Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Air Force commander, Sayed Majid Mousavi, has warned that Iran is fully prepared to deliver a decisive response to what it calls a US violation of the ongoing ceasefire. In a post on social media platform X, Mousavi criticized current diplomatic efforts, saying that talks with the enemy bring only harm. He stated that Iran’s air force, which oversees the country’s strategic ballistic missile and drone programs, is on high alert and ready to act upon the supreme commander’s final order.

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of breaching the ceasefire by conducting aggressive activities in the Hormozgan region near Bandar Abbas. The statement comes amid continuing peace negotiations, which have been overshadowed by renewed tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The warning signals a potential escalation if the ceasefire violations persist, with Iran emphasizing its readiness for immediate retaliation should hostilities resume.

Lorenzo Kamal, a history professor at the University of Turin and Rome’s Luiss School of Government, told Al Jazeera that Washington must bring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under control if it wants to implement a peace agreement between Iran and the United States. He made the remarks in an interview published on Tuesday.

Kamal said Israeli authorities have been trying to escalate tensions in Lebanon to weaken any potential deal between the Trump administration and Iranian officials. According to him, Netanyahu remains the central figure in this dynamic, seeking to present himself as an indispensable wartime leader at least until Israel’s next election. Kamal added that Netanyahu’s political position could weaken if tensions subside, allowing his rivals to challenge his leadership.

He further noted that the United States continues to allow Israel to act without restraint, and until Trump compels Netanyahu to enforce a ceasefire in Lebanon, the Iran-US peace agreement will remain extremely fragile.

British journalist David Hearst has argued that Iran has emerged victorious in its recent conflict with the United States, fundamentally altering the balance of global power. He wrote that Iran’s resistance against subjugation has sent a strong message to the Arab world, showing that determined regional powers can resist U.S. and Israeli dominance. Hearst described how repeated failed negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran exposed Washington’s declining influence, with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu playing a key role in undermining potential agreements.

The article outlines how Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and its regional deterrence capabilities have strengthened its position. It also notes the emergence of a new Sunni alliance involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Oman, which contrasts with earlier U.S.-backed normalization efforts between Arab states and Israel. Hearst contends that the Islamic Republic’s survival has upended Israel’s regional ambitions and weakened U.S. strategic dominance.

According to Hearst, Iran’s endurance has emboldened resistance movements across the region and redefined Middle Eastern geopolitics, leaving both Trump and Netanyahu politically diminished.

Iran has executed a man accused of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The individual, identified as Gholamreza Khani Shekharab, was put to death after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld his death sentence. The report did not specify the location or method of execution.

Tasnim noted that Tehran has recently carried out several executions of individuals convicted of spying for Israel. Human rights organizations have criticized this pattern, arguing that Iran continues to rank among the world’s top countries in carrying out executions, reportedly second only to China.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, reflects ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as international concern over Iran’s use of the death penalty in espionage and political cases.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told military commanders that regional countries now recognize the United States’ military presence in the Gulf has failed to guarantee long-term security. He described reliance on the US for security as an unrealistic and ineffective idea, according to a statement from the president’s office.

The statement added that Pezeshkian called for modernization of Iran’s defense infrastructure and warned that adversaries have acquired new technologies and equipment, complicating the current security environment. He urged the armed forces to work more closely with universities, scientific centers, and knowledge-based institutions to achieve technological superiority and strengthen defense capabilities.

Pezeshkian also thanked the military for maintaining professionalism and staying away from political and partisan influence, calling this commitment to national interests a valuable asset for the country.

Iran has insisted that any potential agreement with the United States must include the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, according to a report by the semi-official Tasnim news agency citing a source close to Iran’s negotiating team in Qatar. The source said Tehran’s position is that half of the amount, or $12 billion, should be released at the time of signing a memorandum of understanding, with the remaining funds to be returned within 60 days.

Tasnim reported that Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, traveled to Qatar to reach an agreement on a mechanism for implementing this demand. The report did not specify the broader context of the negotiations or the current status of talks between Tehran and Washington.

The demand underscores Iran’s focus on recovering frozen assets as part of any future deal, though details of the negotiations and potential U.S. responses remain unclear.

Iran’s armed forces have warned that they will deliver a harsher response to the latest United States attacks. Senior military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi stated that any new aggression against Iran would be met with stronger retaliation. He cautioned that if another phase of conflict begins, Iranian strikes would extend beyond the region and become more intense and violent.

The warning came after the United States launched new attacks inside Iran while discussions over a possible peace agreement were ongoing. According to the US military, the strikes targeted Iranian missile bases and naval vessels and were carried out in self-defense. The exchange underscores heightened tensions between the two countries despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The situation suggests that any further escalation could spread beyond the immediate region, potentially complicating peace negotiations already underway.

Tehran’s municipal authorities announced that 97 percent of buildings damaged in recent US and Israeli attacks have been repaired. A spokesperson for the Tehran Municipality said that structures requiring minor repairs have been mostly restored, and all remaining work is expected to be completed within the next week.

Earlier this month, Iran’s Housing Foundation reported repairing around 37,000 residential and commercial buildings affected by the conflict. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 125,000 civilian structures across the country were either destroyed or severely damaged by the attacks.

The municipal update highlights the scale of reconstruction efforts underway in Tehran following widespread damage from the strikes.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that negotiations on a deal with Iran have stalled due to disagreements over specific wording. Speaking to reporters in Jaipur, India, on Tuesday, he said that the issue revolves around a single word or sentence and that resolving it could take several more days. Rubio added that discussions were ongoing in Qatar and that both sides were working through details of the preliminary document.

Addressing recent US strikes near Iran’s naval and missile launch sites close to the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio emphasized that the waterway must remain open under any circumstances. Iranian officials have not yet commented on the strikes, but Iranian state media described them as a violation of the current ceasefire agreement. Previous exchanges of fire between US and Iranian forces have also occurred during the ceasefire.

The stalled negotiations and renewed tensions highlight the fragility of the ongoing diplomatic process between Washington and Tehran, with both sides seeking to maintain influence in the region.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a message on the occasion of Hajj and Eid al-Adha, describing Israel as a cancerous tumor in the Middle East and pledging its removal. The statement was reported by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which quoted Khamenei as calling Israel a dangerous and deadly tumor in the region. He declared that Israel must be overthrown and that it will be done.

Khamenei said Iran’s retaliatory actions have left the Zionist regime helpless and described Iran’s strong response as a “hard slap” to the United States. He also emphasized that this year’s Hajj season carries special significance in calling for the boycott of the United States and Israel. According to him, the main slogans of the Islamic Ummah should be “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

The message underscores Iran’s continued hostility toward Israel and the United States, reflecting Tehran’s stance amid ongoing regional tensions.

The United States military carried out a series of strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, targeting Iranian missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to lay mines. The US Central Command described the action as “self-defence strikes” to protect American forces from Iranian threats but did not disclose specific details or locations. Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, about 70km from the strait. The attacks occurred as a high-level Iranian delegation arrived in Doha, Qatar, for negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israel war on Iran, despite a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire in place since April 8.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that while a large portion of issues with Washington had been resolved, a final deal was not imminent. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from India, confirmed the targets and emphasized the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. President Donald Trump said talks were progressing “nicely” but warned of further attacks if negotiations failed.

Analysts noted that the strikes could complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts, with limited information available about the scale of the operation or its impact on the ceasefire.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for shooting down a US drone and firing at another aircraft that allegedly entered its airspace. According to a statement published on the IRGC’s Sepah News website, the incident occurred when a US military aircraft entered Iranian airspace over the Persian Gulf region. The IRGC said its air defense units detected and downed an MQ-9 drone.

The statement further mentioned that the Guard forces also fired at an RQ-4 drone and an intruding F-35 fighter jet. However, the IRGC did not specify when these incidents took place. The report was originally cited by Gulf News and republished by the outlet Amar Desh.

The lack of a confirmed timeline or independent verification leaves uncertainty about the exact circumstances and timing of the reported engagements.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has alleged that the United States tested a new weapon system during a missile strike on February 28, the first day of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. The attack reportedly targeted a sports hall and killed 24 people, including a two-year-old girl.

In a post on social media platform X, Baghaei stated that the strike involved an “airburst missile” that exploded midair, releasing high-speed tungsten pellets that caused widespread destruction. He described the incident as a deliberate act aimed at testing the destructive capacity of the new weapon on Iranian civilians.

Baghaei condemned the attack as a clear and heinous war crime, asserting that it was not a mistake but a planned decision. The report was sourced from Al Jazeera, though no response from the United States was mentioned.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has declared that the United States will no longer find a “safe haven” in Gulf countries. He stated that these nations will no longer serve as a “shield” for American military bases. Khamenei made the remarks on Tuesday through his Telegram channel, following renewed U.S. attacks in Iran.

Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader in March after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike. Since taking office, he has not appeared in public. His latest statement marks one of his first direct comments on regional security and U.S. presence in the Middle East.

The remarks highlight growing tensions between Iran and the United States following recent military actions, with implications for U.S. operations and alliances in the Gulf region.

Iran is presenting a possible preliminary agreement with the United States to end the ongoing war as a diplomatic and strategic victory, despite facing severe military and economic pressure. According to a New York Times report, Iranian officials claim Tehran made no major concessions and that Washington was ultimately compelled to negotiate. A senior US official said both sides have agreed in principle to a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and disposing of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, pending approval from Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Analysts note that Tehran’s leadership has framed the outcome as proof of resilience against two nuclear powers. The deal reportedly excludes conditions on Iran’s ballistic missile program or its regional militias. Experts suggest Iran’s new leadership adopted a more aggressive strategy than its predecessor, closing the Strait of Hormuz and attacking Gulf Arab states allied with Washington.

Observers caution that Iran’s economic crisis remains severe, and it is unclear whether the agreement will evolve into a lasting peace or remain a temporary truce.