Middle East

The United States has confirmed it launched defensive strikes against Iran in the Persian Gulf.

Despite saying that a deal is likely, Rubio insisted that Trump would only accept an agreement on terms that are good for America.

The president has said that the key aim of the U.S. military operation against Iran is to prevent Tehran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons.

The message comes amid a tense standoff between Iran and the United States, as negotiations continue for a possible diplomatic settlement of the war.

The Israeli leader said Israel would continue defending itself against Hezbollah threats following discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump.

An agreement between the two nations has been ‘largely negotiated,’ President Donald Trump said.

The strikes were designed ‘to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,’ CENTCOM said in a statement.

The speech came after Trump announced over the past weekend that the United States and Iran are nearing a deal to end the conflict.

Tehran said it was negotiating with Oman to create a new protocol to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman.

The president said negotiations with Iran are ‘proceeding nicely’ while warning attacks could resume if Tehran rejects the terms of a negotiated settlement.

The president didn’t name names, but some Republican senators have opined that it would be a mistake to leave Iran’s current regime in power.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the terrorist group of continuing a ‘deliberate campaign to destabilize the country.’

Iranian officials have said that progress in talks has been made but that a deal is not ‘imminent.’

The comments from Pezeshkian were highlighted by Trump in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

‘The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,’ Trump said on social media.

The agreement is ’subject to finalization' between the United States, Iran, and several other countries, the U.S. president said.

The United States started blocking commercial ships from entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States is ‘too often’ left alone in its determination to fight threats from Iran.

Volvo Cars’ Chief Commercial Officer Erik Severinson said orders had increased in countries ‘where customers are most sensitive to increase ‌in oil prices.’

The sanctions regime was originally created by the EU in 2023 to address Iranian military support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.