Trump willing to end war without reopening Strait of Hormuz, reports say

Reports say President Donald Trump has told aides he’s willing to end the war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz
US and Iranian officials have issued contradictory statements about negotiations to end the war
US and Israel both continued to launch strikes on Iran, while Iran continues to attack US bases in the Gulf
Iran also struck a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf
In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will chair a Cobra meeting to discuss the economic impact of the war
Authorities said more than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. In Lebanon, more than 1,200 have been killed, and more than 1 million displaced. 13 US service members have been killed in the war

President Donald Trump has reportedly told aides he would be willing to end the war in Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, the Wall Street Journal reported late Monday.

The Strait, an essential waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes, has been mostly closed for the duration of the war so far.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to contradict these claims in an interview with Al Jazeera, saying that the Strait of Hormuz will be kept open “one way or another” and that US war objectives could be achieved “in weeks, not months”.

He also insisted that communication between Tehran and Washington is ongoing.

But a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry once again reiterated that no negotiations had taken place, while confirming that intermediaries had delivered a set of proposals to Iran.

It comes as Israel and the US launched a new barrage of strikes on Tehran, a day after Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iranian energy sites if the country did not agree to a peace deal “shortly”.

Israel and US launch new wave of strikes on Iran

Israel’s military said on Tuesday it had launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran. The IDF says the strikes targeted the “infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime”.

US President Donald Trump shared a video of a massive explosion without comment on Truth Social. It appears to be of a major strike conducted outside of the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

The video appears to show a huge fireball near Mount Soffeh, an area believed to have military positions. Iran has not yet confirmed the attack.

Isfahan is home to one of three uranium enrichment sites bombed by the US in the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June. A portion of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is believed to be entombed there — something America has suggested it could seize with ground forces.

Meanwhile, Iran continued attacks on civilian targets, as an Iranian drone hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters, sparking a blaze that was later put out, the Dubai Media Office said.

A drone interception caused minor damage to six homes in a residential area in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia. The country’s civil defence said that no injuries were reported. Al Kharj is the site of a U.S. airbase where previous strikes killed at least two migrant workers and an American soldier.

Sirens were also heard in Jerusalem and loud explosions were heard not long after Israel’s military warned of an incoming missile barrage from Iran.

Four people were wounded in Dubai after interception debris caused a fire in an abandoned house in Al Badaa, according to the Dubai Media Office.

In Bahrain, authorities said warning sirens were sounded.

The Gulf countries host US forces and bases from which the US has launched strikes on Iran, but have not joined the offensive strikes.

Eyes on Kharg Island as more US assault troops head to region

Trump said on Monday that “great progress is being made” in talks with Iran to end military operations. But, he warned, if a deal is not reached “shortly” and the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened, the US would broaden its offensive by “completely obliterating” power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island.

The US has sent a contingent of 2,500 marines to the region, with more on their way. Trump also ordered 1,000 paratroopers to the region.

Trump has openly spoken about the possibility of trying to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, and Iran has accused the US of using diplomacy to stall until more troops can be brought in.

The US has already targeted military positions on the island. Iran threatened to launch its own ground invasion of Gulf Arab countries and to mine the Persian Gulf if US troops set foot on its territory.

Peacekeepers killed in Lebanon

The UN Security Council planned to convene an emergency session on Tuesday after officials said three peacekeepers in southern Lebanon had been killed in less than 24 hours.

The UN peacekeeping mission in the region where Israel is battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah did not say who was responsible for the deaths.

Israel said early Tuesday that a further four soldiers had been killed in its offensive in Lebanon. The deaths bring the total number of Israeli troops killed in the war to 10.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military warned the public of an incoming missile barrage from Iran on Tuesday, the day’s first. Sirens sounded in Jerusalem a short while later and loud booms were heard.

Sir Keir Starmer will chair Cobra meeting on the economic impact of the war

In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that he will chair an emergency Cobra meeting to look at “making sure that everything that we need to have in place, everything is monitored and audited properly”.

It comes after Sir Keir told business chiefs in Downing Street on Monday that it must be a “joint effort” to tackle the impact of the war, saying the Government “can’t do it on its own”.

Bosses from energy, shipping and banking firms were invited to Number 10 to discuss Iran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted a vital shipping route for the oil and gas industry.

Spot prices of Brent crude, the international standard for oil, hovered around $107 (£81.03) a barrel in early trading, up more than 45% since the war started on February 28.

Search team boards disabled Thai vessel but does not find missing crew

The operator of a Thai cargo ship struck by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz last month said a search team was able to board the vessel but did not locate its missing three crew members.

Precious Shipping Co., Ltd said in a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Monday that all accessible areas on the Mayuree Naree ship were searched “under challenging conditions, including the presence of fire damage, residual smoke, and flooding in the engine room.”

It said the families of the three crew members were notified accordingly.