War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

President Donald Trump has told Fox News that the United States may “take over” the Strait of Hormuz in the future “if they have to and collect tolls”.

Trump has described this as Washington being the “guardian angel” of the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East, Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, who spoke to the president, reports.

According to Trump, this would involve the US “taking 20 per cent of the oil that passes through the strait”, Yingst adds.

Israel’s military chief claims Hezbollah has suffered a severe blow fighting Israeli forces and is now in a “very difficult position”, as he meets with troops in southern Lebanon.

“Hezbollah has suffered a severe and significant blow, and we are committed to remaining prepared to continue operating and prevent its rebuilding,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir says, according to a military statement. “Hezbollah is in a very difficult position.”

Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir says that the ceasefire in Lebanon is fragile and that forces must maintain a high level of readiness for a possible resumption of combat operations, Reuters reports.

Speaking in southern Lebanon, Zamir says forces must be prepared to eliminate threats and transition rapidly to renewed operations if required.

Some south Lebanon residents have cautiously headed back to their hometowns on Sunday after fighting paused between Israel and Hezbollah the previous evening, even as Lebanon’s army warns locals to delay returns.

In the southern city of Nabatieh, AFP correspondents have seen just a few residents trickling back to inspect homes and businesses.

Mohammad Salloum said he had come back briefly to check on his shop but would return to the city of Sidon further north, where he has taken refuge.

“Nabatieh is disaster-stricken,” he tells AFP while inspecting the damage. But “God willing, the city will return to life within two or three months”.

Lebanon’s army on Sunday emphasised “the need for residents to delay their return to southern border villages and towns” and to comply with army instructions “to preserve their safety from the danger of Israeli violations and attacks”.

US President Donald Trump has said that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with Iran is “just a ceasefire extension”, according to Fox News.

Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, who has spoken with the US president for 20 minutes, reports that Trump does not consider the MoU the final deal and that he “holds the cards and maintains a variety of options if the Iranians don’t make these serious commitments at the negotiating table”.

“I have a 60-day option, and I can do whatever I want after that option,” Trump is quoted as saying by Yingst.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says a tanker reported being approached by a skiff carrying five armed individuals about 50 nautical miles southeast of Al-Shihr, Yemen, Reuters reports.

The armed people appeared to be attempting to board the vessel, prompting the tanker to conduct evasive manoeuvres and alter course away from the skiff, UKMTO adds.

The vessel has since resumed its voyage to its next port of call, with both the ship and crew reported safe, while authorities investigate the incident.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has met with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the Regional 4 (R4) meeting in Cairo.

According to the Foreign Office (FO), the pair exchanged views on regional and international developments, particularly in the Middle East.

“They welcomed the recently reached peace agreement and expressed hope that its effective implementation would contribute to lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,” the FO adds in a post on X.

Additionally, both top diplomats discussed and expressed satisfaction with bilateral relations between Islamabad and Cairo and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across various sectors.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to “hit Iran very hard again” if they do not prevent their “proxies” in Lebanon from creating unrest.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” he said in a post on the platform Truth Social.

“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”

Speaking alongside Vance and PM Shehbaz, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has thanked both the US and Iranian delegations for their efforts to make peace in the Middle East, as well as Pakistan’s leadership in initiating the mediation process.

“I think that every one of you has highlighted how important and historic this is, not only on the security of the region but also for the security of the world and for the global economy,” he said.

“I would like to thank all of you for your leadership and determination that put us in this room … this is just the beginning and I wish everyone all the best.”

He added that Qatar would support the mediation process “until the end – until we reach a solution.”

JD Vance has called the US-Iran negotiations taking place in Switzerland a “historic meeting”, saying that never before “outside of Islamabad and here … has the Iranian and American leadership met at such a high level.”

“What’s brought us to this moment is the president’s leadership and the president’s willingness to see a Middle East that is much different 10 years from now than it was 10 years ago,” he said, referring to US President Donald Trump.

He added that Trump had asked them to “turn over a new leaf” and “extend an outstretched hand” to Iran.

If Iran’s leadership was willing to give up its nuclear programme and “being a driver of regional instability”, he said, the US was willing to fundamentally transform its relationship with the country.

“We’ve already made great progress in the last few hours and I expect we will make additional progress in the hours to come,” he added.

Addressing the media in Switzerland, JD Vance has expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling him a “dear friend of the president’s, dear friend of mine”.

“His very careful and skilled negotiations got us to this point,” Vance said of the premier.

He also appreciated CDF Asim Munir, saying he had joked since his reception in Islamabad earlier this year that “I have two very, very important people in my life: an Indian and a Pakistani. The Indian is my wife, and the Pakistani is Field Marshal Munir.”

“I’ve probably talked to Field Marshal Munir more than I’ve talked to anybody else over the last three months,” he added. “He is of course a great military leader but I think he’s shown himself to be a great diplomat.”

US Vice President JD Vance has addressed the media at the venue of the US-Iran talks, thanking Trump for having “empowered us to find a diplomatic resolution to a host of issues that matter to the American people”.

“The question before us now is: how much more can we accomplish together?” he asked. “Can we turn over a new leaf, can we change relations in the Middle East permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way?”

He added that the latter was “not our preference” but could certainly happen.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has addressed a meeting room at the venue of the US-Iran talks in Switzerland, praising US President Donald Trump’s “visionary and very dynamic leadership”.

“I think here we will have wonderful discussions which will lead to, hopefully, very productive results in times to come,” he said, also thanking US Vice President JD Vance and the Qatari prime minister, as well as CDF Munir for his “huge amount of perseverance and patience”.

Iran’s Fars news agency has cited an informed source in the Iranian negotiating team as saying that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has “no role in the Iran-US negotiations”, and the nuclear file is not on the agenda for this round of talks, according to a Reuters journalist.

The source added that no IAEA members are part of the Iranian delegation.

A technical fault in air traffic control, triggered by security measures for peace talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland, has caused disruptions at Zurich airport, aviation authorities say according to Reuters, adding the problem has been resolved.

The glitch occurred following the integration of a restricted zone over Buergenstock, the Swiss mountain resort where negotiations are taking place, into radar display systems, Swiss air traffic control authority Skyguide said.

The zone was only decided at the last minute because the decision to hold the latest round of talks was not finalised until Saturday, according to a statement.

By midday, 12 arrivals and 14 departures had been cancelled, an airport spokesperson told Reuters. At least 60 departures were delayed, she added.

Operations have since returned to normal, Skyguide said, adding: “The systems are running smoothly, and security was ensured at all times.”

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, has expressed the state’s appreciation for Pakistan’s role as a mediator, commending its close cooperation and efforts in supporting the negotiation process, according to the statement issued by the ministry confirming the launch of the talks.

He also expressed Qatar’s appreciation for the “commitment of the US and Iran to diplomatic solutions”, as well as for the support provided by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and “all other brotherly and friendly states, which have contributed to creating the favorable conditions to advance this process forward”.

Dr. Al-Ansari reiterated Qatar’s full support for all efforts aimed at succeeding in the negotiations and reaching a final agreement that enhances “sustainable peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region”, the statement added.

Iranian state television says that delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States are holding a meeting in Switzerland to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s frozen assets, AFP reports.

“A tripartite meeting involving Iran, the United States and Qatar on the subjects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s blocked assets is currently being held at the negotiation venue,” state broadcaster IRIB said in a report.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has discussed regional developments at a ministerial meeting in Cairo, Egypt with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the Foreign Office (FO) says in a post on X.

“The ministers discussed regional developments, implementation of the Islamabad MoU, and priority areas of cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and regional ownership of shared challenges,” the FO said.

It added that the four countries continued to deepen their cooperation for a “more peaceful, stable, and connected region”.

Qatar’s foreign ministry says in a statement that “specialised technical and expert groups have been formed to negotiate the terms of the final agreement, which will cover all aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding” between the US and Iran, Al Jazeera reports.

“Additionally, follow-up groups have been established to oversee the implementation of the Memorandum, monitor progress achieved, and work toward the conclusion of the final agreement,” it said. “This reflects the commitment of all parties to moving forward in the negotiation process in good faith, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement.”

The ministry added that Qatar would continue to work with Pakistan and “all concerned parties to create a positive environment that enables the negotiations to achieve their objectives, based on its firm belief that dialogue and diplomacy represent the optimal path for addressing conflicts and resolving disputes”.