Friday 25 September 2026 07:30 UTC
US and Iran Discuss Phased Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
US and Iranian negotiators are discussing a phased agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington lifting its economic blockade. About 60 commercial vessels crossed on Wednesday, the highest daily crude volume since early July; roughly 40 coordinated with the US military for protection. Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline was building crude volumes, but tanker loading at Yanbu had not resumed. After the Houthis said they attacked Aramco facilities there, France announced it would deploy soldiers, radars and air-defence systems to protect the oil-export hub.
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Ukraine reported a large overnight drone campaign deep inside Russia. Footage was said to show a strike causing a major fire at the Perm oil refinery, while other industrial facilities were also targeted. Russian attacks hit eight Ukrainian regions. A drone struck a Kyiv apartment building, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring seven people; another strike on an Odesa postal terminal killed one person. Denmark’s intelligence service now assesses a “low but growing” risk of a limited Russian attack on a neighbouring NATO country within months, possibly involving isolated strikes or false-flag operations. Lithuania said a US heavy battalion with Abrams tanks and an engineer battalion would deploy there.
Washington and Beijing have held quiet discussions over US allegations that China conducted secret low-yield nuclear tests, which China strongly denies. The talks concern risk reduction, including better verification, more transparency and earlier notice of ballistic-missile tests, rather than formal arms limits. Donald Trump and Xi Jinping also discussed security, trade, technology and AI during their US meeting. Xi offered Chinese mediation between Washington and Tehran and called for stronger US-China cooperation, while reiterating Beijing’s opposition to Taiwanese independence.