Iran

Iran opened its schools for in-person classes after President Masoud Pezeshkian took part in a ceremony marking the start of the academic year, as more than 16.5 million students returned to classrooms amid fears linked to war, pressure from the university entrance exam and rising school-supply costs, with annual inflation reaching 69.9%.

European Council President António Costa urged Tehran, during a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, to resume co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and halt its strikes against neighbouring countries. Pezeshkian meanwhile told the United Nations General Assembly that his country remained ready for diplomacy, provided it was not conducted under the threat of force.

Through Qatari mediation in New York, Tehran presented Washington with a package of demands including an end to the war, the lifting of the maritime blockade and the release of frozen assets, while proposing the experimental opening of the Strait of Hormuz for 7 days. Discussions are focused on an interim understanding to reduce tensions and restore shipping, amid disagreement over whether to include the nuclear issue and the scale of mutual concessions.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations authority said all crew members had been evacuated from a vessel, with two injured, after it was hit by a projectile of unknown origin in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. The incident coincided with an initial decline in the number of commodity-carrying vessels transiting the strait compared with the previous day and the average over the past 10 days.

US President Donald Trump said his envoys held talks in New York lasting about three hours through intermediaries representing Iran, describing momentum towards a deal and an upcoming meeting. At the same time, he threatened to attack the ‘Mount Axe’ facility if Washington detected significant nuclear activity there, while stressing that economic pressure on Tehran would continue.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York on Wednesday to attend United Nations General Assembly meetings and hold talks with leaders and officials. In parallel with the visit, Tehran said it had conveyed to Washington, through a Qatari mediator, conditions concerning an end to the war, the lifting of the blockade and the release of Iranian assets.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told US envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting in New York that Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz include lifting the naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending the war on the fronts Iran calls the “resistance fronts”, according to Iranian state media.

A CNN/SSRS poll found that fewer Americans approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of foreign affairs and the war with Iran, with support also declining among Republicans. The poll also recorded a rise in the share describing Israel as an enemy, less than 50 days before the US congressional midterm elections.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani called before the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened and negotiations to resume to resolve the regional crisis. He called for a collective security system in the Gulf and addressed the war in Gaza and developments in Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.

France, in coordination with the United States, has begun preparing a Security Council draft resolution to establish an international mission to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal seeks to separate the security of the waterway from tensions with Iran, amid rising oil prices and fears that threats could spread to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Beijing rejected unilateral US sanctions on Iran’s civil aviation sector, while Washington warned of barring Iranian aircraft from fuel and services at airports and threatening providers with exclusion from the dollar-based system. The US restrictions target 36 entities, including 27 airlines.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump was open to meeting his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in New York, as Qatari, Pakistani and French efforts seek to revive talks between Washington and Tehran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing war and reciprocal economic pressure.

Rights groups have reported a rise in executions in Iran and the arrest of at least 18 Sunni Arab citizens in Ahvaz and the village of Aboudeh. Reports and analyses link the measures to efforts by the authorities to prevent renewed protests, amid economic and social pressures and a decline in the value of the rial.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is heading to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly meetings, where he will deliver a speech on Wednesday. He has pledged to present Tehran’s position and the circumstances facing his country amid the war with the United States and the continuing dispute over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restrictions imposed on the Iranian delegation.

Israel has raised its forces’ readiness level in anticipation of tensions between Washington and Tehran widening after stalled negotiations, while Iran has warned it would change the scope of the confrontation and the type of weapons it uses if subjected to another US attack. The move comes alongside threats from President Donald Trump and diplomatic efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan to ease tensions.

US Central Command said its naval forces had rerouted 110 commercial vessels as part of measures to prevent unauthorised shipping movements to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta is taking part in interception, inspection and navigational warning operations in the region’s waters.

France condemned Iranian authorities’ closure of the French language centre affiliated with its embassy in Tehran, describing the decision as unjustified and unacceptable, and announced that it would summon the Iranian ambassador and take appropriate measures. Tehran said the centre was closed under a judicial order after violating licensing requirements, and accused it of activities linked to national security.

Satellite images and maritime data showed four oil tankers crossing simultaneously in both directions via the Omani route through the Strait of Hormuz, with their automatic identification systems switched off, alongside at least 22 boats near Iranian waters, amid continuing risks to vessels and regional talks on regulating navigation.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara is working with other countries to prepare proposals aimed at pushing Iran and the United States towards an agreement to end the war, pointing to a deep lack of trust between them. The efforts come alongside Pakistani initiatives and expected meetings in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

A report, citing six US officials familiar with internal data, said at least 22 US service members had died since the war with Iran began, compared with 18 deaths listed in the Pentagon database. Another official estimated the toll at about 23 deaths.

The US State Department has announced restrictions on the access of the Iranian delegation attending the UN General Assembly meetings in New York to wholesale markets and luxury goods shops. One proposal would bar delegation members from shopping at large members-only stores without the department’s explicit permission.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said its forces targeted the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend and forced it to stop in the Strait of Hormuz after a fire broke out on board, accusing it of attempting to pass illegally. The incident comes amid a sharp decline in the movement of commodity vessels through the waterway.

Russia and China vetoed a US-drafted resolution to extend the mandate of an expert panel monitoring the implementation of UN sanctions on Iran. The measure received 11 votes in favour, while Pakistan and Somalia abstained, amid disagreement over the legality of reimposing sanctions on Tehran.

US President Donald Trump said he would soon decide on the course of the war with Iran, while keeping open the option of returning to wide-ranging military operations. At the same time, US officials confirmed that Iranian forces had shot down at least two US MQ-1 drones in recent days.