What to know about the Iran war today:
o Following a call with several Middle Eastern leaders Friday afternoon, President Trump said that a peace deal with Iran had been "largely negotiated," but noted that "Final aspects and details of the Deal" were "currently being discussed and will be announced shortly."

o Mr. Trump told CBS News earlier Saturday that negotiators for U.S. and Iran are "getting a lot closer" to finalizing an agreement between the two countries with the latest proposal including a process to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the unfreezing of some Iranian assets held in foreign banks, and a continuation of negotiations.

o The Trump administration on Friday was preparing for a fresh round of military strikes against Iran, according to sources with direct knowledge of the planning, even as diplomacy continued on a potential peace deal.

6:04 PM / May 23, 2026
Iran disputes Trump's statement that peace proposal will involve reopening Strait of Hormuz
Iran's regime on Saturday evening disputed President Trump's earlier contention that a proposed peace deal would involve the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway through which 20% of the world's oil traversed before the war.

In a Truth Social post, Mr. Trump said that the two sides were nearing an agreement under which "the Strait of Hormuz will be opened."

However, in a statement released by Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Iran said that "in the event of a possible agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will still be under Iranian management."

Fars also alleged that while it had agreed to allow ship traffic to return to prewar levels, "this does not in any way mean 'free passage' to the pre-war situation."

Speaking to reporters Friday in Sweden, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. and its allies must "have a Plan B" if Iran refuses to reopen the strait, whose near-total closure has created an energy crisis and led to skyrocketing oil and gas prices worldwide.

5:04 PM / May 23, 2026
Trump says agreement with Iran "has been largely negotiated"
In a Truth Social post late Saturday afternoon, President Trump said that a potential peace deal with Iran had been "largely negotiated," but was still "subject to finalization between" the U.S., Iran and "various other" Middle Eastern nations.

He also noted that under the terms of the agreement, "the Strait of Hormuz will be opened."

Mr. Trump confirmed that he took part in a call with several Middle Eastern leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.

He also said he took part in a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which he said "went very well."

"Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly," Mr. Trump said.

3:37 PM / May 23, 2026
Trump concludes call with Gulf leaders, sources say
President Trump's Saturday afternoon call with Gulf leaders has concluded, according to U.S. officials.

Counties invited to join the conference call with Mr. Trump to discuss Iran negotiations include Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar, sources familiar with the situation told CBS News.

2:39 PM / May 23, 2026
Wicker, head of Armed Services Committee, calls potential deal "a disaster"
Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, the chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, referred to a potential deal with Iran as "a disaster."

Wicker, like Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been a prominent critic of negotiating a deal and has pushed to restart widespread bombing of Iran.

"The rumored 60-day ceasefire — with the belief that Iran will ever engage in good faith — would be a disaster," Wicker wrote on X. "Everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught!"

Wicker said on Friday that Mr. Trump was "being ill advised to pursue a deal" and the decision would "define President Trump's legacy."

2:28 PM / May 23, 2026
Lindsey Graham questions why war started if Trump agrees to a deal, calls it "nightmare" for Israel
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham questioned on Saturday the wisdom of making a deal with Iran as news began to leak about a potential agreement.

"If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected from Iranian terrorism and Iran still possesses the capability to destroy major Gulf oil infrastructure, then Iran will be perceived as being a dominate force requiring a diplomatic solution," Graham wrote on X.

Graham, who has been one of the more prominent advocates for the U.S. resuming attacks on Iran, said a deal would cause a significant increase in Iran's power in the region.

"This combination of Iran being perceived as having the ability to terrorize the Strait in perpetuity and the ability [to] inflict massive damage to Gulf oil infrastructure is a major shift of the balance of power in the region and over time will be a nightmare for Israel," Graham continued.

"Also, it makes one wonder why the war started to begin with if these perceptions are accurate," Graham said. "I personally am a skeptic of the idea that Iran cannot be denied the ability to terrorize the Strait and the region cannot protect itself against Iranian military capability."

Graham added it was "important we get this right."

12:13 PM / May 23, 2026
Trump to speak to Gulf leaders on Saturday, sources say
President Trump is scheduled to speak with leaders of Gulf countries and other nations on Saturday afternoon in a conference call, three sources told CBS News.

The call is set to discuss the negotiations with Iran, according to U.S. officials familiar with the situation.

Sources previously told CBS News that Mr. Trump is mulling proposals and has not yet made up his mind. A regional official told CBS News that some leaders do not know what option Mr. Trump is leaning toward.

Mr. Trump told CBS News earlier Saturday that if the U.S. and Iran do not come to an agreement, "we're going to have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they're about to be hit."

12:06 PM / May 23, 2026
Trump says Iran and U.S. are "getting a lot closer" to deal
Iran and the United States are "getting a lot closer" to finalizing an agreement between the two countries, President Trump told CBS News on Saturday.

Sources familiar with the negotiations told CBS News that the latest proposal includes a process to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the unfreezing of some Iranian assets held in foreign banks, and a continuation of negotiations. Mr. Trump declined to provide specifics about the agreement in his interview with CBS, but said that "every day it gets better and better."

Mr. Trump did say that he believes the final agreement will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, adding that he "wouldn't even be talking about it" otherwise. Mr. Trump added that the agreement would also result in Iran's enriched uranium being "satisfactorily handled."

Sources told CBS News that Mr. Trump is still mulling proposals and has not made up his mind yet. The sources said he is consulting with advisers and talking to foreign leaders, including leaders from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

"I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want," Mr. Trump said.

11:23 AM / May 23, 2026
Iran says nuclear issue not part of initial framework with US
Iran said on Saturday that the nuclear issue was not part of an initial framework it was drafting to end the war with the United States.

"At this stage, we will not discuss the details of the nuclear issue... we have decided to prioritise an urgent issue for all of us: ending the war on all fronts including Lebanon," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state television.

He added that the nuclear file will be "subject to separate discussions" at a later stage.

10:59 AM / May 23, 2026
Pakistan calls meeting with Iranian officials "short but highly productive"
The latest round of discussions between Iranian leaders and Pakistani mediators was "short but highly productive," according to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani army.

"The engagements were held in a positive and constructive environment and contributed meaningfully towards the mediation process," the ISPR said. "The intensive negotiations over the last twenty four hours have resulted in encouraging progress towards a final understanding."

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who led the talks on Pakistan's side, met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi; and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who hasn't been seen in public since his father was killed on the first day of strikes, was apparently not involved in the discussions.

No specific details were offered on what the negotiations entailed.

10:23 AM / May 23, 2026
Rubio teases possibility of news on Iran negotiations soon
Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered comments on the negotiations with Iran before a formal dinner at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, on Saturday, but he didn't offer much hope about the prospects for success.

"There may be news later today. I don't have news at this very moment, but there might be some news a little later today," Rubio said, answering a question from reporters while entering the dinner at the Roosevelt House. "There may not be. I hope there will be, but I'm not sure yet."

He reiterated that progress had been made, but then immediately tempered expectations.

"There's been some progress done, some progress made, even as I speak to you now, there's some work being done," Rubio said. "There is a chance that, whether it's later today, tomorrow, in a couple days, we may have something to say, but this issue needs to be solved, as the president said, one way or another."

Rubio repeated President Trump's criteria for a deal, including stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, reopening the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and turning over enriched uranium.

"This problem will be solved, as the president's made clear, one way or the other," Rubio said. "We hope it's done through the diplomatic route. That's what we're working on and perhaps there will be something to talk about on that topic while I'm here on this visit at some point."

9:33 AM / May 23, 2026
U.S. blockade has now turned back 100 vessels
The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has now hit the century mark.

There have now been 100 commercial ships either entering or leaving Iranian ports redirected by the blockade, the U.S. Central Command said on Saturday. The U.S. highlighted the 15,000 service members and 200 aircraft and 20 warships that have taken part in the operation since it began on April 13.

"Our service members are doing extraordinary work," Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. "They have been highly effective by executing the mission with precision and professionalism, allowing zero trade into and out of Iranian ports which has squeezed Iran economically."

The U.S. also noted 25 humanitarian aid ships have been allowed to pass the blockade.

8:25 AM / May 23, 2026
Qatar's leader speaks to President Trump
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke to President Trump by phone on Saturday morning, according to the emir's office, known as the Amiri Diwan.

The conversation took place a little after 7 a.m. Eastern time, according to the Amiri Diwan.

No details on the conversation were provided immediately, but Qatar has been an ally of the U.S. and has been regularly targeted by Iran with missile and drone attacks in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Qatari officials joined Pakistani mediators in Tehran this weekend in an attempt to broker a peace deal and end the conflict.

8:03 AM / May 23, 2026
Rubio discussed Middle East conflict with Modi on India trip
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting India, spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the crisis in the Middle East on Saturday, specifically energy costs.

"The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed the current situation in the Middle East. The Secretary emphasized that the United States will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage and affirmed that U.S. energy products have the potential to diversify India's energy supply," according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

India is highly dependent on importing oil and gas from the Middle East. Only China imports more crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and 74% of all crude passing through the strait went to just four countries in the first quarter of 2025: China, India, Japan and South Korea.

Rubio also invited Modi to visit the White House, on President Trump's behalf.

A readout from the Indian side has yet to be released.

12:31 AM / May 23, 2026
Pakistan's army chief meets with Iranian officials in Tehran
Pakistan's army chief, a key negotiator in the U.S.-Iran peace talks, met with Iranian officials in Tehran Friday, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other Iranian officials "on the latest diplomatic efforts and initiatives to prevent escalation of tensions and end the war," Tasnim said.

Reuters reported Friday that a Qatari delegation had also traveled to Tehran to engage in talks with the Iranian regime. In its own statement, Iran's state-run ISNA news agency said the Qatari delegation had "joined the mediation efforts."

Along with Pakistan, Qatar — a critical U.S. ally that hosts the largest American military base in the Middle East — has also served as an intermediary in peace negotiations.

11:20 PM / May 22, 2026
U.N. conference to review nuclear proliferation treaty ends without deal
A four-week United Nations conference reviewing the treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons ended Friday without agreement as the U.S. and Iran sparred over Iran's nuclear program.

Vietnam's U.N. Ambassador Do Hung Viet, who chaired the conference, announced that there was no consensus among the 191 parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty on even a watered-down final document.

He told a news conference later that "no one blocked consensus." But he said "a very important reason" for the failure to reach an outcome was a provision in the final draft that said Iran "can never seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons."

It was the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the NPT, considered the cornerstone of global nonproliferation and disarmament. At the last treaty review in August 2022, Russia blocked agreement on a final document over its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and references to Moscow's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret at the failure when the "elevated risk posed by nuclear weapons demands urgent action," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. He appealed to all countries "to make full use of all available avenues of dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiation to reduce tensions, lower nuclear risks, and ultimately eliminate the nuclear threat."

The U.S. and Iran have clashed since the opening of the review conference on April 27. The U.S. has accused Iran of showing "contempt" for its commitments under the treaty, while Iran has said U.S. and Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities violated international law.

Iran is a party to the NPT, which requires countries to open all nuclear sites to inspection by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. But Iran has not given inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency access to nuclear sites that were bombed by the U.S. last June.

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Posted by Temmy
Today at 1:41am