US Iran War News Live Updates: US attacks vessel in Gulf of Oman over Iran blockade violation
US President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s demand for compensation over the destruction caused by US and Israeli military operations, arguing instead that Iran should pay for Americans killed or wounded in conflicts involving Iranian forces and Iran-backed groups. Trump has also instructed US negotiators to include compensation claims in future discussions with Tehran, adding another contentious issue to already difficult negotiations.
Iran, meanwhile, has made the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz conditional on Washington meeting a series of demands, including lifting sanctions, ending the blockade of Iranian ports, releasing frozen Iranian assets and providing compensation for wartime damage. The continued disruption around the strategic waterway has heightened concerns over global energy supplies and commercial shipping.
Inside Iran, President Masoud Pezeshkian has sought to project unity at a time of growing economic and military pressure. Following a lengthy meeting with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Pezeshkian said the supreme leader had stressed the need for “unity and cohesion” and warned against attempts to create divisions within the country.
Iran has also undertaken a significant security reshuffle. Veteran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohsen Rezaei has been appointed to the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who has moved into a political advisory role to Khamenei.
Beyond Iran, the wider regional crisis continues to produce fresh violence. Israel has declared the Christian-majority West Bank town of Taybeh a closed military zone, while a Houthi attack on Yemen’s Mokha killed seven people and injured 30. Together, these developments underline how the conflict is continuing to reshape security, diplomacy and civilian life across West Asia.