US-Iran War Highlights: Ball in America's court, Iran fully prepared for any aggression, says senior official

The United States is moving to establish a new maritime initiative, the Maritime Freedom Construct, aimed at securing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing confrontation with Iran, Al Jazeera reported. 

The initiative will be jointly operated by the US State Department and US Central Command, focusing on information sharing, diplomatic coordination and enforcement of sanctions, according to officials and internal briefings.
 

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, received a call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which he was briefed on the ongoing negotiations with the United States aimed at securing a permanent end to the war, according to Al Jazeera.

During the conversation, Al Thani reiterated Qatar's support for mediation efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement. He also stressed that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is essential and should be restored at the earliest.

Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hamidreza Haji-Babaei has said that a new legislative proposal would bar Israeli vessels from using a key maritime route at any time, according to Al Jazeera. He said the bill also seeks to restrict ships from "enemy states" from passing through the Strait of Hormuz unless they agree to pay war reparations. According to Haji-Babaei, other vessels would be allowed passage only after obtaining permission and approval from Iran.

He added that shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war levels, signalling tighter control over the strategic waterway. 

Iran has said it is fully prepared to respond to any aggression, with a senior official warning that the country remains on alert amid ongoing regional tensions. Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, said Iran has always relied on interest-based diplomacy to address disputes and has played its part in pursuing diplomatic solutions.

"Iran has presented its plan to Pakistan as a mediator with the aim of permanently ending the imposed war, and now the ball is in America’s court. Iran is ready for both paths in order to ensure its national interests and security, and in any case, it will always maintain its pessimism and distrust of America and its honesty in the path of diplomacy," he was qouted as saying by Iranian media. 

The Lebanese Army said a meeting was held between US General Joseph Clearfield, the newly appointed head of the US-led ceasefire monitoring committee, and Lebanese Army Commander Rudolph Heickl. In a statement, the army said the discussions focused on the security situation in Lebanon and broader regional developments.

It added that both sides stressed the importance of the Lebanese Army’s role and the need to support it during the current phase. General Clearfield left Lebanon after the meeting, the statement said.

Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah on Saturday released footage it claimed showed its fighters launching rocket and artillery attacks on Israeli troops in the southern Lebanese town of al-Qantara. The group also said it carried out strikes on Israeli soldiers in Al-Bayada, adding that one of the troops was hit in the attack.

Iran's Mission to the United Nations has accused the United States of violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), describing its conduct as 'hypocritical'.

Iraq can bring its oil production and exports back to normal within a week once the Strait of Hormuz crisis eases, Deputy Oil Minister Basim Mohammed said on Saturday.

He said current output is around 1.5 million barrels per day, with roughly 200,000 bpd being exported through Ceyhan. Two tankers have already been readied, while two more could be deployed depending on security conditions in the strait, which Iran has largely shut during the US-Israeli war.

A Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier, MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 metric tonnes of LPG meant for India, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, official sources said on Friday, sources told news agency ANI. The vessel, which has a crew of 20 on board, including 18 Indian nationals, crossed the strategic waterway on May 2 amid heightened tensions in the region.

MT Sarv Shakti is now en route to Visakhapatnam and is expected to reach the port on May 13, the sources added.

The UAE's Civil Aviation Authority said air traffic has returned to normal after lifting temporary precautionary measures introduced during the US-Israel war on Iran.

"The decision was taken after a comprehensive evaluation of operational and security conditions and in coordination with relevant authorities. Continuous real-time monitoring remains in place to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety," reported the Emirates News Agency.

At least three people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on a town in southern Lebanon, pushing up the overall death toll from today’s attacks, according to Al Jazeera. State media reported that the strike hit Choukine in the Nabatieh district, taking the day's toll from Israeli attacks across Lebanon to at least 10.

Qatar Airways has announced it will resume flights to Baghdad, Basra and Erbil in Iraq starting May 10. The airline had shut its airspace on February 28 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the conflict, citing precautionary steps in light of evolving regional developments and the need to ensure the highest standards of safety and security for all flights.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of a "dangerous unraveling of the alliance" as tensions within Nato deepen over the US-Israel war on Iran.

A rocket launched by Hezbollah at Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon was intercepted, as per the Times of Israel. The projectiles exploded near the forces but did not cause any injuries, the army added.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States is in a war with Iran because “lunatics can’t have a nuclear weapon,” even as he claimed that hostilities have been “terminated” following a ceasefire. “You know, we're in a war because I think you would agree we cannot let lunatics have a nuclear weapon. Do you agree?” Trump told a cheering crowd at an event, drawing chants of “USA.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran believes its latest proposal to defer nuclear talks to a later stage represents a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement. Under the proposal, the war would end with guarantees from Israel and the United States against further attacks. Iran would reopen the strait, while the United States would lift its blockade.

Moreover, subsequent negotiations would focus on curbing Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, with Tehran insisting that Washington recognise its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, even if it agrees to temporarily suspend such activities.

According to Al Jazeera, Yemen’s coastguard has reported unidentified armed men hijacking the M/T ⁠Eureka oil tanker‌ off the coast of the country. The assailants boarded the vessel and ⁠seized control of it before steering it towards ⁠the ⁠Gulf of Aden in the direction of ‌Somali waters.

Qatar Airways on Saturday said it would resume passenger flights to Baghdad, Basra and Erbil airports in Iraq, starting May 10. 

The UAE's aviation authority said air traffic in the country has returned to normal after precautionary measures implemented on February 28 at the start of the Iran war were lifted. According to Reuters, the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions in coordination with relevant entities.