German minister warns Russia could benefit from Iran war

US forces enforcing a maritime blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports have turned back 14 vessels in the first 72 hours of the operation, according to US Central Command.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said the vessels complied with instructions from American forces and turned around rather than attempt to breach the blockade.

“U.S. forces are focused, vigilant, and highly motivated as they execute a blockade on vessels attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports,” the command said.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis accused the United States of making unreasonable demands in negotiations with Iran.

The Houthi leader said Washington was pursuing “impossible demands for any independent country to accept,” according to a televised speech on Thursday.

He added that the ongoing two-week ceasefire was the result of “failures” by the United States and Israel to achieve their objectives in the Iran war.

“If negotiations succeed, it will either result in a longer period of stability or an end to the aggression,” al-Houthi said, accusing the United States of entering talks on terms based on “arrogance and pride.”

Hardline Iranian daily Kayhan whose editor is appointed the supreme leader's office claimed that Bahrain belongs to Iran and alleged that its people seek annexation to the country.

“First, Bahrain belongs to Iran, and the people of that land consider themselves Iranian. They speak Persian and seek annexation to their original homeland,” the newspaper wrote.

Kayhan also said Bahrain’s government had filed a complaint against Iran at the United Nations, accusing Tehran of interference in its internal affairs.

“Second, the puppet rulers of Bahrain have placed the soil of this Iranian island at the disposal of the United States and the Zionist regime for a military attack on Iran. Therefore, in addition to being stripped of power, they must also be put on trial and punished,” it added.

Pakistan said a second round of talks between the United States and Iran has not yet been scheduled.

“There are no dates yet,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters on Thursday.

Commenting on the first round of negotiations, Andrabi said there was “certainly not a major breakthrough in terms of any concrete document emanating from these talks, but there was no breakdown as well.”

Germany is in principle ready to help secure transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end, provided there is a mandate—preferably from the United Nations—and approval from the German parliament, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

“We are still a long way from all of that,” Merz told reporters a day before talks in Paris that he said would also address whether US armed forces could participate in a potential mission.