Pakistan says US-Iran talks are 'ongoing' as Qatari tanker leaves Strait of Hormuz via Tehran-approved route | LIVE

Pakistan says US-Iran negotiations 'ongoing' on de-escalation, Hormuz

Mediator Pakistan confirmed on Wednesday that negotiations between the United States and Iran were "ongoing" during a flare-up in fighting across the Middle East.

"Negotiations between parties are ongoing, particularly on [the] Strait of Hormuz and to de-escalate," Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad.

Iran says it forced 2 tankers attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz with US support to turn back

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Thursday that two oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. support turned back after one of them caught fire.

“Last night, two tankers, encouraged by U.S. aircraft, attempted to leave the Strait of Hormuz via the unsafe southern route,” the Guards said in a statement.

“After a major fire broke out aboard one of them, both vessels quickly turned back.”

Iran has controlled the Strait of Hormuz since the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28.

Since then, Tehran has required vessels using the vital energy route to follow an Iranian-designated route, obtain authorization and pay transit fees.

The Revolutionary Guards reiterated Thursday that the strait was “our territory” and said it could not be reopened while U.S. officials continued their “excessive rhetoric,” threats and interference with maritime traffic in the region.

Israeli drone strike reported near Mansouri in southern Lebanon

Israeli drones struck communal lands belonging to the municipality of Mansouri in the Sour district early Thursday morning, according to our correspondent. No casualties were reported so far.

Iran says it forced two tankers attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz to turn back

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Thursday that two oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. support turned back after one of them caught fire.

The Guards said the vessels had attempted to leave the strait via what they described as an “unsafe southern route” with the backing of U.S. aircraft. After a major fire broke out aboard one tanker, both vessels quickly turned back, according to the statement.

Iran has controlled the Strait of Hormuz since the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28. Tehran has since required vessels using the vital energy route to follow an Iranian-designated route, obtain authorization and pay transit fees.

The Revolutionary Guards reiterated Thursday that the strait was “our territory” and said it could not be reopened while U.S. officials continued their “excessive rhetoric,” threats and interference with maritime traffic in the region.

Qatari LNG tanker leaves Strait of Hormuz via Iran-approved route

An LNG tanker operated by QatarEnergy left the Strait of Hormuz overnight with Iranian authorization, becoming the first vessel of its kind to use the route since a tanker was struck in early July, according to maritime data and Iranian state media cited by Reuters.

The Al Areesh crossed the strait on July 29 using an Iranian-designated route, Iranian news agency Fars reported. Data from maritime analytics firms Kpler and LSEG showed it was the first QatarEnergy-controlled LNG tanker to leave the strait since the attack.

Saudi defense minister holds emergency meeting with Trump after US-Saudi strikes in Iraq

U.S. President Donald Trump met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Wednesday, Axios reported, citing a U.S. official and another source familiar with the meeting.

The meeting was added to the Saudi minister’s schedule after he met Vice President J.D. Vance and conveyed that Riyadh favored de-escalation with Iran despite Tuesday’s joint U.S.-Saudi strikes on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.

A source told Axios that the Saudi defense minister stressed that the strikes did not signal support for escalation, but rather Riyadh’s readiness to defend itself if necessary. The attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi militias on Saudi infrastructure and energy facilities had crossed a “red line,” the source said.

Prince Khalid, the brother and close confidant of Mohammed bin Salman, was originally scheduled to travel to Washington last week but postponed his trip due to the strikes in Iraq.

Israel continues demolitions in southern Lebanon as tensions rise

The Israeli army continued overnight demolitions and the burning of homes and civilian infrastructure in Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district, Majdal Zoun in Sour and Markaba in Marjayoun, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Five demolitions were reported in Haddatha, while homes were also set ablaze in Majdal Zoun and Markaba around 4 a.m. Several artillery strikes and search operations were also reported in the area.

The previous day, Israeli demolitions targeted six southern Lebanese localities, while seven came under artillery fire as tensions rose again along the Lebanese front amid the resumption of U.S.-Iran hostilities across the region.

Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir, who visited Israeli troops occupying southern Lebanon, said the forces were “prepared for any development and ready to face a wide range of scenarios,” according to a statement.

Jordan says it intercepted five Iranian missiles

Jordan’s military said Thursday that its air defenses intercepted and shot down five missiles launched from Iran toward the kingdom, with no casualties reported.

The announcement came a day after Tehran said it would launch an “inevitable response” to U.S. and Saudi strikes on several Iraqi cities that killed at least 20 members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, including five Iranians, and wounded 32 others, according to the predominantly Shiite, Iran-aligned armed group incorporated into Iraq’s armed forces.

US military says it has completed 'heavy' wave of strikes on Iran

After resuming strikes on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq the previous day, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday it had completed a “heavy” wave of strikes on Iran, accusing Tehran of attacking U.S. forces stationed at bases in the region.

CENTCOM said it had struck dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities. The strikes were aimed at reducing threats posed by Iran and its proxies to U.S. forces, commercial shipping and Gulf countries, according to CENTCOM.

At least 3 killed in US strikes on Qeshm Island

Iranian news agency Fars reported Thursday that three members of the same family were killed and two others wounded in U.S. strikes targeting Qeshm Island in southern Iran.

Fars said a U.S. attack on a residential home in the Chah Tangu neighborhood killed a father, mother and their 2-year-old child. Two other children, aged 7 and 9, were wounded and taken to hospital, according to the report.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East

Fighting between the United States and Iran and their respective allies has resumed after several days of calm.

We will also follow developments in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues to occupy several hundred square kilometers along the border and carry out strikes and demolitions.