14 India-bound ships trying to cross Strait of Hormuz stopped by Iran; 1 hit by bullets, 1 crosses: Sources
A convoy of 14 India-bound ships carrying crude oil and gas were stopped by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by firing at two of them while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leading to 13 of the vessels returning to different locations in the Persian Gulf, official sources privy to the development said.
An Indian-flag carrying ship, which was hit by bullets fired by the IRGC while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, was carrying crude oil and a window pane was broken, forcing it to stop the journey and return. The extent of damage to the second vessel was not immediately known but it also had returned.
However, another ship, which was Indian flagged and loaded with crude oil for the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, sailed through the Strait and is now heading towards India, the sources said.
Two Iranian gunboats approached the targeted tanker and fired at it without warning. Gunboats approached the vessel 37 kilometres northeast of Oman, causing other vessels to return without completing the crossing, the sources said.
The incident was reported in waters between the Qeshm and Larak islands, they said.
Out of the 14 India-bound vessels, seven are carrying the Indian flag, four have the Liberia flag, two are of the Marshall Islands and one of Vietnam.
Six of them are loaded with crude oil, three have LPG and four are loaded with fertilisers. Among the ships, five are bulk carriers. All 14 vessels were sailing in a row.
Thirteen of them were stopped by the Iranian Navy and were instructed to wait. Out of the 13 stranded vessels, seven vessels are drifting south of Larak Island, waiting for clearance from the Iranian Navy, the sources said.
After Pakistan mediation, US put forward new proposals, Iran has not yet responded: Tehran's security council
After mediations by Pakistan, the US has put forward new proposals that Iran is considering and has not yes responded to, said Iran's supreme national security council, reported by Iranian state media.
India summons Iran envoy over incident of gunfire reports in Strait of Hormuz
India on Saturday summoned Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali after two Indian vessels had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following an incident of firing by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, authoritative sources said.
A strong protest was lodged with the ambassador over the incident, they said.
There is no official word yet on summoning Fathali to the external affairs ministry. Several commercial vessels tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz after Iran on Friday announced that it has opened the waterway for commercial traffic.
Iran can't blackmail us: US President Donald Trump
"Iran can't blackmail us," said US President Donald Trump adding, "they wanted to close up the strait again," according to a report by Reuters.
Trump added that the US has been talking to Iran and that there were "very good conversations going on."
Russia's state nuclear energy firm says ready to help with removal of enriched uranium from Iran
The head of Russia's state atomic energy company, Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said on Saturday that Rosatom is ready to help with the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, and that the company is closely following the progress of US-Iran talks.
Iran determined to control traffic through Hormuz till war definitively over: Tehran's top national security body
"Iran is determined to control traffic through Hormuz till war definitively ended and peace is achieved in the region," said a spokesperson in Iran's top national security body, reported by Iranian state media.
Iran's national security council also added that the control over the Strait of Hormuz also included the payment of the costs related to security, safety, and environmental protection services, reported Iranian state media.
Iranian official says US 'maximalist' demands stall face-to-face talks
Iran is not yet ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with US officials, a senior Iranian official said Saturday, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues.
In an interview with The Associated Press on the margins of a diplomacy forum in Turkiye, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh also said his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, rejecting claims made by President Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Khatibzadeh said. "This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we're not going to accept things that are non-starters."
Macron says French soldier killed in south Lebanon attack
A French soldier who was part of international Forces stationed in southern Lebanon was killed, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday, adding that evidence suggests Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah was responsible for the attack.
Three other soldiers were wounded and have been evacuated, Macron said in a post on X, urging the Lebanese government to act against the alleged perpetrators.
The soldiers were part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a peacekeeping mission in the country's south.
UNIFIL on Saturday condemned what it described as a "deliberate attack on peacekeepers" after small-arms fire by non-state group actors killed one peacekeeper and injured three others as they were clearing explosive ordnance in southern Lebanon.
"UNIFIL has launched an in investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. Initial assessment indicates the fire came from non-state actors (allegedly Hezbollah)", UNIFIL said in a statement.
Hezbollah issued a statement denying. responsibility for the attack on the UNIFIL soldier in Lebanon
Two Indian vessels reverse course in Hormuz after IRGC gunfire reports
Two Indian vessels have had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following reports of gunfire from Iran's Revolutionary Guard, a vessel-tracker said.
TankerTrackers.com said the vessels include an Indian-flagged super tanker, carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
Earlier, the British military said two gunboats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz after Iran said it had reimposed restrictions on the vital waterway.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said the tanker and crew were reported safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination.
Iran said earlier it was reimposing restrictions on the strait in response to a US blockade on Iranian shipping and ports. Iran has prevented vessels from crossing throughout the seven-week-long war, except for ones it authorises.
No date set for next round of Iran-US talks; framework must come first: Iran
No date has been set for the next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
23 ships turn back under US blockade of Iranian ports: US military
Since the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, 23 ships have complied with US forces orders to turn back toward Iran, the US military said on Saturday.
Egypt, Pakistan working on framework for lasting US-Iran peace, says foreign minister
Egypt is working closely with Pakistan on a framework aimed at securing a lasting peace between the US and Iran, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Saturday.
He said Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were coordinating a broader regional effort focused on preventing renewed escalation and laying the groundwork for a post-war security arrangement, stressing the importance of protecting Gulf states and stabilising energy markets, supply chains and food security.
Merchant vessels receive radio message from Iran's navy, Hormuz shut again
Some merchant vessels have received a radio message from Iran's navy that the Strait of Hormuz is shut again and no ships are allowed to pass through, shipping sources said on Saturday.
Iran dismisses Trump’s uranium claims, wary of new talks with US
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed claims from US President Donald Trump over the uranium and sounded a note of caution with regard to future talks between the two countries.
Speaking to the Associated Press in the Turkish city of Antalya, Khatibzadeh said the Iranians were not ready for a new round of face-to-face talks with the US because the Americans "have not abandoned their maximalist position."
On Friday, Trump said the US will go into Iran and "get all the nuclear dust," referring to the 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by US military strikes last year.
Iran navy ready to inflict ‘new bitter defeats’ on enemies: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei
Iran's "valiant navy" is "ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said.
Iran's supreme leader sent the defiant message on Saturday as Iran swiftly reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz.
In a message celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of Iran's army, he hailed Iran's drone strikes that targeted Israel and the US interests across the region during the war.
Tanker fired upon by IRGC-linked gunboats near Oman, crew safe: Report
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Saturday it had received a report of a tanker being fired upon by what it said "two gunboats linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)" 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.
The captain of the tanker said the two gunboats opened fire without issuing a radio challenge, UKMTO said in its advisory note, adding that the vessel and its crew were reported safe.
Iran reverses course on reopening Strait of Hormuz, reimposes restrictions
Iran swiftly reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reimposing restrictions on the critical waterway on Saturday after the US said the move would not end its blockade.
The country's joint military command said on Saturday that it "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state ... under strict management and control of the armed forces." It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
The announcement came the morning after US President Donald Trump said the American blockade "will remain in full force" until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme.
Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt hold third meeting in Antalya
Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt have discussed ways to enhance cooperation in "key areas of mutual interest" in a third consultative meeting held in Antalya.
The meeting between Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty was held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday, according to a
statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday.
"The Foreign Ministers expressed a shared commitment to advancing this partnership, deepening coordination and expanding collaboration across key areas of mutual interest," it said.
They also exchanged views on evolving regional dynamics, reaffirming the vital role of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity.
Hormuz under strict Iranian control if US fails to ensure navigation freedom: IRGC
Hormuz will remain under strict Iranian control if US does not ensure full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from and to Iran, said IRGC on Saturday.
Iran airspace reopening partially after seven-week hiatus
Iran on Saturday announced a partial reopening of its airspace after a seven-week hiatus because of the war, state media reported.
The Civil Aviation Organisation said air routes over eastern Iran were reopened at 7 am (0330 GMT), according to the state-owned IRAN newspaper. It said flights at the country's airports would gradually resume, but did not give a timeframe.
Iran's airspace had been closed since the US and Israel began striking Iran on Feb 28. The partial reopening has come more than a week into a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
Iran has reopened six airports including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini, Mashhad, Birjand, Gorgan and Zahedan, Iranian media reported.
