US-Iran War Updates: PM Modi, Trump stress need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open during phone call

In a strong statement on the escalating Iran situation, US Senator Lindsey Graham said that if the second round of diplomatic efforts fail to produce an agreement, “it is time to finish the job.” His remarks come at a tense moment in the negotiations, adding to growing pressure on Washington’s next steps in the region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has held separate telephone calls with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts on Tuesday to discuss the negotiation process, a Turkish official said. The conversation with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar centered “on the steps to be taken in the days ahead,” the official said. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity as required by protocol, did not provide further details.

Prime ‌Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke about the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open during a call. PM Modi said the two leaders “discussed the situation” in the Middle East and “stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of ⁠Hormuz open and secure.” The call between PM Modi and Trump lasted nearly 40 minutes. 

In a phone call with The New York Post, Trump said a second round of talks with Iran “could be happening over next two days.” Trump initially told the newspaper they would likely be held somewhere in Europe but later updated that they could be held again in Pakistan’s capital. An initial round of talks ended without an agreement on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which the White House says is a central sticking point.

The bounty was placed on Ahmad al-Hamidawi, secretary general of the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. In a post on X, in which it published al-Hamidawi's photograph, the State Department's Rewards for Justice program wrote that the group was "responsible for attacks on US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, the kidnapping of US citizens, and the killing of innocent Iraqi civilians." 

France and the United Kingdom are set to host a joint conference aimed at bringing together over 40 countries to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the video conference will take place in Paris on Friday, later this week, which would see peaceful players come together and contribute towards a 'multilateral and defensive mission', aimed at restoring the freedom of navigation in the world's critical energy chokepoint.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed de-escalation efforts in the region with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. During a phone call, both assessed the situation in the region following the US-Iran talks failed in Islamabad.

The war in Iran will lead to an annual decline in oil demand for the first time since the pandemic, when billions of people were trying to live in isolation, according to the International Energy Agency. The agency, formed after the 1974 oil crisis, said Tuesday that oil demand is expected to decrease by an average of 80,000 barrels a day this year, a sharp revision from the increase of 850,000 barrels a day that it had forecast before the war began.

South Korea says it provided $2 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon through international organisations and has also decided to provide $500,000 in aid to Iran through the International Red Cross. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it hopes the aid will help ease the humanitarian crisis in affected regions.

Iran on Tuesday demanded compensation from five Arab countries for enabling "US-Israeli aggression" by allowing their territories to be used for attacks against the country. 

China on Tuesday came down heavily on the recent US military actions, warning that they could worsen tensions and threaten an already fragile ceasefire. Speaking at a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the United States had “increased military operations and took a targeted blockade action,” adding that such steps would only escalate the situation further. He also cautioned that the move “further jeopardises safety of passage through the Strait,” describing it as “dangerous and irresponsible behaviour” at a time when stability in the region remains delicate.

At least two people were killed and one person injured after an Israeli raid targeted a house in the Arab Salim neighbourhood in the Nabatieh area of south Lebanon, according to the official NNA news agency. The attack completely destroyed the house, raising concerns over escalating violence in the region. Earlier, NNA had also reported another deadly incident in Nabatieh, where an Israeli airstrike hit a car, killing two more people. 

The possibility of a second round of talks between the United States and Iran seems to be high, with Pakistan actively pushing diplomatic efforts to move the process forward. According to various media reports, discussions on the next phase of engagement are already in an advanced stage. Read the full story here. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for intensified diplomatic efforts to ensure that the US-Iran conflict does not reignite in West Asia, stressing the need to preserve the “hard-won momentum” of the ceasefire. In a phone call with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Wang said preventing escalation in the region remains the top priority, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has warned that global oil prices could rise to their peak in the coming weeks if disruptions continue in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy trade. Speaking at the Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, DC, he said energy costs are likely to stay high until normal shipping resumes, noting, “We’re going to see energy prices high and maybe even rising until we get meaningful ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” and added that the peak could come within weeks.

Pakistan has proposed holding a second round of talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad in the coming days, according to reports by the Associated Press. The proposal comes after the first round of negotiations ended without a deal, with officials saying efforts are being made to keep dialogue going before the current ceasefire expires. 

Talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad have ended without any agreement, but discussions between the two sides are still ongoing. According to reports, both countries remain engaged diplomatically and could hold a second round of talks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that recent US actions in the Persian Gulf could have serious consequences for global peace and security. Speaking to Russia’s Sergey Lavrov over a phone call, he described the moves as “provocative” and raised concerns about rising tensions, especially around the Strait of Hormuz. The discussion came after a ceasefire announcement and ongoing Iran-US talks. Russia welcomed the ceasefire and said it could also apply to Lebanon, while offering support to reduce tensions and address the impact of what it called American-Israeli aggression against Iran.

The American military naval blockade against Iran has officially commenced following the expiry of the deadline established by US President Donald Trump. This unprecedented move was triggered by the total collapse of negotiations between American and Iranian delegations in Pakistan. Issuing the directive after the talks ended without a resolution, President Trump declared a naval blockade on all vessels entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz. The President further warned that the blockade is operational at the current time, issuing a stern caution to Iranian forces.

The United States has formally activated its blockade on Iranian ports, significantly escalating the already volatile confrontation between Washington and Tehran. He also issued a strong warning to Iran asserting that its naval capabilities have already suffered heavy losses. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that a large portion of Iran's navy has been destroyed. "Iran's Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated - 158 ships," he said, highlighting what he described as a decisive blow to Tehran’s maritime strength. Read the full story here. 

The United States is weighing the option of holding another face-to-face meeting with Iranian officials as the current ceasefire approaches its deadline, according to a CNN report. However, no final decision has been made so far. Officials are said to be exploring possible dates and venues for the meeting. These plans depend largely on how ongoing discussions with Iran and regional mediators develop over the next few days. Sources described the situation as still being in its early stages. Read the full story here.