolution on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz," it said.


On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the proposed resolution a test of the utility of the United Nations and urged China and Russia not to veto it.

Russian ​Foreign Minister ​Sergei Lavrov told ​his United Arab Emirates counterpart on Friday ‌that US-Iran ⁠talks ⁠needed to ​be supported to prevent a ​resumption of hostilities in the Middle ​East.


"The Russian ⁠side emphasised ‌the need ​to ​focus on ⁠supporting the ongoing negotiations between ​Iran and the ​USA," a foreign ministry statement said of Lavrov's telephone conversation ‌with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah ​bin ​Zayed Al ⁠Nahyan.


The statement said Russia did not want "to jeopardise ​the prospects for stabilisation by resuming hostilities."

Satellite images appeared to show an oil slick spreading off the coast of Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal for the Islamic republic.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the apparent spill, which was located off the small Gulf island's west coast.

Orbital EOS, which monitors oil spills, told The New York Times that the spill appeared to cover more than 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) as of Thursday.

The Conflict and Environment Observatory, a non-governmental organization, said on X that the "original source remains unclear, meanwhile it's drifting south and seems unlikely to be addressed appropriately."

Kharg Island is at the heart of Iran's oil export industry, a lynchpin of the country's battered economy. It sits off Iran's Gulf coast, hundreds of kilometers northwest of the narrow, strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iran largely closed the strait at the start of its conflict with the United States and Israel on February 28. The United States has since imposed a blockade of Iranian ports, stranding many tankers in the area.

Kharg Island has Iran's largest oil terminal, oil pipelines, storage tanks and related infrastructure.

The US Treasury ​on Friday announced ​sanctions against 10 individuals and ​companies, including several in China and Hong Kong, for aiding efforts by Iran's military to secure weapons ‌and raw ⁠materials ⁠used to build Tehran's Shahed drones.

The Treasury move, ​first reported by Reuters, comes days before US President ​Donald Trump plans to travel to China for a meeting with President Xi Jinping ​and as efforts to end ⁠the war ‌with Iran have stalled.

In a ​statement, ​Treasury said it remains ready to ⁠take economic action against Iran's military ​industrial base so Tehran cannot reconstitute ​its production capacity and project power outside its borders.

Treasury said it was also prepared to act against any foreign company supporting illicit Iranian commerce, including airlines, and ‌could impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions that aid Iran's efforts, ​including those ​connected to ⁠China's independent "teapot" oil refineries.

“Under President Trump’s decisive leadership, we will continue to act to Keep America ​Safe and target foreign individuals and companies providing Iran’s military with weapons for use against U.S. forces,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

A US fighter jet disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers to enforce a port blockade on Friday, prompting retaliatory attacks and rattling a shaky truce as Tehran weighed Washington's latest proposal to end the Middle East war.

A parallel ceasefire in Lebanon was also under strain on Friday, as Iran-backed Hezbollah launched missiles at a military base in Israel in response to a Beirut strike that killed a top commander and other attacks in the south.

The US Central Command said an F/A-18 Super Hornet used precision munitions Friday against two ships in the Gulf of Oman -- gateway to the vital Strait of Hormuz -- to prevent them from continuing to Iran.

An Iranian military official told local media the country's navy had "responded to the violation of the ceasefire and to American terrorism with strikes", adding that after the "exchanges of fire, the clashes have now ceased".

The latest incident came after another flare-up overnight in the strait, control of which an adviser to Iran's supreme leader compared to having "an atomic bomb".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated on Friday that it was "unacceptable" for Tehran to control the strait, adding that Washington was expecting Iran's response to its latest proposal later in the day.

"I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," he told reporters during a trip to Rome.

Washington has sent Iran, via Pakistani mediators, a proposal to extend the truce in the Gulf to allow talks on a final settlement of the conflict launched 10 weeks ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Friday that the proposal was still "under review, and once a final decision is reached, it will certainly be announced", according to the ISNA news agency.

- 'They trifled with us' -

The night before, US Central Command said Iran had launched missiles, drones and small boats at three US warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but that none were hit and US forces had retaliated against land bases in Iran.

Iran's central military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, countered that the clash had erupted when US vessels targeted an Iranian tanker heading towards the strait, and accused its foe of hitting civilian areas.

Asked in Washington on Thursday if the truce was still in effect after the clash, US President Donald Trump said: "Yeah, it is. They trifled with us today. We blew them away."

Iran accused regional US allies of cooperating in the strikes, without naming them, though the United Arab Emirates said it had been forced to intercept a volley of Iranian drones and missiles that wounded three people.

Following the start of the war on February 28, Iran largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, throwing global markets into turmoil and driving up oil prices. The US later imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports in response.

On Sunday, Trump announced a US naval operation designed to reopen the strait to commercial shipping, only to abandon it on Tuesday in favour of a return to negotiations.

On Friday, Saudi sources told AFP that the kingdom had refused permission for the US military to use its bases and airspace for the Hormuz operation, with one saying Riyadh "felt it would just escalate the situation and would not work".

Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said the Islamic republic had long "neglected" its privileged position along the strait, calling it "an opportunity as precious as an atomic bomb".

"Indeed, having in one's hands a position that allows you to influence the global economy with a single decision is a major opportunity," he added, vowing not to relinquish it.

This week Tehran created an authority to approve transit through the strait and to collect tolls from vessels, according to leading shipping industry journal Lloyd's List.

- Lebanon front -

On the war's other front, in Lebanon, Hezbollah said it fired missiles at a military base in Israel in retaliation for its "targeting of Beirut's southern suburbs and the attacks that affected villages and civilians" in the south.

Air raid sirens sounded in several cities in northern Israel, according to the Israeli military, and Hezbollah also claimed several attacks on its troops in southern Lebanon.

Israel has kept up its strikes on the Iran-backed group in spite of a ceasefire, and on Wednesday it carried out its first attack on Beirut's southern suburbs in a month, saying it killed a senior Hezbollah commander.

The Lebanese health ministry said fresh Israeli strikes on Friday in the southern Tyre district killed four people, while the state-run National News Agency reported a series of attacks across the south.

The latest violence came as Lebanon and Israel, officially at war since 1948, were set to hold direct negotiations in Washington next week, which Hezbollah vehemently opposes.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Friday urged European allies to move beyond statements and take concrete action against Iran, even as he worked to repair strained diplomatic ties during a visit to Italy and the Vatican following tensions over the US-Israeli war in Iran, AP reported.

Speaking after meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Rubio said Tehran’s attempts to assert influence over the strategic Strait of Hormuz were “unacceptable” and posed a threat to global security.

“Everybody says Iran is a threat. Everybody says that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon … but you’ve got to do something about it,” Rubio told reporters in Rome. “If the answer is no … then you better have something more than just strongly worded statements to back it up.”

The US military said it fired on and disabled two more Iran-flagged oil tankers that were allegedly attempting to breach the blockade, according to a report by AP.

The vessels were reportedly targeted as part of ongoing enforcement operations linked amid ongoing US maritime blockade.

An Iranian official said on Friday that overnight US strikes in waters near the Strait of Hormuz hit an Iranian cargo vessel, leaving 10 sailors injured and five others missing.

The incident reportedly took place despite a truce that has been in place since April 8, which had paused weeks of fighting between Iran and the United States.

According to Iranian officials, an exchange of fire occurred overnight Thursday-Friday in the Strait of Hormuz and the Makran Sea (Gulf of Oman) region.

Mohammad Radmehr, an official in Iran’s Hormozgan province, was quoted by Mehr news agency as saying: “During the Americans' aggressive actions last night in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the Makran Sea (Gulf of Oman), a cargo vessel near the waters of Minab was struck and caught fire.”

The fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict came under renewed strain on Friday after the United Arab Emirates reported responding to missile and drone attacks, hours after the United States said it had thwarted attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and carried out retaliatory strikes on Iranian military facilities.

There were no immediate reports of damage in the UAE.

According to AP, Iran and the US continue to exchange strikes even as negotiators from both sides pursue talks aimed at ending the conflict. However, the two countries have so far stopped short of returning to full-scale fighting.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of choosing military escalation over diplomacy, saying: “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio continued efforts to repair strained relations with Italy on Friday, holding talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Tensions between Washington and Rome have intensified over the Iran conflict, Donald Trump’s tariff policies and his criticism of Pope Leo XIV. Italy has firmly opposed involvement in the war, insisting any use of its military bases for offensive operations must receive parliamentary approval. Concerns have also grown over possible reductions in US troop deployments in Europe, particularly in Italy. Meloni, once regarded as one of Trump’s closest European allies, now faces mounting domestic pressure after a recent referendum defeat. Rubio also visited the Vatican, where discussions focused on promoting peace in the Middle East and maintaining strong US–Holy See relations.

Iranian MP Ebrahim Rezaei sharply criticised the United States in a social media post on Friday amid continuing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Writing on X, Rezaei mocked the US leadership, suggesting the country should be renamed the “United States of Idiots” in reference to President Donald Trump and the US defence secretary. He also claimed American naval forces would be unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even with their full fleet, and accused Washington of behaving “like a spoiled child”. His remarks followed renewed clashes between Iranian and US forces over alleged breaches of a month-old ceasefire tied to the conflict that erupted in late February.

Global stock markets fell on Friday as renewed clashes between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz weakened hopes of a lasting ceasefire and the reopening of the vital shipping route. Investor confidence had strengthened earlier in the week amid expectations that the 10-week conflict, which has driven oil prices sharply higher, was nearing an end. However, sentiment deteriorated after US strikes on Iranian military targets following attacks on American destroyers in the region.

President Donald Trump warned of further action if Iran failed to reach an agreement swiftly, although he later insisted the ceasefire remained intact. Oil prices recovered slightly after recent declines, while equity markets across Asia, Europe and Wall Street retreated from recent highs. Analysts said investors were reassessing expectations for stability in the region and normal shipping through Hormuz. Markets were also watching closely for upcoming US jobs data, which may indicate the wider economic impact of the conflict and rising energy costs.

Iran’s Chief Justice, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, said the authorities would take firm action against individuals accused of espionage, infiltration and betraying the nation. In a statement issued on Friday, he said the judiciary’s approach in the current climate was unequivocal and that so-called “traitorous elements” would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. He described such individuals as spies, infiltrators and those accused of weakening national unity, adding that the judiciary would pursue these cases decisively while adhering to Islamic law and principles of justice. Ejei also stressed that the authorities would confront anyone deemed to be undermining unity.

IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, has warned that the conflict in the Middle East will reduce its profits this year despite a strong opening to 2026. The group said rising fuel prices, driven by the US-Iran war that began in February, are expected to weigh heavily on earnings during the remainder of the year.

Although the first quarter was largely unaffected, IAG now expects profits to fall short of earlier forecasts. Higher oil prices have significantly increased jet fuel costs across the aviation sector.

Despite these pressures, IAG reported a 71 per cent rise in first-quarter net profit to €301 million, while revenue increased to €7.18 billion. Chief executive Luis Gallego said strong passenger demand supported results and added that fuel supplies remain stable in key markets.

Southeast Asian leaders met at the ASEAN summit in Cebu under pressure from the Iran conflict’s economic and humanitarian impact. Focus was on a contingency plan for fuel and food security as the region depends on Middle East imports, with Philippines scaling back ceremony amid headwinds. Leaders discussed evacuation planning for over a million citizens in the Middle East if hostilities escalate. Since February US-Israel strikes on Iran, casualties and unrest persist around the Strait of Hormuz despite a ceasefire. Draft plan emphasises information sharing and coordination to protect nationals. Thailand called for an extended ceasefire and safe shipping. ASEAN measures include fuel sharing, grid development, diversification, EVs and nuclear options, alongside China Sea tensions Myanmar conflict and Thailand-Cambodia disputes.

The world’s busiest oil transit chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, is under severe strain, with effects already visible in fuel prices, groceries and global trade. Since late February, escalating conflict has pushed crude above $100 a barrel, with forecasts suggesting it could climb to $167, or even $200 if disruption intensifies. Economists warn that a prolonged closure into September could trigger one of the most serious energy shocks in modern history. The Dallas Fed, cited by the Washington Post, and banks such as Macquarie highlight extreme price risks. Fatih Birol of the IEA has called it the biggest crisis in history. Research from Global Trade Alert suggests trade growth could fall by 1.75%, with impacts taking up to 19 months. WTO forecasts may be sharply downgraded, signalling sustained global economic strain.

A US proposal aimed at resolving tensions with Iran is reportedly far more detailed than a so-called “one-page” offer. President Trump said the diplomatic outreach, conveyed via Pakistani intermediaries, requires Tehran to forgo nuclear weapons and transfer nuclear materials. He dismissed claims of a simple document and suggested any verbal agreement is unreliable given shifting Iranian positions. Iranian officials have not issued a formal response and are still reviewing messages delivered through Pakistani channels. Reports say discussions focus on a ceasefire and regional stability, with ongoing contact between Tehran and Islamabad. Despite optimism from Washington about a quick deal, the US has also imposed fresh sanctions linked to Iran-backed groups. Talks continue amid mixed signals and rising international pressure.

The United Arab Emirates’ ministry of defence said the country’s air defence systems were “actively engaging” during a missile and drone attack early on Friday, raising fresh concerns over the fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict. Residents were urged not to approach or photograph debris from intercepted projectiles. Earlier, the US military reported intercepting Iranian attacks on three Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and carrying out strikes on Iranian military sites linked to attacks on American forces. US Central Command described the incidents as “unprovoked”. No ships were damaged. Despite renewed violence, President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the US and Iran remained in place.

Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has said that Iran will soon celebrate a “great victory” in its ongoing confrontation with the United States and Israel, according to state broadcaster Press TV. Speaking on Thursday, Aref expressed confidence that international sanctions and external pressure on Iran would soon come to an end. His remarks came amid renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian and US forces reportedly exchanged fire. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump insisted that the ceasefire remained intact despite recent clashes, warning Tehran of a stronger response if no formal agreement is reached.

Rising diesel prices linked to the Iran conflict are expected to hasten China’s shift towards electric heavy trucks, accelerating the decline in fuel demand, analysts say. Once considered niche, electric heavy trucks now represent a growing share of sales, supported by subsidies, lower operating costs and wider charging networks. Early 2026 sales rose 45 per cent year-on-year, industry data shows.

US President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing next week for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid concerns that the conflict in Iran could overshadow talks. The visit, Trump’s first to China since 2017, is expected to focus on trade, Taiwan and broader US-China relations. Trump is seeking diplomatic and economic wins ahead of the US midterm elections, while Beijing may use Washington’s reliance on Chinese cooperation over Iran to push for concessions. Analysts believe China could seek advantages on issues such as Taiwan and sanctions. Despite uncertainty over concrete outcomes, both leaders are expected to emphasise stability, with Beijing likely to offer Trump the ceremonial welcome he values while avoiding direct involvement in the Iran conflict.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had a “great call” with Ursula von der Leyen, during which they discussed the situation in West Asia and agreed that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said both leaders were “completely united” in preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities, adding that a regime which “kills its own people” should not possess weapons capable of causing mass destruction.

The leaders also discussed EU-US trade relations. Trump referred to the trade agreement reached in Turnberry, Scotland, and urged the European Union to honour commitments on reducing tariffs to zero. He warned that tariffs could rise sharply if progress was not made before the United States marks its 250th Independence anniversary.

Von der Leyen later confirmed the discussion on X, saying both sides remained committed to implementing the trade deal while continuing coordination on Middle East security and regional stability.

Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has published an editorial describing the latest confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz as a failed American operation that ended with damaged vessels and fires near Fujairah. The article claimed US destroyers entered the strait, became stranded and eventually withdrew, leaving Iran in control of the waterway.

“Destroyers came, got stuck and went back; the strait remained under Iran’s control,” the piece said.

US President Donald Trump insisted the ceasefire with Iran remained intact despite Thursday’s clash, dismissing the incident as “a trifle”. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), Iranian forces launched missiles, drones and small boats at three American destroyers, although none were struck. CENTCOM said US forces intercepted the threats and carried out retaliatory strikes on Iranian military sites, while stressing that Washington did not seek further escalation.

Iran and the United States are reportedly discussing a tentative one-page framework aimed at halting hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, according to The New York Times, citing three senior Iranian officials familiar with the talks.

The proposed arrangement under discussion would establish a 30-day pause in fighting while both sides continue negotiations on a broader long-term agreement.

According to the report, diplomatic exchanges are ongoing, with both sides debating the wording and structure of a possible framework. One of the main sticking points remains the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Iranian state media outlet Mehr News Agency has reported an explosion in the town of Sirik in Hormozgan province.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with multiple security-related developments reported across Iran in recent days.

Hezbollah has said its fighters carried out 13 separate attacks on advancing Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, signalling an escalation in cross-border hostilities.

In a statement on its Telegram channel, the group said the strikes targeted Israeli troop gatherings and military vehicles across several locations, including al-Taybe, Shama, Biyyada, the Alman-Al-Qusayr area and Khallet al-Raj near Deir Siryan.

The group has intensified its operations in recent days as tensions continue to rise along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Saudi Arabia’s envoy to the UN, Abdulaziz al-Wasel, has warned that any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz could have major global consequences for trade and energy supplies.

He said the strait is a “vital maritime passage” and stressed that any threat to freedom of navigation would directly affect global markets and supply chains.

Al-Wasel also highlighted the risk of humanitarian and economic fallout if the movement of essential goods, including food, medicine and aid, is affected.

President Donald Trump said that the ceasefire remains in effect as the conflict between both countries escalates.

“The ceasefire is going. It’s in effect,” Trump told ABC News in a phone call, confirming that there has been no breakdown in the truce despite escalating tensions.

Referring to the latest strikes, Trump said, “It’s just a love tap.”

An Israeli air strike targeting an ambulance crew in the town of Majdel Selm in southern Lebanon killed one paramedic and wounded another, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The strike hit the Marjayoun district amid continuing cross-border hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

US military said that it intercepted Iranian attacks on 3 Navy ships in Strait of Hormuz and targeted Iranian military sites.

US President Donald Trump claimed that three American destroyers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz 'under fire' and caused 'great damage' to Iranian attacker.

In a post on Truth Social he wrote: "Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers. They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats…"


He added that US forces had neutralised incoming threats.

"Missiles were shot at our Destroyers, and were easily knocked down. Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air. They dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!"

Trump further escalated his remarks against Iran, calling its leadership 'lunatics' and warning of stronger action if a deal is not reached.

"A normal Country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal Country. They are led by LUNATICS. A normal Country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal Country. They are led by LUNATICS, and if they had the chance to use a Nuclear Weapon, they would do it, without question — But they’ll never have that opportunity and, just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST! Our three Destroyers, with their wonderful Crews, will now rejoin our Naval Blockade, which is truly a 'Wall of Steel.'"

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker near the Jask region and another vessel close to the Strait of Hormuz opposite Fujairah port. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that Tehran also accused the US of carrying out air strikes on civilian areas near Khamir, Sirik and Qeshm Island, warning of a “crushing response” to any further aggression.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei strongly condemned Israel’s latest strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs that reportedly killed and injured civilians. According to Tasnim news agency, Baghaei said Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, including the alleged use of phosphorus munitions, were possible because of support from countries such as the United States.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, citing a military official, reported that Iranian forces launched missiles at “enemy units” following an alleged US attack on an Iranian tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The official claimed the targeted units sustained damage and withdrew from the area after the retaliatory strike.