This live blog covered developments on Day 59 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 58, go here, and for Day 60 updates, click here.

• Iran, Saudi FMs discuss efforts to de-escalate regional tensions 
• rises, stocks steady as US-Iran peace talk hopes wobble
• Israel PM says further action needed over Hezbollah rockets, drones
• Guterres says 'safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative'
• Trump holds talks on Iran with security team

Saudi Arabia at UNSC commends diplomatic initiatives led by Pakistan 

Published: April 27, 2026 | 22:47 GMT | by Web Desk

Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, said that Riyadh “reiterated its unwavering commitment to supporting all political solutions and mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation,” SaudiNews50 reported. 

“This included commending diplomatic initiatives, including those led by Pakistan, and emphasizing that reaching a comprehensive political solution is the only way to spare the region further tension and instability and to ensure the continued flow of vital resources upon which the entire global economy depends,” Ambassador Al-Wasil said in the Security Council.

Iran needs 'credible guarantees' against attacks before Gulf can be stable: envoy

Published: April 27, 2026 | 21:20 GMT | by AFP

Iran needs guarantees against another US-Israeli attack before it can ensure security in the oil-rich Gulf, Tehran's envoy to the United Nations said Monday.

"Lasting stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the wider region can only be achieved through a durable and permanent cessation of aggression against Iran supplemented by credible guarantees of non-recurrence and full respect for the legitimate sovereign rights and interests of Iran," Amir Saeid Iravani told a Security Council session.

Trump holds talks on Iran with security team

Published: April 27, 2026 | 19:48 GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump met with his top security advisors to discuss an Iranian proposal that would reportedly reopen the Strait of Hormuz as broader negotiations over the war continue, the White House said.

When asked about the reported plan — which would see both Iran and the United States lift their blockades ahead of further talks on the thorny issue of Tehran's nuclear program — spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told a White House briefing that "the proposal was being discussed."

"Only because it's been reported, I will confirm the president has met with his national security team this morning," she said, refusing to say if Trump would accept the proposal.

Guterres says 'safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative'

Published: April 27, 2026 | 19:22 GMT | by Web Desk

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that "safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative."

"Navigational rights and freedoms through the Strait of Hormuz must be respected," he said in a post on X.

"I appeal to the parties: Open the Strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe," he said.

"Safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative," he added.

White House says Iran proposal ‘is being discussed’

Published: April 27, 2026 | 17:50 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is currently under discussion by senior American officials, the White House says.

Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “I can confirm the president has met with his national security team this morning – the meeting may be ongoing, maybe not… The proposal was being discussed.”

Israel PM says further action needed over Hezbollah rockets, drones

Published: April 27, 2026 | 17:48 GMT | by AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said rockets and drones possessed by Hezbollah remained a key threat that demanded further military action by Israel's military in Lebanon.

"There are still two central threats from Hezbollah: the 122mm rockets and the drones. This demands a combination of operational and technological activity," Netanyahu said in a statement.

"They have about 10 percent of the missiles they had at the start of the war. But these still trouble the residents of the north," he added.

Iran FM says Islamic Republic is 'stable, solid' in meeting with Putin

Published: April 27, 2026 | 15:02 GMT | by AFP

Iran's foreign minister on Monday said the Islamic Republic was "stable, solid" during a meeting in Russia with President Vladimir Putin, according to Russian state TV.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said due to the war with the United States and Israel, "the world has now realized Iran's true power" and "it has become clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a stable, solid and powerful system", he said in the meeting in Saint Petersburg.

He added that Russia had stood by Iran and the two countries would continue their "strategic partnership".

Oil rises, stocks steady as US-Iran peace talk hopes wobble

Published: April 27, 2026 | 14:43 GMT | by AFP

Oil prices rose and stock markets were mostly lower on Monday as peace talks between the US and Iran stalled, ahead of a week full of central bank decisions and corporate earnings.

Both main international oil contracts were up over one percent with Brent crude holding above $100 a barrel as the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway remained largely closed, though lingering hopes that a deal can eventually be reached tempered gains.

Wall Street's main indices dipped at the open, but the Dow quickly edged higher, and S&P 500 both steadied. The Nasdaq edged off its record close.

Putin tells Iran FM Moscow will do 'everything' to help secure Mideast peace

Published: April 27, 2026 | 13:33 GMT | by AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iran's top diplomat that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East, during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday.

"For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible," Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi.

Putin also hailed "how courageously and heroically the people of Iran are fighting for their independence and sovereignty", the TASS news agency reported.

"Russia, just like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship," the Kremlin chief added.

Iran says its armed forces should be authority for Strait of Hormuz

Published: April 27, 2026 | 12:24 GMT | by AFP

Iran's armed forces would be the authority responsible for the Strait of Hormuz under the country's proposed law for managing the waterway, a top official said on Monday.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran's parliament, told state television that the armed forces were already in control of the strait and were seeking to prohibit the passage of "hostile vessels".

Azizi also said the proposed law states that financial gains from the strait should be paid in the local rial currency.

Trump to hold talks on Iran with security team: US media

Published: April 27, 2026 | 11:03 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump will hold talks on the Iran war on Monday with his top security advisors, US media reported.

Barak Ravid, global affairs correspondent for US media outlet Axios, reported that Trump was expected to hold a meeting with his top national security and foreign policy team on Monday to discuss the next steps.

ABC News quoted two unidentified US officials as saying that Trump would meet with his key security advisors on Iran, adding that a new deal proposed by Tehran to resolve the conflict fell short of Washington's red lines.

That deal centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending a US naval blockade of the vital waterway, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage, Axios reported.

Too early to drop sanctions against Iran, says EU’s von der Leyen

Published: April 27, 2026 | 09:58 GMT | by Web Desk

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that it is too early to drop sanctions imposed on Iran, according to Al Jazeera.

“We think the dropping of sanctions would be too early”, she said in Berlin at a meeting of the conservative CDU party and its CSU Bavarian sister party, adding that the sanctions were in place due to Iran’s suppression of its own population.

“We first have to see a change, a fundamental change in Iran for the dropping of sanctions,” von der Leyen added.

Israeli PM cancels mass Meron event amid retaliatory strikes from Lebanon

Published: April 27, 2026 | 09:53 GMT | by Web Desk

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to call off this year’s mass Lag O’mer ceremony at Mount Meron in the Upper Galilee region, following a new wave of retaliatory strikes from southern Lebanon, according to Iranian state-run Press TV.

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the decision was made because of concern over a mass casualty event, citing the fragile ceasefire with Lebanon, Meron’s proximity to the border, rocket fire toward the area and the difficulty of evacuating large numbers of participants quickly.

Iran, Saudi FMs discuss efforts to de-escalate regional tensions 

Published: April 27, 2026 | 09:29 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional developments and efforts to de-escalate and ease tensions in the region, according to a post shared on X on Monday by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

Israeli forces bomb Lebanon’s Kafra

Published: April 27, 2026 | 08:49 GMT | by Web Desk

Israeli forces raided the entrance to Kafra in southern Lebanon at dawn and cut off the road leading to the town, Al Jazeera reported, citing the National News Agency.

IRGC claims neutralizing over 15 US heavy missiles 

Published: April 27, 2026 | 08:41 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s IRGC chapter in Hormozgan Province has claimed the “discovery and neutralization of more than 15 heavy American missiles” used during the current war, according to state-run IRNA news agency.

Fruitful discussion on Hormuz with Iran's Araghchi, says Oman FM   

Published: April 27, 2026 | 07:37 GMT | by Web Desk

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman, Badr Albusaidi, has said that he had a fruitful discussion on Strait of Hormuz with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Foreign Ministry of Oman, in a post on X, on Monday, stated: "His Excellency Mr. @badralbusaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, via his official page on the X platform: “A fruitful discussion on the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Araghchi. As two coastal states, we feel our shared responsibility toward the international community and the urgent humanitarian need to release the sailors who have been detained for a long time. This requires intensive diplomatic efforts and practical solutions to ensure permanent freedom of navigation.”

Shahed 136 drones put on display at Iran rally 

Published: April 27, 2026 | 07:01 GMT | by Web Desk

Shahed 136 drones were put on public display in Iran's northwestern city of Tabriz, according to state-run Press TV.

Iran FM in Saint Petersburg calls safe passage through Hormuz 'important global issue'

Published: April 27, 2026 | 07:01 GMT | by AFP

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Saint Petersburg has called safe passage through Hormuz an "important global issue". 

US forces turn back 38 ships as blockade of Iranian ports continues

Published: April 27, 2026 | 06:01 GMT | by Web Desk

US forces have directed 38 ships to turn around or return to port as the US blockade against Iranian ports continues, according to its Central Command (Centcom) on X.

Araghchi says meeting with Putin ‘will be a good opportunity to discuss war developments’

Published: April 27, 2026 | 04:58 GMT | by Web Desk

The Iranian foreign minister upon his arrival in St Petersburg said that he travelled to Russia “with the aim of continuing close consultations between Tehran and Moscow on regional and international issues”, Al Jazeera reported, quoting Iranian media.

He said his meeting with the Russian president later today “will be a good opportunity to discuss developments in the war and review the latest situation”.

“I am confident that these consultations and coordination between the two countries in this regard will be of particular importance,” he added.

Iran offers new terms to reopen Strait of Hormuz, end war: Report

Published: April 27, 2026 | 03:19 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran has offered Washington a new proposal for reaching a deal on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the ending of the war, “with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage,” Al Jazeera reported, citing Axios. 

The US news outlet, citing a US official and two sources with knowledge of the matter, said reaching a deal on the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports will leave Trump “with no real leverage to get Tehran to give up on its stockpile of enriched uranium, and commit to a suspension of uranium enrichment for at least a decade,” the outlet said.

Iran FM arrives in Saint Petersburg for Putin talks: Iranian state media

Published: April 27, 2026 | 02:12 GMT | by AFP 

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Saint Petersburg on Monday, state media reported.

"He arrived early on Monday morning with the aim of meeting and holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin," Iranian state news agency IRNA posted on Telegram.

Moscow's TASS news agency confirmed earlier that Putin plans to meet Araghchi, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Russian envoy says US ultimatums don’t work with Iran

Published: April 27, 2026 | 02:12 GMT | by Web Desk 

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s envoy to international organisations in Vienna, says the US must abandon “blackmailing” and “ultimatums” in its negotiating position if talks with Iran are to move forward, Al Jazeera reported.

“The US is accustomed to conduct negotiations from the position of strength, threatening to use military force or tighten sanctions. It is obvious that this scheme doesn’t work with Iran,” he wrote on X.

“The best way ahead for the US under the current circumstances is to drop all those elements of its position which look like blackmailing, ultimatums, and deadlines.”

Oil prices rise as Hormuz transit remains limited

Published: April 27, 2026 | 01:39 GMT | by Web Desk 

Brent crude futures climbed $2.22, or 2.11%, to $107.55 a barrel by 22:02 GMT, Al Jazeera reported.

Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $2.02, or 2.14%, to reach $96.42 a barrel.

China ‘could help a lot more’ on Iran, Trump says

Published: April 26, 2026 | 22:59 GMT | by Web Desk 

US President Trump says that while Beijing could “help a lot more” in the conflict with Iran, he is not “overly disappointed.”

“I don’t think much. I think maybe helping, but I don’t think much. They could help a lot more,” Trump told Fox News.

He drew a parallel to US support for Ukraine, saying he did not consider China “very bad” given that Washington also assists allies in conflicts.

Iran’s Araghchi on his way to Russia for talks on US-Israel war

Published: April 26, 2026 | 19:48 GMT | by Web Desk 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has departed for Russia, where he would meet senior officials of the Russian Federation and discuss bilateral Iran-Russia relations, as well as regional and international developments, Al Jazeera reported. 

Iranian Ambassador expresses ‘sincere, wholehearted gratitude and appreciation’ to Pakistan for talks

Published: April 26, 2026 | 19:26 GMT | by AFP

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, expressed “sincere and wholehearted gratitude and appreciation” to Pakistan, especially Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their “tireless efforts and good office initiative to end the war and bring lasting peace to the region.”

In a post on his X account, Amiri said the round of talks in Pakistan was held in “complete security, safety and tranquility for the delegation,” appreciating the country’s  “perfect management, thoughtful planning and successful implementation.”

“I express my sincere gratitude to the army staffs, security forces, police, employees of all executive institutions and especially the honorable people of Pakistan and Islamabad residents, for their patience, hospitality, and cooperative synergy during this period,” he said.  

“Iran-Pakistan Friendship Zindabad,” he added.

'Great respect for Pakistan': Trump praises Islamabad for peace efforts

Published: April 26, 2026 | 17:55 GMT | by Web Desk

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday commended Pakistan’s efforts for peace talks, stating that he has “great respect for Pakistan” and that it has been “terrific”.

“Great respect for Pakistan, but I will, because they’ve been terrific. They’ve really tried, and they’ll stay involved,” Trump said while speaking to Fox News.