Several reported killed in US strike on Iran's Larak Island

Oil prices dropped sharply Monday amid growing optimism that the United States and Iran may be moving closer to an agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures fell nearly 7% to around $96 a barrel by mid-afternoon, retreating from the four-year highs reached earlier in the crisis as diplomacy gathered pace in Doha.

The decline followed renewed signals from US President Donald Trump that negotiations with Tehran were advancing, though major disagreements remain unresolved.

Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem says an Iranian source claimed heavy gunfire heard near Bandar Abbas began after the IRGC targeted a vessel at sea, followed by US fighter jets striking IRGC naval boats in the Gulf.

According to the source, several IRGC Navy personnel were killed.

“The situation is still unfolding,” the source said.

US President Donald Trump said Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile must either be handed over to the United States for destruction or eliminated under international supervision.

“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added that the process should take place in the presence of the “Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent,” as negotiations between Tehran and Washington continue through regional mediators.

Earlier in the day, Pezeshkian ordered the Ministry of Communications to restore international internet access to its pre-January status, according to his spokesman.

ICT Minister Sattar Hashemi later told Shargh daily that the process of restoring the country’s internet access had begun.

The semi-official ISNA news agency reported that the order is expected to be implemented on Tuesday.

The shift in tone became apparent after the IRGC-affiliated Fars News agency first questioned whether the administration had the authority to issue such an order, arguing that because the restrictions were imposed by the Supreme National Security Council, only the same body could formally reverse them.

Hours later, however, Fars appeared to soften its position in an editorial describing the reopening as a necessary “technical and security” decision that would have happened “sooner or later” as cyber conditions improved.

The outlet said the restrictions had originally been imposed to prevent cyber espionage and protect critical infrastructure during wartime conditions and an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks.

While acknowledging criticism over the legal process behind the decision, Fars dismissed efforts to turn the issue into a political dispute and accused some reformist media outlets of exploiting the shutdown to deepen internal divisions during what it described as a “full-scale war.”

The president’s order followed the fourth meeting of the Special Task Force on Cyberspace Management, which ended with nine votes in favor and three against reconnecting Iran to the global internet, according to reports.

Peyman Jebelli, head of Iran’s state broadcaster, and Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, were among the strongest opponents of restoring international internet access, Faraz reported citing informed sources.

According to Faraz, both men remained firmly opposed to reconnecting the country to the global internet until the end of the meeting.

The report said Aghamiri’s position was particularly notable because the secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace is appointed by the president. Although Aghamiri was first appointed under the previous administration, Pezeshkian later retained him in the post.

Faraz said Aghamiri’s opposition had placed him at odds with the government at a time when Pezeshkian has publicly identified restoring internet access as one of his priorities.

Conflicting reports emerged from southern Iran on Monday after explosions were reported east of Bandar Abbas, a key port city overlooking the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian outlet Tabnak reported that the runway at Bandar Abbas airport had been struck by a missile, though no official confirmation was immediately issued.

Shortly afterward, Iran’s Mehr News Agency said the situation in Bandar Abbas was “under control” and there was “no cause for concern” following the explosions.

No further details on the cause or extent of the reported incident were immediately available.