Iran says ‘enemy’ weapons shipments will not cross Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Sunday that Tehran will no longer allow “enemy” military equipment to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We had given up our right of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and we previously allowed the passage of military equipment that was intended to be used against us through the Strait of Hormuz. We will not permit that again,” he said, according to Al Jazeera.
Russia shares China’s position on Strait of Hormuz, envoy says
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, has backed China’s call for a permanent ceasefire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.
Read: Trump says Iran has interest in reaching deal
“Russia fully shares such an approach,” Ulyanov said in a post on X, referencing Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s comments.
Wang had said China believes a solution to issues in the Strait of Hormuz “lies in achieving a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire” between Washington and Tehran, and that President Xi Jinping had emphasised in his talks with Trump last week “that force cannot solve problems and dialogue is the only right path”.
The comments came as Bahrain and the US seek support for a resolution at the United Nations demanding Iran stop attacks and laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatari, Saudi FMs discuss US-Iran ceasefire in phone call
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has held a phone call with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to a statement from Doha, Al Jazeera reported.
The two officials discussed bilateral ties and regional developments, including the ceasefire between the US and Iran, as well as de-escalation efforts, the statement said.
Sheikh Mohammed called on all parties to respond to ongoing mediation efforts to address the roots of the crisis through dialogue, aiming for a sustainable agreement that would prevent renewed escalation.
USS Gerald Ford returns home after 326-day deployment
The USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, dispatched to the Middle East ahead of the outbreak of war with Iran, returned to the United States on Saturday after a 326-day deployment, AFP quoted the Pentagon as saying.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was present in Norfolk, Virginia, to welcome the aircraft carrier home, the US military said on X.
Over 4,500 warriors from the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group—serving aboard the USS Ford, USS Bainbridge, and USS Mahan—have completed a 326-day historic deployment marked by extraordinary endurance and service, including the birth of 76 children during the deployment.… pic.twitter.com/zay5uGirTZ
It was the longest deployment for a US carrier strike group since the Vietnam War.
The Ford’s deployment saw it take part in US operations in the Caribbean, where Washington’s forces have carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, interdicted sanctioned tankers and seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
It was then dispatched to the Middle East to participate in combat operations against Iran.
Kazakhstan sends 30 wagons of aid to Iran
Kazakhstan delivered 30 wagons of humanitarian aid to Iran, according to Tasnim news agency, as the country continues to grapple with a severe economic crisis following months of war with the US and Israel, Al Jazeera reported.
The shipment, sent on the orders of Kazakhstan’s president, included canned meat, sugar, flour, medical equipment and medicine. The aid was handed over to the Iranian Red Crescent Society at the Sarakhs railway station.
Kazakh ambassador to Iran, Ontalap Onalbayev, said at the ceremony that “Iran is one of Kazakhstan’s important political, economic and humanitarian partners in the Middle East and the Islamic world,” adding, “True friends are known in difficult times.”
War-related disruptions in Iran have driven annual inflation to about 53.7%, with food prices surging more than 115% compared with the previous year, according to Iran’s official statistics centre.