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US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss ways to bypass the Strait of Hormuz as disruption to shipping through the strategic waterway continues to put pressure on regional trade and global energy flows.
The development comes amid the continuing fallout from the US-Israel conflict with Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed to normal shipping activity. The disruption has raised concerns over the movement of crude oil, natural gas and other goods through one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is a critical route for global energy supplies. Any prolonged disruption could have wider implications for oil markets, shipping costs and countries dependent on energy imports.
Macron, Mohammed Bin Salman To Discuss Strait Of Hormuz Alternatives
Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to focus on ways to maintain the movement of goods and energy supplies despite the continuing disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
The discussions come as governments in the region and beyond assess alternative transportation routes to reduce dependence on the strategic waterway.
The situation has become a major concern for energy-importing countries because of the importance of Hormuz to international oil and gas shipments.
The latest developments also come as Washington continues its pressure campaign against Tehran. US President Donald Trump has said Iran must make what he considers the “right deal”, while the administration has signalled an intensified economic campaign against the country.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: US Envoy Tom Barrack Says Israel ‘Still’ Occupies Golan Heights
Separately, US Ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said Israel “still” occupies the Golan Heights in remarks that appear to diverge from Washington’s position on the territory.
In an interview published on Friday, Barrack said Israel continues to occupy the Golan Heights “against the UN resolutions”.
The Golan Heights were captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 war, while Israel later extended its laws and administration to the territory in 1981. The United Nations has maintained that the Golan is occupied Syrian territory and that Israel’s annexation does not have international legal effect. UN Security Council Resolution 497 declared Israel’s decision to impose its laws and administration on the territory “null and void”.
Former US President Donald Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019. However, that US decision did not change the territory’s status under international law or result in broad international recognition.
Barrack’s latest comments have drawn criticism from some US conservatives, including activist Laura Loomer, who questioned his understanding of US foreign policy.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran Says Neighbours Seek New Security Arrangements
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran has received messages from neighbouring countries concerning the creation of new regional security arrangements and greater economic cooperation. Ghalibaf said in a post on X that Iran had received “numerous messages” from neighbouring countries on shaping new security arrangements and economic cooperation in the region.
His comments come as the regional conflict continues to reshape security and economic calculations across the Middle East.
Ghalibaf has also argued for an independent, regionally driven security structure, saying such an arrangement could help establish peace and security without foreign interference.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran’s South Pars Phase 14 Refinery Restoration Reaches 70%
Iran’s South Pars Phase 14 gas refinery has reached 70% restoration following damage sustained during an Israeli strike, according to Iranian energy officials and state media reports.
The Pars Oil and Gas Company said restoration work has progressed significantly, with damaged production capacity being brought back online. Reports said reconstruction began after the facility was damaged in an attack in June last year.
South Pars is a major component of Iran’s energy infrastructure, making the restoration of the Phase 14 refinery significant for the country’s gas production capacity.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Three Palestinians Injured In West Bank Incidents
Meanwhile, three Palestinians were reported injured in separate incidents involving Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Two Palestinians were reportedly injured after being beaten by Israeli forces in Beit Furik, east of Nablus, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Separately, an elderly Palestinian man was reportedly injured in an attack by Israeli settlers in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.
The incidents add to continuing tensions in the occupied West Bank as the wider regional conflict remains unresolved.
Iran President Claims Tehran Has Won War With US
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has claimed that the world has accepted Tehran’s victory in its conflict with the United States.
Iranian state media reported that Pezeshkian said the war should end because, in Tehran’s view, Iran had resisted US demands and maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz.
His comments come as the strategic waterway remains at the centre of the wider confrontation. At the same time, France and Saudi Arabia are expected to discuss alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz amid the continuing disruption to maritime traffic.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Crisis: Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf with international waters through the Gulf of Oman. Continued disruption could affect the transportation of oil and gas, while also increasing shipping and insurance costs. The crisis has therefore become a key concern not only for countries in the Middle East but also for major energy-consuming economies worldwide.