US-Israel-Iran War Live News Updates: Trump Says US, Iranian Officials Can Talk By Phone; Araghchi Heads To Moscow

A standoff remained on in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passes, as Iran has restricted movement through it and the US enforces a blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter.

Oman's response wasn't immediately clear.

(Source: AP)

Iran MP Ebrahim Rezaei said Pakistan is a good friend but not a suitable intermediary for negotiations. 

"Pakistan is a good friend and neighbour of ours, but it is not a suitable intermediary for negotiations and lacks the necessary credibility for mediation. They always take Trump's interests into account and do not say a word against the Americans' wishes. For example, they are unwilling to tell the world that America first accepted Pakistan's proposal but then went back on its word. They do not say that the Americans had commitments regarding the issue of Lebanon or the blocked assets but failed to fulfill them. A mediator must be impartial, not always leaning to one side." [sic]

Iran gave the US a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the naval blockade first, while postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage, reports Axios.

The US dollar started Monday stronger as fading hopes for a Middle East deal weighed on sentiment, keeping the yen near 160 ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy decision. President Trump scrapped an Islamabad visit by his envoys, saying Iran could reach out to negotiate an end to the two-month war, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed. The dollar rose in March on safe-haven flows but gave up gains on peace hopes, steadying recently as US-Iran talks stalled.

According to a report in Axios:

• US President Donald Trump is expected to hold a situation room meeting on Iran with his top national security and foreign policy team on Monday. 
• The meeting is expected to discuss the current stalemate in the negotiations with Iran and potential options for the next steps in the war

Israel and Hezbollah traded blame over violations of the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the military was "vigorously" targeting the Iran-backed militia as both sides claimed new attacks. But claims that both sides have breached a 10-day ceasefire agreed earlier this month have continued.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf posted on X comparing “Supply Cards” vs “Demand Cards” in the energy standoff. He listed Strait of Hormuz partly played, BEM and pipelines unplayed on supply, against inventory release played, demand destruction partly played, and more price adjustments to come on demand. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed for Moscow after a brief stop in Islamabad on Sunday, AFP reported. IRNA said he returned to the Pakistani capital Sunday after visiting Oman. In Islamabad, Araghchi was set to hold another round of regional consultations with Pakistani officials.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict. In an interview on Fox News Channel, Trump said he made that decision rather than send a delegation on a 17-hour flight.

“We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us,” Trump said, not indicating when the call would take place.