Middle East roundup, May 29: Trump to make ‘final determination’ on Iran peace deal

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

• Lebanon warns Israeli strikes put heritage sites in 'serious danger'
• Iran strongly condemns US officials' 'threatening rhetoric' against Oman 
• Pakistan FM arrives in Washington to discuss regional matters with Marco Rubio: FO
• Iranian president thanks Pakistan for its 'initiative and effective efforts'
• US secretary of defense encourages US Marines on Iran war

Rescuer among 11 killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Published: May 29, 2026 | 23:35 GMT | by AFP

Israeli strikes in three areas of Tyre in southern Lebanon on Friday killed 11 people including a rescuer and a Syrian national, the health ministry said.

Eight people were wounded, including another rescuer, the ministry said, slamming the attacks as a "flagrant violation of humanitarian law".

Israel PM says forces pushing into Lebanon as delegations meet in US

Published: May 29, 2026 | 23:00 GMT | by AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his country's forces had pushed deeper into Lebanon, even as Israeli and Lebanese military delegations were holding landmark security talks in Washington.

Israel also kept up its heavy bombardment of south Lebanon on Friday, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasising in a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "the need to exert all efforts to reach a ceasefire" as an essential first step, his office said.

IMF, World Bank, IEA chiefs warn of summer fuel scarcity if Hormuz strait remains closed

Published: May 29, 2026 | 22:35 GMT | by AFP

The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency warned on Friday of the risks to fuel security during peak demand summer months if oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz does not return to normal.

"Global oil inventories are being drawn down at a record pace in response to the major loss of supply through the Strait of Hormuz," the heads of the agencies said in a joint statement.

"If shipping flows do not return to normal, continued rapid depletion of global oil inventories ahead of peak summer oil demand in the Northern Hemisphere would present increasing risks for fuel security, market conditions, and broader economic resilience."

In Friday's joint statement, they again highlighted that the surge in energy and fertilizer prices due to the war was having a disproportionate effect on lower income countries.

"Higher fertilizer prices are of particular concern as many countries enter the planting season," they said.

Hezbollah claims several attacks targeting northern Israel

Published: May 29, 2026 | 22:00 GMT | by AFP

Iran-backed Hezbollah said Friday it had launched a series of attacks against military targets in northern Israel near the Lebanese border, as delegations from two countries held security talks in Washington.

The armed group said in a series of statements that it targeted gatherings of soldiers near a town in Israel's north using drones, as well as another group in a military camp in Galilee and a barracks.

Iran preparing 'grand' funeral for slain supreme leader: state TV

Published: May 29, 2026 | 21:22 GMT | by AFP

Iranian authorities are laying the groundwork for a "grand" funeral for slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, official media reported Friday, following a lengthy postponement due to the Islamic republic's war with the United States and Israel.

Though the timing was still uncertain, "a special headquarters has been formed to prepare for the funeral ceremony, and various agencies are currently planning and making arrangements", state TV reported, citing Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of the Tehran Coordination Council for Islamic Propaganda.

Kazakhstan offers to take Iran's uranium stockpile, IAEA chief tells FT

Published: May 29, 2026 | 20:55 GMT | by AFP

Kazakhstan has offered to take Iran's uranium stockpile if the United States and Iran reach an accord on Tehran's contested nuclear programme, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Financial Times on Friday.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency met with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana this week.

The Financial Times said the Kazakh leader had expressed his country's "openness" to store the stockpile enriched to near weapons grade level.

Hamas calls Israeli advance in Gaza 'blatant violation' of truce

Published: May 29, 2026 | 20:20 GMT | by AFP

Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday of a "blatant violation" of the October 2025 ceasefire after he ordered the army to seize more territory in the Gaza Strip.

"In a blatant violation of all agreements, as is their usual practice, Netanyahu announced expanding control over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, while the killing and starvation continue," Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told AFP.

On Thursday, Netanyahu had announced his intentions to have the military expand its control of Gaza from 60 percent now, to 70 percent.

Trump's Iran deal meeting has ended: White House official

Published: May 29, 2026 | 20:00 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump on Friday finished a meeting during which he said would make a "final determination" on an Iran peace deal, a White House official told AFP.

The official did not say if Trump had reached a decision on the deal with Tehran during the gathering in the high security White House Situation Room.

Rubio acknowledges Pakistan's mediation efforts during Washington talks

Published: May 29, 2026 | 19:43 GMT | by Web Desk

US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s diplomatic and mediation efforts in the Middle East during talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday.

During the meeting, Dar expressed admiration for President Donald Trump’s “vision and commitment to peace,” including his support for the US-Iran ceasefire and the dispatch of a high-level American delegation led by Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan for the Islamabad peace talks.

Iran says 'no negotiations' taking place on nuclear issue: state TV

Published: May 29, 2026 | 18:55 GMT | by AFP

Iran's foreign ministry said Friday that there were "no negotiations" taking place on its nuclear programme, after US President Donald Trump suggested it would relinquish its enriched uranium under a deal to end the Middle East war.

"At this stage, we are focused on ending the war, and there are no negotiations on the nuclear issue," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV.

Trump to make ‘final determination’ on Iran peace deal

Published: May 29, 2026 | 16:52 GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was making a “final determination” on a potential agreement with Iran, outlining conditions he said must be met before a deal can move forward.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran “must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb” and that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened immediately for unrestricted shipping traffic without tolls. 

He also said remaining naval mines in the waterway would be removed and that vessels delayed by what he described as a US naval blockade could begin returning home.

Trump further stated that Iran’s stockpile of enriched nuclear material would be recovered and destroyed in coordination with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

“The enriched material... will be unearthed by the United States... in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED,” he wrote.

The US president added that “other items, of far less importance, have been agreed to,” and said he was heading to the Situation Room to make a “final determination” on the proposed arrangement.

Lebanese, Israeli officers to meet in Washington as Israel pursues strikes

Published: May 29, 2026 | 15:45 GMT | by AFP

Lebanese and Israeli military delegations were to hold security talks at the Pentagon on Friday, during which Beirut will demand Israel halt its attacks, which have intensified in recent days.

A Lebanese military source told AFP the delegation will "emphasise the need for a ceasefire, and will present the army's plan for a state weapons monopoly and the extension of state authority across the country."

Israeli strike kills police officer in southern Lebanon 

Published: May 28, 2026 | 10:01 GMT | by Web Desk

A police officer was killed in an Israeli drone strike in the town of Aabba in the Nabatieh governorate, Al Jazeera reported, quoting Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

Separately, the NNA reported that rescue teams recovered the bodies of two individuals who were killed in an overnight Israeli strike targeting a home in the town of Tayr Debba.

Lebanon warns Israeli strikes put heritage sites in 'serious danger'

Published: May 28, 2026 | 09:25 GMT | by AFP

Lebanon's culture minister told AFP on Friday that Israeli strikes on the country's south are putting heritage sites, including in the ancient city of Tyre, in "serious danger".

"Bombings fell very close to the ruins of Tyre," a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ghassan Salame said, adding that the medieval Beaufort castle overlooking Nabatieh was "directly hit".

Iran strongly condemns US officials' 'threatening rhetoric' against Oman 

Published: May 29, 2026 | 08:31 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has strongly condemned the "threatening rhetoric" by US officials against Oman, according to Iranian Tasnim News Agency.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson termed the rhetoric "an attempt to blackmail an independent UN member state."

Pakistan FM arrives in Washington to discuss regional matters with Marco Rubio: FO

Published: May 29, 2026 | 07:59 GMT | by Web Desk

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Washington DC to discuss matters of bilateral and regional significance with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said a post shared by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

The post stated, "Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 arrived in Washington, D.C. on an official visit."

"Upon his arrival, he was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior officials of the Embassy of Pakistan," it said.

"During the visit, DPM/FM will meet with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio to discuss matters of bilateral and regional significance," the post added.

"Following the conclusion of his official engagements, he will return to Islamabad later the same day," the social media post concluded.

Iranian president thanks Pakistan for its 'initiative and effective efforts'

Published: May 29, 2026 | 07:19 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has thanked Pakistan for its initiative and effective efforts, according to a post he shared on X on Friday in Persian language.

Pezeshkian, said in his post: "In my conversations with the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Pakistan to congratulate them on Eid al-Adha, while emphasizing Iran's commitment to diplomacy, I thanked Malaysia for its humanitarian stance and Pakistan for its initiative and effective efforts to reach an agreement. Iran's policy is to expand cooperation with Muslim and neighboring countries in all fields."

US secretary of defense encourages US Marines on Iran war

Published: May 29, 2026 | 06:20 GMT | by Web Desk

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Iran can either reach a deal with the Trump administration “the right way” or “deal with” the US military.

Hegseth was seen encouraging US Marines in a video posted on X on Friday by Rapid Response Account of the Department of War.

Pakistan FM, envoys from Islamic and European countries discuss Mideast situation

Published: May 29, 2026 | 05:59 GMT | by Web Desk

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, ambassadors and representatives of Islamic and European countries had a "productive exchange of views" on the evolving situation in the Middle East. 

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar in a post on X on Friday, stated: "Grateful to the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, @MIshaqDar50, for joining Permanent Representatives and Ambassadors from Islamic and European countries at the dinner I had the pleasure of hosting at the Pakistan Residence."

He said, "The evening featured a productive exchange of views on the evolving situation in the Middle East, with particular focus on Palestine and the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, and dialogue across the wider region."

US Central Command denies aircraft downed in Iran

Published: May 28, 2026 | 23:33 GMT | by Web Desk

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied reports circulating in Iranian media that a US aircraft was shot down in the country.

“No U.S. aircraft were shot down. All U.S. air assets are accounted for,” it said in a post on its official X account.

US, Iran made 'a lot of progress' towards deal: Vance

Published: May 28, 2026 | 22:15 GMT | by AFP

The United States and Iran have made good progress towards a ceasefire extension deal but President Donald Trump is not yet ready to approve it, US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday.

"We're going back and forth on a couple of language points. We've made a lot of progress here," Vance told reporters.

"Hopefully, we'll continue to make progress and the president will be in a position where he can endorse the agreement, but obviously that's still TBD (to be determined)," he added.

Read our May 28 live blog for earlier developments here.