US-Iran War Highlights: Trump says Iran wants to negotiate as US signals progress in talks

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French President Emmanuel Macron said he held talks with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, raising concerns over rising tensions and calling for urgent steps to restore stability in the region. In a post on X, Macron said he expressed “deep concern over the ongoing escalation” and condemned what he described as “unjustified strikes against Emirati civilian infrastructure and several ships.”

“All parties must lift the blockade of the Strait, without delay and without conditions. We must durably return to the regime of full freedom of navigation that prevailed before the conflict,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will speak with US President Donald Trump later today to discuss ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the war.

Netanyahu said the two sides remain closely aligned on key objectives. “There is full coordination between us, there are no surprises. We share common goals, and the most important goal is the removal of the enriched material from Iran, all the enriched material, and the dismantling of Iran’s enrichment capabilities,” he said.

US forces disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to violate an ongoing blockade, the US military said. According to US Central Command, the vessel — identified as M/T Hasna — was spotted transiting international waters and heading towards an Iranian port.

American forces issued multiple warnings to the tanker, informing its crew that it was in breach of the blockade. When the vessel did not comply, US forces took action to stop it. CENTCOM said a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), fired rounds from a 20mm cannon, disabling the ship’s rudder.

The tanker is no longer moving towards Iran, the statement added.

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with both leaders condemning recent Iranian attacks on the Gulf state, according to state media. The leaders “affirmed their countries’ solidarity with the UAE and support for measures it takes to safeguard its security and stability and ensure the safety of its citizens,” state news agency WAM reported.

In a separate statement, Israel’s Arabic X account said Netanyahu expressed “strong condemnation” of the attacks, calling them a “flagrant violation of sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.” 

Israel, which launched joint strikes with the United States against Iran on February 28, also reiterated its “steadfast solidarity with the UAE and its full support for all measures it takes to protect its security and stability,” the statement added.

US President Donald Trump said there is a “very good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, outlining terms that would see Tehran hand over its highly enriched uranium to Washington. “It goes to the United States,” Trump said in an interview with PBS. He expressed confidence in ongoing efforts to secure an agreement but made clear that the outcome remains uncertain. “There is a very good chance of making a deal,” he said. “If we don’t, we’ll go back to our old ways.”

Trump also indicated that he is unlikely to send senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for negotiations, suggesting talks could be handled without a major diplomatic delegation.

“I think we can do it here, and maybe for the final meeting, we’ll have a signing someplace,” he said. At the same time, Trump reiterated his warning of military action if negotiations fail. “If they agree, it’s over, and if they don’t agree, we bomb,” he said.

Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon have killed a number of residents, according to the National News Agency, though the exact death toll remains unclear. The report said two intense strikes hit the al-Dawoudiya farm on the outskirts of al-Saksakieh, causing fatalities among residents in the area.

In a separate incident, the Israeli army targeted a vehicle on the Hadaya road near Al-Siraj High School, between Wadi Jilo and the town of Tyre Dibba. The strike resulted in additional casualties, the agency reported.

Israeli and Lebanese representatives are set to meet in Washington next week for a third round of negotiations, according to Arabic media reports. Lebanese broadcaster LBCI reported that the talks will take place over two consecutive days, likely either Wednesday and Thursday or Thursday and Friday.

The meeting is expected to include Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, diplomat Simon Karam, and a representative from the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes in southern Lebanon, as fighting along the border showed no signs of easing despite ongoing diplomatic efforts elsewhere in the region. The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out strikes targeting Hezbollah positions, while reporting that two of its soldiers were injured after explosive drones were launched at Israeli forces. The military said the drones originated from Hezbollah-controlled areas.

Posts on Telegram channels linked to Hezbollah indicated that the group had also targeted Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon, pointing to continued cross-border hostilities. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s health ministry said at least four people were killed and five others wounded in an Israeli strike on the town of Zilaya in the Western Beqaa district, according to the country’s National News Agency.

The town had earlier been included in an evacuation warning issued by IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee, signalling the likelihood of military action in the area.

France’s Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group is moving into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as part of preparations by France and Britain for a potential mission to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the French military said. In a statement, the French Armed Forces ministry confirmed the carrier group had crossed the Suez Canal and is heading towards the southern Red Sea.

The carrier strike group had earlier been stationed in the eastern Mediterranean following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. According to the ministry, it is capable of remaining at sea for four to five months, allowing for sustained operations if required.

Israel was not aware that US President Donald Trump could be close to a deal with Iran to end the war and reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel had instead been preparing for a possible escalation in fighting, highlighting a gap in expectations between Washington and its regional ally.
 

Iran has not yet responded to the latest United States proposal aimed at ending the more than two-month-long war, according to Tasnim News Agency, which cited an unnamed source.

The source said the draft proposal includes provisions that Tehran considers unacceptable, indicating that significant gaps remain despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. "Using the language of threat against Iran is ineffective, could worsen the situation for the United States," the source said.

Iran is reviewing a United States proposal aimed at ending the more than two-month-long conflict and will convey its response through mediator Pakistan, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, according to ISNA.

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US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could come to an end if Tehran agrees to the terms currently under discussion, linking a potential deal to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," he said.

However, he warned of escalation if Tehran refuses to comply. "If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," Trump added.

Talks between the US and Iran appear to be moving forward, with the White House indicating it may be close to a memorandum of understanding, Axios reported. The discussions come amid continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and follow a fragile ceasefire that has been extended despite earlier setbacks. High-level negotiations in Pakistan had collapsed over key issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme and control of shipping routes. However, US President Donald Trump said talks remain “very positive” and later claimed “great progress” towards a final agreement.

Iran has also signalled cautious optimism. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said “talks are making progress”, while warning Washington against escalation and being “dragged back into quagmire”. Pakistan continues to act as a mediator, facilitating communication between both sides. Despite signs of momentum, major differences remain, leaving the outcome uncertain.

Pakistan has welcomed the US decision to pause its plan to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praising the move as a step towards de-escalation in the region. Sharif said he was “grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement”, after Washington halted the operation to allow space for ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The pause comes as Pakistan continues to position itself as a mediator between the US and Iran, alongside regional players. While Trump had cited Pakistan “and other countries” in his remarks, Sharif said Saudi Arabia had also pushed for the move.

Islamabad expressed hope that the current diplomatic momentum would lead to a lasting agreement between Washington and Tehran. Trump said the pause was intended to test whether a deal with Iran “can be finalised and signed”, suggesting negotiations remain active despite ongoing tensions.

The United States has formally concluded its military campaign against Iran under “Operation Epic Fury,” with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that Washington achieved its objectives despite unresolved concerns over Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

Speaking at a White House briefing, Rubio said the operation had ended and emphasised that the US now prefers a diplomatic path forward. “The Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation What the president would prefer is a deal,” he said, referring to Donald Trump.

Britain’s retail sector has urged the government to step in as costs surge בעקבות the Iran war, warning that price stability for consumers is at risk without support.

The British Retail Consortium said the conflict is driving up energy, production, shipping and distribution expenses, adding to existing pressures from higher employer taxes, rising wages and new packaging levies.

US President Donald Trump said the United States will temporarily pause “Project Freedom,” an initiative aimed at ensuring the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomatic efforts with Iran show progress.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision followed requests from Pakistan and other countries and came amid what he described as “tremendous military success” during the US campaign against Iran.

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, and the tremendous Military Success that we have had… we have mutually agreed” to pause the operation, Trump wrote.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations said a cargo vessel has been struck by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, citing a report from a verified source.

The UKMTO did not provide further details on the nature of the projectile or the extent of damage, but confirmed the incident as part of ongoing security alerts in the region.

The development comes amid heightened tensions in the key shipping corridor, where commercial vessels have faced increasing risks in recent days.