Washington said it was expecting a response from Tehran to a US proposal that would set parameters for talks to end the war, with former US President Donald Trump telling reporters he was due to receive a letter by Friday night Eastern Time. Media reports say negotiators are working toward a memo that could create a framework for a month of talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire and wider arrangements.
Qatar has urged both sides to engage in mediation. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met US Vice President JD Vance in Washington and called for all parties to pursue dialogue to address the root causes of the crisis and reach a comprehensive, lasting peace.
Key developments around the region on Saturday included:
– Bahrain arrests: Bahraini authorities detained 41 people they say are linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and to expressions of support for Iranian strikes on Gulf states, according to Bahrain’s Interior Ministry and reporting by international news agencies.
– Evacuations in southern Lebanon: The Israeli military ordered residents of nine villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate, accusing Hezbollah of breaching a ceasefire and saying it was prepared to use force in response. Eight of the villages lie in the Tyre district and one in the far south of Sidon district. Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire on April 16.
– US sanctions: The US Treasury announced sanctions on ten entities it said were helping Iran acquire materials and technologies used in its drone and ballistic missile programs. Targeted organisations include firms based in China, Belarus and the United Arab Emirates, which the Treasury says have enabled procurement for Iran’s Shahed-series UAVs and missile capabilities.
– Ongoing hostilities at sea and strikes: The US said it struck Iranian military facilities in response to Iranian attacks on three US Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz that were intercepted. US forces also fired on and disabled two Iranian oil tankers after exchanges of fire in the strait. Iran has largely restricted traffic through the strategic waterway since the wider conflict began on February 28 and has intermittently attacked vessels attempting to transit. Tehran described recent US strikes as violations of the ceasefire.
– Humanitarian and economic impact: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported world food prices rose in April to their highest level in over three years, citing the Iran war and effective disruptions to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as contributing factors.
US leaders say the month-long ceasefire arrangement remains in effect despite renewed hostilities, and officials portray talks as ongoing. Tehran has been studying the US proposal and has not yet made a firm decision, according to public statements. Mediators and regional actors, including Qatar, continue to press both sides to engage to prevent further escalation and to seek a negotiated end to the fighting.