Iran has officially accused the United States of a serious violation of the ceasefire after overnight air strikes in the south of the country, calling the actions of a "terrorist army" illegal and unjustified. Tehran vowed not to leave "any evil" unanswered and to defend the Iranian nation without hesitation, although the exact circumstances of the incident were not disclosed. In turn, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it struck launch sites and boats in southern Iran early Tuesday morning, while Iranian media reported an attack by "American-Zionist fighters" on vessels near Lark Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the military escalation, diplomatic efforts continue. Senior Iranian officials, including chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, made their first visit to Doha, Qatar’s capital, since the start of the war. In a conversation with the Emir of Qatar, the Iranian president expressed willingness to reach a "respectable basis" to end the war, but a key sticking point remains Tehran’s demand to unfreeze $24 billion in frozen assets, half of which could be released immediately after signing a preliminary memorandum.
Diplomacy has also intensified at the regional level: there were seven phone calls between Arab leaders and Iranian representatives. King Abdullah II of Jordan and King Hamad bin Isa of Bahrain, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt and the President of Iran, as well as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman, held consultations. Qatar served as a key mediator, organizing intensive talks with representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt to develop a "framework agreement" that could lead to a broader deal.
Pakistan is also leading mediation efforts, seeking to bring to an end the war that began on February 28 after US-Israeli strikes on Iran and led to a temporary ceasefire on April 8. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that negotiators have nearly agreed on most points with Tehran, pending final arrangements with Iran and regional countries, including the restoration of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, the dispute over frozen assets and the nuclear program remains central to the upcoming talks.
On the military front, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it shot down an American drone and opened fire on aircraft attempting to enter Iranian airspace, although the dates of those incidents were not specified. In a separate maritime incident, British maritime authorities reported that the tanker Olympic Life recorded an explosion on its port side 60 nautical miles from Muscat: the crew were unharmed, but there was a fuel leak, the cause of which remains unknown.
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Why have Iran’s $24 billion in frozen assets become a key sticking point in the talks? - These funds are held in accounts in South Korea and China, and Iran demands their unblocking in exchange for concessions on its nuclear program. Access to this money is critically important for Tehran to stabilize an economy suffering under sanctions, but Western countries fear the funds could be used to finance military programs or support proxy forces in the Middle East. Thus, the issue has become a test of trust: Iran insists on the lifting of restrictions as promised, while the US and EU demand guarantees of transparent spending.
Who is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and what is his role in Iranian politics? - Ghalibaf is a former commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force and former mayor of Tehran (2005–2017), currently the speaker of Iran’s parliament (Majlis). As a conservative and a close ally of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he plays a key role in coordinating legislative and executive branches and in advocating a hard line in negotiations with the West. His influence is especially evident on economic and security issues, where he favors self-sufficiency over concessions to the West.
Why is Lark Island in the Strait of Hormuz important to Iran and global trade? - Lark Island is located in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes. Iran uses it as a base for storing and transshipping crude oil, and for hosting IRGC infrastructure that controls the strait. In a conflict, control of Lark would allow Tehran to block or severely disrupt tanker traffic, potentially triggering a global energy crisis. For the global market, the island is not only a crucial link in the supply chain but also an indicator of regional tension.
Full version: إيران تتهم واشنطن بخرق الهدنة واتصالات إقليمية لدعم الوساطة