Trump Threatens Iran With 'Higher Level' Bombing If Deal Fails, US Fires On Iranian Oil Tanker

The Guardian reports Trump's ultimatum and the US effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the BBC World article notes Trump's cautious optimism about a peace deal.

The Hindu reports US military action against an Iranian oil tanker, while the Guardian and others focus on diplomatic efforts and ceasefire tensions.

US President Donald Trump predicted a swift end to the war with Iran as Tehran considers a US peace proposal that ⁠sources said would formally end the conflict while leaving unresolved key US demands that Iran suspend its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. fires on Iranian oil tanker as Trump pressures Tehran for deal to end war

Iran is reviewing the latest US proposal and will pass its response to Pakistan after "finalizing its views." Trump claimed the latest round of talks were "very good." DW has more.

There are signs of fresh momentum to end the war, but Trump himself has injected a note of caution.

President issues fresh ultimatum despite US claims that progress has been made in stalled negotiations with Tehran Middle East crisis – live updates The US president, Donald Trump, has issued a fresh ultimatum, telling Iran to accept a deal to end the war in the Middle East or face a new wave of US bombing “at a much higher level and intensity than it was before”. The social media announcement on Wednesday was the latest in a rapid series of dramatic and often contradictory changes in policy and came amid reports the US was claiming progress in stalled negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Continue reading...

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran it will face "a much higher level and intensity" of strikes if it fails to agree to a peace deal that the two sides are reportedly closing in on.

He said it was “perhaps a big assumption” that Iran would agree to the terms being offered by the United States

In today’s newsletter: ​The brief US effort to ​s​teer trapped vessels through the ​waterway ​put the fragile ceasefire under strain Good morning. Uncertainty once again reigns in the Middle East. The uneasy ceasefire between the US and Iran threatened to disintegrate after Donald Trump launched an initiative – dubbed “Project Freedom” – to help thousands of sailors stranded in the Gulf by the war to pass through the strait of Hormuz. To Iran, the announcement was a cynical provocation. Flurries of fighting restarted as Iran sought to maintain its grip on the critical passageway out of the region. UK politics | Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be a spokesperson for the British Red Cross while campaigning for the Green party leadership, the charity has said. Fuel shortages| Two million airline seats have been cut from this month’s schedules as airlines redraw their operations because of soaring jet fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict. UK news| A British crew member who became ill after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on luxury cruise ship the MV Hondius is to be medically evacuated, officials have said. Tax | An increased windfall tax should be imposed on the UK’s largest banks, say trade union leaders, after the big four lenders reported almost £14bn in first-quarter profits, partly fuelled by market turbulence amid the Iran war. Society | People from black backgrounds in England are twice as likely to experience strokes as their white counterparts, while also being less likely to receive timely care, according to the largest study of its kind. Continue reading...