Day 68: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

 This live blog followed updates for Day 68 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 67, go here, and for Day 69 updates, click here.

• Trump pauses Project Freedom briefly amid ongoing negotiations with Iran
• US maintains blockade while warning of strong response if attacked
• Iran denies UAE attacks but warns ships against route deviations
• Regional powers urge diplomacy and reject force in Hormuz crisis
• Tensions persist despite ceasefire, with military readiness on all sides.

US stocks break records, oil tumbles

Published: May 6, 2026 | 22:25 GMT | by AFP

World oil prices dove and US stock markets rallied on fresh hopes for an end to the war in the Middle East, as Trump said a deal with Iran was "very possible."

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq, two of the major US stock indices, finished at record levels for the second consecutive day, while the international oil benchmark Brent finished down 7.8% at $101.27 a barrel.

Trump says Iran deal 'very possible' following latest talks

Published: May 6, 2026 | 20:39 GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump has said it was "very possible" that they would make a deal with Iran, adding that countries had  "very good talks over the last 24 hours."

"With that being said, they want to make a deal. We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it's very possible that we'll make a deal."

Iran says messages with US still exchanged via Pakistan

Published: May 6, 2026 | 15:55 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said diplomatic contacts with the United States remain active through Pakistani mediation, but Tehran has not yet issued a formal response to Washington’s latest proposal.

“Messages are being exchanged through the Pakistani mediator, and reviews regarding the exchanged texts are ongoing,” Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to Tehran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

Iran reviewing US proposal, foreign ministry says

Published: May 6, 2026 | 12:50 GMT | by Web Desk

According to Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, quoted by the ISNA news ‌agency, Tehran is reviewing a ⁠US proposal to ⁠end the more than two-month-old ‌war on Iran, and will convey its views to the ⁠mediator, Pakistan.

“US plan and proposal remain under consideration, and once Iran concludes its assessment, it will convey its views to the Pakistani side,” said the report.

Trump says Epic Fury to end if Iran agrees, warns escalation

Published: May 6, 2026 | 12:46 GMT | by Web Desk 

United States President Donald Trump, in a post on his Truth Social, stated that Operation Epic Fury would come to an end and that the Strait of Hormuz would be “open to all” if Iran agrees “to give what has been agreed to.”

“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is perhaps a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective blockade will allow the Strait of Hormuz to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” he said.

He also issued a stark warning of further escalation if negotiations collapse.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing will start, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” he said.

US-Iran negotiations: The view from Tehran

Published: May 6, 2026 | 12:20 GMT | by Web Desk 

Negotiations with the US are focusing solely on the Strait of Hormuz at this stage, and there will be no talks for now on the nuclear file, Al-Jazeera reported, citing sources.

“They are saying that anything else is just fabricated; they are fabricated media reports which are misleading,” the report said.

“They are not confirming at this stage they are negotiating their nuclear file, or the regional security policies, their relations with their allies or Iran’s missile program. They say all of these are not being discussed now, they are excluded.”

Washington believes close to deal with Iran: Axios

Published: May 6, 2026 | 11:28 GMT | by Web Desk 

Washington believes it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, US news outlet Axios reported Wednesday, citing two US officials.

According to Axios, the two sides are close to agreeing on a "one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations."

It said the deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the United States agreeing to release billions of dollars of frozen Iranian funds.

Washington is reportedly awaiting a response from Tehran on several key points in the next 48 hours.

Israeli strike kills 4 in east Lebanon: health ministry

Published: May 6, 2026 | 10:18 GMT | by Web Desk 

Israeli strike kills 4 in east Lebanon: health ministry.

Pakistan PM welcomes Project Freedom pause, hopes for regional stability

Published: May 6, 2026 | 09:08 GMT | by Web Desk 

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the United States’ decision to pause Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is a step toward regional peace and stability.

In a post on X, the PM expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for what he described as “courageous leadership” and a timely announcement of the pause.

“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy,” the PM said.

Iran launches new ship transit rules for Strait of Hormuz

Published: May 6, 2026 | 08:20 GMT | by Web Desk 

Iran has rolled out a new mechanism for ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with the US, state-run Press TV reported Wednesday.

Vessels will receive an email from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) outlining regulations and must comply with them to obtain a transit permit.

Iran requires ships to use designated routes and secure authorization, as US naval forces bolster commercial shipping in the area, reported Press TV.

Chinese, Iranian foreign ministers hold talks in Beijing

Published: May 6, 2026 | 04:42 GMT | by Web Desk 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held consultations with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

Araghchi landed in China on Tuesday on a two-day official visit, Iran’s official Tasnim News Agency reported.

The visit comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping from May 14-15 amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which remains blocked.

This marks Araghchi's first in-person meeting with his Chinese counterpart since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. The two have held several phone calls during the conflict.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi arrives in Beijing for talks with Chinese counterpart

Published: May 6, 2026 | 00:23 GMT | by Web Desk 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Beijing at the head of a diplomatic delegation from Tehran.

During the visit, Araghchi is scheduled to discuss and exchange views with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi on bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.

The trip comes amid reports of progress in mediated talks between the US and Iran.