Iran-US war latest: Tehran vows ‘no place for retreat’ over Strait of Hormuz despite Vance claiming progress

Iran has further tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz by cutting deals with Iraq and Pakistan to ship oil and liquefied natural gas from the region, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

An army spokesperson said that supervision of the vital shipping route could generate twice as much revenue as Iran’s oil income.

“After this war ends, there will be no place for retreat,” the spokesperson said, according to comments carried by ISNA news agency.

But US vice president JD Vance insisted that progress was being made in negotiations.

“The fundamental question is, do we make enough ⁠progress that we satisfy the President's red line?” he told reporters at the White House.

“And the red line is very simple. He needs to feel confident that we put a number of protections in place such that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

Meanwhile, Israel is concerned that Donald Trump could get fed up with the deadlocked crisis in the Middle East and cut a “bad deal” with Iran, according to a report. The US leader is currently on a trip to Beijing to meet Xi Jinping.

• ‘Terrified’ family of British couple jailed in Iran can’t get in contact with them
• Trump’s remarkable military failure shows abject fiasco of his Iran war
• Trump brushes off Iran war’s cost at home: ‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation’
• Why Modi is asking people in India to stop buying gold

Trump reiterates that US ‘cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon’

Donald Trump has said his top priority is stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, calling it “the only thing that matters”.

He made the comment at the White House before leaving for a trip to China.

“I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” he added.

Meanwhile, Trump also claimed that he is “not even a little bit” motivated by rising costs affecting the US economy, including inflation and fuel prices.

He added that the economic pressure on Americans from the Iran war was not influencing his push for a peace deal with Tehran.

“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody,” he said.

Family of British couple in detention in Iran fear for their safety

The family of British couple Lindsay Foreman and Craig Foreman say they have lost all contact with them and fear for their safety.

The couple, both 53 and from East Sussex, were arrested in Iran in January 2025 during a round-the-world motorcycle trip.

They are being held in Evin Prison after being sentenced to 10 years on espionage charges, which they deny.

Their family believes Iranian authorities cut off their phone access after the couple publicly criticised their detention and said they felt abandoned.

Their son, Joe Bennett, said the family is “terrified” and has not heard from Lindsay for more than a week. “We simply do not know if my mum and Craig are safe.

“Craig told us that they might have to stop eating if their calls were taken away.

“I have not spoken to my mum for over a week now. Every day of silence makes it worse. We don’t know what is happening to them and we are terrified for them.”

The British government previously described the couple’s sentences as “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable”.

The couple’s phone access was reportedly cut off after they gave a media interview saying they felt abandoned in detention.

Netanyahu claims he visited UAE at the height of war in Iran as Emirates’ foreign ministry calls the claim ‘baseless’

Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he secretly visited the UAE during the Iran war and met UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.“This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said on Wednesday night.

However, the UAE foreign ministry denied the visit, calling the claims “baseless” and insisting ties with Israel are conducted openly under the Abraham Accords.

Reuters reported the alleged meeting took place in the UAE city of Al-Ain and lasted several hours.

Briefing: What we know on the 76th day of US-Israel war on Iran

• Iran has strengthened its control over the Strait of Hormuz by making oil and LNG shipping deals with Iraq and Pakistan, according to Reuters.
• US vice president JD Vance said negotiations with Iran were making progress. He said the key US demand is ensuring Iran can “never have a nuclear weapon”.
• Donald Trump is currently in Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping amid the crisis.
• Israel reportedly fears Trump could eventually agree to a “bad deal” with Iran if diplomacy remains stalled.
• The EU said it does not expect a major short-term jet fuel supply crisis from the conflict, though longer-term risks remain.
• Iran accused Kuwait of unlawfully attacking and detaining four Iranian citizens near a Gulf island reportedly used by US forces.
• Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon killed civilians, including children, as tensions with Hezbollah continue.
• The UAE publicly called for diplomacy with Iran, despite reports alleging it secretly carried out strikes during the conflict.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies