US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran has made a significant change to its national security leadership as tensions with the US remain high over the Strait of Hormuz. Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appointed veteran military figure Mohsen Rezaei as his representative to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammed Bagher Zolghadr.
The Mohsen Rezaei appointment comes as Tehran and Washington remain divided over the future of the strategic waterway. US President Donald Trump has reportedly demanded the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has linked the move to several demands, including compensation and changes to US military deployments.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Mohsen Rezaei Appointed to Key Security Position
Mojtaba Khamenei appointed Mohsen Rezaei as his representative to the Supreme National Security Council, according to a decree published on Sunday.
Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr in the position.
The new appointment gives a veteran of Iran’s military establishment a prominent role in the country’s top security decision-making body. Rezaei previously served as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has remained an influential figure in Iran’s security and political establishment.
The appointment comes as Iran faces intense pressure from Washington and negotiates with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Who is Mohsen Rezaei?
Mohsen Rezaei is a veteran Iranian military commander and senior political figure who has spent decades working within Iran’s security establishment.
He served as commander of the IRGC from 1981 to 1997, including throughout much of the Iran-Iraq War. After leaving the IRGC command, Rezaei moved into senior political and government positions.
He later served as secretary of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council and held the position of vice president for economic affairs. Rezaei has continued to maintain close links with Iran’s military and security establishment. In March 2026, Mojtaba Khamenei appointed him as a military adviser.
His latest appointment gives him another important role at a time when Iran is dealing with the US military campaign, economic pressure and the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Why Rezaei’s Appointment Matters
The timing of Rezaei’s appointment makes the move particularly significant. Iran currently faces pressure from the United States while trying to negotiate a mechanism for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Rezaei’s long experience with the IRGC and Iran’s security apparatus could give him an important role in discussions involving military strategy, regional security and the country’s response to US pressure.
His appointment also comes as Tehran continues to reject Washington’s description of the current diplomatic situation.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Trump Links Iran ‘Victory’ to Hormuz Reopening
Trump has repeatedly made the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz a central issue in his approach to Iran. US officials have indicated that Trump had considered declaring victory in the conflict if Iran agreed to fully reopen the waterway.
Reports have also suggested that he was prepared to walk away without securing a broader nuclear agreement. However, Iran’s demands have made that objective more difficult.
Tehran has called for billions of dollars in compensation, the withdrawal of American troops from the region and an end to the US naval blockade before restoring normal traffic through the strategic waterway.
The dispute has therefore expanded beyond shipping and now involves military deployments, economic sanctions and Iran’s wider security demands.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Strait of Hormuz Traffic Remains Restricted
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted as security concerns continue. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency has described the threat level in the Middle East as “severe” and reported continued incidents involving commercial vessels.
“IRGC attacks and harassment activity persisted, including hailing, UAV overflight and targeted surveillance of commercial ships,” UKMTO said. The agency also reported that a UAE tanker was hit in the waterway on Saturday.
Commercial traffic has fallen to very low levels, increasing concerns among shipping companies and energy markets.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: US Blockade Adds Pressure on Iran
The US naval blockade has become another major point of disagreement. Washington wants Iran to reopen the waterway, while Tehran wants the US to withdraw forces involved in the blockade before agreeing to a full reopening.
Iran has also demanded compensation for damage caused during the conflict and changes to US economic restrictions. This has created a difficult negotiating position for both sides.
The US wants Iran to make concessions before easing pressure, while Iran wants Washington to remove some of that pressure before changing its position on Hormuz.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Trump Warns Iran Over Strait of Hormuz
Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran about the consequences of keeping the waterway restricted. Earlier this week, he warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if the Strait of Hormuz did not reopen “very soon”.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump also claimed that Washington was “having very good discussions” with Iran. At the Oval Office, he said Tehran had a “last chance before decapitation” and claimed the two sides were discussing reopening the Strait of Hormuz “literally by tomorrow”.
Iran has denied that direct talks with Washington are taking place. That contradiction has added uncertainty over the status of negotiations and the prospects of a quick reopening.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Raises Stakes Over Hormuz
Iran has attached several conditions to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran wants Washington to end military operations against Iran and its regional allies, withdraw forces involved in the blockade, compensate Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and unfreeze Iranian assets.
Iran has also demanded an end to US threats. These demands go far beyond a simple shipping agreement and connect the future of Hormuz to the broader US-Iran conflict. For Washington, accepting all of Tehran’s conditions could represent a major diplomatic concession.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Any prolonged disruption can affect oil and gas shipments, shipping costs and global energy markets.
That makes the waterway a major source of leverage for both Tehran and Washington. Iran can use restrictions on shipping as negotiating pressure, while the US can use its naval presence and economic sanctions to push Tehran towards concessions.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Can Trump and Iran Reach a Hormuz Deal?
A deal remains possible, but major disagreements continue to separate the two sides.
Iran wants Washington to meet its demands before fully reopening the waterway. Trump, meanwhile, has made the reopening of Hormuz one of the clearest signs of progress in the conflict.
Oman has emerged as an important intermediary, with Tehran and Muscat discussing arrangements for commercial shipping. However, Iran continues to deny that it has entered direct negotiations with Washington.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: What’s Next?
The coming days could determine whether the Strait of Hormuz crisis moves towards a limited shipping agreement or becomes another major escalation point in the US-Iran confrontation.
Rezaei’s appointment adds a veteran security figure to Iran’s top decision-making structure at a critical moment. At the same time, Trump continues to pressure Tehran to reopen Hormuz, while Iran insists that Washington must first address its demands.
For now, shipping remains restricted, diplomatic claims from Washington and Tehran remain contradictory, and the Strait of Hormuz continues to sit at the centre of the wider US-Israel-Iran conflict.
