Prateek Tanmay
The Hindu
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Trump says delaying Iran attack at request of Gulf leaders
Live Iran-Israel war LIVE: Trump says delaying Iran attack at request of Gulf leaders Iran’s top security body announced on Monday, May 18, the formation of a new body to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has…
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Trump says delaying Iran attack at request of Gulf leaders
Iran’s top security body announced on Monday, May 18, the formation of a new body to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has effectively closed and wants to charge ships to traverse.
Updated – May 19, 2026 01:35 am IST
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in Tehran, Iran, on May 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Iran’s Presidential website via Reuters
Iran has submitted a new 14-point proposal to the U.S. through Pakistan, aimed at ending the war amid a diplomatic impasse and fears of renewed hostilities, even as President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country “will not bow to any power”.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters in Tehran on Monday (May 18, 2026) that the diplomatic process continues through Pakistan despite the tensions. Tehran received “a set of corrective points and considerations” from the U.S. “[O]ur points of view were presented to the American side in return. Therefore, the process continues through Pakistan,” he said.
Iran unveiled a new body, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PSGA), to control the Strait. According to the new mechanism, all ships seeking to transit the Strait should get a confirmation message, about “ruled and regulations” from the PGSA.
Follow our live updates
- May 18, 2026 19:33 U.S. has shown flexibility on Iran maintaining limited nuclear activities, source says
The United States has shown flexibility on allowing Iran to maintain limited peaceful nuclear activities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Monday (May 18, 2026).
The source said that on the issue of Iran’s frozen assets, however, Washington has so far only agreed to free one quarter of those assets according to a phased timetable. Iran wants the U.S. to reconsider both positions, the source said. – Reuters
- May 18, 2026 17:53 Hezbollah says it fired drone at military target in north Israel
Hezbollah on Monday (May 18) said it fired a drone at a military target in northern Israel, as Israel continued launching strikes on south Lebanon despite an extension of the truce between the countries.
In a statement, Hezbollah said it launched the drone at “an Iron Dome platform belonging to the Israeli enemy army” in a military encampment in northern Israel, in response to an Israeli “violation” of the ceasefire.- AFP
- May 18, 2026 17:52 Iran Guards say struck groups linked to U.S., Israel in Kurdish area near Iraq
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Monday (May 18) their forces had struck groups linked to the United States and Israel in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan, near the border with Iraq.
In a statement carried by the ISNA news agency, the Guards said groups from “northern Iraq and acting on behalf of the U.S. and the Zionist regime were attempting to smuggle a large shipment of American weapons and ammunition” into Iran.
They said the groups were hit in the Iranian city of Baneh in the Kurdistan region. – AFP
- May 18, 2026 15:40 Turkiye slams ‘act of piracy’ over Israel’s flotilla interception
Turkiye on Monday (May 18, 2026) denounced Israel for a “new act of piracy” after the latest Gaza-bound aid flotilla said Israeli troops had intercepted one boat off Cyprus.
“We condemn the intervention by Israeli forces in international waters against the Global Flotilla.. which constitutes a new act of piracy,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. The flotilla of 50 vessels set sail from Turkiye on Thursday. — AFP
- May 18, 2026 15:05 Iran officially announces new body to manage Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s top security body announced on Monday (May 18, 2026) the formation of a new body to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has effectively closed and wants to charge ships to traverse.
On its official X account, the Supreme National Security Council shared a post for the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) saying it would provide “real‑time updates on the #Hormuz_Strait operations and latest developments.”
The account of the Revolutionary Guards navy shared the same post. — AFP
Iran officially announces new body to manage Strait of Hormuz
Iran announces the formation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to manage the blocked Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict.
- May 18, 2026 14:42 Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkiye: media
Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkiye on Monday (May 18, 2026) to play a final friendly match and apply for visas to fly to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, Iranian media reported.
The team plan to participate in the tournament despite co-host Washington having launched a war against Iran with a massive wave of attacks alongside ally Israel on February 28.
The fighting has been on hold for weeks thanks to a ceasefire, but peace talks have failed to make a breakthrough and new drone attacks against Gulf countries at the weekend combined with threats from US President Donald Trump raising fears of a return to fighting.
Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkiye: media
Iran’s national football team departs for Turkiye to finalize preparations and visa applications for the 2026 World Cup.
- May 18, 2026 14:16 Gaza-bound flotilla says Israeli forces intercepting fleet near Cyprus
Israeli forces were intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Monday (May 18, 2026) after it set sail from Turkey last week, with organisers saying one of the vessels was stopped west of Cyprus.
“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IDF forces are currently boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight,” the Global Sumud Flotilla posted on X. — AFP
- May 18, 2026 14:10 Responded to latest U.S. peace proposal, says Iran
Iran said on Monday (May 18, 2026) it had responded to a new U.S. proposal aimed at ending the war, adding that exchanges were continuing despite Iranian media reports describing Washington’s demands as excessive.
“As we announced yesterday, our concerns were conveyed to the American side,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a press briefing.
He said exchanges were “continuing through the Pakistani mediator”, without providing details. — AFP
- May 18, 2026 12:47 ‘Staggering’ Iran toll drives up global executions: Amnesty
Iran put to death over 2,150 people last year, a “staggering” increase that pushed recorded worldwide executions to their highest level since 1981, Amnesty International said on Monday (May 18, 2026).
Amnesty said it had confirmed the executions of at least 2,707 people globally in 2025. Of these cases, 2,159 were in Iran, a figure more than double that of 2024, Amnesty said.
But the UK-based rights group said that, as in previous years, its total “does not include the thousands of executions” that it believed were carried out in China, the world’s most prolific user of the death penalty, due to “the state secrecy” over data.
– AFP
- May 18, 2026 11:50 Also read | ‘Calm before storm’: Donald Trump’s warning sparks alarm over possible Iran strikes, signals escalation in West Asia
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a veiled warning over rising tensions in the West Asia, posting an AI-generated image and message that read, “It was the calm before the storm,” amid reports that he is in discussions with top aides on potentially resuming air strikes on Iran.
‘Calm before storm’: Donald Trump’s warning sparks alarm over possible Iran strikes, signals escalation in West Asia
Trump’s warning of a “calm before the storm” raises fears of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions amid regional instability.
- May 18, 2026 10:55 Replug: Drone strike causes fire outside nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi
A drone strike targeted the United Arab Emirates’ sole nuclear power plant on Sunday, sparking a fire on its perimeter. There were no reports of injuries or radiological release, but it highlighted the risk of renewed war as the Iran ceasefire remains tenuous.
No one claimed responsibility, and the UAE did not blame anyone for what it said was an “unprovoked terrorist attack.” It has recently accused Iran of launching drone and missile attacks as tensions have risen over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy waterway gripped by Iran, which is under a U.S. naval blockade.
Drone strike causes fire outside nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi
A drone strike ignited a fire near Abu Dhabi’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, raising concerns amid escalating regional tensions.
- May 18, 2026 10:21 Deeply concerned: India on drone strike near UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant
India on Monday (May 18, 2026) voiced deep concern over a drone attack targeting the Barakah nuclear facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as it marked a dangerous escalation in the West Asia conflict.
New Delhi’s reaction came a day after a drone struck a generator near the Gulf nation’s sole nuclear power plant, sparking a fire on the complex’s perimeter.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. The UAE’s Ministry of Defence said it is working to determine the source of the drone strike.
The incident triggered fears of a sharp escalation in tensions across West Asia.
“India is deeply concerned at the attack targeting the Barakah nuclear facility in the UAE,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“Such actions are unacceptable and represent a dangerous escalation. We urgently call for restraint and a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” it said. — PTI
- May 18, 2026 09:07 Iran media says ‘no tangible concessions’ in U.S. response to Iran proposal
Iranian media said on Sunday (May 17, 2026) that the United States had failed to make any concrete concessions in its latest response to Iran’s proposed agenda for negotiations to end the war.
Iran media says ‘no tangible concessions’ in U.S. response to Iran proposal
Iranian media claims the U.S. response lacks tangible concessions, complicating negotiations to end ongoing hostilities.
- May 18, 2026 09:06 Iran chief negotiator Ghalibaf appointed to oversee ties with China: media
“Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has recently been appointed as a special representative of the Islamic republic of Iran for China affairs,” Tasnim news agency reported, citing “informed sources”, with other media carrying similar reports.
Iran chief negotiator Ghalibaf appointed to oversee ties with China: media
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf appointed to oversee relations with China, enhancing diplomatic ties amid regional tensions.
Published – May 18, 2026 08:05 am IST
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