Trump Says Expects Iranian Response To Peace Proposal In Next Few Hours
US President Donald Trump on May 8 said he expects an answer from Tehran to the latest US peace proposal within the next few hours, as hopes again rise that an agreement to end the nearly 70-day war was possible.
"I'm getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we'll see how that goes," Trump told reporters outside the White House on May 8.
Trump and other US officials have often asserted that a deal was close with Iranian leaders to end the war -- which began with US-Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28 -- only to have talks end without a breakthrough.
On May 7, Trump said a deal was "very possible," but he also warned Tehran of the resumption of massive air strikes if it did not accept the US proposal.
Leaders in Tehran have said they are studying the latest US plan, reportedly a one-page memorandum that would call for an end to the fighting and the opening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz but leave many key issues -- including Iran’s right to enrich uranium -- until later.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said Washington was awaiting Iran’s response to a US proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
"We're expecting a response from them today at some point...I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Rome on May 8.
The remarks come after two days of renewed violence in the Middle East, with US forces saying they had disabled two more Iranian-flagged tankers in the Gulf of Oman on May 8 as Washington continued enforcing its blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iran.
In addition, the United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran, leaving three people moderately injured.
In an X post on May 8, the country's Defense Ministry said that since the start of “blatant Iranian attacks” on the UAE, its forces had intercepted 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,263 drones.
In a potential threat to the current cease-fire, US forces on May 7 said they intercepted and "eliminated inbound threats" and struck unspecified Iranian military sites after Iranian forces launched missiles, drones, and small boats at US Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
"US forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as US Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
Trump later told ABC News that retaliatory strikes against Iran were just a "love tap" and insisted that, despite the action, the cease-fire announced on April 7 was still "in effect" and that negotiations were ongoing.
The semiofficial Fars News Agency reported that parts of Iran's Bahman Port on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had been targeted by unknown attackers.
“During an exchange of fire between Iran’s armed forces and the enemy, commercial sections of Bahman Port were targeted,” said Fars, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
We are now closing the live blog for the day. We'll be back at 7:30 a.m. Central European time to cover the latest events across the Middle East.
In Talks With Vance, Qatari PM Urges All Sides To Focus On Diplomacy
Qatari Prime Minister Muhammad bin Abdulrahman al-Thani called for all warring parties to utilize diplomacy and not arms to find an end to the war in the Middle East.
Thani made the remarks following talks with US Vice President JD Vance in Washington, the Qatari Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
During the meeting, the prime minister "stressed the need for all parties to engage with the ongoing mediation efforts, to pave the way for addressing the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue, leading to a comprehensive agreement that achieves lasting peace in the region," the ministry said.
Pakistan has acted as official mediator between Tehran and Washington, but media reports have said the Qataris have been operating behind the scenes to drive to resolve the conflict.
US President Donald Trump on May 8 said he expects a response in the next few hours from Tehran to the latest US peace proposal to end the nearly 70-day war.
Trump Says Expects Iranian Response To Peace Proposal In Next Few Hours
US President Donald Trump on May 8 said he expects an answer from Tehran to the latest US peace proposal within the next few hours, as hopes again rise that an agreement to end the nearly 70-day war was possible.
"I'm getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we'll see how that goes," Trump told reporters outside the White House on May 8.
Trump and other US officials have often asserted that a deal was close with Iranian leaders to end the war -- which began with US-Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28 -- only to have talks end without a breakthrough.
On May 7, Trump said a deal was "very possible," but he also warned Tehran of the resumption of massive air strikes if it did not accept the US proposal.
Leaders in Tehran have said they are studying the latest US plan, reportedly a one-page memorandum that would call for an end to the fighting and the opening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz but leave many key issues -- including Iran’s right to enrich uranium -- until later.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said Washington was awaiting Iran’s response to a US proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
"We're expecting a response from them today at some point...I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Rome on May 8.
The remarks come after two days of renewed violence in the Middle East, with US forces saying they had disabled two more Iranian-flagged tankers in the Gulf of Oman on May 8 as Washington continued enforcing its blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iran.
In addition, the United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran, leaving three people moderately injured.
In an X post on May 8, the country's Defense Ministry said that since the start of “blatant Iranian attacks” on the UAE, its forces had intercepted 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,263 drones.
In a potential threat to the current cease-fire, US forces on May 7 said they intercepted and "eliminated inbound threats" and struck unspecified Iranian military sites after Iranian forces launched missiles, drones, and small boats at US Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
"US forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as US Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
Trump later told ABC News that retaliatory strikes against Iran were just a "love tap" and insisted that, despite the action, the cease-fire announced on April 7 was still "in effect" and that negotiations were ongoing.
The semiofficial Fars News Agency reported that parts of Iran's Bahman Port on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had been targeted by unknown attackers.
“During an exchange of fire between Iran’s armed forces and the enemy, commercial sections of Bahman Port were targeted,” said Fars, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
US Slaps Sanctions On People, Firms Accused Of Aiding Iran's Shahed Program
The US Treasury on May 8 said it had imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and companies for aiding efforts by the Iranian military to secure weapons and materials used to build Shahed drones.
Included in the list are entities in China and Hong Kong, with the action coming days before US President Donald Trump's planned trip to China for meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The Iranian-made Shahed drones provided by Tehran to Russia have been used by the Kremlin's forces for attacks in Ukraine, often hitting civilian targets.
The Treasury said it stands ready to take further economic action against Iran's military-industrial base as part of efforts to prevent Tehran from rebuilding its output capacity and projecting its power in the Middle East region.
The Treasury said it would also act against any foreign company supporting illicit Iranian commerce and could impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions that aid Tehran's efforts, including those connected to China's independent "teapot" oil refineries.
Iran Says Latest Clashes With US In Strait Of Hormuz Have 'Ceased'
Tehran has said armed clashes with US Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have come to an end and that the situation is now calm.
“After a period of mutual fire, the fighting has ceased and the situation is under control,” the Tasnim news agency, which has close ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), quoted a military source as saying on May 8.
The report said the latest escalation -- which endangered but did not end the cease-fire now in place -- came after US forces fired on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker on May 6.
The two sides dispute the nature of the clashes and accuse the other of firing first.
On May 8, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that two more Iranian-flagged tankers were disabled by US forces in the Gulf of Oman as Washington continued enforcing its blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iran.
Talks are under way through Pakistani mediators on a potential peace deal, With US President Donald Trump expressing optimism even as he threatens Iran with massive air attacks if it rejects the US proposal.
US Announces New Round Of Talks Between Israel And Lebanon Next Week
The United States says it will facilitate two days of "intensive talks" next week aimed at advancing a comprehensive peace and security agreement between the governments of Israel and Lebanon.
According to a statement issued by US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott on May 8, the meeting will take place May 14-15 in what will be a previous round of talks held on April 23.
Pigott said "both delegations will engage in detailed discussions aimed at advancing a comprehensive peace and security agreement that substantively addresses the core concerns of both countries."
"These talks aim to break decisively from the failed approach of the past two decades, which allowed terrorist groups to entrench and enrich themselves, undermine the authority of the Lebanese state, and endanger Israel's northern border," he added.
Since the war with Iran broke out at the end of February, Israel has struck targets inside Lebanon it says are related to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.
The two sides had agreed to a cease-fire last month, but on May 6 Israel launched an attack on a southern suburb of Beirut, where Hezbollah is based. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had personally approved the strike which targeted a commander of the group's elite Radwan Force.
Report: Images Show Suspected Oil Slick Near Iran Export Hub
Satellite images reviewed by Reuters appear to show a large oil slick near Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, raising concerns about a possible spill amid ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf.
Images captured between May 6 and May 8 by Copernicus Sentinel satellites showed a grey-and-white slick covering waters west of the island.
Leon Moreland of the Conflict and Environment Observatory said that the slick appeared “visually consistent with oil” and estimated it covered roughly 45 square kilometers.
The cause of the possible spill remains unclear.
Reuters said the US military and Iran's mission to the UN did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kharg Island handles about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports and has been at the center of heightened tensions and military activity during the US-Iran conflict.
US Says It Has Disabled 2 More Iranian-Flagged Tankers
Two more Iranian-flagged tankers were disabled by US forces in the Gulf of Oman as Washington continued enforcing its blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iran, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a May 8 post on X.
According to CENTCOM, which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, US Navy fighter jets struck the "unladen oil tankers" Sea Star III and Sevda before they could enter an Iranian port, while another tanker, the Hasna, had been disabled on May 6.
CENTCOM said more than 50 commercial vessels had been redirected during blockade operations.
CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said US forces remained committed to “full enforcement of the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran.”
Iran Says 5 Sailors Missing After US Strikes
The governor of the southern Iranian city of Minab has said that a cargo vessel near the city’s waters was struck and caught fire during overnight US strikes, leaving five crew members missing.
Mohammad Rademehr told Iranian media on May 8 that 15 sailors had been aboard the cargo vessel, 10 of whom were transferred to hospital, while volunteer and search teams were trying to locate the remaining crew members.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said the US had launched strikes on “Iranian military facilities” in the early hours of May 8 in response to Iranian attacks against American destroyers.
In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said Iran had used small boats, missiles and drones in the incident and that the "Iranian attackers" had been “completely destroyed.”
Iran's military said it targeted the US ships after American forces struck “an Iranian oil tanker” moving from Iran’s coastal waters, as well as another vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, AFP, and Reuters
Rubio Says US Awaiting Iran Response to Peace Proposal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington is awaiting Iran’s response to a US proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
"We're expecting a response from them today at some point... I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Rome on May 8.
Rubio also denounced Iran’s efforts to control transit through the Strait of Hormuz after reports that Tehran had established an authority to approve vessel passage through the crucial maritime conduit.
"Iran now claims that they own, that they have a right to control, an international waterway... That's an unacceptable thing that they're trying to normalize," he said.
Rubio also defended recent US military action in the Gulf, saying American forces had responded after Iranian fire targeted US warships on May 7.
Iran, however, said the confrontation began after US vessels attacked an Iranian civilian tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio's remarks came on the same day as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Washington of undermining diplomacy, saying in a post on X that "every time a diplomatic solution is on the table," the United States opts for "a reckless military adventure."