Day 68 | Trump halts Hormuz escorts to push for deal with Iran

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The Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued an official communiqué to the captains of all commercial ships currently in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding regional waters.

In the message, Iranian authorities declared their "full readiness" to provide comprehensive maritime services, including general naval support, technical assistance, and medical or health services to any vessel in need.

US President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that the United States has held "very good talks" regarding Iran over the last 24 hours, stating it is "very possible" a deal to end the conflict could be finalized.

An 'Israeli' airstrike hit the Haret Hreik area in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Wednesday, with Lebanese reports saying the attack involved three missiles.

'Israeli' media, including Channel 12, said it was the first strike in Beirut in around a month since the ceasefire was announced. 

'Israeli' Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed the target was a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force. A joint statement attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz said the strike was aimed at eliminating the commander, accusing him of responsibility for attacks against 'Israeli' settlements and troops.

The statement added that “no immunity exists for any terrorist,” and said 'Israel' would continue operations to target its enemies and "restore security in the north."

הנחיתי יחד עם שר הביטחון ישראל כ"ץ לתקוף כעת בביירות את מפקד כוח רדואן בארגון הטרור חיזבאללה כדי להביא לסיכולו.

מחבלי רדואן אחראים לירי לעבר יישובים ישראלים ופגיעה בחיילי צה"ל.

לאף מחבל אין חסינות - ידה הארוכה של ישראל תשיג כל אויב ומרצח.

הבטחנו להביא ביטחון לתושבי הצפון - כך…

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 6, 2026

A heavy wave of displacement is currently underway in the southern suburbs of Beirut as residents flee the area following renewed 'Israeli' military activity.

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to demand the unconditional lifting of the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and a return to full freedom of navigation.

Macron condemned recent Iranian strikes on Emirati infrastructure and announced that the pre-positioning of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will support a joint French-British mission to restore maritime confidence.

He emphasized that de-escalating the Strait is essential for advancing negotiations on nuclear and ballistic issues, noting that European participation remains pivotal for any potential sanctions relief.

Je viens de m’entretenir avec le Président iranien Massoud Pezeshkian.

J’ai marqué ma vive préoccupation sur l'escalade en cours, et condamné les frappes injustifiées contre les infrastructures civiles émiriennes et plusieurs navires.

Toutes les parties doivent lever le blocus…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 6, 2026

The official spokesperson for the UAE Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General Abdul Nasser Al Hammadi, said the country’s armed forces are fully prepared and on high alert to respond to any potential threats.

Al Hammadi said the UAE’s defence system has demonstrated high efficiency in dealing with recent regional challenges.

He added that the armed forces are now in a stronger position and have a better understanding of the nature of risks compared to the past, without providing further details.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it has not yet responded to the US position regarding Tehran’s 14-point proposal, noting that the exchange of messages remains ongoing via Pakistani mediators as officials review the latest texts.

A Department of Homeland Security report obtained by Reuters suggests that the ongoing conflict with Iran may have motivated the suspect behind the recent attempt on US President Donald Trump's life.

• Previous confirmed incidents involved damage and destruction to Christian sites
• Tensions rise amid repeated violations and attacks

An unverified image circulating on social media platforms, originally shared by Twitter account “Israel Genocide Tracker,” appears to show an 'Israeli' soldier offering a cigarette to a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The image could not be independently verified.

Israel does not, and will never, hold its soldiers accountable. This is why they will continue to disrespect religious statues and post themselves doing so.

Mother Mary statue in South Lebanon; posted today. pic.twitter.com/zCmGeKMFvw

— Israel Genocide Tracker (@trackingisrael) May 6, 2026

Series of incidents involving religious sites

The image comes amid a series of incidents in recent weeks involving Christian symbols and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

On April 19, an 'Israeli' soldier was photographed destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in a village in the south. The army said a military police investigation was launched, claiming the act violated military orders.

The incident sparked widespread condemnation across Lebanon, with officials and local communities describing it as a violation of religious sanctities.

Subsequent reports claimed the soldiers involved in the statue’s destruction were dismissed and sentenced to 30 days in military prison.

According to 'Israeli' Army Radio, military officials had also requested a religious condemnation of the act. However, the Chief Rabbinate declined to issue a public statement, opting instead to coordinate on handling similar incidents.

Additional reports of damage

On April 26, a video of 'Israeli' soldiers damaging solar panels in the Christian village of Debel went viral and later the ‘Israeli’ military said it was investigating the footage as they reportedly do not align with its values.

Lebanese media also reported damage to water infrastructure, homes, roads, and trees in the same area.

US President Donald Trump informed PBS that an agreement to end the current conflict could be reached as early as next week, prior to his scheduled diplomatic trip to China.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held "constructive" talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, where both nations reaffirmed Iran's right to safeguard its national sovereignty and dignity.

Araghchi expressed Tehran’s strong support for China's four-point proposal for Middle East peace—which focuses on peaceful coexistence, sovereignty, international law, and balanced security.

Araghchi also called on Beijing to lead the establishment of a new post-war regional architecture that coordinates development with security.

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a high-priority phone call with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, to express "strong condemnation" of recent Iranian missile and drone strikes against the Emirates.

Describing the attacks as a flagrant violation of sovereignty, Netanyahu reaffirmed that 'Israel' stands firmly with its "closest ally" and fully supports any measures Abu Dhabi takes to safeguard its citizens and regional stability.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that it’s “too soon” for face-to-face peace talks between the United States and Iran.

Asked by The New York Post on whether to expect a new round of negotiations in Islamabad, Trump said: “I don’t think so”.

“I think we’ll do it— it’s too far,” Trump says.

“No, it’s too much.”

A report by Axios said this morning that Washington and Tehran are nearing an agreement to end the war.

The agreement would be in the form of a one-page 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, the report added.

The deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, with the US agreeing to lift its sanctions and release billions in frozen Iranian funds.

Both sides would agree to lift restrictions placed on the Strait of Hormuz.

Chinese companies are openly shipping dual-use goods essential for drone production to factories in Iran and Russia, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Obscure exporters are providing items such as engines, batteries, microchips, fiber-optic cables, and gyroscopes, which support the manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles, including variants of Iran’s Shahed-136 kamikaze drones.

Chinese customs data indicate that hundreds of containers of these components have been dispatched to both nations.

Shipments have reportedly increased during periods of heightened military activity, such as surges in Russian drone operations and Iranian strikes.

This flow persists notwithstanding US sanctions and export controls designed to disrupt such supply chains.

One notable example involves Xiamen Victory Technology, a small Chinese firm that has marketed German-designed L550 drone engines linked to Shahed-136 models.

The company promoted these products on its website during recent regional conflicts and extended offers via email amid US-Iran tensions.

US officials express ongoing frustration with the challenge of interdicting these transfers.

Drones rely heavily on commercially available parts that integrate easily into global supply chains.

Many Chinese suppliers are small entities with minimal exposure to Western financial systems, enabling them to operate with relative impunity, according to the WSJ.

While earlier evasion tactics involved mislabeling shipments, current practices appear more overt.

China has increasingly become a direct source of domestically produced components, moving beyond its previous role as a transit hub for Western-origin technology.

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on various Chinese entities and networks involved in such activities in recent years.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran he will resume strikes if the Islamic Republic doesn’t “agree to give what has been agreed to”.

“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,” Trump said on Truth Social.

|If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister said he discussed ways to end the ongoing war, as well as the country’s nuclear programme, sanctions, and the Strait of Hormuz with his Chinese counterpart.

He also stated that Tehran has demonstrated its strength and capabilities, adding that this could signal a “new era of cooperation” with other countries.

‘Israel's’ army said Wednesday it had begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas of Lebanon, despite a truce with the neighbouring country intended to halt fighting with the Iran-backed group.

"The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites in several areas in Lebanon," a military statement said.

It came shortly after the army reported "several incidents" during which drones exploded near ‘Israeli’ soldiers operating in Lebanon's south.

The strikes also follow a new ‘Israeli’ evacuation warning for a dozen villages in south Lebanon issued earlier on Wednesday.

An ‘Israeli’ strike in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa valley on Wednesday killed four people, Lebanon's health ministry said, with local media reporting the attack took place before the ‘Israeli’ army issued a warning to evacuate the area along with 11 other towns.

"An Israeli enemy raid on the town of Zellaya in West Bekaa resulted in four martyrs, including two women and an elderly man," the ministry said.

Lebanese state media said the attack struck the house of the town's mayor, killing him and three members of his family.