US-Iran War Highlights: Dialogue does not mean surrender, says Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian

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US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Senate Democrats will force an eighth vote this week on a War Powers Resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s authority to engage in military action against Iran.

In a post on X, Schumer said, “This week, for the EIGHTH time, Senate Democrats are forcing a vote on our War Powers Resolution to withdraw our troops from hostilities with Iran.”

He urged Senate Republicans to support the resolution, end the conflict and “get our troops out of harm’s way”.

Under the US Constitution, the power to declare war rests with Congress, not the president.

US crude futures tumbled more than 2 percent in early Asian trading after US President Donald Trump reportedly paused a planned strike on Iran to allow peace talks to continue.

The July contract for US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $2.08, or 2.02 percent, to $102.34 per barrel as of 22:12 GMT. 

Iran’s Tasnim news agency said air defence systems were activated on Qeshm Island after micro drones were detected in the area near the Strait of Hormuz.

Hezbollah claimed it launched drone strikes targeting Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese town of Rachaf.

According to Al Jazeera, in a post on Telegram, Hezbollah said the attack was carried out in retaliation for deadly Israeli strikes on villages in southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces have continued intercepting Gaza-bound aid vessels in international waters, according to flotilla organisers, Al Jazeera reported.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the Perseverance, carrying volunteers from Australia, Belgium, Canada and France, was attacked by Israeli forces and its crew detained.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said nearly 30 vessels remain en route to Gaza after at least 47 ships were reportedly seized by Israeli forces.

Malaysia, Qatar and Turkiye have condemned Israel’s actions against the aid flotilla.

Iraqi security forces have launched sweeping operations across the country’s western desert after reports surfaced alleging the existence of secret Israeli military bases in the region.

Baghdad has denied any unauthorised foreign military presence on Iraqi soil, even as tensions continue to rise amid the ongoing standoff involving the US, Israel and Iran.

US President Donald Trump said he would hold off on a planned military attack on Iran after direct appeals from Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to Trump, the Gulf leaders told Washington that "serious negotiations" were now underway and expressed confidence that a deal acceptable to both the United States and the wider Middle East could still be reached. READ THE FULL STORY.

Ireland's President Catherine Connolly said she was deeply concerned after her sister was among activists detained when Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said Dr Margaret Connolly was one of six Irish citizens taken into custody after Israeli forces stopped the vessels.

Speaking to reporters in London, President Connolly described the situation as upsetting. "It's quite upsetting, and I'm very worried about her, and I'm also very concerned about her colleagues on board," she said.

Karen Moynihan, Irish lead for the Global Sumud Flotilla, accused Israel of "kidnapping" the activists and said more Irish citizens aboard other vessels could also face interception.

"So 15 Irish people – along with hundreds of other people – completely legally sailing on a humanitarian mission, have been intercepted and abused again by Israel," Moynihan told the Press Association.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani expressed support for Pakistan's mediation efforts during a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as regional powers continue diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran.

According to Qatar's Foreign Ministry, the two leaders discussed recent regional developments and "the Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at reducing escalation in a manner that contributes to enhancing security and stability in the region".

The ministry said Sheikh Mohammed also expressed Qatar's "appreciation" for Pakistan and other parties involved in helping maintain the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

At least 3,020 people have been killed and 9,273 others wounded in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since early March, according to figures released by Lebanon's Health Ministry on Monday.

The ministry said the casualties were recorded from March 2 onwards as cross-border hostilities and Israeli air strikes intensified across several parts of the country.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Monday that internet fibre optic cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz could be brought under a system of permits as Tehran tightens control over the waterway.

"Following the imposition of control over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, citing its absolute sovereignty over the bed and subsoil of its territorial sea... could declare that all fibre-optic cables passing through the waterway are subject to permits," the IRGC said, in a social media post.

(AFP)

Iran’s newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority has announced that all vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz must obtain permission from Iranian authorities, warning that unauthorised passage through the strategic waterway would be considered illegal.

In its first statement posted on X, the authority said navigation through the strait would require “full coordination” with Iran’s armed forces and relevant state bodies.

“Passage without permission will be considered illegal,” the statement said, referring to boundaries previously defined by Iranian military authorities.

US Central Command said American sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black were continuing operations in the Arabian Sea as part of Washington's maritime blockade against Iran.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said the vessel was supporting efforts to enforce the blockade and monitor regional waters. The command added that, as of May 18, US forces had redirected 84 commercial vessels and "disabled" four others during the operation.

Israeli authorities appeared to mock an activist flotilla intercepted while sailing towards Gaza by blasting Britney Spears's hit song "Oops I Did It Again" through at least one of the vessels, according to footage circulating on X.

The flotilla had been attempting to challenge Israel's naval blockade on Gaza before being stopped earlier on Monday.

The Israeli military on Monday issued a forced displacement warning for residents of Burj Shemali in southern Lebanon, signalling possible military action in the area.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee ordered residents of the municipality, located near the coastal city of Tyre, to leave their homes immediately, saying Israeli forces were preparing to "act forcefully" against Hezbollah.
 

Lebanon on Monday strongly condemned the reported attack on the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant, calling it a dangerous escalation that threatens regional stability and the safety of nuclear facilities.

In a statement posted on X, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry said the targeting of the nuclear plant and other critical infrastructure marked “an extremely dangerous development affecting the security of nuclear facilities and the safety and stability of the region”.

The ministry also described the attack as “a flagrant violation of international law” and reaffirmed its “full and unequivocal rejection of any attack” on the United Arab Emirates.

US President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on major American media outlets on Monday, claiming they would portray Iran as victorious even in the event of a complete military surrender to the United States.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump described a hypothetical scenario in which Iran’s military collapses, its leadership signs “documents of surrender” and Tehran admits defeat to the “great power and force” of the US. Despite that, Trump said outlets including The New York Times, CNN and The Wall Street Journal would still frame the conflict as an Iranian victory.

Iraq said on Monday it was investigating the circumstances surrounding a drone attack that Saudi Arabia claimed was launched from Iraqi territory a day earlier. In a statement, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said the country's air defence systems had not detected any drones operating within Iraqi airspace during the reported incident. Baghdad also urged Saudi authorities to cooperate and share relevant information to help strengthen regional security and stability.

The ministry further reaffirmed Iraq's "firm position rejecting any targeting of sisterly countries".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday defended Iran’s right to enrich uranium for civilian use, as Tehran remains under mounting pressure from the Trump administration over its nuclear programme.

“Iran, like any other member of the Non-Proliferation Agreement, has the full right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes,” Lavrov said during a news conference in Moscow.

The Russian foreign minister also said Moscow would stay out of the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, stressing that Russia did not intend to interfere in the diplomatic process.