Trump hardens his Iran ultimatum over a Memorial Day shadowed by the threat of renewed strikes
On a Memorial Day he spent at the White House weighing renewed airstrikes, President Trump said any Iran deal must be "great and meaningful" or there would be none. The war's toll deepened: Strait of Hormuz traffic is down about 95 percent since February 28, Iran's president rejected "excessive demands," and Israel said it reserves the right to strike regional threats even if a deal is signed, while the US and Israel reportedly moved to end Jordan's custodianship of Al-Aqsa. In California, a chemical leak at a GKN Aerospace plant forced 44,000 from their homes.
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us90Strait of Hormuz traffic down about 95 percent since the US-Iran war, vessel-tracking data show
Average daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen roughly 95 percent since the US-Iran war began on February 28, from about 100 vessels a day to around six, according to figures drawn from the IMF's PortWatch tracker. Only 532 ships -- including 220 tankers, a quarter of them on February 28 alone -- passed between February 28 and May 17, and 218 have transited since the US blockade started. Iranian officials say traffic edged up to 20 to 25 vessels a day over the past week.
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Strait of Hormuz traffic down about 95 percent since the US-Iran war, vessel-tracking data show
Average daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen roughly 95 percent since the US-Iran war began on February 28, from about 100 vessels a day to around six, according to figures drawn from the IMF's PortWatch tracker. Only 532 ships -- including 220 tankers, a quarter of them on February 28 alone -- passed between February 28 and May 17, and 218 have transited since the US blockade started. Iranian officials say traffic edged up to 20 to 25 vessels a day over the past week.
Average daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen roughly 95 percent since the US-Iran war began on February 28, from about 100 vessels a day to around six, according to figures drawn from the IMF's PortWatch tracker. Only 532 ships -- including 220 tankers, a quarter of them on February 28 alone -- passed between February 28 and May 17, and 218 have transited since the US blockade started. Iranian officials say traffic edged up to 20 to 25 vessels a day over the past week.
us85Trump says any Iran deal must be 'great and meaningful' or there will be no deal
US President Donald Trump said Monday that any potential agreement with Iran would need to be “great and meaningful,” warning that otherwise there would be no agreement. Trump made the statement on his Truth Social platform, adding that any deal would be “the exact opposite” of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which he described as “a direct and open path to a Nuclear Weapon for Iran.”
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Trump says any Iran deal must be 'great and meaningful' or there will be no deal
US President Donald Trump said Monday that any potential agreement with Iran would need to be “great and meaningful,” warning that otherwise there would be no agreement. Trump made the statement on his Truth Social platform, adding that any deal would be “the exact opposite” of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which he described as “a direct and open path to a Nuclear Weapon for Iran.”
US President Donald Trump said Monday that any potential agreement with Iran would need to be “great and meaningful,” warning that otherwise there would be no agreement. Trump made the statement on his Truth Social platform, adding that any deal would be “the exact opposite” of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which he described as “a direct and open path to a Nuclear Weapon for Iran.”
us82Israel says it reserves right to attack regional threats despite US-Iran peace deal
Israel signaled on May 25, 2026, that it may continue military operations against regional threats, including in Lebanon, even if the US and Iran finalize a peace deal. The statement comes as domestic criticism mounts over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war.
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Israel says it reserves right to attack regional threats despite US-Iran peace deal
Israel signaled on May 25, 2026, that it may continue military operations against regional threats, including in Lebanon, even if the US and Iran finalize a peace deal. The statement comes as domestic criticism mounts over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war.
Israel signaled on May 25, 2026, that it may continue military operations against regional threats, including in Lebanon, even if the US and Iran finalize a peace deal. The statement comes as domestic criticism mounts over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war.
us78US and Israel reportedly seek to end Jordan's custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque
The US and Israel are actively working to strip Jordan of its historic custodianship of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, multiple sources told Middle East Eye. The plan, championed by Jared Kushner and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, would replace the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf with an Israeli-created body that would declare the site a "multi-faith centre" and allow large-group Jewish prayer. Jordanian and Palestinian officials said the proposal threatens a decades-old status quo that has governed the exclusively Muslim site.
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US and Israel reportedly seek to end Jordan's custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque
The US and Israel are actively working to strip Jordan of its historic custodianship of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, multiple sources told Middle East Eye. The plan, championed by Jared Kushner and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, would replace the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf with an Israeli-created body that would declare the site a "multi-faith centre" and allow large-group Jewish prayer. Jordanian and Palestinian officials said the proposal threatens a decades-old status quo that has governed the exclusively Muslim site.
The US and Israel are actively working to strip Jordan of its historic custodianship of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, multiple sources told Middle East Eye. The plan, championed by Jared Kushner and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, would replace the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf with an Israeli-created body that would declare the site a "multi-faith centre" and allow large-group Jewish prayer. Jordanian and Palestinian officials said the proposal threatens a decades-old status quo that has governed the exclusively Muslim site.
us40Iranian president says Iran will not accept 'excessive demands' in US talks
Background: Iran has previously stated its readiness to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and criticized contradictory US policies. On May 25, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran will not accept 'excessive demands' by the US in Pakistan-mediated talks, insisting that negotiations must fully secure Iranian rights. He accused the enemy of shifting to economic warfare after military failure and called for cooperation between government and private sector to overcome this stage. The statement follows US President Trump's claim on May 23 that an agreement with Iran had been largely negotiated and awaited finalization.
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Iranian president says Iran will not accept 'excessive demands' in US talks
Background: Iran has previously stated its readiness to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and criticized contradictory US policies. On May 25, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran will not accept 'excessive demands' by the US in Pakistan-mediated talks, insisting that negotiations must fully secure Iranian rights. He accused the enemy of shifting to economic warfare after military failure and called for cooperation between government and private sector to overcome this stage. The statement follows US President Trump's claim on May 23 that an agreement with Iran had been largely negotiated and awaited finalization.
Background: Iran has previously stated its readiness to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and criticized contradictory US policies. On May 25, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran will not accept 'excessive demands' by the US in Pakistan-mediated talks, insisting that negotiations must fully secure Iranian rights. He accused the enemy of shifting to economic warfare after military failure and called for cooperation between government and private sector to overcome this stage. The statement follows US President Trump's claim on May 23 that an agreement with Iran had been largely negotiated and awaited finalization.
us38Deep mistrust clouds US-Iran negotiations as both sides seek diplomatic exit
Background: US-Iran negotiations have stalled amid mutual mistrust, with proposals for a comprehensive deal involving nuclear limits and a non-aggression pact with Israel. Analyst Rouzbeh Parsi highlights that both Washington and Tehran are seeking a diplomatic exit from prolonged confrontation, but deep mistrust and conflicting signals continue to hinder progress, keeping the risk of wider war alive. The difficulty in finding a credible agreement is exacerbated by contradictions in the current talks, and the risk of escalation into a wider war remains high.
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Deep mistrust clouds US-Iran negotiations as both sides seek diplomatic exit
Background: US-Iran negotiations have stalled amid mutual mistrust, with proposals for a comprehensive deal involving nuclear limits and a non-aggression pact with Israel. Analyst Rouzbeh Parsi highlights that both Washington and Tehran are seeking a diplomatic exit from prolonged confrontation, but deep mistrust and conflicting signals continue to hinder progress, keeping the risk of wider war alive. The difficulty in finding a credible agreement is exacerbated by contradictions in the current talks, and the risk of escalation into a wider war remains high.
Background: US-Iran negotiations have stalled amid mutual mistrust, with proposals for a comprehensive deal involving nuclear limits and a non-aggression pact with Israel. Analyst Rouzbeh Parsi highlights that both Washington and Tehran are seeking a diplomatic exit from prolonged confrontation, but deep mistrust and conflicting signals continue to hinder progress, keeping the risk of wider war alive. The difficulty in finding a credible agreement is exacerbated by contradictions in the current talks, and the risk of escalation into a wider war remains high.
us36Rubio says US will consider alternatives on Iran if diplomacy fails
Background: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously reported progress in the Iran dispute and hinted at an upcoming announcement. During a visit to New Delhi, Rubio stated that Washington will give diplomacy every chance to succeed with Iran before exploring alternatives. He noted that a potential agreement includes opening the Strait of Hormuz and entering time-limited nuclear negotiations. President Trump claimed a peace deal is largely agreed upon.
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Rubio says US will consider alternatives on Iran if diplomacy fails
Background: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously reported progress in the Iran dispute and hinted at an upcoming announcement. During a visit to New Delhi, Rubio stated that Washington will give diplomacy every chance to succeed with Iran before exploring alternatives. He noted that a potential agreement includes opening the Strait of Hormuz and entering time-limited nuclear negotiations. President Trump claimed a peace deal is largely agreed upon.
Background: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously reported progress in the Iran dispute and hinted at an upcoming announcement. During a visit to New Delhi, Rubio stated that Washington will give diplomacy every chance to succeed with Iran before exploring alternatives. He noted that a potential agreement includes opening the Strait of Hormuz and entering time-limited nuclear negotiations. President Trump claimed a peace deal is largely agreed upon.
us35Firefighters eliminate explosion threat from overheating chemical tank in Garden Grove, California
A tank containing methyl methacrylate leaked at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, California, forcing the evacuation of over 44,000 residents. On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County, citing the risk of catastrophic failure of the tank containing 5,000-7,000 gallons of the chemical. The declaration mobilizes state agencies and authorizes potential deployment of the California National Guard. Schools closed and major roads were shut down as emergency operations continued. Firefighters have now eliminated the explosion threat after the tank cracked, releasing pressure and allowing interior temperatures to drop. Overnight temperature checks confirmed cooling. Approximately 50,000 residents remain evacuated. A class action lawsuit has been filed against GKN Aerospace by residents. No injuries have been reported.
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Firefighters eliminate explosion threat from overheating chemical tank in Garden Grove, California
A tank containing methyl methacrylate leaked at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, California, forcing the evacuation of over 44,000 residents. On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County, citing the risk of catastrophic failure of the tank containing 5,000-7,000 gallons of the chemical. The declaration mobilizes state agencies and authorizes potential deployment of the California National Guard. Schools closed and major roads were shut down as emergency operations continued. Firefighters have now eliminated the explosion threat after the tank cracked, releasing pressure and allowing interior temperatures to drop. Overnight temperature checks confirmed cooling. Approximately 50,000 residents remain evacuated. A class action lawsuit has been filed against GKN Aerospace by residents. No injuries have been reported.
A tank containing methyl methacrylate leaked at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, California, forcing the evacuation of over 44,000 residents. On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County, citing the risk of catastrophic failure of the tank containing 5,000-7,000 gallons of the chemical. The declaration mobilizes state agencies and authorizes potential deployment of the California National Guard. Schools closed and major roads were shut down as emergency operations continued. Firefighters have now eliminated the explosion threat after the tank cracked, releasing pressure and allowing interior temperatures to drop. Overnight temperature checks confirmed cooling. Approximately 50,000 residents remain evacuated. A class action lawsuit has been filed against GKN Aerospace by residents. No injuries have been reported.