US-Israel-Iran War Live News: The war in the Middle East is entering another critical phase as military claims, diplomatic efforts, and pressure over the Strait of Hormuz continue to shape the situation. Iran’s army chief has claimed that Tehran prevented its adversaries from achieving their main military objectives, while US forces say they have cleared Iranian sea mines from international shipping lanes.
At the same time, Qatar is trying to keep diplomacy alive through talks with Iranian officials. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi described discussions with Qatar as “creative”, while Doha has pushed for the restoration of normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Says ‘Enemy’ Failed to Achieve War Goals
Iran’s Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami has claimed that Tehran emerged victorious because its adversaries failed to accomplish their military objectives.
Hatami said the opposing side wanted to destroy Iran’s drone and missile capabilities. However, he said Iranian forces continued using their missile and drone stockpiles with the “utmost intensity until the last moment”, according to reports citing Iran’s Fars news agency.
He explained Iran’s interpretation of victory by saying:
“In military logic, the aggressor and aggressor sides are considered victorious when they achieve their goals, but in defensive warfare, the failure of the enemy to achieve its goals means the victory of the defender.”
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: US Says It Cleared Iranian Mines From Strait of Hormuz
The United States says its forces have removed Iranian sea mines from internationally recognised shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command commander Admiral Bradley Cooper said American forces used Navy divers, SEALs and air power to clear the shipping lanes. CENTCOM described the operation as a major milestone after months of mine-related threats.
The US military has said the cleared routes can now support international commercial shipping. However, the wider dispute over access to the waterway remains unresolved. The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the most important pressure points in the conflict because of its role in global energy transportation.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Abbas Araqchi Calls Qatar Talks ‘Creative’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has described his latest discussions with Qatar as “creative” as regional mediators attempt to reopen a diplomatic channel between Tehran and Washington.
Araqchi also indicated that restarting diplomacy remains possible if Washington changes its approach. He said putting diplomacy back on track “isn’t impossible” and argued that the United States needs to recognise that pressure does not work.
Qatar has emerged as one of the key intermediaries in the effort to reduce tensions. Doha has previously worked with Pakistan on diplomatic efforts involving Iran and the United States.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Qatar Prime Minister Meets Iranian Leaders in Tehran
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani travelled to Tehran for talks with senior Iranian officials.
He met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and senior security officials. The meetings focused on reducing tensions and creating conditions for renewed dialogue.
Qatar has also pushed for the restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomatic effort comes as Iran and Oman discuss arrangements for a temporary shipping corridor through the waterway. Tehran has indicated that it wants Washington to meet certain conditions before fully reopening the strait.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Hormuz Reopening Becomes Key Diplomatic Issue
The Strait of Hormuz has moved to the centre of the latest diplomatic push.
Before the war, the waterway carried roughly 20% of global oil supplies. Since the conflict began, shipping activity has fallen sharply as Iran has restricted vessels and threatened ships that transit without its approval. Reuters reported that tracking estimates had placed activity at only around 5% to 15% of normal levels.
Iran has agreed to prepare conditions for reopening the waterway, while mediators are pressing Tehran to respect freedom of navigation.
The United States, meanwhile, says its forces have cleared the international shipping lanes of Iranian mines.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Egypt Addresses Banque Misr Sanctions
Egypt’s central bank has said US measures against Banque Misr affect only the bank’s UAE branches and do not extend to its operations in Egypt.
The US Treasury targeted Banque Misr’s UAE operations over alleged Iran-related financial activity. Washington said the UAE unit processed about $1.8 billion in transactions involving companies linked to Iranian shadow-banking networks between January 2024 and June 2026.
The Central Bank of Egypt said it and Egypt’s Foreign Ministry remain in contact with US authorities regarding the measures.
Egypt also stressed that the restrictions concern the UAE branch’s access to US dollar correspondent banking services and do not affect Banque Misr’s Egyptian operations or other Egyptian banks.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: What Happens Next?
The next phase will depend heavily on whether the diplomatic push can produce a workable arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar and other regional mediators are attempting to create conditions for renewed US-Iran dialogue, while Tehran continues to link the reopening of the waterway to its demands.
At the same time, Washington is maintaining military and economic pressure on Iran. The US declaration that international shipping lanes are free of Iranian mines could help improve maritime movement, but the wider confrontation remains unresolved.
With military claims continuing alongside diplomatic activity, the Strait of Hormuz remains the clearest test of whether the latest mediation efforts can produce a broader reduction in tensions.
