Iran-US war latest: Vance ‘not certain’ about peace deal as he warns US military ‘locked and loaded’ to resume strikes
The vice president JD Vance has said he is “not certain” about a peace deal with Iran as he warned the American military is “locked and loaded” for a resumption of war.
In a White House briefing on Tuesday, Vance said “a lot of good progress has been made” in negotiations with Tehran in recent days, but added: “You never know until you know, right?”
His comments came after Donald Trump stated that he could order “another big hit” on the country.
“I am not certain, and I’m not going to be certain until we sign a deal that we have a deal,” Mr Vance said.
Trump, he said, has advised his team to "aggressively negotiate" with the Iranians.
Earlier, the US president claimed he was “an hour away” from ordering a fresh volley of strikes on Iran in order to force Tehran to agree a deal, after he had reviewed the latest peace terms.
Only yesterday, the US president said there was a “very good chance” an agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon would be reached.Iran warns of 'many more surprises' if US renews attack
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Tehran has gained military knowledge from previous attacks and a renewed war will "feature many more surprises".
"Months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions," he said, referring to the downing of an American F-35 fighter jet.
"With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises," he added.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 05:00Earthquake strikes war-torn Iran
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck near Southern Iran this morning, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
The quake was at a depth of 14km, EMSC said.
The quake struck parts of Hormozgan province and was felt by residents of Qeshm and Hormoz cities, as well as in rural areas in Bandar Abbas. Fars news said the epicentre was near Bandar Laft at a depth of 20km.
The director general of crisis management at the Hormozgan governorate told Iranian media that no damage had been reported so far from the earthquake, but assessments were ongoing.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:45Oil prices fall to $110 after Trump says war will end 'very quickly
'Oil prices eased today after president Donald Trump again asserted the war with Iran will end "very quickly", though investors remain wary about the outcome of peace talks amid continued disruptions to Middle East supply from the conflict.
Brent crude oil futures fell 45 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $110.83 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 27 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $103.88.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:30Senate advances measure to end Iran war
A growing number of Republicans defied president Donald Trump as the Senate advanced legislation seeking to compel his administration to withdraw from the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Since President Trump ordered an attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on war powers resolutions. These measures would require him to either gain congressional approval for the military engagement or withdraw troops. Republicans had previously managed to block such proposals.
However, a crucial shift occurred when Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, fresh from a primary election loss in which President Trump endorsed his opponent, switched his vote.
More here.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:21Russia ready to 'help with US-Iran talks'
Russia's deputy foreign minister has claimed that Moscow was ready to help out with talks between the US and Iran over their ongoing conflict.
"Russia is ready to provide all possible assistance in resolving this conflict, and the parties involved are well aware of this," Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by TASS as saying.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:18Trump says he was 'an hour away' from launching strikes
President Donald Trump has expressed his hopes that the Iran conflict will not continue but said that the US may have to order “another big hit” on the Islamic Republic.
The US president said he was “an hour away” from launching fresh attacks before allies in the Middle East asked him to postpone them, due to the possibility of a peace deal being agreed.
He said that America’s decision would be known “very soon”.
“I hope we don't have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit... I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon,” he told reporters.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:12Trump says Iran war will end 'very quickly'
President Donald Trump has said that the Iran war will end “very quickly” while attending a Congressional picnic Tuesday night, Washington time.
“We're blowing everything away, and we're going to end that war very quickly. They want to make a deal so badly, they're tired of this,” he said of the Iranians.
He reassured Americans struggling with high gas prices that they will see “oil prices plummet.”
“They're going to come down. There's so much oil out there, they're going to come plummeting down,” he said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:12Iran war briefing:President Donald Trump has said that the Iran war will end “very quickly” and that Tehran wanted to "make a deal so badly, they're tired of this" Trump also claimed that he was "an hour away" from launching fresh strikes on Iran before his Gulf allies asked him to postpone them Russia's deputy foreign ministry has offered Moscow's help with talks between the US and Iran over their ongoing military conflict Oil prices eased on Wednesday as Brent crude oil futures fell 45 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $110.83 a barrel. The US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 27 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $103.88
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:11
