JD Vance Says Iran Seeks Deal as Trump Halts Planned Strike on May 18

US Vice President JD Vance said Iran appears interested in reaching a deal with the US and understands that developing a nuclear weapon remains a “red line” for Washington, while Fox News reported that President Donald Trump called off a planned strike on Iran on May 18.

“Iran has submitted a response to the latest United States proposal to end the war via mediator Pakistan, as a fragile truce comes under growing strain”

Al Jazeera

Fox News also quoted counterterrorism analyst Dr. Omar Mohammed saying “jihad — sacred religious war,” describing how Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei framed war with the United States and Israel in ideological and religious terms.

Al Jazeera

The Times of India reported that Trump warned the US was ready for a “full, large scale assault” if no deal is reached, as Washington indicated it would not soften its stance on Tehran’s nuclear program.

In the same Fox News coverage, Mojtaba Khamenei wrote on X that “Among the most valuable achievements of the Third Sacred Defense [against the American and Zionist invasion] is the emergence of Iran at the level of a major, influential power,” as the dispute over Iran’s nuclear plans remained central to the standoff.

As the Iran war grips the Strait of Hormuz, Time reported that U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned “The world is sleepwalking into a global food crisis,” linking the disruption to the Strait’s continued disruption.

Time added that Cooper urged “the immediate” reopening of the Strait, through which around a fifth of global oil production flows, while citing Lloyd’s List Intelligence data that at least 54 ships transited between May 11-17 compared to just 25 in the previous week.

AP News

France 24 reported that Iran announced the formation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) and said the authority would provide “real-time updates on the #Hormuz_Strait operations and latest developments.”

France 24 also said Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since the outbreak of war on February 28, with a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8.

Al Jazeera reported that Iran submitted a response to the latest United States proposal to end the war via mediator Pakistan, with Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei telling a press briefing that Tehran’s response had been “conveyed to the American side through mediator Pakistan.”

“Mojtaba Khamenei frames war with US, Israel as 'jihad' in defiant message, analyst says Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei used a series of posts on X Tuesday to frame Iran’s war with the United States and Israel in ideological and religious terms, invoking what one counterterrorism analyst described as “jihad — sacred religious war”

Fox News

Al Jazeera said Baghaei described Iranian demands including the release of its assets frozen abroad and the lifting of sanctions, while also stating that Baghaei told a televised weekly news conference that Iran is “fully prepared for any eventuality” if the conflict escalates again.

Mehr News Agency quoted Ebrahim Azizi warning that Iran would pursue its legal rights in the waterway “with full strength” and “will show no leniency toward anyone,” as it described Iran’s retaliatory shutdown of the corridor to enemies and their allies.

Mehr News Agency further said Azizi announced on Saturday that Iran devised a new mechanism to control maritime traffic through a “designated route” in the Strait of Hormuz, including charging fees for “the specialized services.”