Tehran says ‘progress’ made in talks with US

Israel’s military said on Sunday that a soldier died during combat in southern Lebanon, where a temporary ceasefire had come into effect this week. 

The total death toll of Israeli soldiers now stands at 15 since the start of the Israeli ground offensive in southern Lebanon, according to French news agency AFP’s tally based on military figures.

It was the second death announced by Israel of a soldier in southern Lebanon since the start of a ten-day truce announced by the United States began on Friday.

Tehran has reimposed its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, just a day after saying it would reopen the critical waterway.

DW asked Middle East expert Simon Mabon what this says about Iran’s strategic calculations.

Speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that there has been “progress” in talks with the US “but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain.”

Speaking in a televised address, Ghalibaf, who is negotiating the terms of bringing a permanent end to the war started by Israel and the US, said, “We are still far from the final discussion.”

“There are some issues on which we insist … They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two,” he added.

The US and Iran entered a ceasefire on April 8 that is set to expire on Wednesday, unless it is extended.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that “very good conversations” were going on with Iran but warned Tehran against trying to “blackmail” the United States.

Previous talks between the US, led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran, led by Ghalibaf, in Pakistan, ended without a deal after a marathon night of negotiations.

One of the main sticking points for both sides is Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with the US demanding Iran hand over all of its nuclear material.

Welcome to our live coverage of the crisis in the Middle East. Here are the most important headlines from the last couple of days:

• Iran once again closed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after reopening it on Friday
• The Iranian U-turn came as the US continued its blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas
• Iran said it would keep the strait closed until the US ends its blockade
• A top official warned that a final peace deal still remained ‘far’ off
• US President Donald Trump threatened withdrawal from the ceasefire with Iran if a long-term deal to end the war is not agreed upon by Wednesday

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest developments in the US-Israel with Iran.