While tensions remain high in the Middle East between the United States and Iran, Donald Trump hopes to receive a response from Tehran to his latest proposal with a view to putting an end to hostilities.
The essentials
- The war in Iranentered its 71st day this Saturday, May 9, 2026. Despite the ceasefire in force, tensions between the United States and Iran are not weakening. The two countries still cannot reach an agreement. Donald Trump said on Friday that he was waiting “tonight” for a response from Tehran to the latest American proposal aimed at putting an end to hostilities.
- In Lebanon, Israel continues its attacks against Hezbollah despite the ceasefire in force. The Israeli army launched a call on Saturday for the evacuation of several villages in southern Lebanon. The official Lebanese news agency Ani reports new strikes by the Hebrew state on Lebanese territory. Israel claimed a little earlier to have struck more than 85 Hezbollah targets in the last twenty-four hours.
- The Strait of Hormuzthe maritime axis through which 20% of world oil consumption usually passes, is still blocked. Clashes took place on Friday between Tehran and Washington. In the aftermath of the confrontation, the United Kingdom announced on Saturday the sending of a destroyer to the Middle East with a view to a future international mission in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Human toll. According to the US-based rights group HRANA, the war in Iran, Lebanon and the Middle East has caused the deaths of 3,500 people. In Lebanon, 2,702 victims were recorded and 8,311 injured, according to the National Information Agency (NNA).
And directly
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17:15 – The tablecloth “significantly reduced”, according to an NGO
Good news off the coast of Kharg Island. The oil slick observed in recent days in the Persian Gulf has “significantly reduced”, says the Conflict and Environment Observatory, relying on satellite images from the Copernicus program. In recent days, satellite images showed a possible extension of pollution, the origin of which still remains unknown.
16:50 – Oil spill off the Iranian island of Kharg: the causes still unclear
An oil slick of 45 km² was detected by satellite in the Persian Gulf, off the Iranian island of Kharg, the country’s main oil export terminal. Several hypotheses are mentioned: overflow of storage facilities, leak from an aging oil ship, or even voluntary load shedding to avoid stopping the wells. A possibility of sabotage or strike is not excluded at this stage. According to experts cited by France 2, Iran would be forced to store part of its crude due to restrictions on its exports, which could have contributed to the situation. The water table would have stopped expanding, but the extent of the environmental damage remains unknown.
16:20 – Hezbollah: an attack in northern Israel with a drone
Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue. The pro-Iranian organization denounces on Saturday May 9 a “violation of the ceasefire by the Israeli enemy”. She announces having targeted northern Israel with a drone. Hezbollah “targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy army soldiers near Misgav Am”.
15:10 – Tehran does not react to the American proposal but slips in a tackle
Iran has still not made its position known regarding the latest American proposal to end the conflict in the Middle East. According to information relayed by TF1 Info, Tehran nevertheless criticized the United States this Saturday. “The recent escalation of tensions by the American forces and their multiple violations of the ceasefire reinforce suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American side on the path of diplomacy,” said the head of Iranian diplomacy, Abbas Araghchi, according to the Iranian agency ISNA, during an exchange with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.Â
14:53 – Hormuz: why are the British going to send a destroyer to the Middle East?
France and the United Kingdom are at the helm of an international initiative aimed at restoring maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. This Saturday, May 9, 2026, London announces the sending of a destroyer to the Middle East as part of this future mission, like what France is doing with the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. “This prepositioning of HMS Dragon is part of rigorous planning to ensure that the United Kingdom is ready, as part of a multinational coalition led jointly by the United Kingdom and France, to secure the Strait, when conditions permit,” said the British Ministry of Defense, according to information relayed by BFMTV.Â
13:58 – Bahrain: an organization linked to the Revolutionary Guards? 41 arrests
Bahrain reports 41 arrests on Saturday May 9, 2026 against members of an organization accused of being linked to the Revolutionary Guards. They took place “in accordance with previous investigations carried out by the prosecution in cases of espionage for the benefit of foreign entities and sympathy for Iranian aggression”, specifies the Ministry of the Interior of the country.
13:46 – What we know about Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire
According to the official Lebanese National News Agency (ANI), the Israeli army carried out strikes in southern Lebanon after requesting the evacuation of nine localities, with a view to operations against Hezbollah. The town of Zrariyeh was particularly targeted after a warning, as well as other areas affected by the evacuation order. Bombings and artillery fire were also reported elsewhere in the south of the country. These attacks occur despite the ceasefire in force since April 17.
12:59 – Qatar’s message to the United States
Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed Ben Abderrahmane Al Thani spoke with United States Vice President JD Vance on Friday. For the Qatari official, Tehran and Washington must discuss things together to reach an agreement. It is “imperative to engage with ongoing mediation efforts and address the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue, in order to reach a comprehensive agreement to ensure lasting peace in the region,” said Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
12:52 – Lebanon: new Israeli strikes in the south of the country
This Saturday, May 9, 2026, Israel launched a call to evacuate several villages in southern Lebanon. According to information from the official Lebanese news agency Ani, the Jewish state has carried out new strikes in Lebanon. The day before, bombings by the Jewish state left ten people dead, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
11:20 – Off the coast of Kharg Island, an oil spill spotted
According to information from New York Timesan oil slick was discovered in the Persian Gulf, off the Iranian island of Kharg, Tehran’s main oil hub. Its origin remains undetermined for the moment. It could be one of the largest detected in the Middle East since the start of the conflict. This black tide would extend over several tens of kilometers.
08:35 – Donald Trump awaits a response from Iran
Can an agreement between the United States and Iran take place? Donald Trump said on Friday he was waiting “tonight” for a response from Tehran to the latest American proposal aimed at stopping hostilities. “We’ll see how it goes,” explained the tenant of the White House. “We hope that it will allow us to begin serious negotiations,” also assured Marco Rubio, the American Secretary of State.
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The start of the war in Iran, launched by the United States and Israel
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a joint military strike operation on Iran. On the Israeli side, the operation is called “Roaring Lion”, on the American side “Epic Fury”. The objectives range from the overthrow of the regime to the weakening of the Iranian nuclear program, including the destruction of the military capabilities of the Islamic Republic, judged as a threat, in particular by Israel.
In addition to targeting the Iranian arsenal, the Israeli-American coalition will lead a campaign to eliminate Iranian leaders. A significant number of political figures from the regime were killed in the first hours of the conflict, including the supreme guide Ali Khamenei. His son Mojtaba Khamenei, who took over on March 8, 2026, was also targeted and his state of health will quickly become the subject of speculation.
Iran’s response and the contagion in Lebanon and the Middle East
From February 28, 2026, Iran responded to strikes by the United States and Israel, by launching hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles towards Israel and towards American military bases in the Gulf, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
On the night of March 1 to 2, in response to the death of Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, launched salvos of rockets and drones from Lebanon towards northern Israel. The Israeli army called this offensive an “official declaration of war” and launched a vast bombing campaign in Lebanon.
On March 2, 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, instantly blocking numerous cargo and oil ships, and suspending a significant portion of global oil traffic. The International Energy Agency called the shutdown “the largest supply disruption in history.”
