Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that at least 25 ships passed safely through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the vessels included oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial ships, all moving under IRGC coordination and security with necessary permissions.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes and holds significant international importance due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Analysts noted that continued shipping through the strait amid regional conflicts has brought some relief to the global energy market.

The report underscores the IRGC’s role in maintaining maritime security in the area, which remains a focal point for global trade and energy stability.

Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan have sent large consignments of humanitarian aid to Iran, which is struggling with war and economic hardship. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the shipments entered the country through official land routes this week. Iraq delivered about 180 tons of relief goods in nine trucks, including food items such as rice, flour, tea, lentils, and canned food, along with medicines and medical supplies. Uzbekistan sent around 300 tons of medical and health-related consumables in 15 trucks, while Kazakhstan dispatched more than 1,700 tons of aid in 30 rail wagons containing food and medical materials.

The Iranian Red Crescent stated that these supplies will strengthen its relief and medical operations. The aid comes as Iran faces severe inflation exceeding 40 percent due to ongoing war and sanctions-related economic pressures. Prices of food and medicine have surged, leaving millions of people in distress.

The coordinated assistance from neighboring and regional countries highlights growing humanitarian concern over Iran’s worsening economic and social conditions.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Friday as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict in the Middle East. Iran confirmed it is considering a new peace proposal from the United States but warned that major differences remain before any agreement can be reached. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the visit should not be viewed as a turning point, citing deep and extensive divisions between Washington and Tehran.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for progress in ending the conflict through dialogue, though the situation became more complicated after US and Israeli attacks on February 28. Pakistan had previously hosted direct talks between the US and Iran in April, but those discussions failed to produce a lasting agreement. President Donald Trump described the current situation as a “borderline stalemate,” balancing between peace prospects and renewed conflict risks.

During the Tehran visit, Asim Munir met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while a Qatari delegation also held talks with Iran’s foreign minister. Iran stated that although multiple countries are engaged in peace diplomacy, Pakistan has not yet assumed an official mediating role.

Iran’s Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik stated that U.S. President Donald Trump has no alternative but to accept Tehran’s demands and recognize Iran’s rights. He asserted that both in war and diplomacy, the only viable path for what he called the “American-Zionist enemy” is to comply with Iran’s positions.

Talaei-Nik warned that if the opposing side refuses to acknowledge the Iranian people’s legitimate demands, Trump and his allies would face greater costs and continued defeats. He accused Trump of neglecting U.S. national interests and claimed that Washington’s close alignment with Israel would drag it deeper into conflict.

The remarks came amid rising tensions in the Middle East and ongoing strain in Iran-U.S. relations, reflecting Tehran’s increasingly assertive tone in the face of regional and international pressure.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Friday, according to Iranian state media. The two officials discussed Iran’s ongoing diplomatic efforts and new initiatives aimed at halting the war. Their talks, which continued into the night, also focused on regional security conditions and measures to prevent further escalation of conflict.

Reports said both sides exchanged views on recent diplomatic steps taken to stop the spread of war and end the ongoing hostilities. The meeting highlighted the importance of coordinated regional efforts to maintain stability amid rising tensions.

In recent weeks, Islamabad has intensified its mediation role between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan has previously maintained communication channels to help ease U.S.-Iran tensions. Earlier, Araghchi had visited Islamabad for talks with Munir on ceasefire prospects, peace negotiations, and regional stability.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the failure of the United States to fulfill its commitments, along with what he described as betrayal and excessive demands, led to the collapse of recent diplomatic discussions. He made the remarks during a telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday.

Araghchi further cited repeated U.S. betrayals of diplomacy, military aggression against Iran, contradictory positions, and recurring excessive demands as additional reasons for the breakdown. Despite deep mistrust toward Washington, he emphasized that Iran had reentered the diplomatic process with seriousness and responsibility, aiming for a fair and reasonable outcome.

In the same conversation, the UN Secretary-General reiterated his opposition to the use of force against any nation’s sovereignty or territorial integrity and stressed adherence to the UN Charter and diplomatic means to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Mediators have stepped up efforts to prevent the collapse of the month-long ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. Pakistani military chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday with a delegation, signaling heightened diplomatic activity as fears of renewed conflict grow. Qatar has also sent officials to Iran to support negotiations, though the timing of their visit remains unclear.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said deep differences persist between the two sides, emphasizing that the current focus is solely on halting hostilities. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Sweden, acknowledged some progress but noted that diplomats have yet to reach a final agreement. The talks remain stalled over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

US officials maintain cautious optimism but warn that the situation is fragile. President Trump has delayed a major strike on Iran at the request of Gulf leaders seeking more time for diplomacy. Any deal is expected to hinge on issues including enriched uranium stockpiles and freedom of navigation through the Hormuz Strait.

Negotiations to reopen the Hormuz Strait in exchange for lifting US sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets have reached a decisive stage, according to reports. A Qatari mediation team has urgently arrived in Tehran to finalize a memorandum of understanding that could pave the way for 30 days of nuclear-related discussions. The United States has maintained that Iran will not be allowed to impose tolls on commercial vessels passing through the strait.

Qatar, long regarded as a skilled regional mediator, had not previously taken a direct role in the US-Iran standoff, which was earlier handled by Oman and more recently Pakistan. Pakistan’s army chief is also expected in Tehran, while Iran remains cautious about the prospects of major progress. Meanwhile, US media have reported that Washington is considering new military action against Iran, though no final decision has been made.

Iran has formed the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to regulate maritime routes and tolls, a move opposed by the US and several Gulf states. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have urged ships to avoid contact with the Iranian authority, warning that Tehran’s plan could set a dangerous precedent for regional maritime control.

International efforts to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran have intensified, with the presence of a Qatari delegation in Tehran underscoring the sensitivity of the current diplomatic moment. Abdullah Bandar Al-Etaibi, an assistant professor at Qatar University, shared this assessment, noting the significance of Qatar’s involvement alongside Pakistan, which has been acting as a key mediator.

In a post on social media platform X, Al-Etaibi stated that several central issues remain unresolved, including the future of the Strait of Hormuz, limits on uranium enrichment, and the mechanisms for linking de-escalation to enforceable guarantees. He emphasized that Qatar’s role does not replace Pakistan’s mediation but rather expands trust and helps prevent communication channels from collapsing.

Al-Etaibi warned that the situation stands at a critical juncture, where either a preliminary agreement could open a political path while preserving the image of all parties, or a failure could escalate tensions further.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Tehran, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim. The two ministers reviewed the latest proposals intended to resolve remaining disagreements between the United States and Iran. Iranian state media IRNA reported that Naqvi also met President Masoud Pezeshkian, who praised Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Tehran is currently examining a new US proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The proposal seeks to formally conclude hostilities and establish a broader framework for addressing unresolved disputes. One of the key outstanding issues remains the status of the Strait of Hormuz.

The meetings highlight ongoing diplomatic efforts involving regional and international stakeholders to reduce tensions and pursue a structured dialogue between Iran and the United States.

Iran has strongly condemned a joint US-Israeli attack on the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a historic medical research center in Tehran, calling it a clear war crime. The statement came from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who said the assault targeted Iran’s civilian health, science, and basic survival rights. The attack reportedly occurred in March and left the facility completely inoperative.

Baghaei’s remarks followed a report in the medical journal The Lancet, which warned that the destruction of the institute posed a major threat to regional health security. According to the journal, the World Health Organization confirmed that the institute was rendered fully nonfunctional after the bombing and could no longer provide health services.

The report also noted that Iran’s public health system was already fragile due to years of international sanctions, and the airstrike further devastated its capacity to serve the population.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has released videos showing rescue operations following US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran. The footage, made public for the first time, depicts volunteers and workers pulling survivors from the rubble of multi-story residential buildings destroyed before the current ceasefire took effect.

According to a social media post by the IRCS, its relief teams rescued more than 7,200 people alive from beneath the debris between February 28 and April 8, during the period of active conflict. The videos highlight the scale of destruction and the humanitarian response amid the attacks.

The IRCS’s disclosure provides a rare glimpse into the aftermath of the strikes and the extent of civilian rescue efforts prior to the ceasefire.

Iran and Oman are continuing discussions on imposing tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, despite warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the waterway should remain free and described it as an international passage, rejecting any toll imposition. The Trump administration has condemned Iran’s potential move to charge for transit through the strait.

In an interview with Bloomberg in Paris, Iran’s ambassador to France, Mohammad Amin-Nejad, said both Iran and Oman must combine their capabilities to ensure maritime security and manage navigation efficiently. He added that providing these services would incur costs, and those benefiting from the traffic should contribute their share. Amin-Nejad emphasized that the proposed system would be transparent and aimed at addressing underlying issues affecting the region.

The discussions highlight ongoing tensions over control and security in one of the world’s most strategic maritime routes, with Iran and Oman seeking a cooperative framework despite U.S. opposition.

A Bloomberg News report, citing unnamed sources, claims that Iran has destroyed more than two dozen US MQ-9 Reaper drones since the start of the current war. The estimated financial loss is around one billion dollars, representing about 20 percent of the Pentagon’s total Reaper drone fleet before the conflict. The report states that many drones were shot down by Iran’s air defense systems, while others were destroyed on the ground in missile attacks on US military installations or lost during operations.

According to a person directly familiar with the information, at least 42 US military aircraft have been damaged or destroyed during the war. A US Congress report cited in the article estimates total American military equipment losses at approximately 2.6 billion dollars.

The report, sourced from Al Jazeera and Bloomberg, highlights the scale of US military losses but does not specify the exact timeline or battlefield locations of the incidents.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that if Iran proceeds with its plan to impose a toll in the Strait of Hormuz, any potential agreement between Washington and Tehran would become virtually impossible. He said that introducing a new toll system in such a vital international waterway could raise concerns for both regional and global trade. Rubio also suggested that such a move would negatively affect the ongoing diplomatic atmosphere between the two nations.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical routes for energy supply, with a large number of oil and gas tankers passing through daily. Analysts believe that any new restrictions or additional costs in this area could impact international markets. However, Iran has not yet issued any detailed official comment regarding the possible toll plan.

Following Rubio’s remarks, discussions have intensified over the future of US-Iran relations, though no immediate diplomatic responses were reported.