U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran wanted to negotiate and make a deal in comments to reporters on Wednesday (6 May). But earlier, he warned Washington would ramp up attacks if no agreement was reached.
Thanks for joining us today. Here's a round-up of key events from Wednesday.
Israel struck and critically wounded the son of Hamas's top negotiator on Wednesday (6 May) in air strikes that also killed at least five people across the Gaza Strip, according to medics and sources from the Palestinian militant and political group.
Azzam Al-Hayya, son of Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas's exiled Gaza chief who had been leading indirect talks with Israel over the Palestinian enclave's future, was wounded in a strike that also killed another person in Gaza City, they said.
Hayya had already lost three sons in previous Israeli attempts on his life, two in Gaza in the 2008 and 2014 rounds of fighting, while the third was killed in an Israeli attempt to kill Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar last year.
“Targeting Azzam Khalil Al-Hayya with shelling represents a peak of moral and ethical degradation,” said Taher Al-Nono, a Hamas official and an aide to Hayya, in a Facebook post.
“Shelling and killing only make the negotiator more steadfast in his positions, in defending his people's rights, and in their free will,” he added.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.
Earlier in the day, two other Israeli air strikes killed four Palestinians, including a colonel in the Hamas-run police force, health officials said.
Medics said an Israeli airstrike killed Naseem al-Kalazani, the Head of the Anti-Narcotics Force in Khan Younis, south of the enclave, when it targeted his vehicle near the al-Mawasi area onthe western side of the city. The attack wounded at least 17 other people, they added.
Tehran has issued a message to commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz saying Iranian ports are are fully prepared to provide general maritime services and suport to vessels, Iran's state news agency, IRNA has reported.
It comes as U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday told reporters that the U.S. had very good talks with Iran in the last 24 hours, adding that it was very possible that Washington and Tehran would make a deal.
Oil supplies are set to tighten further in coming weeks even if the U.S. and Iran agree on a peace deal to end their war.
It will take weeks for oil shipments to resume from the Middle East Gulf and reach refiners worldwide, so oil companies will continue to deplete their storage tanks to meet peak summer demand.
The world has used temporary buffers, commercial stockpiles, oil in transit or held in storage at sea and emergency reserves, to offset the shock from the war in the Middle East.
The full impact of the disruption to oil supplies has yet to wash through markets and the global economy because it will be many months before Middle East production and exports return to pre-war levels, executives from major energy companies, investment banks and market analysts have said.
The rapid depletion of commercial stockpiles and emergency reserves has come at a time when stockpiles typically build as refiners and retailers prepare for peak demand during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
The global energy system will soon enter peak demand in a weakened position to deal with the spike in consumption from summer driving, aviation, farming and freight.
That would stress the global energy system and extend the time it would take for oil producers and refiners to relieve supply shortages and for high fuel prices to return to pre-war levels, according to executives and analysts.
The United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday that its ties and its international and defense partnerships were a "purely sovereign matter," rejecting an earlier statement by Iran saying that Abu Dhabi's cooperation with the U.S. threatened Iran's security and national interests.
The UAE's Foreign Ministry said the Gulf country reserves its full sovereign, legal, diplomatic and military rights to address any "threat, allegation or hostile act".
The intensified spat between the two countries come after the UAE reported being attacked in the past days by Iran after four weeks of relative calm since the ceasefire was announced by the U.S.
Iran denied carrying out operations against the UAE in recent days, yet warned of a "crushing response" if any action was launched from the UAE against Iran.
The Israeli military carried out a strike on Wednesday on the southern suburbs of Beirut in a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh, targeting the commander of the militant group's elite Radwan force, according to an official Israeli statement.
The strike was the first to hit Beirut's suburbs since the April 16 ceasefire, although hostilities in the south of Lebanon have not halted.
"Radwan operatives, led by this commander, were responsible for firing at Israeli communities and harming IDF soldiers," a joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has told reporters that Iran wants to negotiate and make a deal, adding that Washington was doing very well in Iran.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would speak to U.S. President Donald Trump later on Wednesday, adding that both leaders agree all enriched uranium must be removed from Iran.
"There is full coordination between us, there are no surprises. We share common goals, and the most important goal is the removal of the enriched material from Iran, all the enriched material, and the dismantling of Iran's enrichment capabilities," Netanyahu said.
French President Emmanuel Macron told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian of his concerns over attacks on civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates and on ships, during a phone call on Wednesday.
In a statement on X, Macron said he had reaffirmed his call that all parties in the conflict lift the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
The French President invited the Iranian President to consider a Franco-British proposal for a multinational mission to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Major U.S. airlines spent just over $5 billion on jet fuel in March, up 56% and $1.8 billion more than February costs, the U.S. Transportation Department said.
The cost per gallon of fuel in March was $3.13, up 74 cents, and 31% over February. Fuel use rose 20% in March.
Global carriers are contending with surging jet fuel prices since the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, in the air travel industry's worst crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tehran's response to U.S. views on Iran's 14-point peace proposal have not yet been conveyed to Pakistan, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reports, citing a Foreign Ministry Spokesperson.
France and its partners can ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz, the Elysee said Wednesday, adding Paris wants the waterway issue kept separate from ongoing U.S.-Iran talks.
France's Charles de Gaulle carrier group has moved into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden amid preparations to support freedom of navigation operations.
Israel was unaware that U.S. President Donald Trump could be nearing a deal with Iran to end the war and reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Israeli source familiar with the matter.
The source said Israel had instead been preparing for a possible escalation in fighting, underscoring apparent gaps in coordination as diplomatic efforts intensify.
Iran has not yet responded to the latest U.S. proposal aimed at ending the more than two-month-old war, Tasnim news agency reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed source who said the draft included “unacceptable provisions.”
The source also warned that “using the language of threat against Iran is ineffective” and could further escalate tensions with the United States.
Iran is reviewing a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the more than two-month-old conflict and will relay its response to mediator Pakistan, according to Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson cited by ISNA on Wednesday.
France’s aircraft carrier strike group led by the Charles de Gaulle has entered the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the French Armed Forces ministry confirmed Wednesday (6 May), as Paris and London prepare for potential future operations aimed at protecting freedom of navigation near the Strait of Hormuz.
The carrier group crossed the Suez Canal on Wednesday and is now heading south through the Red Sea, France's military said.
President Donald Trump said that it was "too soon" to consider face-to-face talks with Tehran, according to an interview with the New York Post as the U.S. waited for a response to its proposal to end the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that if Iran honors what has been agreed to, the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran could end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen.
"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.
"If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," Trump said in post on Truth Social.
Safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured with U.S. threats coming to an end and new procedures in place, the Revolutionary Guards' Navy said on Wednesday.
The Guards' statement did not specify what the new procedures entailed and thanked owners and captains of ships for respecting Iranian regulations when moving through the waterway.
French government spokeperson Maud Bregeon said one of the CMA CGM vessels was not attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
"France was in no way the target," Bregeon told reporters.
Israel's energy ministry said that Israel will send a jet fuel and natural gas to Germany's refineries after Berlin requested assistance amid Strait of Hormuz crisis.
The U.S. and Iran are said to be closing in on a one-page framework aimed at ending the war, according to Axios.
Reports indicate that Washington is expecting Tehran to respond on several key points within the next 48 hours.
Security sources said a drone attack struck an arms depot at a camp belonging to an Iranian Kurdish opposition group north of Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.
Authorities have not yet confirmed casualties or claimed responsibility for the strike as the situation remains under investigation.
China’s Foreign Ministry said a complete cessation of hostilities is of “utmost urgency” and stressed that continuing negotiations remains “of paramount importance” amid the ongoing regional crisis.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi described China as a “reliable strategic partner” of Iran during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
He added that Beijing hopes all parties will respond quickly to international calls to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran will only accept "a fair and comprehensive agreement" in its negotiations with the U.S. on ending the war in the Middle East, its foreign minister said on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump cited "great progress" in the process.
"We will do our best to protect our legitimate rights and interests in the negotiations," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in Beijing after a meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi, Iranian media reported.
"We only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement."
He did not directly address Trump's offer of a pause in the U.S. operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, offered earlier as an incentive to help reach an agreement between the two sides.
French shipping group CMA CGM said its vessel San Antonio was targeted in an attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, leaving several crew members injured and the ship damaged.
The company said the injured sailors have been evacuated and are receiving medical treatment, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with the crew.
South Korea’s presidential office said it has suspended consideration of participation in a U.S.-led naval escort plan for the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. President Donald Trump paused the initiative known as “Project Freedom.”
National security adviser Wi Sung-lac said Seoul does not currently see a need to continue reviewing the proposal.
The Israeli military issued an urgent evacuation warning on Wednesday for residents of 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, including areas north of the Litani River.
The warning called for the civilians to leave immediately as it accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire agreement.
The army said people near Hezbollah fighters or infrastructure could be at risk.
The U.S. State Department said it will close its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, citing security concerns for diplomatic staff.
All engagement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is now to be handled through the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
Authorities in Iran’s Hormozgan province said air defences intercepted several small and reconnaissance drones over Qeshm Island, with officials stating there was no impact, damage or explosion.
The incident was reported by state-affiliated media, which attributed a loud noise heard on the island to the interceptions.
South Korean shipping firm HMM said it has secured a tow vessel to bring the damaged bulk carrier HMM Namu to Dubai after an explosion and fire while it was stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
The ship, which was later extinguished, suffered no casualties and all 24 crew remain safe, with arrival in Dubai expected within days for inspection.
U.S. President Donald Trump blamed the incident on an Iranian attack and urged South Korea to join efforts linked to securing navigation through the waterway.
Seoul has said it is reviewing the request and awaiting confirmation of the cause.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Beijing for his first visit since the start of the conflict, following multiple phone calls with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Talks are expected to focus on sustaining the ceasefire and the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, both key concerns for Beijing.
Earlier, China has criticised U.S. actions against Iranian ports while also expressing growing concern over Iran’s role in restricting maritime traffic.
Australia will spend A$10 billion ($7.22 billion) to strengthen fuel security and establish a permanent government-owned reserve, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, citing risks from ongoing global supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
The plan includes a 1 billion-litre reserve designed to guarantee at least 50 days of onshore fuel supply, alongside expanded stockholding requirements and billions in additional financing to boost reserves of fuel and fertiliser.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the move marks a major shift in policy, with Australia joining other International Energy Agency members in maintaining a state-owned fuel buffer.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said 10 civilian sailors have been killed and warned crews stranded in the Strait of Hormuz are “starving” and “isolated”.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s military had been reduced to firing “peashooters” and insisted Tehran wants peace, despite continued rhetoric.
Trump also said the strikes targeted imminent threats linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes and its regional allies. Tehran called them a violation of sovereignty and insisted its enrichment programme is peaceful under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the White House that Washington had achieved its objectives in its military campaign with Israel, declaring “Operation Epic Fury is concluded”, while stressing the U.S. is not seeking further escalation.
During Rubio’s remarks, Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations reported a cargo vessel had been struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, with details still unclear.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the waterway had been secured and commercial traffic was resuming under a fragile ceasefire, while General Dan Caine noted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces had fallen below the threshold for renewed combat.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would briefly pause escorted tanker operations in the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress towards a potential deal with Iran, even as the blockade remains in place.
"We have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom ... will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed," Trump wrote on social media.
Earlier, Marco Rubio said efforts had begun to move stranded vessels, while energy markets reacted, with oil prices falling below $100 a barrel.
There was no immediate reaction from Tehran, where it was early on Wednesday morning.
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Trump said the U.S. and Iran were making progress in peace talks, though direct negotiations remain premature. Meanwhile, Israel, reportedly, struck senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures and tensions over Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear programme continue.
Ukraine’s military said it struck a Russian Karakurt-class small missile carrier in the Caspian Sea near Russia’s Dagestan region on Thursday. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, according to Kyiv.
A South Korean appeals court on Thursday reduced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s prison sentence from 23 years to 15 years over his role in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024.
A senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday (6 May), highlighting ongoing tensions despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Trump said the U.S. and Iran were making progress in peace talks, though direct negotiations remain premature. Meanwhile, Israel, reportedly, struck senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures and tensions over Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear programme continue.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran wanted to negotiate and make a deal in comments to reporters on Wednesday (6 May). But earlier, he warned Washington would ramp up attacks if no agreement was reached.
Argentinian authorities are reconstructing the journeys of Dutch citizens who presented with symptoms of deadly hantavirus after visiting Argentina and Chile as part of a luxury cruise trip, the country's Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (6 May)
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
The 61st Venice Biennale has opened under grey skies and political tension, with disputes over Russia and Israel, resignations on the jury, and protests marking the start of one of the art world’s most high-profile events.
Trump said the U.S. and Iran were making progress in peace talks, though direct negotiations remain premature. Meanwhile, Israel, reportedly, struck senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures and tensions over Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear programme continue.
A senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday (6 May), highlighting ongoing tensions despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted a swift end to the war with Iran, as Tehran considers a U.S.-backed peace proposal that sources say could formally end the conflict but leaves several core disputes unresolved.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met China’s top diplomat in Beijing on Wednesday (6 May), underscoring deepening ties between Tehran and Beijing ahead of high-level U.S.-China talks expected to touch on Iran and the Gulf crisis.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second consecutive day on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran.
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