Trump claims Washington is merely ‘semi-negotiating’ while Khamenei strengthens control.

US-Iran War Live Updates: President Donald Trump has stated that Washington is only partially involved in talks with Tehran, opting to wait for increased economic pressure on Iran before advancing discussions. His comments came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that no direct negotiations were occurring between the two nations, although intermediaries are still active in fostering conditions for future talks.

Araghchi further mentioned that discussions between Iran and Oman regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz are nearing completion, but emphasized that the waterway will not reopen until the US addresses Tehran’s demands, primarily the removal of the US naval blockade. The strait continues to be a critical point of contention due to its significance for global oil transport.

On the domestic front in Iran, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has designated Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as his representative to the Supreme National Security Council, thereby reinforcing the IRGC’s influence within the country’s primary security decision-making body.

In other regional news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially dismissed a US-negotiated peace proposal for Gaza, asserting that an Israeli withdrawal will not occur until Hamas is completely disarmed. Meanwhile, in Yemen, Iran-supported Houthi forces launched an assault on the Red Sea port of al-Makha, controlled by the internationally recognized government, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals, as reported by an army spokesperson.

Stay tuned for more updates on developments in West Asia.