Iran-US war latest: Trump’s pause on plan to escort ships through Strait of Hormuz follows backlash from allies, reports claim

The Israeli military carried out a strike ⁠on Wednesday on the southern suburbs of Beirut in a Hezbollah ⁠stronghold known ​as ⁠Dahiyeh, saying it targeted 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 16 April 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.

Iran said on Wednesday it was reviewing a new US peace proposal that sources claimed could formally end the war, though major disagreements remain over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, quoted by ISNA news agency, said Tehran would soon convey its response to the proposal.

“The American proposal is still being reviewed by Iran and after concluding, it will inform the Pakistani side of its opinion,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said.

Sources familiar with mediation efforts, including a Pakistani official, said negotiators were close to finalising a one-page memorandum that could formally end the conflict.

The proposed framework would reportedly pave the way for talks on reopening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, easing US sanctions on Iran and setting limits on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

However, it remains unclear how the latest proposal differs from a 14-point plan Iran reportedly submitted last week, and Tehran has yet to formally accept the new terms.

After the US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the military operation in Iran was over after achieving its objectives, US president Donald Trump said Iran was ready for a deal.

“They [Iran] want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal up there,” Trump said, adding: “I think we won.”

Trump also repeated his claim that Iran had agreed to never obtain a nuclear weapon “among other things”, though Tehran has not publicly confirmed the assertion.

Iran’s nuclear programme remains one of the central sticking points in negotiations between the two sides.

US president Donald Trump predicted on Wednesday night that the war in Iran would “be over quickly” as his administration seeks a deal to end the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump reiterated Washington’s long-standing position that “we cannot allow them to have a nuclear weapon”. Tehran pushed back against mounting US pressure, saying negotiations must be based on “good faith” rather than coercion. Israel struck Beirut on Wednesday for the first time since last month’s ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, targeting what it said was a commander from the group’s elite Radwan force in the southern suburbs of the city. Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz announced the operation in a joint statement. Regional tensions deepened after reports emerged that Saudi Arabia refused to allow US servicemembers to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Air Base or use Saudi airspace in support of the proposed US military plan. US officials told NBC News that Riyadh communicated its objections directly to Washington amid concerns over wider regional escalation. Kuwait also reportedly blocked US access to military facilities following the surprise announcement of “Project Freedom”, according to Drop Site News.