US-Israel War on Iran

TEHRAN: Iran is prepared to continue resisting mounting pressure, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, as Tehran and Oman move closer to an agreement on managing navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi said Iran would not forget what it described as the unjust bloodshed of its martyrs and would not forgive those responsible. His remarks come amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington and uncertainty over the future of negotiations. The Iranian foreign minister also warned that talks with the United States would not resume if Washington continued to violate the memorandum of understanding between the two countries. According to Araghchi, Iran and the United States are currently not engaged in direct negotiations. However, messages are being exchanged through intermediaries, keeping a narrow diplomatic channel open despite the broader standoff. The most immediate development concerns the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for international energy shipments. Araghchi said negotiations between Iran and Oman over a new arrangement for maritime traffic were in their final stages. He stressed, however, that reaching an agreement with Oman would not automatically mean the strait would be fully reopened. Instead, the proposed arrangement would establish new maritime routes between Iran and Oman. The two countries have previously agreed to work together on future navigation management, shipping services and related arrangements while emphasizing safe passage and their sovereign rights over their territorial waters. The issue has become a major point of contention in wider diplomatic efforts, with Tehran insisting that US actions under the memorandum must be addressed before normal negotiations can resume. For now, the emerging Iran-Oman arrangement could offer a potential pathway for maritime traffic, but significant political hurdles remain. With Tehran maintaining its tough stance toward Washington, the next stage of diplomacy could determine whether the strategic waterway moves toward greater stability or remains at the center of regional tensions.

TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has described the current moment as the “best time” for reaching an agreement with the United States, while making clear that Tehran’s broader policy toward Washington has not changed. Speaking to media representatives in Tehran on Sunday, Pezeshkian said the United States had been pushed toward negotiations and reconciliation with Iran, describing the development as a success for Tehran’s diplomacy. His comments come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States and growing international efforts to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis. Pezeshkian suggested that the present circumstances could provide an opportunity to move toward an agreement if Washington was prepared to meet its commitments. The Iranian president accused the United States of failing to implement understandings reflected in an Islamabad memorandum and points jointly prepared by Iran and Oman. According to Pezeshkian, Washington’s failure to follow through on those commitments forced Tehran to respond. He said Iran had established a special team to deal with the crisis and that the group was continuing its work. “We are hopeful that Iran will move forward with dignity, determination and pride,” Pezeshkian said, stressing that Tehran would continue to protect what it considers its national interests. Despite signaling openness to negotiations, Pezeshkian adopted a tough tone toward Washington. He described the United States as a “criminal” and “colonial” power and insisted that Iran’s policy toward Washington remained unchanged. The president also warned against what he portrayed as attempts by the United States and Israel to weaken Iran from within. According to Pezeshkian, military pressure and war had failed to force Tehran into submission. He argued that Washington and Israel could now seek to exploit divisions within Iranian society by encouraging internal disputes. Pezeshkian urged Iranians to remain alert to what he described as such efforts, emphasizing that national unity was particularly important at the current stage. He called on the Iranian public to stand together to safeguard the country’s security and defence capabilities. The remarks underline the delicate balance in Tehran’s position: Iran appears willing to explore diplomacy while simultaneously maintaining its longstanding opposition to Washington’s policies. Pezeshkian’s comments could therefore signal a possible opening for renewed diplomatic engagement, but any breakthrough is likely to depend on whether Iran and the United States can overcome deep mistrust and resolve disagreements over previous commitments. For now, Tehran’s message is clear: the door to negotiations may be open, but Iran says it will enter those talks from a position of dignity, national unity and strength.

MARIB: At least 10 people, including eight members of Yemen’s government-aligned security forces and two civilians, were killed in fresh Houthi attacks in the oil-rich Marib province, raising fresh concerns over a possible escalation in the country’s fragile security situation. According to local officials and military sources, Houthi fighters targeted positions held by forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government with missiles and drones. The attacks reportedly struck several military locations in Marib, a strategically important province that has remained a major focal point in Yemen’s long-running conflict. The latest violence comes despite a significant reduction in large-scale fighting across Yemen in recent years. The renewed attacks have therefore sparked concerns that the relative calm could be disrupted and that low-intensity clashes could once again develop into broader military confrontations. Reports also indicated that Houthi attacks in Marib and neighbouring Hadramout on Friday resulted in additional casualties, suggesting that the latest violence may be part of a wider increase in militant activity across government-held areas. Marib holds particular strategic importance because of its oil and gas resources as well as its location. Control of the province has long been a key objective for both the Yemeni government and the Houthis. The latest strikes have added to fears of a new escalation in Yemen, where years of conflict have already caused a severe humanitarian crisis. Any renewed fighting around Marib could carry wider consequences because of the province’s economic resources and military significance. The Houthis, who control large parts of northern and western Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have been involved in a prolonged conflict with government forces and their allies. The fresh deaths underline the continuing fragility of Yemen’s security environment and could test efforts to preserve the relative calm that has emerged after years of intense fighting.