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US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a tense phone call over the future course of the war on Iran as Washington appeared to be in favour of a deal instead of the resumption of strikes, US media reported.
After the phone call with Trump, Netanyahu's “hair was on fire”, US media outlet Axios reported, adding that the Israeli Prime Minister was keen on the resumption of strikes to further degrade Iran's military capabilities and weaken the regime by destroying its critical infrastructure.
Netanyahu is highly sceptical about the negotiations and wants to resume the war to further degrade Iran's military capabilities and weaken the regime by destroying its critical infrastructure.
Trump continues to say he thinks a deal can be reached, but that he's ready to resume the war if it isn't. Trump told press that Netanyahu is a very good man, adding "he'll do whatever I want him to do."
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US President Donald Trump stated that he is looking into the ongoing talks Iran is holding with Oman to have toll in the Strait of Hormuz. He stated that the US wants Hormuz to be free and open and devoid of tolls.
He further said that the US blockade against the Strait of Hormuz is "100% effective" and that that the US has total control of the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump stated that the US is in posession of new anti-drone tech that it did not have two months prior, according to Bloomberg.
"We have great drone technology to knock Iran down." Trump said.
The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated that Iran's Hormuz toll would make a peace deal with the former 'unfeasible'.
The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the country is willing to sell India "as much energy as it is willing to buy."
The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Iran's plans to establish a toll on the Strait of Hormuz "unacceptable", according to Bloomberg.
Iran and Oman are holding talks to set up a permanent toll in the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Iranian Envoy cited by Bloomberg.
Iran thanks Pakistan for securing release and safe return of 20 Iranian sailors.
Reza Amiri Moghadam, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan said, "I sincerely appreciate the humanitarian and benevolent action of the esteemed Government of Pakistan to pursue the release of 20 Iranian sailors who were in a precarious situation due to the seizure of their ship in Singapore waters."
I sincerely appreciate the humanitarian and benevolent action of the esteemed Government of Pakistan to pursue the release of 20 Iranian sailors who were in a precarious situation due to the seizure of their ship in Singapore waters.
— Reza Amiri Moghadam (@IranAmbPak) May 21, 2026
In this regard, I would like to thank the…
Field Marshal "Asim Munir," Commander of the Pakistan Army, will travel to Tehran today amid ongoing discussions and consultations with Tehran officials, serving as a mediator between Tehran and Washington.
Iran's state media says Tehran is preparing a response to a text sent by the United States, with discussions now underway. The US text has narrowed some gaps between the two sides. The report also said Pakistan army chief Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran aimed to close remaining differences and reach a point where a memorandum of understanding could be formally accepted.
Iranian news agency Tasnim cited a source close to the US negotiating team saying Washington sent a new text to Tehran via Pakistan. The source added that Iran is currently studying the document and has not yet responded.
The rupee recovered from 100 per US dollar in forward market and was trading at 96.43 after US President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran were entering the final stages.
The one-year forward market rate for the rupee touched the crucial 100/USD mark on Wednesday, indicating that currency markets are pricing in a weakening bias for the USD/INR pair over the next 12 months, forex traders said.
Investors are still gauging the geopolitical risk and oil price sensitivity in the background, with any flare-up in the Middle East tensions or spikes in crude, they added.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi met and held talks with FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.
🎥 Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi met and held talks with FM @araghchi on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. #Diplomacy #Iran #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/EhgmaPMRiR
— Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (@Iran_GOV) May 21, 2026
Israeli air raids have been reported across southern Lebanon despite last week’s extension of the so-called “ceasefire.” Al Jazeera confirmed a strike on the outskirts of Tulin. Additional overnight raids hit Kfar Dounine, Froun, Sarbine, Tayr Debba, and areas near al-Numairiyah.
The United Arab Emirates has completed nearly half of a second pipeline designed to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, the chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Wednesday.
Brig Gen Ahmad Vahidi, who heads Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, has become a major player in formulating Iran's tough stance in negotiating a possible end to the war with the United States, experts say.
He is believed to be part of a small clique in direct contact with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khameini, who remains in hiding after being reportedly wounded in the Feb 28 Israeli strikes that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The newly-launched Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) defined the boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz management supervision area.
In a post on X, PGSA stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has defined the boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz management supervision area as follows: "The line connecting Kuh Mobarak in Iran and the south of Fujairah in the UAE in the east of the strait to the line connecting the end of Qeshm Island in Iran and Umm al-Qaiwain in the UAE in the west of the strait."
1/
— PGSA | نهاد مدیریت آبراه خلیج فارس (@PGSA_IRAN) May 20, 2026
جمهورى اسلامى ايران محدودهٔ نظارتى مديریت تنگه هرمز را به این شرح تعيین کرده است: «خط اتصال كوه مبارك درايران وجنوب فجيره درامارات در شرق تنگه تاخط اتصال انتهاى جزيره قشم درايران و ام القيوین امارات درغرب تنگه.» pic.twitter.com/3ELSwYx5Bp
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is reviewing the US response to its latest proposal, according to Nour News Agency. Washington and Tehran have been exchanging messages via Pakistan over the wording of a proposed ceasefire document. Baghaei noted that “based on the original text of Iran’s 14 points, the exchange of messages has been carried out on several occasions” and confirmed Iran has received US views.
(Source: Al Jazeera)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that all diplomatic paths remain open as the United States and Iran continue indirect nuclear negotiations, even as US President Donald Trump warned that military action could resume within days if talks fail to produce results.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller said, "Iran has a choice to make: they can either agree to a piece of paper that is satisfactory to the United States, or they can face a punishment from our military the likes of which has not been seen in modern history. That's the choice they face."
.@StephenM: "Iran has a choice to make: they can either agree to a piece of paper that is satisfactory to the United States, or they can face a punishment from our military the likes of which has not been seen in modern history. That's the choice they face." pic.twitter.com/UIQ7NARYwe
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 21, 2026
US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a tense phone call over the future course of the war on Iran as Washington appeared to be in favour of a deal instead of the resumption of strikes, US media reported.
Iran's foreign ministry said that negotiations were ongoing "based on Iran's 14-point proposal," and that Pakistan's interior minister was in Tehran to help the mediation. Trump told Netanyahu that the mediators were working on a "letter of intent" that both the US and Iran would sign to formally end the war and launch a 30-day period of negotiations on issues like Iran's nuclear program and opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a US source briefed on the call told Axios.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted the country was not on the brink of giving in. “Forcing Iran to surrender through coercion is nothing but an illusion,” he posted on X.
Trump later repeated the tight timeline he has set, and stretched, several times since the start of the conflict. “Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly,” Trump said after a speech at the Coast Guard Academy. “We’re all ready to go. We have to get the right answers.”
Earlier, Iran warned it would retaliate beyond the Middle East if the US or Israel renewed strikes, although it was unclear if Tehran had the capability to do so.
(Source: Bloomberg)
US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a tense phone call over the future course of the war on Iran as Washington appeared to be in favour of a deal instead of the resumption of strikes, US media reported.
After the Tuesday phone call with Trump, Netanyahu’s “hair was on fire”, US media outlet Axios reported on Wednesday, adding that the Israeli Prime Minister was keen on the resumption of strikes to further degrade Iran’s military capabilities and weaken the regime by destroying its critical infrastructure.
On Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump says, "He'll do whatever I want him to do. He's a very good man. He'll do whatever I want him to do...he's not treated right in Israel, in my opinion. I'm right now at 99% in Israel. I could run for prime minister."
#WATCH | On Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump says, "He'll do whatever I want him to do. He's a very good man. He'll do whatever I want him to do...he's not treated right in Israel, in my opinion. I'm right now at 99% in Israel. I could run for prime… pic.twitter.com/YPnIPe1r6b
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2026
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