US-Iran news LIVE: ‘Will end war quickly,’ says Trump; Tehran promises ‘surprises’ in case of future attacks

US Iran news LIVE: A senior Iranian lawmaker has described the Strait of Hormuz as a “permanent asset” and a key strategic lever under Iran’s control.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, said Iran would show “no leniency” toward countries attempting to project power in the strait. He also warned that Tehran would defend its rights in the vital waterway “with full strength.”

Azizi called the waterway a major economic, political and military tool for the Islamic Republic. His remarks come after Iran tightened controls in the strait following renewed US-Israeli tensions and announced a new mechanism to regulate maritime traffic and charge fees for specialised services.

Azizi also praised the regional “Axis of Resistance” for supporting Iran during the ongoing war and said Tehran would continue to protect its national interests despite threats or sanctions. (Press TV)

US Iran news LIVE: US President Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance offered fresh insights into Washington’s approach to the ongoing war on Iran.

Trump said he had been close to authorising new strikes on Iran before delaying the operation at the request of Gulf nations. “I was an hour away; we were all set to go,” he told reporters. “It would’ve been happening right now.”

He also said the pause in planned attacks would be temporary as negotiators work towards a possible peace deal. Trump added that he believes the US war on Iran is popular and said that even if it is not, preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is a worthwhile mission.

Vance told reporters he was “not certain” about the prospects for a deal with Iran but that he felt good enough about the chances that he was continuing to work towards an agreement.

The US vice president said he continued to see fractures within Iran’s leadership and that Tehran’s negotiating position remains unclear.

USIran news LIVE: All 77 ships taking part in the latest Gaza flotilla mission have now been captured by Israeli forces. The interceptions began on Monday and continued for more than a day. Israeli naval forces reportedly boarded the vessels and detained hundreds of international crew members.

The flotilla wrote on X, “All boats have been intercepted. We are awaiting more information about their illegal abduction. For Palestine We Won’t Stop.”

US-Iran news LIVE: Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “closer and stronger strategic coordination” between Beijing and Moscow during a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov last month.

Xi said both countries must “firmly defend their legitimate interests and safeguard the unity of Global South countries”. While the official readout did not mention the US-Israeli war on Iran, the remarks appeared to allude to concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Following the April 15 meeting, Lavrov said Russia could “compensate” for China’s energy shortages as shipping disruptions continue in the strait.

US-Iran news LIVE: Russia says it is ready to “extend a helping hand” in negotiations between the US and Iran if requested, according to Deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov.

Speaking to TASS, Ryabkov said Moscow is prepared to provide “all possible assistance” but “does not intend to impose” its services. He said that Russia remains “committed to finding solutions exclusively through political and diplomatic channels” and welcomed renewed dialogue between Washington and Tehran. He also praised the “active role of the Pakistani side in stabilising the situation”.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Tensions with Iran will soon ease, US President Donald Trump has said. “We’re going to end that war very quickly. They want to make a deal so badly,” he told reporters. He also predicted a sharp fall in global oil prices: “You are going to see oil prices plummet. They’re going to come down. There’s so much oil out there, they’re going to come plummeting down”.