Iran, U.S. harden their positions as Tehran tightens its grip on the Strait of Hormuz | Latest News

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Iran and the United States appeared at an impasse Thursday, with each side hardening its position over talks and setting the stage for another potential escalation in the Middle East war. Thousands more U.S. troops neared the region, while Tehran tightened its grip on the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Sirens over Israel warned of barrages of incoming Iranian missiles, and Gulf nations worked to intercept fire. Heavy strikes were reported in Iran’s capital and other cities.

kAmx? 2 H2C E92E 2AA62CD 567:?65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\FD\:DC26=\H2C\2EEC:E:@?\2?2=JD:D\d5f6d_4b2e52dfc`c337c2d6add6c2f6QmH9@ 42? E2<6 E96 >@DE A2:?k^2m[ E96 &]$] 92D @776C65 D9:7E:?8 3FE 2>3:E:@FD @3;64E:G6D[ :?4=F5:?8 6?DFC:?8 xC2?’D >:DD:=6 2?5 ?F4=62C AC@8C2>D 2C6 ?@ =@?86C 2 E9C62E 2?5 6?5:?8 %69C2?’D DFAA@CE 7@C 2C>65 8C@FAD 😕 E96 C68:@?] (2D9:?8E@? 2E @?6 A@:?E 2=D@ AFD965 7@C E96 @G6CE9C@H @7 xC2?’D E96@4C24J]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 E96 &]$]\xDC26=: 42>A2:8? 92D 9:E xC2?’D >:=:E2CJ 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E 92C5[ <:==:?8 E@A =6256CD 2?5 DEC:<:?8 D4@C6D @7 E2C86ED[ xC2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\FD\@3;64E:G6D\:C2?\H2C\7fh7_b2a7`3hbgbcab3a4f72“eeaea5Qm4@?E:?F6D E@ 7:C6 >:DD:=6Dk^2m 2?5 E96C6 😀 ?@ D:8? @7 2? FAC:D:?8 282:?DE E96 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am

kAmu@C xC2?’D =6256CD9:A[ 3J 4@?EC2DE[ >6C6=J @FE=2DE:?8 E96 @?D=2F89E 4@F=5 36 D66? 2D G:4E@CJ] xE >2J 36 9@A:?8 E@ 86E E96 &]$] E@ 324< 5@H? 3J C@:=:?8 E96 H@C=5 64@?@>J H:E9 :ED DEC2?8=69@=5 @? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\DEC2:E\9@C>FK\FD\AC@E6DED\A6CD:2?\8F=7\53f`dh5f`dcdbhffafh23h475h`g6e6cQm$EC2:E @7 w@C>FKk^2m — C2:D:?8 AC:46D 2E E96 AF>A 7@C 5C:G6CD[ AC:46D 😕 E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6 7@C 72>:=:6D 2?5 4@DED 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D E96 H@C=5 @G6C]k^Am

kAm$9@CE @7 2 ?68@E:2E65 D@=FE:@?[ E96 &]$] H@F=5 ?665 2 5C2>2E:4 6D42=2E:@? E@ 6?5 xC2?’D 2EE246] xC2? C6;64E65 E96 &]$]’ 56>2?5D[ H9:=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\H2C\FD\E2=A\:DC26=\fef2`dcbeb7c265h4g27behee4c7f_`2QmAFEE:?8 7@CE9 :ED @H?k^2m]k^Am

kAm%CF>A G@H65 E@ DEC:<6 xC2?’D A@H6C A=2?ED :7 :E 5@6D?’E 7F==J C6@A6? E96 DEC2:E — 2?5 9:D ?6H 5625=:?6 7@C E92E =@@>D E9:D H66<6?5[ H96? E96 H2C H:== 2=D@ >2C< 2 >@?E9] qFE 2 vF=7 pC23 3=@4 D2:5 %9FCD52J E92E xC2? 😀 ?@H 6I24E:?8 E@==D 7C@> D9:AD E@ 6?DFC6 E96:C D276 A2DD286 E9C@F89 E96 H2E6CH2J]k^Am

k9bmxC2? D66? 2D @A6C2E:?8 $EC2:E @7 w@C>FK 2D ‘56 724E@ E@== 3@@E9’k^9bm

kAmxC2? 92D 366? 3=@4<:?8 D9:AD 7C@> E96 DEC2:E E92E :E A6C46:G6D 2D =:?<65 E@ E96 &]$] 2?5 xDC26=: H2C 677@CE[ H9:=6 =6EE:?8 E9C@F89 2 EC:4<=6 @7 @E96CD]k^Am

kAmy2D6> |@92>65 2=\qF52:H:[ D64C6E2CJ\86?6C2= @7 E96 vF=7 r@@A6C2E:@? r@F?4:=[ 2 3=@4 @7 D:I vF=7 pC23 ?2E:@?D[ D2:5 xC2? H2D 492C8:?8 7@C D276 A2DD286]k^Am

kAm%96 u2CD 2?5 %2D?:> ?6HD 286?4:6D[ 3@E9 4=@D6 E@ xC2?’D A2C2>:=:E2CJ #6G@=FE:@?2CJ vF2C5[ BF@E65 =2H>2<6C |@92>>25C6K2 #6K26: z@F49: 2D D2J:?8 E92E A2C=:2>6?E H2D H@C<:?8 E@ 7@C>2=:K6 E92E AC@46DD 2?5 E92E :E H2D “?2EFC2=” 7@C D9:AD E@ A2J 7@C :E]k^Am

kAm{=@J5’D {:DE x?E6==:86?46 42==65 :E 2 “56 724E@ ‘E@== 3@@E9’ C68:>6[” D2J:?8 E92E 2E =62DE EH@ G6DD6=D 92G6 A2:5 😕 JF2?[ r9:?2VD 4FCC6?4J]k^Am

kAmxC2?’D 8C:A @? E96 DEC2:E 2?5 C6=6?E=6DD 2EE24@C6 E92? c_T 7C@> u63] ag[ H96? E96 H2C DE2CE65] v6C>2?JVD s676?D6 |:?:DE6C q@C:D !:DE@C:FD 42==65 :E 2 “42E2DEC@A96” 7@C E96 H@C=5VD 64@?@>:6D]k^Am

kAmxDC26= D2:5 :E <:==65 r@>>@5@C6 p=:C6K2 %2?8D:C:[ E96 9625 @7 xC2?:2? #6G@=FE:@?2CJ vF2C5’D ?2GJ] xDC26=: s676?D6 |:?:DE6C xDC26= z2EK D2:5 E92E %2?8D:C: H2D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 3@>3:?8 @A6C2E:@?D E92E 92G6 3=@4<65 D9:AD 7C@> 4C@DD:?8 E96 H2E6CH2J] xC2? 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J 24@H=6586 E96 <:==:?8]k^Am

k9bm%CF>A D2JD xC2? ?665D E@ ‘86E D6C:@FD’ 23@FE ?68@E:2E:@?Dk^9bm

kAm&D:?8 !2<:DE2? 2D 2? :?E6C>65:2CJ[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\FD\:DC26=\ECF>A\=632?@?\>2C49\ac\a_ae\g33d6fh2hg62fa7444d4d_3chb`25ffgQm(2D9:?8E@? 92D 56=:G6C65k^2m E@ xC2? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\:C2?\E2=FK]k^Am

kAmp 52J 27E6C D2J:?8 xC2? H2?ED E@ 4FE 2 562=[ %CF>A A@DE65 @? D@4:2= >65:2 %9FCD52J E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\=6256CD9:A\<92>6?6:\C6G@=FE:@?2CJ\8F2C5D\C68:>6\492?86\fcdfgb5f2a76eba_d7f2e6565dg34b`dQm%69C2? ?665Dk^2m E@ “86E D6C:@FD D@@?” @? ?68@E:2E:?8 2? 6?5 E@ E96 H2C “367@C6 :E 😀 E@@ =2E6[ 3642FD6 @?46 E92E 92AA6?D E96C6 😀 }~ %}x}v qprz[ 2?5 :E H@?’E 36 AC6EEJP”k^Am

kAmw6 5:5 ?@E 6=23@C2E6[ 3FE D2:5 xC2? D9@F=5 36 ?68@E:2E:?8 3642FD6 “E96J 92G6 366? >:=:E2C:=J @3=:E6C2E65[ H:E9 K6C@ 492?46 @7 2 4@>6324<]”k^Am

kAmxC2?’D u@C6:8? |:?:DE6C p332D pC28949: D2:5 😕 2? :?E6CG:6H @? DE2E6 %’ E92E 9:D 8@G6C?>6?E 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^=:G6^:C2?\H2C\:DC26=\ECF>A\_b\ad\a_aenFE>0D@FC46l4@AJU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lD92C6Qm?@E 6?82865 😕 E2=

kAmpC28949: D2:5 E96 &]$] 925 EC:65 E@ D6?5 >6DD286D E@ xC2? E9C@F89 @E96C ?2E:@?D[ “3FE E92E 😀 ?@E 2 4@?G6CD2E:@? ?@C 2 ?68@E:2E:@?]”k^Am

kAm!C6DD %'[ E96 t?8=:D9\=2?8F286 3C@2542DE6C @? xC2?:2? DE2E6 E6=6G:D:@?[ D2:5 xC2? 92D :ED @H? 7:G6\A@:?E AC@A@D2=[ H9:49 :?4=F565 C6A2C2E:@?D 2?5 C64@8?:E:@? @7 :ED D@G6C6:8?EJ @G6C E96 $EC2:E @7 w@C>FK]k^Am

kAm|62?H9:=6[ 2 8C@FA @7 D9:AD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 &$$ %C:A@=:[ 5C6H 4=@D6C E@ E96 |:562DE H:E9 D@>6 a[d__ |2C:?6D] p=D@[ 2E =62DE `[___ A2C2EC@@A6CD 7C@> E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^FD\>:=:E2CJ\:C2?\H2C\ga?5\2:C3@C?6\c3c4b_634g_f3bab737bd4ccbd2fbh7`Qmga?5 p:C3@C?6k^2m — EC2:?65 E@ =2?5 😕 9@DE:=6 E6CC:E@CJ E@ D64FC6 <6J E6CC:E@CJ 2?5 2:C7:6=5D — 92G6 366? @C56C65 E@ E96 C68:@?]k^Am

k9bmp H2G6 @7 xDC26=: 2:CDEC:<6D 9:ED 2D xC2? 7:C6D @? xDC26= 2?5 vF=7 ?6:893@CDk^9bm

kAmxDC26= D2:5 :E 42CC:65 @FE 2 H2G6 @7 2EE246 E@ 2 >2;@C xC2?:2? 2:C 32D6 2?5 @E96C >:=:E2CJ D:E6D[ 2D H6== 2D @?6 @7 E96 ?F4=62C D:E6D 3@>365 3J E96 &]$] 5FC:?8 E96 `a\52J H2C 😕 yF?6]k^Am

kAm{@F5 3@@>D 4@F=5 36 962C5 24C@DD xDC26= 2D :E H2D C6A62E65=J E2C86E65 3J 32CC286D 7C@> xC2?] x? E96 &?:E65 pC23 t>:C2E6D[ EH@ A6@A=6 H6C6 C6A@CE65 <:==65 3J D9C2A?6= 7C@> 2 >:DD:=6 :?E6C46AE:@? @G6C p3F s923:]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96 H2C 3682?[ >@C6 E92? `[h__ A6@A=6 92G6 366? <:==65 😕 xC2?[ s6AFEJ w62=E9 |:?:DE6C p=: y272C:2? E@=5 p= y2K66C2]k^Am

kAm$6G6?E66? A6@A=6 92G6 5:65 😕 xDC26=[ H9:=6 E9C66 xDC26=: D@=5:6CD 92G6 2=D@ 366? <:==65 😕 {632?@?] pE =62DE `b p>6C:42? EC@@AD 92G6 366? <:==65] |@C6 E92? 2 5@K6? 4:G:=:2?D 😕 E96 @44FA:65 (6DE q2?< 2?5 vF=7 pC23 DE2E6D 92G6 2=D@ 5:65]k^Am

kAmpFE9@C:E:6D D2:5 ?62C=J `[`__ A6@A=6 92G6 5:65 😕 {632?@?[ H96C6 xDC26= 92D E2C86E65 E96 xC2?\324<65 w6K3@==29 >:=:E2?E 8C@FA[ H9:49 92D 7:C65 :?E@ xDC26=] x? xC2B[ H96C6 xC2?:2?\DFAA@CE65 >:=:E2?E 8C@FAD 92G6 6?E6C65 E96 4@?7=:4E[ g_ >6>36CD @7 E96 D64FC:EJ 7@C46D 92G6 366? <:==65]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm%9:D DE@CJ 92D 366? FA52E65 E@ 4@CC64E E92E `f A6@A=6 92G6 366? <:==65 😕 xDC26=[ ?@E a_]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm#:D:?8 C6A@CE65 7C@> q2?8<@<] pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD HC:E6CD yF=:2 uC2?<6= 😕 y6CFD2=6>[ #@5 |4vF:C< 😕 |6=3@FC?6[ pFDEC2=:2[ 2?5 v:@G2??2 s6==V~CE@ 😕 |:2>: 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.