HEADLINES

• Trump postpones Iran attack after "very positive development" in talks with Tehran. READ MORE BELOW

• Qatar's Foreign Ministry says two LNG tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, but that does not mean normal traffic has resumed.

• IRGC strike Kurdish areas in western Iran. READ MORE BELOW

• Oil markets up and US indices mixed after postponement announced.

• Iran's Deputy FM says ending war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is part of their proposal to US. READ MORE BELOW

• Washington extending sanctions waiver on Russian oil cargoes already at sea.

• US Treasury Secretary calls on allies to more forcefully disrupt Iran's finance network.

• Mass wedding held in Tehran for couples willing to give lives for war effort.

Trump postpones planned attack on Iran

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday (May 18) he was postponing a planned attack on Iran at the request of Gulf leaders. 

In a Truth Social post, Trump said he had called off the scheduled attack after the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE told him "serious negotiations are now taking place", including a potential deal that would mean no nuclear weapons for Iran.

Trump expressed hope that a deal would be made that would be "very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond" after apparent reassurances from the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of the United Arab Emirates.

Trump said he "instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that [they] will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow."

However, he says he told military leaders to "be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached".

The announcement comes after rising tensions between the US and Iran. The day before, Trump said in another Truth Social post that the "clock is ticking" for Iran and if they don't act quickly "there won't be anything left of them."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed Iran is participating in talks with the US, mediated by Pakistan, but asserted "dialogue does not mean surrender."

Iranian Guards strike Kurdish areas near Iraq border

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claims it struck groups "acting on behalf of the United States and Israel" in western Iran's Kurdistan Province, according to the ISNA news agency. 

These groups, "based in northern Iraq," were struck "in the city of Baneh, in Kurdistan Province" as they "attempted to smuggle a large shipment of American weapons and ammunition into the country," the IRGC added.

It is not yet known what specific groups were involved in the alleged smuggling attempt or whether the attack resulted in any casualties. 

Three major Kurdish opposition groups have denied attempting to smuggle US weapons into Iran, according to the Rudaw news agency. Ahwan Chiako of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) said claims of "seizing weapons and ammunition have absolutely nothing to do with us." A senior member of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), the largest Kurdish opposition group, also said they rejected the IRGC's allegations. 

Meanwhile, Amjad Hossein Panahi of the Komala party said the reports of arms smuggling "are completely false and merely a pretext" for Iran to "continue its drone and missile attacks on the Kurdistan region".

Iranian Kurdish rebels have been repeatedly targeted since the ceasefire between US-Israeli and Iranian forces came into effect on April 8. Tehran has labeled Kurdish opposition groups "terrorist organizations" and accuses them of serving Western and Israeli interests. 

In recent years, Kurdish groups have largely ceased armed activity against Tehran, but continue campaigning against the current regime.

Iranian Deputy Foreign minister gives details of Iran's peace proposal

According to Iran's official IRNA news agency, the Iranian Deputy Foreign minister has given details on Iran's peace proposal to the United States as Washington expresses hope a deal can be reached.

According to the minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's proposal calls for an end to war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the removal of US forces from areas close to Iran.

The lifting of sanctions on Iran, the release of frozen Iranian funds, an end to the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the payment of damages to cover destruction caused by the war are also apparently included in the proposal. 

Gharibabadi's comments are the first from Iran on this proposal since Trump postponed a scheduled attack on Iran after Gulf leaders told him a favorable deal looked likely. 

However, the terms as described in Iranian reports don't appear to have changed significantly from Iran's previous offer, which US President Donald Trump rejected as "garbage".

After reports of renewed talks with the US, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected suggestions that Iranian leaders were backing down under pressure, saying Iran had entered negotiations "with dignity, authority, and the preservation of the nation's rights."

Reports of Gharibabadi's statements have not included any mention of Iran's nuclear program, while Trump's comments on a potential deal have suggested it will prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Trump told reporters on Monday (May 18) that the US would be satisfied if it could reach an agreement with Tehran that ended the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon.

A Pakistani source involved in mediating talks between the US and Iran has said that the two sides "keep changing their goalposts" and that they "don't have much time."