The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has ordered residents of Deir Al-Zahrani, Bafarwa, and Habboush in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately, stating that Hezbollah has violated the ceasefire and that military action will follow.
Mohammad Bagher Kharazi, Secretary-General of Hezbollah Iran and Editor-in-Chief of the Hezbollah newspaper, accused Mohammad Javad Araghchi of playing a role in the killing of Ali Khamenei in a message on the Varasti social network.
NBC News, citing two U.S. officials, reported that President Donald Trump halted U.S. operations to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz following pressure from Saudi Arabia, which refused to allow the use of its air bases and airspace for the operation.
Qasem Ravanbakhsh, a representative of Qom in the Iranian parliament, declared that passing through the Strait of Hormuz without recognizing the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic is impossible, warning that any "adventurism" in the strait would result in a "heavy price" for the United States and Israel. He also stated that the United States' attempts to create alternative energy supply routes via proxy forces and the UAE have been met with the "power" of the Islamic Republic.
NBC News reports that Donald Trump's "Operation Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz was halted after Saudi Arabia refused to allow the use of its airbase and airspace to support the operation, despite a phone call between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failing to resolve the disagreement.
Behnam Saeidi, the First Secretary of the Parliament's National Security Commission, stated that the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's right to enrichment are non-negotiable red lines in talks with the United States, warning that negotiations will fail if this right is not recognized. He also emphasized the need to lift the naval blockade and primary and secondary sanctions, and to return Iran's frozen assets.
The United States has presented Iran with an updated nuclear proposal, which, if accepted, would lead to a 30-day negotiation period to finalize technical details. Key U.S. demands include Iran formally declaring it is not pursuing a nuclear weapon, dismantling nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and implementing strict international inspection protocols.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday reportedly killed Azzam, the fourth son of Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader. This brings the total number of al-Hayya's sons killed to four.
The Islamic Republic of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization announced its readiness to provide maritime support services to commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters via an official message.
Al Arabiya, citing sources, reported that negotiations are underway to ease the U.S. siege in exchange for the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with expectations of a breakthrough on the status of halted ships in the coming hours. A Pakistani source confirmed ongoing talks and the possibility of reaching an agreement.
A senior Hezbollah commander, Malek al-Bout, who led the group's elite Radwan Unit, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, a source close to Hezbollah told AFP.
Al Arabiya, citing its sources, reports that understandings have been reached to ease the U.S. naval blockade on Iran in exchange for Iran gradually reopening the Strait of Hormuz, resolving the issue of ships stuck in the strait.
An Israeli airstrike struck a vehicle on the Habbouch road in southern Lebanon at dawn, resulting in the deaths of two Hezbollah operatives.
Saber Ramazani, a 30-year-old mechanical engineering graduate, was killed during protests in Lahijan on December 18, 2025. His friends described him as kind-hearted and passionate about Iran.
The Islamic Republic's embassy in Seoul denied that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was involved in damaging a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. South Korea had earlier stated it was unclear if the incident was an attack or an accident, while former US President Donald Trump attributed the incident to an attack by the Islamic Republic.
The U.S. has presented Iran with a new nuclear framework that, if accepted, would initiate 30 days of detailed negotiations. The framework includes demands such as the dismantlement of nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, a ban on underground nuclear work, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, among other conditions.
The Strait of Hormuz dispute is expected to remain unresolved in the memorandum, with the document reportedly only urging Iran to loosen restrictions on the waterway, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Tehran has reportedly begun reducing production at some oil wells due to a storage crisis triggered by the ongoing naval blockade, according to the New York Times.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, no sanctions related to the Islamic Republic will be lifted. Earlier, President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over escalating tensions and condemned attacks on UAE infrastructure and ships during his conversation with Masoud Pezeshkian.
Southeast Asian leaders are attending the ASEAN summit in the Philippines, where the Iran war and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have elevated the energy crisis to the region's top concern.
