US says examining latest Iran proposal on Hormuz

This live blog follows updates for Day 60 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 59, go here.

• Saudi Arabia at UNSC commends diplomatic initiatives led by Pakistan 
• Iran FM says Islamic Republic is 'stable, solid' in meeting with Putin
• White House says Iran’s proposal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz currently under discussion  
• UN Secretary-General says 'safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative'
• Netanyahu says further action needed over Hezbollah rockets, drones

First tanker loaded with liquefied natural gas leaves Gulf: Kpler

Published: April 28, 2026 | 10:20 GMT | by AFP

A ship fully loaded with liquefied natural gas (LNG) has passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the Middle East war virtually closed the route in early March, marine tracking firm Kpler said Monday.

The LNG carrier Mubaraz, operated by the Emirati national oil company Adnoc, left the Gulf some time in April with 132,890 cubic metres of LNG on board, having loaded at Das Island in the United Arab Emirates on March 2, according to Kpler data analysed by AFP.

The vessel switched off its AIS transponder at the end of March for a month, before transmitting again off the coast of India on Monday.

"It could be the case that the vessel managed to cross the strait during the weekend of 18–19 April, when multiple vessels attempted to cross the strait (including seven LNG tankers), however this is not yet confirmed," Kpler analyst Charles Costerousse, said in a note.

Israel military issues evacuation warning for area of south Lebanon

Published: April 28, 2026 | 09:40 GMT | by AFP

Israel's military on Tuesday warned residents of more than a dozen villages and towns in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate and head northwards, saying it would respond to Hezbollah's "violation of the ceasefire" there.

The military "does not intend to harm you, and out of concern for your safety, you are required to evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the specified area towards the Sidon District", Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X.

"Anyone present near Hezbollah elements, their facilities or their weapons is endangering their life," he added.

US says examining latest Iran proposal on Hormuz

Published: April 28, 2026 | 09:10 GMT | by AFP

The White House said it was examining Iran's latest proposal to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran insisted on Tuesday that Washington was no longer in a position to "dictate" policy to others.

The proposal was "being discussed," spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told a White House briefing.

The plan would reportedly see Tehran ease its chokehold on the strait and Washington lift its retaliatory blockade on Iranian ports while broader negotiations continue, including over the thorny question of Iran's nuclear program.

"The United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations," Iranian defence ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said, according to state TV, adding Washington would eventually "accept that it must abandon its illegal and irrational demands."

Asked about Iran's proposal, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News "it's better than what we thought they were going to submit," but questioned whether it was genuine.

"They're very good negotiators," he said, "and we have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point."

Israel spy chief hails 'groundbreaking' ops in Iran, Lebanon

Published: April 28, 2026 | 09:00 GMT | by AFP

The head of Israel's Mossad has praised the spy agency's "groundbreaking" operations in the war against Iran and Hezbollah, saying it acquired intelligence "from the heart of the enemy's secrets".

"In the campaigns against Iran and Hezbollah, we worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the IDF, on both defence and offence," David Barnea said, referring to the Israeli military.

His remarks were delivered during a commendation ceremony at Mossad headquarters on Monday and published on Tuesday.

"We acquired strategic and tactical intelligence from the heart of the enemy's secrets," Barnea said, adding that Mossad had "proved new, groundbreaking operational capabilities in target countries".

Iran says US no longer in position to 'dictate' policy to other nations

Published: April 28, 2026 | 08:30 GMT | by AFP

Iran said on Tuesday that the United States was no longer able to "dictate" what other countries do, as Washington weighed a new proposal from Tehran on unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.

"The United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations," defence ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said, according to state TV, adding Washington would "accept that it must abandon its illegal and irrational demands".

Iran War has 'disproportionate impact' on Asia Pacific: Australia FM

Published: April 28, 2026 | 05:39 GMT | by AFP

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Tuesday the war in the Middle East has had a "disproportionate impact" on the Asia-Pacific region, as she vowed to work closely with Japan to "navigate global disruption".

Wong spoke during a visit to Tokyo, which comes just days before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is due to travel to Australia and Vietnam.

Takaichi's trip from May 1-5 is part of efforts to boost economic security and ensure the stable supply of energy as well as critical minerals, top government spokesman Minoru Kihara said Tuesday.

In Tokyo, Wong met with counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi and hailed their "closely linked" supply chains which have seen Australia receive fuel imports from Japan.

Iran says Minab school strike death toll 155: Report

Published: April 28, 2026 | 02:49 GMT | by AFP

Iran shared a breakdown of the death toll from a deadly strike on an Iranian school on the first day of the Middle East war, state media reported.

Seventy-three boys and 47 girls were killed in the February 28 strike on an Iranian elementary school in Minab, state broadcaster IRIB and local media reported.

Twenty-six teachers, seven parents, a school bus driver, and a pharmacy technician at the clinic next to the school were also killed, IRIB said in a Telegram post.

This puts the death toll at 155 instead of more than 175 reported earlier.

US military stops Iranian-flagged tanker M/T Stream         

Published: April 27, 2026 | 01:51 GMT | by Web Desk

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that its guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta stopped the M/T Stream “after it attempted to sail to an Iranian port,” Al Jazeera reported. 

In a post on social media that also included a photograph of the two ships, CENTCOM said the action was part of the “US blockade of Iranian ports.”

According to MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics provider, the M/T Stream is a crude oil tanker flying under the Iranian flag, last reported to be in the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia 13 days ago.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry earlier accused the US of “piracy and armed robbery on the high seas” for capturing two other Iran-linked oil tankers, the Majestic X and the Tifani.

UN Secretary-General says the number of nuclear warheads is on the rise

Published: April 28, 2026 | 01:20 GMT | by Web Desk

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the number of nuclear warheads is on the rise, adding that a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought

“It’s time to re-commit to disarmament and non-proliferation as the only true path to peace,” he said. 

Lebanon health ministry says Israeli strikes kill 4 in south

Published: April 27, 2026 | 23:45 GMT | by Web Desk

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed four people, including a woman, and wounded 51 others, three of them children, despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

According to an AFP tally of health ministry figures, Israeli strikes have killed at least 40 people in Lebanon since the fragile truce there began on April 17.

Trump meets advisors as Iran seeks guarantees before reopening Strait of Hormuz

Published: April 27, 2026 | 21:20 GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump met with top security advisors to discuss an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran demanded guarantees against a US-Israeli attack before it could ensure stability in the oil-rich Gulf.

When asked about the reported plan — which would see both Iran and the United States lift their blockades ahead of further talks on the thorny issue of Tehran's nuclear program — spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told a White House briefing that "the proposal was being discussed."

"Only because it's been reported, I will confirm the president has met with his national security team this morning," she said, refusing to say if Trump would accept the proposal.

Separately, Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said his country needed guarantees against another US-Israeli attack before it could ensure security in the oil-rich Gulf.

"Lasting stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the wider region can only be achieved through a durable and permanent cessation of aggression against Iran supplemented by credible guarantees of non-recurrence and full respect for the legitimate sovereign rights and interests of Iran," Tehran's envoy told the United Nations Security Council.

Saudi Arabia at UNSC commends diplomatic initiatives led by Pakistan 

Published: April 27, 2026 | 22:47 GMT | by Web Desk

Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, said that Riyadh “reiterated its unwavering commitment to supporting all political solutions and mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation,” SaudiNews50 reported. 

“This included commending diplomatic initiatives, including those led by Pakistan, and emphasizing that reaching a comprehensive political solution is the only way to spare the region further tension and instability and to ensure the continued flow of vital resources upon which the entire global economy depends,” Ambassador Al-Wasil said in the Security Council.

Guterres says 'safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative'

Published: April 27, 2026 | 19:22 GMT | by Web Desk

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that "safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative."

"Navigational rights and freedoms through the Strait of Hormuz must be respected," he said in a post on X.

"I appeal to the parties: Open the Strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe," he said.

"Safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative," he added.