Trump says Washington ‘doing great’ in negotiations with Iran

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.

Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments

• Trump tells Rutte he was 'let down' by NATO countries on Iran
• US energy secretary says 20 million barrels of oil exited Hormuz in last 24 hours
• Rubio says 'no country' supports imposing fees in Hormuz strait
• Pakistan, China reaffirm support for Iran-US peace process
• Qatar Amir congratulates Pakistan on historic US-Iran peace agreement

Five South Korean ships cross Strait of Hormuz as passage restrictions ease further

Published: June 25, 2026 | 02:16 GMT | by Web Desk 

South Korea has said that five more South Korean-run vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the latest sign that restrictions on passage are easing, Al Jazeera reported.

The ministry said 13 South Korean ships remain in the strait.

Iran accuses NATO of complicity in US and Israel’s ‘unlawful war’

Published: June 25, 2026 | 01:47 GMT | by Web Desk

The spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused NATO of “complicity in an unlawful war of aggression” after the alliance’s chief said European allies had helped support the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran, Al Jazeera reported. 

Esmaeil Baghaei said that Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks were “a clear and damning admission of NATO’s active complicity” in the war.

Baghaei said that NATO and the individual member states that took part “must be held accountable for all the consequences”. Italy and Romania are among those that should explain “why they chose to collude”.

Speaking to Fox News earlier, Rutte said Italy had allowed 500 US aircraft to take off from US bases on its soil to “support” Trump’s “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran, while the Romanian capital, Bucharest, had to cut flights because “they had to use the airports for tanker facilities”.

Trump says Washington ‘doing great’ in negotiations with Iran

Published: June 25, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump said that Washington was "doing great" in negotiations with Iran, adding that he wouldn’t accept any fees being imposed on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

“It would be unacceptable,” he told reporters at the White House.

Trump noted that there are other international straits and said he “wouldn’t allow it there either,” adding that it would be a “game-changer.”

Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised Gulf allies that Washington would protect their interests in talks with Iran.

During a visit to Kuwait City, Rubio said Washington would be on the same page as Gulf states as it wrangles with Iran over a permanent settlement to the conflict.

"We're going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf," he said, adding that the United States would "engage them on conversations about every decision that's made with regards to this negotiation."

Earlier, Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the agreement, reached with the help of Pakistani mediation, was "the result of the resistance and authority of the brave Iranian nation."

For earlier developments, read our June 24 live blog here.