Day 95 | Trump says Iran talks continue at 'rapid pace' despite suspension claims

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Read more: Day 96 | Trump says Iran talks happening “continuously”, Rubio still hopeful

US forces fired a missile at a ship that was attempting to sail to an Iranian port in violation of an American blockade, disabling the vessel, the US military said Tuesday.

The Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie -- an unladen oil tanker -- "ignored repeated warnings" over a 24-hour period, and an American warplane "ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship's engine room," the US military's Central Command said in a statement.

Widespread destruction is seen at the site of an ‘Israeli’ strike on the southern Lebanese town of Burj al-Shamal.

‘Israel’ continued to strike southern Lebanon on Tuesday as Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked its troops there, despite an apparent Washington-brokered de-escalation deal and a fourth round of US-hosted talks between Lebanon and ‘Israel’.

Iran is preparing large-scale funeral ceremonies for Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, with events set to take place across Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, according to officials.

A senior Tehran municipality official said arrangements are underway to accommodate an estimated 15 to 20 million participants in the capital alone, describing the planned ceremonies as one of the largest public gatherings in recent years.

Officials said the farewell process will span three days, with the main procession in Tehran expected to continue for at least 24 hours.

They added that the burial site will be in Mashhad, at the shrine of Imam Reza, in line with the deceased’s will and guidance from close associates.

Authorities said coordination is ongoing with several provinces as nationwide interest in participation continues to grow.

The ceremonies are expected to take place around late Dhu al-Hijjah or early Muharram (which corresponds to mid to late June for late Dhu al-Hijjah and late June to early July for early Muharram) pending final confirmation of schedules and venues in Tehran, including possible locations such as the Grand Mosque and the Imam Khomeini Shrine area.

"There's an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel," said the US Ambassador to 'Israel' Mike Huckabee after claiming that the latter sent Iron Dome air defense batteries to the United Arab Emirates, along with technical and military personnel to assist in operating the system.

Speaking in remarks delivered at an academic conference hosted by Tel Aviv University, Huckabee praised the UAE’s strategic decisions and described it as a leading example of the Abraham Accords, which established normalized relations between 'Israel' and several Arab states in 2020.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior has banned citizens from travelling to Iran and Iraq, citing heightened regional tensions and what it described as the ongoing instability in the security situation.

In a statement, the ministry urged all Bahraini nationals to comply with the directive immediately, stressing that the decision was taken to protect citizens amid evolving regional developments.

Officials said the measure comes at a sensitive time as efforts continue to maintain a fragile ceasefire across parts of the Middle East. However, no specific timeline was provided for when the restrictions might be lifted, with authorities saying the situation will be assessed continuously.

The ban is expected to affect religious travel, as both Iran and Iraq are major destinations for pilgrimage tourism, attracting thousands of Bahraini visitors each year.

The government said it remains committed to monitoring developments closely to ensure the safety and security of its citizens abroad.

Iraqi Airways has announced the resumption of its flights to Beirut, according to the Iraqi News Agency.

The airline had suspended flights to the Lebanese capital on Monday due to security concerns and regional developments following the recent 'Israeli' escalation in Lebanon.

UK lawmaker Zarah Sultana has urged the government to reverse its travel ban on political commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur.

In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Sultana argued that the ban is “part of a wider and deeply alarming pattern in which pro-Palestine voices are subjected to disproportionate scrutiny, restriction and intimidation”.

Sultana also criticized the UK government's approach in a post on X, contrasting the reported ban with the reception given to Isaac Herzog during a visit to Downing Street. She noted that Herzog’s statements were cited in proceedings before the International Court of Justice genocide case concerning 'Israel'.

Opposition figures in 'Israel' have criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following reports that a planned strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs was halted after a request from the United States.

The opposition described Netanyahu as a “puppet,” intensifying political pressure on the government amid ongoing regional escalation.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he held a phone call with Netanyahu and that 'Israel' subsequently refrained from targeting Beirut. He did not provide additional details on the scope or timing of the reported operation.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander, Esmaeil Qaani, said ongoing 'Israeli' military operations in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip could prompt Iran and its regional allies to create a similar traffic situation in both the Bab al-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

Qaani said the “resistance axis” may expand support across multiple fronts in response to what he described as 'Israeli' actions backed by the United States. He warned that developments in Lebanon and Gaza could lead to increased pressure on strategic maritime corridors.

US President Donald Trump said he believes Washington and Tehran could reach an agreement within the next week to extend the current ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.

Speaking to ABC News, Trump said he has not yet approved a memorandum of understanding related to reopening the strait, adding that negotiators are still working through several outstanding issues.

Hezbollah says it targeted 'Israeli' soldiers in the 'Israeli' city of Ma’alot-Tarshiha and southern Lebanon’s Odaisseh.

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Read more: Day 94 | Iran signals progress in US talks as 'Israel' pushes deeper into Lebanon