US-Israel-Iran war: Trump pauses Project Freedom; Iran launches new Hormuz transit permit system; Latest updates
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Timeline
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U.S. Navy jet disables Iranian tanker’s rudder in Gulf of Oman after vessel defies blockade warnings -
Macron meets Iranian president, deploys Charles de Gaulle carrier and pushes for unconditional Hormuz reopening -
Trump warns Iran: Agree to deal and blockade lifts, or face heavier bombing -
Bahrain jails 14 for acts of violence and vandalism carried out in coordination with Iranian aggression -
U.S. and Iran close to one-page deal to end war and reopen Hormuz, Axios reports -
Pakistani PM Shehbaz credits Trump’s ‘courageous leadership’ for Project Freedom pause, expresses hope for lasting agreement -
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman accuses X of censorship after verified badges stripped from official accounts -
Iran launches formal permit system for Strait of Hormuz transit, requiring vessels to obtain authorisation before passage -
Trump pauses Project Freedom ship escorts to allow Iran nuclear deal talks to advance, blockade remains in full effect -
US-Israel war on Iran: As it happened
Live Updates
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U.S. Navy jet disables Iranian tanker’s rudder in Gulf of Oman after vessel defies blockade warnings
U.S. Central Command forces disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker, the M/T Hasna, in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday morning after its crew repeatedly ignored warnings that it was violating the U.S. naval blockade.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln fired several rounds from its 20mm cannon to disable the vessel’s rudder, halting its transit toward an Iranian port.
CENTCOM confirmed the blockade on ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports remains in full effect, and said its forces continue to act deliberately and professionally to ensure compliance.
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Macron meets Iranian president, deploys Charles de Gaulle carrier and pushes for unconditional Hormuz reopening
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, expressing deep concern over the escalation and condemning the strikes on Emirati civilian infrastructure and commercial vessels.
He called on all parties to lift the Strait of Hormuz blockade immediately and unconditionally, urging a return to the full freedom of navigation that existed before the conflict.
Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom have established a multinational mission – distinct from the warring parties – to restore confidence among shipowners and insurers, with the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle pre-positioned as part of that effort.
He said he invited the Iranian president to seize the opportunity the mission presents, and indicated he would discuss the matter with President Trump.
Macron also linked the restoration of calm in the strait to progress on nuclear, ballistic, and regional negotiations, noting that Europeans – who hold sway over sanctions relief – would play a central role in that process.
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Trump warns Iran: Agree to deal and blockade lifts, or face heavier bombing
President Donald Trump conditionally declared that Operation Epic Fury would come to an end and the naval blockade would be lifted – opening the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels including Iran – if Tehran agrees to the terms already on the table.
In the same breath, he issued a stark warning that if Iran fails to agree, bombing would resume at a significantly higher level and intensity than before. Trump acknowledged the assumption that Iran would follow through as potentially a big one.
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Bahrain jails 14 for acts of violence and vandalism carried out in coordination with Iranian aggression
Bahrain’s Public Prosecution announced that fourteen defendants across separate cases have been sentenced to imprisonment for committing acts of violence and vandalism that coincided with the Iranian attacks.
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U.S. and Iran close to one-page deal to end war and reopen Hormuz, Axios reports
Washington believes it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, Axios reported Wednesday, citing two U.S. officials.
The two sides are reportedly nearing consensus on a one-page memorandum of understanding that would set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, with Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment in exchange for the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
Washington is awaiting Tehran’s response on several key outstanding points within the next 48 hours. Axios cautioned that nothing has been agreed yet, but noted this was the closest the two sides had come to a deal since the war began.
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Pakistani PM Shehbaz credits Trump’s ‘courageous leadership’ for Project Freedom pause, expresses hope for lasting agreement
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to President Trump for pausing Project Freedom, crediting his courageous leadership and responsiveness to requests from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other nations – specifically acknowledging Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to restraint and peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, expressing strong hope that the current momentum would lead to a lasting agreement securing durable peace and stability for the region and beyond.
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Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman accuses X of censorship after verified badges stripped from official accounts
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accused X of selective censorship after the platform removed verified badges from his account, following the earlier removal of verification from the Foreign Ministry and Foreign Minister’s accounts – despite what he said were active Premium+ subscriptions.
He framed the de-verification as part of a pattern of American digital piracy aimed at suppressing Iran’s account of what he called the U.S.’s illegal war against Iran.
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Iran launches formal permit system for Strait of Hormuz transit, requiring vessels to obtain authorisation before passage
Iran has officially introduced a new maritime governance mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz, according to state outlet Press TV.
Vessels intending to transit the strait will receive an email from the newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority outlining the rules and regulations for passage, and are required to comply with the framework and obtain a transit permit before crossing – a move that effectively formalises Tehran’s earlier declaration that no vessel may pass without Iranian authorisation.
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Trump pauses Project Freedom ship escorts to allow Iran nuclear deal talks to advance, blockade remains in full effect
President Donald Trump announced a temporary pause to Project Freedom – the U.S.-led operation escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz – citing military successes in the campaign against Iran, significant progress toward a comprehensive final agreement with Iranian representatives, and requests from Pakistan and other countries.
Trump specified that the naval blockade on Iran remains fully in place, and that the pause is contingent on whether a complete and final agreement can be reached and signed.
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