Iran conflict USA announces extension of ceasefire in Lebanon +++ Iran sinks animal transporter
On February 28, the USA and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Tehran responded with counter-attacks that not only hit Israel. The war has now spread to the entire region, with no end to the conflict in sight. The developments in the ticker.
15.05.2026, 18:27
16.05.2026, 08:25
SDA
The most important facts at a glance
- Israel and the USA attacked Iran on February 28.
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, and other members of the Iranian leadership were killed in one of the attacks on February 28.
- Following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his son Modshtaba Khamenei was appointed as his successor.
- Ali Larijani was most recently considered the de facto most powerful man in Iran; the Secretary General of the National Security Council was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 17.
- Donald Trump has changed the justification for the weapons campaign several times.
- You can read about what was important before here.
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Saturday, May 16, 8:20 a.m.
"I didn't underestimate anything," says Trump about the Iran war
US President Donald Trump rejects accusations that he underestimated Iran's resilience. At the same time, he is once again toughening his tone towards Tehran - even though the fragile ceasefire is still holding.
Read more here.
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20:31
USA announces extension of ceasefire in Lebanon
According to the US, the current ceasefire between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Israel is to be extended by 45 days. This was announced by a spokesperson for the US State Department. Hezbollah did not comment initially.
![Destroyed buildings in Dahija, a southern suburb of Beirut.]()
Destroyed buildings in Dahija, a southern suburb of Beirut. Bilal Hussein/AP/dpa -
6.28 p.m.
Director Farhadi condemns deaths of civilians in Iran war
Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi has condemned the deaths of civilians in the Iran war and the suppression of anti-government protests in his home country in January. At a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, the "Nader and Simin" director lamented "the deaths of many innocent people, children and civilians" in the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
"And before this war, there were the deaths of numerous demonstrators, people who had taken to the streets to protest, who were equally innocent and were massacred," the director added. "These two events are extremely painful and will never be forgotten."
Farhadi, who won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012 and 2017, is competing for the Palme d'Or in Cannes with his latest work "Histoires parallèles" (Parallel Stories).
![Iranian director Asghar Farhadi received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for the relationship drama "Nader and Simin".]()
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for the relationship drama "Nader and Simin". Bild: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP/dpa -
17:31
Revolutionary Guards allow "more ships" through Strait of Hormuz, according to state television
According to Iranian state television, Iran's Revolutionary Guards are allowing more ships to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been de facto closed by Tehran since the start of the war. "In coordination with the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps" (IRGC), "more ships" can now pass through the strait, said a state television reporter. This is a sign that "many countries have accepted the new legal procedures introduced by Iran and the IRGC naval forces in this region and in the Strait of Hormuz".
On Thursday, state television reported that more than 30 ships had been allowed to pass through the strategically and economically important strait in the past 24 hours. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that "several Chinese ships" had received permission.
![According to Iranian sources, more than 30 ships have been granted permission.]()
According to Iranian sources, more than 30 ships have been granted permission. -/kyodo/dpa (Archivbild)Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hamidresa Hajibabaei announced on April 23 that Tehran had generated initial revenue by imposing a toll for the passage of the Strait of Hormuz. The parliament in Tehran is currently examining proposals to strengthen control over the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas is normally transported.
Alongside Iran's nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz is a key sticking point in the negotiations over a possible end to the war. US President Donald Trump is pushing for the Strait to be opened. Washington wants to increase the pressure on Tehran's economy with a blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 13.
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1.54 pm
Iran: "Messages differ every day"
Iran's foreign minister has sharply criticized the foreign policy of the USA. At a press conference in New Delhi, chief diplomat Abbas Araghchi accused the US government of sending contradictory signals in its communications.
"The messages we receive from the American side differ on a daily basis. [...] Sometimes we even receive several different messages in a single day," said Araghchi.
As an example, the minister cited statements by US President Donald Trump, who was outraged by a negotiation proposal from Iran.
"After that, however, we again received messages from the American side showing that they are interested in continuing the talks and further interaction," said Araghchi at the press conference on the sidelines of the meeting of foreign ministers of the Brics group of states.
Araghchi said that the USA was in a "state of confusion" and had no strategy to end the war. "Every day they name different goals. We really hope that reason and wisdom will return to the White House," said Araghchi.
Iran is prepared for all options, the minister continued. "Either we return to the battlefield and war or we return to the negotiating table, hold talks and pursue the path of diplomacy." His country is prepared for both options, he said. "It makes no difference to us."
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11.50am
Emirates forge ahead with pipeline expansion
The United Arab Emirates want to speed up the expansion of their existing oil pipeline to Fujairah in the east of the country.
According to the Abu Dhabi media office, the pipeline will transport oil from Abu Dhabi to the Gulf of Oman from 2027, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, which has come to a standstill due to the Iran war. The pipeline will double the Emirates' export capacity via Fujairah, it said.
![Marked: The location of Fujairah.]()
Marked: The location of Fujairah. Google EarthThe location on the Gulf of Oman plays a central role for the Emirates. From there, oil supplies can reach the world markets without having to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, which is important for global trade, has not been freely passable since the start of the Iran war, which has severely hampered oil exports.
The state energy company ADNOC has been operating a pipeline connection from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah for years. The new pipeline project is an expansion to strengthen existing export routes and make the export infrastructure more flexible.
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11.10 am
Iran sinks animal transporter - and possibly grabs a "floating armory"
The ship that was hijacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates yesterday - see entry 10.54 a.m. the previous day - is apparently the Hui-Chuan, which flies the flag of Honduras. According to the BBC, the Iranian military was responsible.
Excitingly, the BBC also reports that the Hui-Chan is a "floating armory" that holds material for security companies that protect shipping. However, the British broadcaster was unable to verify this information.
Iran had already attacked and sunk an Indian ship on May 13. The Haji Ali was hit by a missile or drone and sank off the coast of Oman. It was an animal transporter that was on its way to the Emirates.
While the crew was rescued, it is unclear whether there was any livestock on board. However, this can be assumed.
Update 11.17: 4000 sheep and goats are said to have gone down with the ship Haji Ali.
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8.48 a.m.
Oil prices rise again
Oil prices have risen again after the recent calm. Prices have risen significantly over the week as the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for oil trading, remains effectively closed.
North Sea Brent crude has risen to around 107 US dollars per barrel, up around six percent over the course of the week. A barrel (159 liters) of North Sea Brent for delivery in July was recently a good 1.3 percent more expensive at USD 107.14. The market is focusing on the results of the summit between the US and China.
US President Donald Trump made contradictory statements about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz: he told Fox News that the US did not need the waterway, but later stated during an appearance with China's head of state Xi Jinping in Beijing that they wanted to keep the strait open.
According to Trump, China's head of state offered help in the Iran war. "He would welcome a deal being reached. And he offered, he said, "If there's anything I can do to help, I'd be happy to do it," Trump told Fox News. Excerpts of the interview were initially published. When asked if Xi had actually said that, Trump explicitly confirmed it.
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6.13 a.m.
China calls for permanent ceasefire
Following US President Donald Trump's statement about an alleged Chinese offer of help in the Iran war, Beijing has renewed its call for a permanent ceasefire. The shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. A comprehensive and lasting ceasefire is needed to promote the restoration of peace and stability in the Gulf region, the ministry added.
![A banner with portraits of Iran's supreme leader Moshtaba Khamenei and his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli airstrikes. (May 12, 2026)]()
A banner with portraits of Iran's supreme leader Moshtaba Khamenei and his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli airstrikes. (May 12, 2026) Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Vahid SalemiThis war, which should never have happened, must not continue, the ministry declared. Finding a solution soon would benefit the US and Iran as well as other regions and the entire world, it added.
Trump had previously indicated in an interview with Fox News that China's head of state Xi Jinping had offered help in the Iran war. "He would welcome a deal being reached. And he offered, he said, <If I can help in any way, I would be happy to do that>," the Republican said. China's foreign office did not explicitly address this in its statement.
China was recently the largest buyer of Iranian oil despite US sanctions. However, deliveries have come to a standstill since the start of the war due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
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5.57 a.m.
China again calls for opening of the Strait of Hormuz
At a bilateral meeting with the USA, China has once again called for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened and urged a diplomatic approach to ending the war in Iran. "Now that the door for dialog has been opened, it should not be closed again," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. A solution should "take into account the concerns of all parties about Iran's nuclear program". "The shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible," it continued.
US President Donald Trump is demanding a scaling back of Iran's nuclear program as a condition for an end to the war. The State Department did not specify whether China would actively help in negotiations to end the conflict, as Trump explained in an interview with Fox News presenter Sean Hannity. Instead, the ministry presented a four-point peace proposal from head of state Xi Jinping, which contains few concrete details but emphasizes respect for national sovereignty and international law.
![Ships are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz. (archive picture)]()
Ships are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz. (archive picture) Image: Keystone/AP -
Friday, May 15, 2026, 4 a.m.
Report: Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have attacked Iran
In retaliation for Iranian attacks on their own territory, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are said to have attacked targets in Iran during the recent conflict in the Middle East, according to a media report. It was the first time that the two Arab countries had attacked Iran directly, the New York Times reported, citing current and former senior US officials. They gave no details about the timing or targets of the attacks, which were carried out independently of each other.
Neither Saudi Arabia nor the Emirates confirmed the attacks. Iran had repeatedly attacked targets in the two countries during the recent war with the USA and Israel, causing considerable damage. The US military maintains bases in both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
![Women in the center of Tehran on Tuesday.]()
Women in the center of Tehran on Tuesday. Picture: Keystone/AP Photo/Vahid SalemiSaudi Arabia and Iran have long been wrestling for supremacy in the region. The rivalry is also characterized by the sectarian conflict between Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia and Shia Islam in Iran. Relations between the Emirates and Iran are also tense. The Arab country is an important ally of the USA and has also recently normalized its relations with Iran's arch-enemy Israel.
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20.11
Trump: Xi has offered help in the war
According to US President Donald Trump, China's head of state Xi Jinping has offered help in the Iran war. "He would welcome a deal being reached. And he offered, he said: <If I can help in any way, I would be happy to do that>", Trump said in an interview on Fox News, excerpts of which were initially published. When asked whether Xi had actually said this, Trump explicitly confirmed it.
In a previously published interview on NBC News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump had not asked Xi for "anything". "We have not asked for China's help, nor do we need their support," he said.
Trump emphasized that Xi wanted the Strait of Hormuz to be opened. The strait, which is important for global trade, has not been freely passable since the start of the Iran war, which has severely hampered oil exports. China is the most important importer of Iranian oil and is therefore particularly interested in opening the strait.
Trump also said that Xi had agreed not to supply any more military equipment to Iran. There was no confirmation from Beijing regarding Xi's alleged statements. China is considered an important ally of Tehran and, alongside Russia, is one of the most important suppliers to the Iranian military.
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16:01
Around 30 ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz
According to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), around 30 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since last night. This was stated by a commander of the IRGC navy according to the Iranian news agency Fars. He also emphasized that no ship "belonging to an enemy state" would be allowed to pass through the strait.
According to the Iranian agency Tasnim, Chinese ships were among those involved. The agreement was reached after intensive efforts by both countries. According to the report, the close bilateral relations and strategic partnership played a decisive role.
The Tasnim report did not specify the exact number of ships involved, only mentioning "a number of Chinese ships" that crossed the Strait of Hormuz after prior coordination with the Iranian side.
The reports came amid a state visit to China by US President Donald Trump. Following a meeting between Trump and Chinese head of state Xi Jinping, the White House stated that both sides had agreed that the strait must remain open for energy transportation.
![Many ships are said to have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since last night.]()
Many ships are said to have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since last night. Bild: Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA/AP/dpa -
14:06
Are China's ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz?
According to the Iranian news agency "Tasnim", ships with a connection to China have begun to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after consultation with Tehran. Whether this is true and whether these ships will be stopped by the US Navy remains to be seen.
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12.42 p.m.
Hezbollah drone injures three people in Israel
Three civilians have been injured in Israel in a drone attack by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. Two of them were seriously wounded, the military and hospitals announced today. The Israeli military attacked areas in southern Lebanon.
At the beginning of March, shortly after the start of the Israeli attacks on Iran, the Shiite Hezbollah sided with its protecting power Tehran and attacked Israel.
Israel responded with fierce counter-attacks and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, in which, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, 2896 people were killed and 8824 injured.
A ceasefire has been in place since April 17, but has been repeatedly broken. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, twelve people were killed in Israeli attacks on Wednesday, including a woman and two children.
The United Nations accused Hezbollah of drone attacks near its peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon. Both sides must respect the ceasefire and stop all attacks, demanded UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.
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12.10 p.m.
Iran: "The Strait of Hormuz is open"
From Iran's point of view, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is mainly due to the USA. "The obstacle is not us, but the USA with its blockade," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state broadcaster Press TV on the sidelines of the meeting of Brics foreign ministers in New Delhi.
He went on to say: "As far as we are concerned, the Strait of Hormuz is open to all merchant ships," Araghchi continued, adding that passage through the Strait must be coordinated in advance with the Iranian naval forces. Araghchi also expressed the hope that the current situation would be defused by the lifting of the "illegal blockade" by the USA.
Iran's armed forces took control of the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for energy trade, shortly after the war began. Threats, controls and attacks on ships brought traffic in the strait to a virtual standstill. The result was a significant rise in energy and fuel prices worldwide.
Tehran always emphasizes that the Strait of Hormuz is not blocked. In reality, however, shipping companies have to coordinate with Iranian contact points and are then only allowed to pass through a corridor close to the Iranian coast. The Iranian leadership demands high fees for this.
According to international law experts, such fees violate the right to transit passage. For its part, the USA imposed a naval blockade against Iran in mid-April in order to cut off the country from oil revenues, among other things.
According to Iran, the strait is mined. Last week, US President Donald Trump attempted to reopen the strait to shipping traffic with the military operation "Project Freedom". Two days later, Trump halted the operation, citing diplomatic efforts.
There were also military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire that has been in place in the Iran war since the beginning of April. Following attacks and exchanges of fire between US and Iranian forces, the conflict threatened to escalate again.
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10.54 am
Iranians capture ship in the Persian Gulf
According to British reports, a ship has been seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The ship was anchored around 70 kilometers north-east of Fujairah, had been taken over by unauthorized persons and was heading for Iranian territorial waters, the British Navy's Maritime Trade Office (UKMTO) announced today.
The name of the ship was not disclosed by the Maritime Safety Authority. It also did not say who took control of it. Fujairah is the Emirates' most important oil export port on the Gulf of Oman. Because it is not located on the Persian Gulf, it is not affected by the blockade of the nearby Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran has repeatedly attacked Fujairah during the war against the USA and Israel.
A few hours before the attack on the ship, Israel announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had secretly visited the Emirates during the Iran war. The Emirates denied this.
They normalized their relations with Israel in 2020. Iran has criticized this agreement and repeatedly hinted that Israel maintains a military and intelligence presence in the Emirates.
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Thursday, May 14, 10:17 a.m.
Fighting continues in Lebanon
The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues ahead of the expected talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in the US capital Washington.
The Lebanese news agency NNA reported several attacks by Israel in southern Lebanon. At least nine people were injured in an attack on the town of Sibkin near the coastal city of Tyre. Further casualties were reported in an attack on the town of Aitit. The Israeli military said it was investigating the reports.
Late yesterday evening, the Ministry of Health in Beirut reported that six people had been killed in an attack on a village near the city of Nabatija. Among them were three minors and two women. In the morning, Hezbollah again claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli positions in southern Lebanon.
Representatives from Lebanon and Israel are meeting today and tomorrow for another round of direct talks. For the first time in decades, the two countries, which are actually enemies, have been talking directly to each other for several weeks. A ceasefire was also agreed as part of the talks.
However, the shelling between Israel and Hezbollah continues. In Lebanon, people continue to be killed on a daily basis. Israeli troops are still in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is also continuing to attack Israel and Israeli positions in Lebanon.
Lebanon is not an active warring party in the current conflict. In the talks, the government in Beirut primarily wants to achieve a permanent ceasefire. Israel wants to disarm Hezbollah and is striving for a peace process.
Beirut wants to link progress on disarmament to an end to Israeli attacks. Israel accuses Lebanon of failing in this and therefore wants to enforce disarmament militarily.
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4.57 pm
Trump plays down differences with China over war
Shortly before his meeting with Chinese head of state Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump played down the differences of opinion regarding the Iran war. The Chinese leader had done a pretty good job, Trump said in response to a journalist's question about China's role in Iran. "Look at the naval blockade - no problems," Trump said.
![US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists on Tuesday before leaving for Beijing.]()
US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists on Tuesday before leaving for Beijing. Image: IMAGO/ZUMA Press WireThe US is trying to increase pressure on the Iranian leadership with a naval blockade on ships leaving or heading for Iranian ports. This also affects China - the country is by far the most important buyer of Iranian oil. So far, China has largely stayed out of the conflict.
However, China does support Iran economically. This is a sticking point in the relationship between Washington and Beijing. The US Treasury Department has recently imposed several sanctions against Chinese companies which, according to the US, are engaged in illicit trade with Iran. These included refineries that process crude oil from Iran.
Trump praised the Chinese president. Xi is someone he gets on very well with, he said. "It's going to be a very exciting trip. A lot of great things are going to happen," said Trump. Among other things, talks with President Xi and a state banquet are planned in Beijing. When asked whether Xi could be helpful in the Iran war, Trump replied: "I don't think we need any help at all in Iran."
Despite the high costs of the Iran war, rising energy prices and growing inflation, Trump does not feel under pressure to quickly reach an agreement to settle the conflict with Iran. "The only thing that matters is that Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon," Trump said before his departure to Beijing when asked by a journalist whether the economic situation was motivating him to make a deal. "I'm not thinking about the financial situation of the Americans, I'm not thinking about anybody."
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4.15 pm
Iran's missile arsenal is said to be largely intact
According to US media reports, Iran still has the majority of its stocks of mobile launchers and missiles. The "New York Times" reports on findings by US intelligence services according to which Iran still has around 70 percent of its mobile launchers and around 70 percent of the missile arsenal it had before the war. The newspaper cites people familiar with the intelligence findings from earlier this month. According to these sources, Iran has regained access to the majority of its underground missile storage facilities.
![A ballistic missile is displayed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard during a pro-government demonstration in Tehran on April 21, 2026 - behind it a propaganda poster about the battle for the Strait of Hormuz.]()
A ballistic missile is displayed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard during a pro-government demonstration in Tehran on April 21, 2026 - behind it a propaganda poster about the battle for the Strait of Hormuz. Image: IMAGO/UPI PhotoThe "Washington Post" had already reported on a US intelligence analysis last week and cited similar figures. The newspaper quoted a US official as saying that Iran still had around 75 percent of its pre-war stocks of mobile launchers and around 70 percent of its missiles. The official also referred to indications that the Iranian leadership had been able to put almost all of its underground storage facilities back into operation, repair some damaged missiles and complete some new missiles.
The New York Times also reports that some senior officials are particularly alarmed by indications that Iran has restored access to most of the missile sites it maintains along the Strait of Hormuz. There is currently a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war and negotiations to end the war have stalled.
On Tuesday, Trump once again criticized the media coverage of the Iran war on his Truth Social platform, without naming any specific articles. "When the Fake News claims that the Iranian enemy is doing well militarily against us, it is practically TRUMP, in that it is such a false and even absurd claim." You are supporting the enemy, the US president raged. The reports in the New York Times and Washington Post stand in stark contrast to the US government's narrative that Iran has been largely defeated militarily by the war launched by Israel and the US at the end of February. They also come at a time when the direct and indirect costs of the war are a recurring theme in the US.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 0.10 a.m.
Earthquake in Tehran, a metropolis of millions
The earth shook in the Iranian metropolis of Tehran shortly before midnight (local time). According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake had a magnitude of 4.3, while Iran's state broadcaster Irib gave a value of 4.6. It occurred east of the capital in the district of Pardis at a depth of around ten kilometers. There were initially no reports of damage or casualties. According to Irib, the quake was also felt in the suburb of Karaj, around 40 kilometers west of Tehran.
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23.33 hrs
Tehran: USA wants Iran to surrender completely
In view of the uncertainty over the future of the Iran war, Tehran criticizes the negotiating strategy of the United States. The Iranian news agency Isna quoted foreign office spokesman Ismail Baghai as saying that the USA was not seeking genuine negotiations, but Iran's complete capitulation. In an interview with the Indian magazine "India Today Global", the spokesman said that instead of give-and-take diplomacy, the USA was pursuing the subordination of his country with its demands.
The USA is not interested in a peaceful solution, but in a surrender document, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kasem Gharibabadi also wrote on X. Iran's position is clear: it wants an end to the fighting, no resumption of the conflict, compensation, an end to the blockade, the lifting of sanctions and respect for Iran's international rights.
![Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, seen here at the end of April with Russian President Vladimir Putin, refers to the US demands as a surrender document.]()
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, seen here at the end of April with Russian President Vladimir Putin, refers to the US demands as a surrender document. Image: Keystone/Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via APOn Monday, US President Donald Trump publicly questioned the ceasefire that had been in place for almost five weeks. The reason for this was the "stupid proposal" from Tehran to end the war. He referred to a negotiation document that the Iranian side had submitted.
Parliamentary circles in Tehran said that the Iranian government considered a resumption of hostilities to be likely. A well-informed source said that there were no developments with regard to the negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
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20.02
US senator does not trust Pakistan as a mediator
The influential US Senator Lindsey Graham has expressed outrage at a media report that Pakistan, as a mediator in the Iran war, is to allow Tehran to park aircraft at its bases. "I don't trust Pakistan," said the Republican in a Senate committee. He confronted US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chief of Staff Dan Caine with the question of whether the report was accurate. Neither of them wanted to comment on the matter.
"If in fact Iranian planes are stationed at Pakistani bases to protect Iranian military installations, that tells me we should be looking for someone else to act as an intermediary," Graham said. He suspected this was the reason for the weeks of stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
!["I don't trust Pakistan": the Republican senator from the US state of South Carolina, Lindsey Graham.]()
"I don't trust Pakistan": the Republican senator from the US state of South Carolina, Lindsey Graham. Image: Keystone/The Hill/AP/Greg NashUS President Donald Trump, meanwhile, refuses to replace Pakistan as a mediator. "No, they're great," he said shortly before his departure to Beijing for a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The US broadcaster CBS News had previously reported, citing unnamed US government officials, that Iran had sent planes to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Tehran had flown several military aircraft to a military base near Islamabad shortly after Trump's announcement of the ceasefire in April. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry rejected the CBS report in a statement as "misleading and sensational". Some Iranian and US planes had arrived in Pakistan after the ceasefire was announced to provide logistical support for the peace talks between the two countries in Islamabad. Some aircraft and personnel then remained in the country pending further talks.
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18:21
Cost of Iran war rises to 29 billion dollars according to Pentagon
The US Department of Defense now puts the cost of the Iran war at 29 billion dollars (around 22.7 billion Swiss francs). Pentagon Chief Financial Officer Jules Hurst named this sum at a budget hearing in Congress. That is around four billion dollars more than Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at the end of April.
Hurst said at the hearing, which was also attended by Hegseth and Chief of Staff Dan Caine, that the Pentagon had estimated the costs at 25 billion dollars on April 29. However, updated "equipment repair and replacement costs" now put it closer to $29 billion.
!["We have plenty of what we need": US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. (archive image)]()
"We have plenty of what we need": US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. (archive image) Image: Keystone/AP/Rod Lamkey Jr.MPs from the opposition Democrats accused the government of a lack of transparency about the true cost of the war. They also demanded information about the long-term strategy in Iran. Hegseth dismissed warnings as "exaggerated" that the war had dangerously depleted US munitions reserves. "We have plenty of what we need," he told MPs.
Hegseth, who calls himself "Secretary of War", has budgeted a record 1.5 trillion dollars for his department in the coming year. This is around 50 percent more than in the current year. The Pentagon justifies the increase with, among other things, the "Golden Fleet" of modern US warships announced by President Donald Trump and the costly plans for a missile defense shield called the "Golden Dome".
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10:22 a.m.
Will the US fly new air strikes late on Friday?
Donald Trump is reportedly about to resume attacks on Iran. The reason for this is his frustration with the progress of negotiations with Tehran, reports the Israeli portal "News 12"."Trump will give them a good beating," a source close to the president is quoted as saying.
"Axios" echoes this sentiment: the ceasefire is only being "artificially kept alive", a source told the US portal. Trump is considering renewed military action against Iran to enforce an agreement, but will probably wait until after his visit to China, according to the source.
![A US Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber at RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire, England, on April 8. In the background, JDAM bombs are ready for use.]()
A US Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber at RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire, England, on April 8. In the background, JDAM bombs are ready for use. KEYSTONEThe 79-year-old is in China until Friday, May 15. If the US were to attack Iran late on that day, it would take until Monday morning for the markets to react.
The military operations could involve new air strikes, but also a resumption of Project Freedom, which aims to guide ships safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
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4.10 am
Trump after "stupid proposal" from Tehran: ceasefire as weak as never before
According to US President Donald Trump, the ceasefire with Iran, which has been in place for almost five weeks, is now hanging by a thread. The reason for this is the "stupid proposal" from Tehran to end the war, he said in Washington. "She's as weak as she's ever been after I read that crap."
Trump said the cease fire was virtually in intensive care, where a doctor would come in and say, "Sir, your loved one has about a one percent chance of survival." Nevertheless, he continued to believe that a diplomatic solution was still possible, he said when asked by a journalist.
![US President Donald Trump during a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday.]()
US President Donald Trump during a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday. Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Julia Demaree NikhinsonAccording to state media, the plan presented by Iran states that the USA must pay reparations for the war damage caused in Iran. The Islamic Republic is also demanding full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to sanctions against the country and the release of confiscated Iranian assets. According to the reports, the dispute over Iran's nuclear program did not play a role in the response.
On Monday evening (local time), Trump wanted to discuss the next steps with his national security team, as the news portal "Axios" reported, citing US officials. In addition to Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA chief John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Dan Caine were also to attend the meeting.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 0:10 a.m.
USA increases pressure on Iran with further sanctions
The US government is further intensifying economic pressure on Iran. It has imposed sanctions on several individuals and companies, including firms based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, according to the US Treasury Department. The US accuses them of supporting the sale and transportation of Iranian oil to China by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The Revolutionary Guards used front companies "to disguise their role in oil sales and transfer the proceeds to the Iranian regime", it said. The USA is therefore continuing to work on depriving the leadership of the Islamic Republic of the funds for its weapons programs, terrorist proxies and nuclear ambitions, emphasized US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The new sanctions come shortly before the planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The USA had already announced new Iran sanctions a few days ago, which also affect several Chinese companies. They were said to have played a role in the procurement of weapons and components for the Iranian drone and missile program.
Chinese support for Iran is a point of tension in the relationship between Washington and Beijing. Chinese refineries, for example, are a leading buyer of oil from Iran. The Iran issue is likely to play an important role during Trump's visit to Xi in Beijing from Wednesday.
