Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf meets with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in Tehran, Iran, May 17, 2026. Hamed Malekpour/Iranian Parliament Speaker Office/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Iran war news LIVE: Top Iranian negotiator and Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has once again targeted the US. He said ‘enemy’s promise’ cannot be trusted, only objective results matter, IRNA reported. He also said that no agreement will be accepted until the ‘nation’s rights are secured’. US President Donald Trump shared a highly stylised, artificial intelligence-generated image of himself on social media, showing a digitally fabricated portrait depicting him wearing an elaborate military uniform while pointing directly ahead. Adding to the confrontational tone of the post was a cryptic caption that read, ‘YOU’RE GETTING DISCOMBOBULATED.’…Read More
In the background of the dramatic graphic, multiple fighter jets streak across the sky above his head, while several US-flagged warships cut through rough seas.
The post shared on Saturday (local time) comes as geopolitics in West Asia reach a critical juncture, and no long-term peace between Iran and the United States seems to be in sight.
The US-Iran peace deal
US President Donald Trump asked for several amendments to the deal his envoys reached with their Iranian counterparts during a Situation Room meeting on Friday, Axios reported, quoting a senior administration official and a second source briefed on the issue.
According to the two sources quoted in the report, Trump asked his team to make changes to the draft on clauses regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
In its current form, the memorandum of understanding includes a commitment from Iran not to pursue a nuclear weapon, but no specific concessions beyond that.
It states that there will be a 60-day window to negotiate on nuclear commitments from Iran and sanctions relief from the US, with the first issues on the docket being how to dispose of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and limit further enrichment. Trump wants to try to amend that part.
“It’s more specifics about how the U.S. gets the material [Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile] and the timing,” a senior administration official told Axios.
Trump also wants to change the language around the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a second source said.
Sources told Axios it would take Iran three days to respond. “At the turn of the week, we hope to have something,” the senior administration official said.
US’ Hormuz prohibition
The US affirmed that deals with Iran to safely sail through the Strait of Hormuz — even those which don’t involve paying a toll — aren’t allowed, as the conflict between the two nations grinds on.
“Regardless of whether a payment is made, US persons are prohibited from receiving services from the Government of Iran, including services related to a guarantee of safe passage,” the US Treasury said in an updated statement dated May 29.
Shipping through Hormuz — the vital waterway that connects energy infrastructure inside the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world — has slowed to a trickle since the Iran war began on Feb. 28, sending the price of oil soaring. The White House has sent conflicting messages on the prospects for a deal with Iran, a pattern that continued on Friday.
Iran created a new entity called the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to “collect tolls and extort vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” Treasury said in the statement. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated the PGSA “pursuant to our counterterrorism authorities,” and warned that having dealings with it carries sanctions risks.
Pete Hegseth’s warning to Iran
Addressing a defence summit in Singapore on Saturday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth underscored Washington’s operational preparedness, asserting that the US was “more than capable” of restarting the war if required. He further affirmed that “our stockpiles are more than suited for that”.
To provide immediate operational backing for Hegseth’s statements, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reinforced the message through a public post on X.
The command confirmed that American military assets “remain present and vigilant across the region”.
These hardline warnings emerged amid conflicting signals about a potential diplomatic breakthrough.
Mixed signals about peace deal
While the White House has signalled that President Trump is currently assessing a tentative framework, Iranian authorities have firmly countered that the ongoing discussions have not yet produced a final deal.
Even though a fragile ceasefire negotiated in April has generally been maintained, underlying hostilities continue to flare across the region.
Highlighting this volatility, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that domestic air defence networks successfully intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle on Saturday.
The agency characterised the asset as one “belonging to the US-Zionist aggressor enemy”.
The Israel-Lebanon situation
Simultaneously, parallel diplomatic tracks are being aggressively pursued with negotiators expanding their focus to the overlapping conflict in Lebanon.
Tehran has rigidly insisted that ceasefire in Lebanon must be a precondition to any overarching settlement with Washington.
This diplomatic manoeuvring is unfolding alongside active ground developments, as Israeli forces continue their territorial advance into southern Lebanon.
This push persisted even as military delegations representing both Israel and Lebanon convened for direct discussions at the Pentagon on Friday.
In defining the path forward, US President Trump has explicitly outlined several non-negotiable benchmarks for a binding accord.
Trump’s non-negotiables and Iran’s denial
These include ironclad guarantees that Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons, alongside the immediate and full reopening of the economically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran, conversely, has flatly dismissed what it perceives as an American attempt to unilaterally impose dictates.
In a critique of the diplomatic tone, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the Islamic Republic “said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago”.
While openly acknowledging that bilateral communications continue between the adversarial nations, Baqaei explicitly stated that “no final agreement has been reached”.
Compounding this diplomatic gridlock, the Tasnim news agency reported that the highly restrictive US maritime blockade remains fully operational at sea.
The agency documented that vessels attempting to navigate the strategic strait are systematically “receiving warnings from CENTCOM to stop and not cross the blockade line”.
Follow all the updates here:
May 31, 2026 7:48:44 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards attack separatists in northern Iraq, says report
Iran war news LIVE: he ground forces of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have attacked the bases of separatist groups in northern Iraq, Iranian state media said on Sunday.
It was not clear which specific locations had been attacked.
via Reuters
May 31, 2026 7:37:46 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Iran used bulldozers and dump trucks to counter US strikes, says report
Iran war news LIVE:Iran used bulldozers and dump trucks to counter US strikes, CNN reported, citing satellite images. The report added that Iran dug out its buried arsenals using simple machinery and is now poised to fire far more long-range missiles at Israel and other Middle Eastern. If hostilities do resume, Iran is in position to “continue launching missiles so long as they have launchers and crews, even if production has halted,” Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies was quoted as saying. “There’s nothing to prevent the launchers from being armed with the ample stockpile of missiles that the Iranians still have.”
May 31, 2026 6:31:56 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Netanyahu orders deeper Israeli incursion into Lebanon to hit Hezbollah
Iran war news LIVE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.
The fighting in Lebanon has been the broadest spillover of the Iran war, displacing more than 1.2 million Lebanese through Israeli strikes and evacuation orders since March 2, when Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones into Israel to back its ally Iran.The incursion has so far killed more than 3,370 people, according to the Lebanese government. Israel says 24 of its soldiers and four civilians have been killed over the same period. Tens of thousands of Israelis in the country’s north have also been displaced by Hezbollah rockets and drones.
In the latest advance, Israeli troops seized the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle and a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, the military said, a day after one of the heaviest days of Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel since the April ceasefire, prompting school closures and restrictions.
“I instructed the (military) to expand its ground manoeuvre in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
via Reuters
May 31, 2026 5:52:21 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Iran slams Washington’s attempt to divide Iran and force it to surrender as “false dream”
Iran war news LIVE: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf on Sunday accused the United States of attempting to divide the Islamic Republic and create discord in the country through economic pressure and media manipulation to “compensate for its military defeat,” and termed Washington’s efforts to force Tehran to surrender a “false dream”.
Ghalibaf addressed the ongoing “new phase of the war”, warning that the enemy seeks to create such discord, in a veiled reference to the US-Israeli coalition forces.
He stressed that Iranians are determined to resist what he termed the “executioner and murderer enemy bent on destroying Iran and Islam”.
“In the new phase of the war, the enemy is seeking to create discord and destroy the country’s cohesion through economic pressure and media manipulation in order to compensate for its military defeat and force us to surrender; what a false dream!” the Iranian speaker said, as quoted in a statement issued by Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
Ghalibaf further outlined “four arenas of a full-fledged struggle” in this decisive period: military, public, diplomatic, and service to the people.
via ANI
May 31, 2026 5:44:39 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: History-making war, says Ghalibaf
Iran war news LIVE: Top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday said Iran is pushing back the US as he called the ongoing conflict a “history-making” war.
“We are pushing back the enemy in a great and history-making war. As the Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized, the most important factor in victory in this war is cohesion and unity,” Ghalibaf was quoted as saying by Press TV.
“What has brought about the enemy’s retreat, along with the military power and defensive readiness of Iranian fighters, is the people’s steadfastness and unity in the face of the mighty enemy; this secret of victory must be preserved.”
May 31, 2026 5:26:10 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump says US close to ‘very good deal’ with Iran, amid reports of changes to pact
Iran war news LIVE: President Donald Trump has said the US and Iran are close to a “very good deal,” but if Washington does not get what it wants, then it will “end it in a different way.
May 31, 2026 5:08:55 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Israel locates Hezbollah’s weapons in South Lebanon
Iran war news LIVE: The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday located weapons in the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah- further proving Hezbollah’s presence inside civilian areas in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Air Force continues to strike Hezbollah terror headquarters.
In a post on X, the IDF said, “These are photos from the precise IDF operation in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi Saluki area in southern Lebanon. IDF troops located weapons in the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah- further proof of Hezbollah’s presence inside civilian areas in southern Lebanon.”
via ANI
May 31, 2026 5:04:29 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: 13 injured in Israeli strike near hospital, says Lebanon
Iran war news LIVE: An Israeli strike near a hospital in Tyre, south Lebanon wounded 13 staffers, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel pushes forward its offensive deeper into the country.
“The Israeli enemy launched an airstrike in the vicinity of Hiram Hospital in Tyre, injuring 13 hospital staff members and causing significant damage,” the ministry said in a statement, urging “the international community to put an end to the escalating and expanding Israeli attacks”.
via AFP
May 31, 2026 5:00:29 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump says Iran has agreed to no nuclear weapons
Iran war news LIVE: US President Donald Trump said he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, as reports emerged he had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Tehran.
Any tweaks to the proposal could prolong even further an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and open the Strait of Hormuz maritime route after weeks of efforts to secure a deal despite fractious rhetoric and the occasional flare up of armed conflict.
The New York Times and Axios media outlets reported on Saturday that Trump had sent back a new framework to be considered by Iran with “tougher” terms, though it was not immediately clear what that entailed.
Trump has said his priorities for any deal include stopping Iran from any nuclear weapon development and re-opening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
“The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons. They’ve agreed to that, and it was very interesting,” he told his daughter-in-law Lara Trump in an interview broadcast on her Fox News program on Saturday night.
via AFP
May 31, 2026 4:55:37 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: France requests UN Security Council ’emergency meeting’ on Lebanon
Iran war news LIVE: France has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after Israeli forces seized the medieval Beaufort castle in Lebanon, the French foreign minister said Sunday.
“I have requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council because, while we recognise Israel’s right, like that of all countries, to self-defence… nothing can justify the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and its ever-deeper occupation of Lebanese territory,” Jean-Noel Barrot said on the BFMTV channel.
via AFP
May 31, 2026 4:53:13 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: US MQ-1 Predator drone downed over Persian Gulf, says Iran
Iran war news LIVE: Iran has said its defence forces intercepted and shot down a US MQ-1 drone after it encroached the Iranian airspace over the Persian Gulf. The drone entered Iranian airspace in early hours of Sunday, IRGC said in a statement, Press TV reported.
May 31, 2026 4:50:04 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Iran Guards’ ‘bad or worse’ options for Trump
Iran war news LIVE: Trump has the option to choose between good or worse, a high-ranking commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was quoted as saying by Iran’s Press TV.
“Trump, whose defeat in the war has become evident to anyone, now faces two paths forward: the bad path or the worse path,” IRGC Deputy for Political Affairs Second Brigadier General Yadollah Javani was quoted as saying.
“Iran has won this battle, and the United States is going down the spiral of defeat and decline,” Javani was quoted as saying.
May 31, 2026 4:46:20 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Three offshore platforms resume production at Iran’s South Pars gas field, says report
Iran war news LIVE: Iran has restored gas production at three offshore platforms in the South Pars gas field that had been forced to halt output after Israeli attacks disrupted processing capacity at some onshore facilities, the chief executive of the Pars Oil and Gas Company told state media on Sunday.
Touraj Dehqani said the platforms had not been damaged. He said production from the three platforms was being routed to other processing plants in the region while repairs continue at damaged facilities, including the Phase 14 refinery.
via Reuters
May 31, 2026 3:23:52 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Ghalibaf says ‘enemy promise’ can’t be trusted
Iran war news LIVE: Top Iranian negotiator and Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has once again targeted the US. He said ‘enemy’s promise’ cannot be trusted, only objective results matter, IRNA reported. He also said that no agreement will be accepted until the ‘nation’s rights are secured’.
May 31, 2026 3:13:57 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Why is Lebanon’s Beaufort, captured by Israel, so significant
Iran war news LIVE: The Beaufort fortress, perched high atop Lebanon’s rolling green hills and overlooking the Litani River, has been a strategic military asset for many armies over almost 1,000 years.
Built as a Crusader castle around the 12th century on top of previous fortifications, it has been used by the Crusaders, Saladin’s Jerusalem army, Mamlukes, Ottomans, the French mandate, the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Israeli military until 2000, when it was partially restored and opened to visitors. The Crusaders named it Beaufort which is Old French for “beautiful fortress.”
The 1982 capture of the castle from the Palestine Liberation Organization was a major victory for the Israeli military that was led at the time by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, who later became the country’s prime minister. At the time, the Israeli army pushed all the way north and occupied Beirut.
During the previous Israel-Hezbollah war in 2024, UNESCO gave enhanced protection to 34 cultural sites in Lebanon including Beaufort Castle to safeguard it from damage.
The castle is a few kilometers north of the Israel border and overlooks wide parts of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. In Arabic, it is called Al-Shaqif castle, an old Syriac word referring to the formidable rocky area.
The statement said the army is ready “to expand the operation if needed.”
Beaufort is symbolic across the region, including in Israel, where it was one of the most well-known places Israel controlled during the 18 year occupation. One of Israel’s most well-known war films, “Beaufort,” explores the moral questions and reservations and the futility of war, in the last days before the military withdrew.
via AP
May 31, 2026 3:05:25 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump seeks changes in proposed deal with Iran, wants tougher conditions on Strait of Hormuz, nuclear material, says report
Iran war news LIVE: US President Donald Trump has asked for several changes to the proposed deal prepared by his envoys with Iranian counterparts during a meeting on Friday, multiple reports said on Saturday.Trump held a meeting with his national security team in the Situation Room on Friday. Though the meeting lasted for two hours, there was no immediate details of what unfolded during the meeting.
Officials familiar with the development said Trump called for changes to toughen the terms of the deal and the new framework has been sent back to Iran, The New York Times reported.
Though Times stopped short of elaborating on the proposed changes, Axios reported that the amended parts involved tougher conditions on enriched uranium and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform sharing the details of the meeting, saying the two countries are close to a peace deal to end the conflict and that the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz was being lifted. Iran rubbished the US claims saying negotiations were still underway on the ceasefire deal and no final understanding was reached. Read full report here
May 31, 2026 2:50:37 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Iran authorities shutter cafe over alleged ‘satanic’ activities, says report
Iran war news LIVE: Iranian authorities have shut down a cafe in central Tehran over allegations that it promoted “satanic” activities, local media reported on Sunday.
The cafe, located on Tehran’s famed Valiasr street, had hosted events featuring Western-style music that “provided a setting for abnormal behaviours,” the Fars news agency reported.
The Mehr news agency said police accused patrons of engaging in “satanic movements”.
A 14-second muted video carried by Tasnim news agency showed a packed venue where performers played guitars while some customers nodded their heads in apparent rhythm with the music.
Iranian authorities have long carried out raids and arrests targeting gatherings or networks accused of promoting “satanism,” and have in the past labelled some rock and heavy metal concerts as satanist events.
The Islamic republic has a history of targeting activities it considers contrary to Islamic values or influenced by Western cultures.
via AFP
May 31, 2026 2:47:08 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Is US-Iran mediation costing Pakistan its economy? What residents say
Iran war news LIVE: Growing tensions between the United States and Iran are fuelling fears of a fresh inflation crisis in Pakistan, with residents of Islamabad expressing deep concern over soaring fuel prices, rising living costs, and the worsening economic burden on ordinary citizens.
Several residents said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has already begun affecting daily life in Pakistan. Many complained that inflation has reached unbearable levels, making it increasingly difficult for salaried workers and low-income families to meet basic expenses.
One resident said he had been forced to leave his car parked for over a month because he could no longer afford fuel, adding that even maintaining a motorcycle had become difficult.
“Our salaries remain the same, but prices keep increasing. Survival is becoming nearly impossible,” he said.
Citizens linked the recent surge in inflation to disruptions in global energy markets caused by the US-Iran confrontation and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route.
According to residents, petrol prices in Pakistan reportedly surged from around ₹250 per litre to as high as ₹450 before easing slightly to above ₹400 per litre. Diesel prices have also witnessed similar increases, placing additional pressure on transportation and commodity costs.
Residents argued that higher fuel prices inevitably lead to increases in public transport fares, food prices, and other essential goods. Some claimed inflation had risen by as much as 300 per cent, leaving poor and middle-class households struggling to cope.
Several speakers argued that military actions and missile strikes undermine diplomatic efforts and prolong instability in the region. Residents also blamed the continued deadlock on geopolitical rivalries and alleged external interference in the peace process.
Calling for an immediate end to hostilities, Islamabad residents urged all parties to prioritise negotiations, stressing that peace is essential to stabilising fuel prices, controlling inflation, and preventing further hardship for millions of Pakistanis.
via ANI
May 31, 2026 2:19:45 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: IRGC claims 28 ships passed through Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says 28 vessels, including oil tankers, containers and other commercial ships, passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours “with the coordination and security of the IRGC Navy”.
“Intelligent control of the Strait of Hormuz is being carried out continuously and with firmness and authority,” its statement carried by the Fars news agency said.
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May 31, 2026 2:07:20 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: EU weighs temporary freeze on Russia oil price cap over Iran war
The European Union is considering a temporary freeze to its price cap on Russian oil as the war in the Middle East continues into a fourth month, said people familiar with the matter.
The bloc adopted a dynamic mechanism last year to ensure the price cap is automatically set every six months at 15% below the average market rate for Russian Urals crude. The current price threshold is $44.10 per barrel and is due for review later this summer.
Under the cap, European firms are banned from providing services such as insurance and transportation involving oil sold above the threshold.
Oil prices have soared as a result of the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The next price cap review in July would likely see the level rise to at least $65, above the previous $60 threshold set by the Group of Seven, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
The freeze would keep the price cap at the current rate. Other options under consideration include suspending dynamic and automatic increases until the end of the year in light of the exceptional circumstances in the Middle East, or capping any rise to $60, back in line with the G7 level, the people said.
May 31, 2026 1:50:40 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Panic on beach in northern Israel due to Hezbollah strikes
Videos on social media show people on a beach in northern Israel running for shelter as Hezbollah rockets are launched towards the region, local media reported. It was the first barrage fired from Lebanon towards the Israeli city of Nahariya in three weeks.
May 31, 2026 1:29:59 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Sticking points in US-Iran peace deal
There are still major sticking points, all related to the economy.
The first one is Iran’s frozen assets in the US. The second sticking point is about Iran’s requested reconstruction fund. The third is Iran’s request for exemption from the ban on its oil and petrochemical sales.
May 31, 2026 1:07:20 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Israeli defence minister hails capture of Beaufort Castle as ‘strategic’ win
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has said Israeli forces, led by the Golani Brigade, have captured Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon after expanding operations across the Litani River.
“Under the direction of Prime Minister Netanyahu and my guidance, the [Israeli military] expanded the manoeuvre in Lebanon, crossed the Litani River and captured the Beaufort Ridge – one of the most important strategic points for the defence of the Galilee communities and maintaining the security of our forces,” Katz said in a post on Telegram, referring to residents of northern Israel.
The defence minister said the operation was previously under an information blackout. Katz added that fighting is ongoing and promised to continue efforts to weaken Hezbollah and secure Israel’s northern border.
There has been no comment from Lebanese authorities on Israel’s claim.
Beaufort Castle is a Crusader fortress overlooking the Litani River in Nabatieh governorate.
May 31, 2026 12:52:26 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Israeli military says ‘hostile aerial target’ falls in open area
The Israeli military says a “suspicious hostile aerial target” has entered the country’s airspace from the north and has fallen in an open area.
The object triggered sirens in numerous towns along the border, according to the brief statement. The military said there were no casualties.
May 31, 2026 12:33:27 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Israel says planted its flag on medieval Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon
Israel has confirmed the capture of the Beaufort Castle in south Lebanon, saying that it planted flag on medieval castle.
May 31, 2026 12:16:34 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Egypt affirms solidarity with Lebanon, urges Israel’s full withdrawal
Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty has affirmed Cairo’s solidarity with Lebanon in a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Abdelatty stressed the Egyptian position, calling for the necessity of Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, and stating that any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty is a violation of international law.
He also expressed support for the Lebanese army, saying that only the Lebanese state – and no other groups, including Hezbollah – should have arms in the country.
May 31, 2026 12:07:00 PM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Europe’s green jet fuels see upside in Iran war
At a plant near Frankfurt, in Germany, hydrogen and CO2 sourced from a chlorine factory and a biogas facility nearby are piped into a reactor and — after a few more steps — turned into jet fuel.
Interest in such synthetic propellants is growing as the Iran war pushes Europe to reassess its dependencies, raising hopes of a turnaround for the struggling sector, according to industry experts.
The conflict “made the business case for e-SAF much stronger,” Mariano Berkenwald, head of strategy at Ineratec, the firm operating the Frankfurt facility, told AFP.
Before the war squeezed Europe’s jet fuel supplies, electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF), was largely touted for its climate friendly credentials.
Doing away with oil, it can reduce by 90 percent planet warming emissions from aviation — itself responsible for up to four percent of all greenhouse gases released in the European Union — proponents say.
Brussels has made it a key component of a push to green up transport, mandating fuel suppliers to blend at least 1.2 percent of the stuff into the kerosene made available at EU airports by 2030 and 35 percent by 2050.
May 31, 2026 11:59:21 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: IDF warns Lebanese residents south of Zahrani River of imminent attacks
The Israeli military has issued a new warning threatening residents south of the Zahrani River in southern Lebanon.
It said it was acting forcefully against Hezbollah in the region and told all residents located south of the river to leave their homes immediately.
It also said “any movement southward may put your lives at risk”.
May 31, 2026 11:41:33 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Several people killed, wounded in Israeli attacks on south Lebanon town
Israeli air strikes this morning have targeted the southern Lebanese towns of Arnoun, Kfar Tebnit and Kfar Remman, according to an Al Jazeera Arabic report.
Israeli shelling also hit the Kfarjouz area in the Nabatieh district and the town of Dbeibine in the Marjayoun district.
May 31, 2026 11:18:52 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: China’s export market hit as war on Iran hurts traders
China’s export sector showed strong resilience last month with the total value of outbound shipments hitting a monthly record even as the Strait of Hormuz crisis showed little sign of abating.
But while high-tech and AI-related industries are soaring, traditional manufacturers are struggling to survive.
May 31, 2026 11:04:29 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Iran warns its ‘enemies’ against ‘any aggression’
A senior Iranian commander has warned that any new aggression against his country will be met with a response far more forceful than previous attacks.
“The enemy should know that any aggression against the country’s territory will be met with a response even more forceful than before,” Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army commander for coordination, said, according to Press TV.
“Today, the army of the Islamic Republic stands firmly and resolutely against any hostile move by the enemy,” he added.
May 31, 2026 10:49:42 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump sends ‘tougher terms’ to Iran for peace deal, says report
Iran war news LIVE: Earlier, Axios reported that Trump had sought “several amendments” to the preliminary agreement negotiated by his envoys with Iran.
The New York Times has now reported that Trump has “toughened the terms” of the proposed framework and sent the revised version back to Iran for review.
May 31, 2026 10:38:59 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: US says capable of resuming war with Iran
Iran war news LIVE: The United States warned on Saturday that it was “more than capable” of restarting military action against Iran, as US President Donald Trump said any peace agreement must meet his conditions, including a commitment that Tehran will never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
The White House had indicated that Trump was nearing a decision on a possible deal, although Iran rejected reports that a final agreement had been reached to end the conflict.
According to US sources who spoke to AFP, the proposed deal was awaiting Trump’s approval. However, no decision was taken following a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday.
May 31, 2026 10:35:04 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Which castle has been captured in Lebanon by Israel?
The capture of Beaufort Castle near the city of Nabatiyeh came after days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages, where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in the rugged area.
The capture of the castle marks a major gain for Israel since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began in early March, and as the two countries that have been in a state of war since Israel was created in 1948 hold direct talks in Washington.
May 31, 2026 10:25:56 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: IDF says it captured a strategic castle in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army has claimed that it has captured a strategic castle in southern Lebanon in the deepest incursion into the country in 26 years, the AP news agency reported.
May 31, 2026 10:15:26 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Israeli soldier killed in battle in south Lebanon
The Israeli military says a 21-year-old soldier has been killed in battle in southern Lebanon on Saturday. It said four others were also wounded in the same incident.
The Channel 12 broadcaster reported that the soldier was killed in a drone attack.
May 31, 2026 9:46:34 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Israeli military says ground operations in Lebanon ‘expanding to additional areas’
The Israeli military has said in a statement that its ground operations in Lebanon are expanding to additional areas, AFP reported.
May 31, 2026 9:38:16 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump sent ‘tougher terms’ to Iran, another report says
Earlier, Axios reported that Donald Trump asked for “several amendments” to the preliminary agreement his envoys reached with Iran.
Now, the New York Times has also reported that Trump has “toughened the terms” of the potential framework and sent those proposed changes back to Iran for consideration.
The NYT report said it was not immediately clear what changes had been made to the agreement’s text.
May 31, 2026 9:26:36 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Energy crunch fuels carpool growth
Rising fuel prices, driven by the Middle East war, are driving a sharp increase in carpooling, with a ride-sharing platform reporting a surge in new users seeking cheaper ways to travel.
The world’s largest carpooling platform, BlaBlaCar, said soaring energy costs have pushed 600,000 additional drivers onto the app this year — 20 per cent more than initially projected — as commuters look to offset the rising cost of fuel.
In India, it’s single biggest market with more than 20 million users in 2025, the number of passengers has increased by 40 per cent since the start of the US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran on February 28.
May 31, 2026 9:11:16 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: What changes did Trump propose to the peace deal?
President Donald Trump has sought to change several terms of a proposal to end the Middle East war, US media reported Saturday, as a finalised deal remains elusive among the parties.
The New York Times reported that Trump’s changes involved toughening the terms of the deal and sent the new framework back to be considered by Iran, according to officials familiar with the proceedings.
The report said it was not immediately clear what the changes entailed, but news site Axios reported that Trump wanted to reinforce multiple points of the deal he personally felt were important, such as what is done with Iran’s nuclear material.
The new tweaks could prolong negotiations between the parties for days before a decision is reached on whether the deal would end the war, which began after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.
US sources told AFP that the proposal had been awaiting Trump’s sign-off, but he made no decision after a White House Situation Room meeting on Friday.
Trump has said his priorities for any deal included Iran agreeing to never develop nuclear weapons and the reopening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply transits.
May 31, 2026 9:00:09 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Israeli forces blow up houses in south Lebanon
Al Jazeera Arabic reported that Israeli forces have demolished houses in the town of Dibbine in southern Lebanon.
May 31, 2026 8:50:32 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Soaring prices during the Iran war jeopardise travel to tourism-dependent countries in Asia
With summer around the corner, soaring prices and other complications stemming from the war with Iran are straining the tourism-dependent economies of Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand and Vietnam.
The region’s peak tourist summer season is at risk as elevated jet fuel costs, coupled with ceasefire uncertainties, prompt flight cancellations and higher ticket prices.
Tourism in Asia has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, many countries are coping with the war’s repercussions for global energy supplies and prices, which hit Asia first and hardest. Some families are pulling back on travel as the cost of visiting gas stations and grocery stores rises worldwide. Crowds have thinned at some places once synonymous with travel.
May 31, 2026 8:44:58 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: US Congress advances American-Israeli military integration plan
A provision in a bill before the United States Congress could tie the American and Israeli militaries far more closely together, deepening their cooperation on weapons research, production and technology.
According to Al Jazeera, the proposal, titled the “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative,” appears as Section 224 of the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual US defence policy bill.
The measure is still at an early stage. The NDAA is passed by Congress each year to set US military policy and authorise defence programmes and spending levels.
If enacted, the provision could mark a major change in one of the world’s closest military relationships, shifting the two countries from a partnership centred largely on American military aid towards one in which their defence industries are more deeply intertwined.
May 31, 2026 8:42:05 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: IRGC claims downing of US MQ-1 drone in Iranian airspace
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that its air defence units shot down a US MQ-1 drone after it allegedly entered Iranian territorial airspace in the early hours of Sunday, according to Iranian semi-official news agency Tasnim.
According to the Iranian news agency, the statement said the aerial vehicle was immediately detected by the IRGC’s surveillance and air defence systems and was subsequently targeted by advanced air defence missiles. Iranian authorities claimed the drone was successfully destroyed.
The IRGC characterised the aircraft belonging to the US Army and justified the claimed shooting down of the drone as it claimed that the drone entered with the “intention of carrying out hostile operations.”
May 31, 2026 8:24:35 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump requests edits to Iran deal his envoys negotiated, report says
US President Donald Trump asked for several amendments to the deal his envoys reached with their Iranian counterparts during a Situation Room meeting on Friday, Axios reported, quoting a senior administration official and a second source briefed on the issue.
May 31, 2026 8:20:40 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Qatar rejects a set Strait of Hormuz toll, says temporary charges ‘negotiable’
Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani has told the Shangri-La Dialogue that his country would oppose a permanent toll for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
He added that Qatar would find a temporary fee negotiable, if it was to be used to help reopen the waterway, by removing sea mines, for example.
May 31, 2026 8:06:22 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump’s two options for Iran
Donald Trump told Fox News that the US is going to make a “great deal” and if not, “we’ll just go back and finish it off military”. He said he would rather make a deal as it will “save a lot of lives” and “we can open the strait [of Hormuz] immediately upon signing”.
He described Iran’s leadership as “very tough negotiators” and said the US was getting what it wants slowly.
“It takes a long time. I’m in no hurry,” he said. “If you’re gonna be in a hurry, you’re not gonna make a good deal. And slowly but surely, we’re getting, I think, what we want, and if we don’t get what we want, we’re gonna end it a different way.”
May 31, 2026 7:53:05 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Trump says US shouldn’t have been Iran, then justifies war
US President Donald Trump reflected on the US war in Iraq and said American forces shouldn’t have been in Baghdad or in Iran.
Speaking on Fox News about his next moves on Iran, Trump said, “You look at what happened with Iraq. We did so bad. It was such a foolish thing, what we did. We shouldn’t have been there in the first place, by the way.”
“We shouldn’t have been in Iran, but Iran has the capability,” he continued. “If we didn’t hit them with a B2 bombers, nine months ago, they would have a nuclear weapon right now and will be a whole different story, you probably wouldn’t have had Israel, but you probably wouldn’t have had a Middle East, and then where do they go from there?”
Trump also claimed the US has deliberately spared the Iranian military.
“Their military, we sort of left it alone because we think that their military is somewhat moderate. They have other people that aren’t moderate. We’ve taken them. We’ve taken different forms of leadership out. We’ve actually left their military alone,” he said.
Trump added that “people would be surprised to hear that because mistakes have been made in wars where you wipe out everybody and then you have a country that’s, you know, for 40 years can never rebuild”.
May 31, 2026 7:15:08 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Iran tightens grip on crucial Strait of Hormuz transit
Iran has reasserted its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, issuing a stern warning that both mercantile and naval vessels must strictly adhere to shipping protocols in the crucial maritime corridor or face potential repercussions.
According to a statement carried by Iranian media, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters declared, “The management of the Strait of Hormuz is exercised with full authority by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The military command went on to emphasise that “all ships, commercial vessels, and tankers are only required to travel through the designated routes and obtain permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. Any violation of these regulations will seriously jeopardise the security of their traffic.”
Tehran additionally cautioned international naval contingents deployed in the region, asserting that any disruption to shipping administration or vessel traffic would trigger a swift countermeasure.
May 31, 2026 7:06:27 AM IST
Iran war news LIVE: Still no word on Trump’s decision
US President Donald Trump met with his advisers on Friday at the White House in the Situation Room, which is the room where the president tends to make the biggest wartime decisions.
He was there, and then he left. And there’s still really no word on why he did not make a decision on this framework for potentially extending the ceasefire.
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