Pezeshkian says Iran’s response exceeded US, Israeli expectations

West Asia War News Live: Tehran is tightening its grip over the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has now warned that all vessels must follow designated Iranian shipping routes and coordinate with the Iranian navy before transiting the strategic waterway. It said any new navigation route announced without Tehran’s approval was “unacceptable and dangerous”.The maritime warning came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Gulf allies uneasy over Washington’s proposed agreement with Iran, saying during meetings in the UAE and Kuwait that the US would “not do anything that undermines the security” of its longstanding regional partners.

Rubio’s Gulf tour comes as Washington tries to shore up support for the tentative deal while negotiations continue over sanctions, Iran’s nuclear programme and long-term regional security.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Washington of sending mixed signals on the memorandum of understanding to end the war, saying contradictory statements from US officials would only deepen Iranian distrust. He insisted the principle of “commitment for commitment” required both sides to fully honour the agreement’s terms.

Back in Washington, President Donald Trump is facing mounting political pressure. His administration has asked Congress for more than $87 billion in additional funding, even as some Republican lawmakers questioned the war’s direction during a closed-door meeting, Reuters reported.

Senator Bill Cassidy said Americans deserved greater transparency about the administration’s strategy.

Follow CNBC-TV18’s live blog for the latest developments from the US-Iran negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel-Lebanon tensions.