UKMTO raises Strait of Hormuz risk level to 'critical'

Ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad, Iran has agreed to hand over all of its enriched uranium stockpile, though it is still unclear who would receive the material, Israel Hayom reported, citing three US and regional diplomatic sources.

The report said possible recipients included Russia, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or the United States itself.

It added that the United States was demanding to participate in the operation to locate the enriched uranium, but Iran had not yet agreed and was prepared to allow only IAEA personnel to do so.

Iran has rejected taking part in the second round of talks with the United States, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran’s official state news agency, reported on Sunday.

IRNA's report said “US excessive demands and unreasonable, unrealistic requests, repeated changes in positions, continued contradictory statements” had so far prevented progress in the negotiations.

It added that “the continuation of the so-called naval blockade, which is considered a violation of the ceasefire understanding, along with threatening rhetoric” had also hindered talks.

“Under these conditions, no clear prospect for productive talks is envisaged,” IRNA said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US-Israeli effort against Iran was “not over yet.”

Speaking alongside Argentinian President Javier Milei, Netanyahu said, “Any moment could bring us new developments. Who knows what tomorrow or the day after tomorrow will bring.”

He added that the United States and Israel “shall achieve our objectives and achieve more hope, more light for the free peoples of the world.”

HSBC and Standard Chartered have become embroiled in allegations of a multimillion-pound scheme to launder money for Iran, The Telegraph reported.

The report said the two British multinational banks were accused of “unwittingly” processing payments allegedly linked to a complex sanctions-evasion scheme.

The Telegraph added that the banks were among five lenders — including JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Bank of New York Mellon — ordered by a US judge to hand over records for inspection.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said talks with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz are “going well” and that the United States was not far from reaching a deal.

“There are negotiations with the Iranians going on, despite what you hear in the chatter in public, I think those are actually going well,” Wright said on Fox News Sunday.

Wright added that President Donald Trump was “a creative negotiator” and predicted “a nice end of this conflict.”

He also said restarting shipping would take some time once the strait is reopened, but “probably not too much time.”