This live blog has now closed. Coverage of the Middle East crisis continues elsewhere.
As ceasefire talks continued, UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. Her comments were among a series of remarks being reported by Reuters as diplomacy intensified around the conflict and its wider regional impact.
Cooper also said that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must be toll-free. The narrow waterway remains a central point of concern in the crisis because of its importance to international trade and energy shipments.
At the same time, Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels that pass safely through the strait. The suggestion has drawn further attention to the risks of disruption in one of the world’s most strategically significant shipping routes.
Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture. In response, the White House said the priority was reopening the strait without limitations.
The live update also included a separate remark on military decision-making, saying that “my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldn’t get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.”
The latest comments reflect how the conflict continues to be shaped not only by events on the ground, but also by negotiations over ceasefire terms, regional security, and the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Lebanon’s inclusion in any agreement appears to remain a key issue, while the question of tolls on shipping adds another layer of uncertainty to the diplomatic talks. With the live blog now closed, attention shifts to the next round of reporting as the crisis continues.
