Iran will not relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz without a conflict, according to Emma Salisbury, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. In an analysis given to Al Jazeera, she said Iran’s new maritime protocol signals the country’s firm stance on maintaining authority over the strategically vital waterway.

Salisbury explained that Iran views control of the Strait as a major bargaining tool, given its influence on the global economy and international trade in oil, fertilizer, and gas. She noted that if Iran implements its proposed toll system, ships paying the toll could face sanctions, creating what she described as a significant commercial risk.

She further warned that threats such as sea mines and missile attacks from Iran remain possible, though enhanced naval security could reduce some of these risks.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that recent attacks by the United States and Israel were intended to spread insecurity within Iran. He made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan’s interior minister, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency.

Pezeshkian said the objective behind the attacks was to support terrorist groups and create internal instability in Iran. He credited the cooperation and responsibility of neighboring countries for thwarting the plan, describing their actions as valuable and commendable. The president specifically thanked Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan for preventing their territories from being used against Iran.

The comments were reported by Fars News Agency and cited by Al Jazeera, reflecting Tehran’s emphasis on regional solidarity in countering external threats.

The United States has presented five main conditions to Iran for reaching a potential agreement to end ongoing hostilities, according to a report by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency published on Sunday. One of Washington’s central demands is that Iran be allowed to operate only one nuclear facility. Other conditions include refusing to pay any compensation or penalties, transferring 400 kilograms of Iranian uranium to the United States, keeping 25 percent of Iran’s frozen assets unreleased, and making ceasefire implementation across all battlefronts contingent on negotiation outcomes.

On the other hand, Iran’s main conditions reportedly include ending conflicts in all battle zones including Lebanon, lifting sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, compensating for war damages, and recognizing Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The report noted that regional tensions escalated after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israel and U.S. allies in the Gulf and to close the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire was brokered through Pakistan on April 8, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump later extended the ceasefire indefinitely.

Iran has appointed its parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as the country’s special envoy for China-related affairs, according to a report by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency published on Sunday. The report stated that Ghalibaf will serve as a coordinator among various national institutions on matters concerning China.

The appointment was proposed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and approved by the country’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Sources cited by Tasnim indicated that the nature of Ghalibaf’s appointment gives him a different level of authority and responsibility compared to previous representatives.

The report did not clarify whether Ghalibaf will continue to serve as the speaker of Iran’s parliament while performing his new duties as special envoy.

Mutual trust between the United States and Iran has fallen to zero, according to Alan Eyre, a former US negotiator and analyst at the Middle East Institute. Speaking about the state of relations, Eyre said there is no secret formula for negotiating with Iranians, who are well-informed and skilled in their fields. He emphasized that meaningful agreements require time and sustained dialogue, expressing doubt that the Trump administration was prepared to invest the necessary effort for a comprehensive nuclear deal.

Eyre stressed the importance of confidence-building measures to manage tensions, noting that full trust is never a prerequisite for talks but some level of confidence is essential. He described Iran’s current leadership as more hardline and militaristic than previous governments, believing that Washington and Israel ultimately seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic. According to Eyre, Tehran fears that any ceasefire could be used by its adversaries to regroup and prepare for future attacks.

He concluded that rebuilding even minimal trust is vital to restoring momentum in negotiations between the two nations.

Iran has finalized a plan to collect tolls or fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route in the Persian Gulf. Lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said the initiative includes a professional strategy to manage maritime traffic along a designated route. The plan will primarily benefit commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran, which will receive specialized services in exchange for the fees.

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that Iran will not allow military equipment from enemy countries to pass through the strait. Deputy Speaker Ali Nikzad earlier noted that Iran’s legal framework for the waterway was developed considering Tehran’s own conditions, international law, and the rights of neighboring states. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had previously unveiled a new control zone and a safer navigation route closer to Iran’s coast.

The forthcoming toll system marks a significant move in Iran’s management of the Strait of Hormuz, signaling tighter control over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

Iranian media and hardline political circles are highlighting the submarine internet cables running beneath the Strait of Hormuz as a potential tool of strategic pressure. The discussion has gained traction amid rising military tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Gulf nations. Reports from outlets close to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Fars News Agency and Mashregh News, describe these cables as vital to global data, communication, and financial networks linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

According to Fars News, networks such as Falcon, Gulf Bridge International, and TGN-Gulf connect Gulf states to global infrastructure, supporting major technology companies and financial systems like SWIFT. Iranian lawmaker Ehsan Ghazizadeh Hashemi told state media that legislators are drafting an action plan to regulate submarine cable activities in the Hormuz region, potentially requiring government approval and service charges for installation or maintenance.

Analysts cited in the report note that enforcing such control would face legal and technical challenges under international maritime law. However, Iran’s focus on digital infrastructure signals a shift toward integrating data networks into its broader geopolitical strategy.

Iran’s judiciary has ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to 51 individuals accused of espionage and cooperation with hostile states in Yazd Province. The report, carried by the IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency, stated that the directive targets both domestic and foreign-based individuals.

According to the report, 20 of the accused are currently inside Iran, while 31 are residing abroad. No further details were provided regarding the nature of the allegations, the specific cases involved, or any evidence supporting the charges.

The judiciary’s announcement did not include information about possible legal proceedings or the identities of those affected, leaving the scope and implications of the decision unclear.

Iran’s government plans to gradually lift online restrictions to ensure broader access to the global internet, according to Elias Hazrati, head of the country’s Information Council. He stated that the government’s policy is to expand internet use for citizens and to ease online controls over time.

Hazrati added that while external adversaries sought to force Iran into unconditional surrender, the Iranian people have shown willingness for dialogue without capitulation. He emphasized that in the post-war context, the government should adopt a broader perspective and enable wider citizen participation in governance.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that such remarks may signal a potential shift in Iran’s long-standing digital policy, though the pace and extent of any relaxation remain unclear.

Iran has reiterated that it will not relinquish control over the Strait of Hormuz and maintains that the waterway does not constitute international waters. According to Iranian authorities, the strait falls solely within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and therefore should be managed exclusively by these two countries. Tehran has emphasized that its stance on this issue remains unchanged.

The report notes that two rounds of technical discussions have already taken place between Tehran and Muscat regarding the matter. However, Oman continues to recognize the Strait of Hormuz as an international maritime route, while Iran remains firm in its position that it is not. Iranian officials have also stated that even in the event of a peace agreement or settlement, control of the strait will remain in Iran’s hands.

The dispute has become a major source of tension among warring parties in the region, highlighting the strategic and political sensitivity surrounding the control of this vital maritime passage.

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations has warned that countries co-sponsoring a US-drafted resolution on the Strait of Hormuz will face consequences. The statement, issued on social media platform X on May 16, 2026, said that if Washington provokes new military tensions, the supporting nations will share international responsibility for the results.

According to Iran, the United States is using the list of co-sponsoring countries to create a false image of international support for its illegal actions and military adventurism. The Iranian mission emphasized that no political excuse or diplomatic shield can absolve those countries from accountability.

The US draft resolution, backed by Bahrain and several other Gulf states, calls for an end to Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of free navigation in the Gulf’s maritime zones.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed gratitude to Pope Leo for taking what he described as a 'moral, rational, and just' position regarding the ongoing war situation involving Iran. In a message published by the state news agency IRNA, Pezeshkian said that attacks by the United States and Israel were not only directed against Iran but also against international law and humanitarian values.

He asserted that Iran’s actions were carried out within a framework of legitimate self-defense, targeting what he called the positions and interests of aggressor forces. Pezeshkian added that the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz stemmed from attacks on Iran, the use of Gulf countries’ territories and airspace for assaults, and a U.S. maritime blockade. He reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to diplomacy, citing Pakistan’s mediation and talks held in Islamabad, and urged the international community to adopt a realistic and fair approach.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo’s stance, alleging that Iran had killed thousands of unarmed protesters and warning against its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

FIFA is set to meet Iranian football officials in Istanbul to address concerns over Iran’s participation in the upcoming World Cup. According to Reuters, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström will hold the meeting on Saturday in Turkey’s capital. Discussions will focus on Iran’s participation, as well as security and logistical matters related to the tournament.

Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States. However, recent political and security developments have raised uncertainty about the team’s ability to take part. FIFA intends to reassure Iran that it will be able to participate and that all necessary arrangements will be ensured.

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Patients across Iran are facing severe difficulties obtaining essential medicines due to shortages and rising prices, according to the state news agency IRNA. The report said shortages have affected drugs such as Clidinium-C, certain antibiotics, Ascentra, and Estradiol Valerate. Health officials, however, continue to deny claims of a major crisis in the pharmaceutical market.

IRNA reported that a three-sheet pack of 2 mg Estradiol Valerate, used in infertility and other treatments, officially costs about 840,000 rials, or roughly 47 cents, but is being sold on the black market for between 5 million and 17 million rials, equivalent to $2.80 to $9.40. A woman undergoing IVF treatment in Tehran said she searched pharmacies for over seven hours to find only three sheets of the drug, criticizing the government for promoting childbirth while basic IVF medicines remain scarce.

The report attributed the disruptions in production and pricing to foreign exchange fluctuations, international sanctions, raw material import issues, energy costs, liquidity shortages, and funding gaps in the insurance sector. Some drug prices were raised before insurance systems updated their rates, forcing patients to pay more out of pocket.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has criticized the United States by referring to it as a “decaying civilization.” He made the remark by quoting a passage from Martinican poet and political thinker Aimé Césaire’s renowned anti-colonial work, “Discourse on Colonialism.” The statement was reported on May 16, 2026. Césaire’s 1950 text sharply condemned European imperialism and the moral contradictions embedded within colonial civilization.

The quoted passage describes a civilization as decaying when it fails to solve its own problems, sick when it ignores its most pressing issues, and dying when it betrays its own principles. Baghaei’s use of this literary reference was aimed at framing his critique of the United States within a broader philosophical and moral context.

According to the report, Baghaei has previously drawn on literary figures to interpret geopolitical events. In an earlier opinion piece published by Al Jazeera, he invoked the 12th-century Persian poet Farid ud-Din Attar to explain a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.