Day 60 | Washington reviews Tehran offer to end war, reopen Hormuz

The United States has imposed new sanctions on 35 Iranian entities and individuals accused of operating within a financial “shadow banking” network, amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The move was announced by the US Treasury Department (United States Department of the Treasury), which said the designated network facilitated the movement of tens of billions of dollars in illicit funds.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the money was used to support what he described as Iran’s “terrorist operations.”

A statement by the organisation, quoted by the official National News Agency, says its members were trapped during a rescue operation in the town of Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon.

The United States Central Command (United States Central Command) said it has redirected 39 commercial vessels as part of what it described as ongoing maritime enforcement operations targeting Iran-linked shipping routes.

In a statement, CENTCOM said its forces “continue to operate across the Middle East” and maintain efforts to enforce what it referred to as a maritime blockade on Iran.

The command said US forces boarded a commercial vessel in the Arabian Sea after it was suspected of attempting to sail toward Iranian ports. The ship was later released following inspection, with authorities confirming it would not dock in any port in Iran.

‘Israel’ Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he had instructed the military to destroy all what he described as “terror infrastructure” in southern Lebanon.

In remarks cited by local media, Katz claimed that the Lebanese government and army had committed to disarming Hezbollah in the south, adding, “These are the results.”

He said the directive targets the so-called “security zone” up to the “yellow line,” a reference often used by ‘Israel’ to describe areas near the border.

Michael O’Leary says some European airlines might fail if jet fuel prices remain elevated through the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, as the aviation sector faces mounting cost pressures from disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.

The CEO told CNBC that budget carrier Ryanair is relatively protected because it hedged 80 percent of its fuel requirements, but warned that rivals with weaker hedging positions could face “real financial difficulties.”

“Jet A-1 was about $80 a barrel in March. It’s now $150,” said O’Leary, adding that if prices remain at that level into July, August and September, “you’ll see European airlines fail.”

The average price of jet fuel rose to $179 per barrel in the week ending April 24, according to the International Air Transport Association’s Jet Fuel Price Monitor.

The International Energy Agency recently said that Europe could face jet fuel shortages within weeks, depending on its ability to replace lost supplies from the Middle East, which previously accounted for a large share of the region’s net jet fuel imports.

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, announced that the military is maintaining "full coordination" with the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) to enforce total control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Under this divided security framework, the IRGC is tasked with securing the western portion of the maritime chokepoint, while the Army manages the eastern side.

Hezbollah announced a significant escalation in its maritime and border operations, utilizing one-way attack drones to strike multiple 'Israeli' targets.

According to the group's statements, a suicide drone successfully targeted an 'Israeli' military bulldozer as it was demolishing residential homes in the border city of Bint Jbeil.

Simultaneously, a separate drone strike was launched against a gathering of 'Israeli' soldiers in the town square of Al-Qantara, with the group claiming a "confirmed hit" on the personnel.

In a statement on TruthSocial, US President Donald Trump announced that Tehran has privately communicated that the country is currently in a "State of Collapse."

According to the US President, Iranian officials are urgently asking the US to allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as they struggle to resolve a severe internal leadership crisis.

Trump, who expressed confidence that Iran would eventually navigate its internal leadership turmoil, highlighted a shift in the ongoing geopolitical standoff.

The Iranian Ministry of Defense has declared that future maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be strictly governed by protocols ensuring the nation's security is not compromised.

Ministry of Defense spokesperson Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik also warned that any aggression on Iranian territory will severely undermine international law and global trust, and will ultimately lead to widespread chaos.

Reinforcing this stance, General Reza further vowed that any new enemy aggression will be directly confronted using newly deployed military equipment and unprecedented combat tactics.

Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states held an Extraordinary summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday to discuss the region’s "security situation," according to official media.

The talks come more than two weeks after a ceasefire began between Iran on one side and ‘Israel’ and the United States on the other, following a five-week war during which Gulf states were hit by Iranian strikes targeting oil and critical infrastructure facilities.

The United Arab Emirates will withdraw from the OPEC and OPEC+ oil cartels on May 1, state media said on Tuesday, calling it a strategic decision by the major producer.

"This decision reflects the UAE's long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile," the official WAM news agency said.

This is expected to greatly affect the oil exporting groups, amid the ongoing Iran war and its effects on energy markets.

Oil prices rose sharply Tuesday amid a lack of progress in re-opening the key Strait of Hormuz.

The benchmark US oil contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) surged 4.94 percent to $101.1 dollars a barrel at 1205 GMT, after earlier edging above 5.0 percent. Brent oil rose 3.79 percent to $112.3.

The rise came after Qatar warned on Tuesday of the possibility of a "frozen conflict" in the Gulf, as talks between the US and Iran for a peace deal appeared to be at a stalemate.

Iran has banned the export of steel products, local media reported on Tuesday citing customs authorities, after airstrikes targeted the country's steel industry in the war with ‘Israel’ and the United States.

Fars news agency reported a directive from the Islamic republic's customs authorities "regarding the prohibition of the export" of steel products, effective from April 26.

A Japanese tanker has successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz after coordinating its passage with Iranian authorities. According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Qatar on Tuesday cautioned against the possibility of a "frozen conflict" in the Gulf, as talks between the US and Iran for a peace deal appeared at an impasse.

"We do not want to see a return to hostilities in the region anytime soon, we do not want to see a frozen conflict that ends up being thawed every time there is a political reason," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference.

Five people were sentenced to life in Bahrain on Tuesday for plotting "terrorist and hostile acts" with Iran, which has bombarded the Gulf state during the Middle East war.

"The Public Prosecution affirms that the crime of communicating with hostile foreign entities against the Kingdom of Bahrain is considered one of the most serious crimes affecting national security," Bahrain's public prosecution said in a statement on X.

• Despite no second formal meeting in Pakistan, sources say US–Iran positions are closer than publicly portrayed.
• Backchannel talks are reportedly working toward a phased deal prioritizing reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the pre-war status quo.
• Iran’s nuclear issue -US, ‘Israel’ as a trigger for the recent war- would be postponed to a later stage.
• Mediators are increasing pressure on both sides amid warnings that the ceasefire could collapse and fighting resume.

While formal, second-round negotiations between the United States and Iran have yet to materialize in Pakistan, intense diplomatic efforts are actively continuing behind the scenes.

According to sources familiar with the ongoing mediation process, the two adversaries are closer to a framework agreement than their public stances suggest.

A Phased Approach to Peace

The current diplomatic strategy centers on a staged de-escalation process designed to immediately address the most pressing global economic concerns.

According to the sources, the initial phase of the potential deal would focus strictly on restoring the pre-war status quo. The primary objective of this first step is the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring international commercial shipping can resume without the imposition of Iranian restrictions or tolls.

Deferring the Nuclear Issue

To achieve this immediate maritime and economic relief, mediators are reportedly compartmentalizing the geopolitical flashpoints.

The highly complex and volatile issue of Iran’s nuclear program would not be resolved in the first phase, but rather addressed in later negotiations. This separation of issues is critical, as the nuclear dispute remains a massive stumbling block.

US President Donald Trump has publicly insisted that any comprehensive deal must require Iran to completely forfeit its stockpile of uranium and entirely abandon its enrichment capabilities. Tehran, however, has steadfastly refused to accept these maximalist demands.

Crucial Days Ahead

With the fragile ceasefire currently holding, international mediators are applying immense pressure on both Washington and Tehran to finalize the phased agreement.

Sources warn that the next few days are exceptionally crucial for the region's trajectory. Hanging heavily over the secret talks is the ever-present risk that if a consensus is not reached quickly, the United States may choose to disengage from the diplomatic track entirely and return to active warfare.

‘Israelis’ received “threatening” text messages on WhatsApp on Monday, in what seems to be the latest episode of cyber warfare between ‘Israel’ and its arch-foe Iran.

The messages were written in English and sent from business accounts that look legitimate, according to the Jerusalem Post.

It involved hackers creating those accounts or taking control of existing ones.

The message reads:

"Netanyahu, leader of the Epstein cult, is trying to maintain his position of authority by committing another act of reckless foolishness. This is a warning to you, the Jewish residents of the occupied territories: Prepare for a barrage of Sayid Majid missiles if you do not put an end to this foolishness. You will soon be spending weeks in your shelters, so stock up now. Hack Handala."

Handala group has been part of several anti-‘Israel’ cyber operations, and many believe it is under the control of Iranian intelligence.

A ship fully loaded with liquefied natural gas (LNG) has passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since Iran virtually closed the route in early March, marine tracking firm Kpler says.

The LNG carrier Mubaraz, operated by the Emirati national oil company Adnoc, left the Gulf some time in April with 132,890 cubic meters of LNG on board, having loaded at Das Island in the United Arab Emirates on March 2, according to Kpler data analyzed by AFP.

The vessel switched off its AIS transponder at the end of March for a month, before transmitting again off the coast of India yesterday.

“It could be the case that the vessel managed to cross the strait during the weekend of 18–19 April, when multiple vessels attempted to cross the strait (including seven LNG tankers), however this is not yet confirmed,” Kpler analyst Charles Costerousse, says in a note.

The Sohar LNG was the only LNG carrier to previously have crossed the strait since March 1, but it was empty or very lightly loaded.

The LNG market, in which Qatar is one of the main players, is among the hardest hit by the traffic restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Around 20 percent of global LNG trade normally transits the strait in peacetime.

More than 70 vessels carrying crude cargo have left the Gulf since March 1, mainly originating from Iran.

The head of ‘Israel’s’ spy agency Mossad David Barnea said Monday that they penetrated “the most guarded secrets” and carried out “groundbreaking” operations in Iran and other countries.

Speaking at a ceremony honoring the Mossad’s missions in 2025, Barnea said the Mossad shifted to a more offensive approach working with the ‘Israeli’ military in recent times. 

“We obtained strategic and tactical intelligence at the core of the enemy’s secrets…We demonstrated new and groundbreaking operational capabilities in target countries,” he said.

Mossad operations helped strike “the heart of Tehran” and thwart “senior operatives,” he added, in statements cited by “The Times of Israel”.

“The operations recognized this year enabled us to break boundaries in Lebanon and Iran,” continued.

“[The Mossad had also] carried out the covert diplomatic campaign, whose importance is critical for forging regional alliances and expanding Israel’s strategic depth.”