Iran says it will soon reveal the plan as US President Donald Trump warns Tehran it will have a ‘very bad time’ if a peace deal is not reached soon.
Published On 17 May 202617 May 2026
Iran says it will soon reveal its plan to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, including the charging of tolls, as United States President Donald Trump warns Tehran it will have a “very bad time” if a peace deal is not reached soon.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Saturday that his country will no longer allow “enemy” military equipment to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
Meanwhile, Israel’s relentless bombardment of southern Lebanon continues with an air attack on the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
Here is what we know:
In Iran
Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and main negotiator, declared that the world “stands at the cusp of a new order”, adding: “The future belongs to the Global South.”
Iranian legislator Ebrahim Azizi said Tehran’s plan for the strait involves a “professional mechanism to manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz along a designated route”. He said “only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will benefit” from the plan and “fees will be collected” for “specialised services”.
Iranian state television said on Saturday that European countries were in talks with Tehran over transit for ships through the strait.
“Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries, notably China, Japan and Pakistan, we received information today indicating that Europeans have also begun negotiations with the Revolutionary Guard’s navy,” state television reported without elaborating.
Iran’s World Cup squad will travel to Turkiye on Monday for a training camp, friendlies and completion of visa applications before heading to the US, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said.
(Al Jazeera)
War diplomacy
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday “to facilitate” peace talks between Iran and the US that have stalled despite a fragile ceasefire, Iranian media reported.
His visit to Tehran comes days after that of Pakistan’s influential military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
In the US
The USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, returned home to Virginia on Saturday after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War. The mission saw it support the US-Israel war on Iran and the capture of Nicolas Maduro when he was Venezuela’s president.
The US military said it has “redirected” 78 commercial ships and “disabled” four vessels during its continuing blockade of Iranian ports.
In Lebanon
Israel’s military said on Saturday that one of its soldiers was killed in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing its losses to 21 personnel since its war with Hezbollah escalated on March 2.
Israel said it attacked 100 sites in southern Lebanon over two days after the two countries agreed to extend a purported “ceasefire” for an additional 45 days.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire after another round of talks in Washington, DC, the US Department of State said on Friday.
Instructions should be issued to municipal officials to ensure strict compliance with the rules.
The festival of Bakrid is about to come and the Muslim community is busy preparing for it. Meanwhile, politics of open sacrifice has started in Mumbai. BJP leader and former MP Dr Kirit Somaiya has demanded from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the police administration to take strict action against the sacrifice of goats taking place in housing societies, chawls and open spaces across Mumbai on Bakrid and other occasions and has demanded a ban on it.
In this regard, Somaiya has written a letter to Mayor Ritu Tawde. He has given information about this letter through a post on social media platform X. In the letter, he has said that on the occasion of Bakrid, at some places, goats are being sacrificed in the open in violation of the rules.
He alleged that despite bans on this issue being imposed from time to time by the Municipal Corporation and the Council, rules are still being flouted in some areas. Somaiya, in his letter, has requested the Mayor to issue new and strict guidelines to the municipal authorities to ensure strict compliance of animal slaughter laws within the city limits ahead of the festival of Bakrid. He said that under the law, goats cannot be sacrificed or slaughtered near any settlement or residential area in Mumbai. Somaiya said in the letter that the Municipal Corporation should issue strict instructions to all ward offices and concerned officers in this matter.
Apart from this, through his letter he has requested that the administration should issue immediate instructions so that strict adherence to the rules of the Municipal Corporation can be ensured. Let us tell you that this year Bakrid is likely to be celebrated on 27 May 2026, but the final date depends on the sighting of the moon. In such a situation, with Bakrid approaching, this issue has once again come into the center of public discussion. Now all eyes are on what stand the city administration will take on this matter.
Download Amar Ujala app to read news continuously.
Or WATCH VIDEO ADVERTISEMENT TO CONTINUE READING ON WEBSITE
If you have premium membership
Gangster Neeraj alias Katiya was killed by unknown assailants by firing four-five bullets in broad daylight on Saturday outside the court complex on Sonipat Road.
The attackers first hit Neeraj with a white Brezza car while he was walking from the court towards the bus stand. As soon as Neeraj fell on the road, they opened fire and ran away.
Neeraj, originally a resident of Dubaldhan village of Jhajjar, currently lived in Sector-37 C of Gurugram. He was married to Neetu, a resident of village Kidoli. Neetu had lodged an FIR against him in February 2019 at Kharkhoda police station for dowry harassment, assault, threats and breach of trust. In this case, on Saturday, Neeraj along with his friends had come to Kharkhoda court to appear in the court.
2 of 12
Suspicious car seen in CCTV in the case of murder of gangster in Kharkhoda, Sonipat. – Photo: Video Grab
According to the police, after the appearance Neeraj was coming out of the court premises and going towards the bus stand. The attackers, who were already ambushed, reached there by car and hit Neeraj directly. Due to this he fell on the road. After this, three to four attackers shot him four to five bullets, due to which he died on the spot. The accused ran away after the murder. The shell casings found at the spot revealed that Neeraj had been shot with a pistol.
3 of 12
Cartridge lying at the spot – Photo: Samvad News Agency
After receiving information about the incident, ACP Joginder Sharma reached the spot. He said that teams are trying to identify and arrest the attackers. Kharkhoda police station has registered an FIR under murder, conspiracy and Arms Act on the statement of Neeraj’s brother Satyavan. Aman alias Kale, Sahil and Aryan, residents of village Dubaldhan, Aman’s nephew Amit, resident of village Murthal, Vikas, resident of village Majra and Neeraj’s wife Neetu and her brother Vicky are accused of murder. Neeraj is said to have a rivalry with Aman alias Kale and others. His wife Neetu and brother-in-law have been accused of being involved in the conspiracy.
4 of 12
Police investigating after the murder of a gangster – Photo: Samvad News Agency
discussion of being associated with Lawrence There is talk of Neeraj being associated with Lawrence Bishnoi gang. However, the police said that evidence of this has not emerged.
5 of 12
Police investigating after the murder of a gangster – Photo: Samvad News Agency
15 cases registered including murder and robbery According to police records, Neeraj had several criminal cases registered against him. About 15 cases including murder, attempt to murder, robbery and kidnapping are registered against him. In the wife’s complaint also he was described as a notorious criminal and gangster. In 2020, the police arrested him and presented him in the court. Since then the matter was pending in the court. There is said to be rivalry in his village.
After the High Court’s decision, religious activities are continuing in the historical Bhojshala of Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. Today on Sunday (May 17) with sunrise, Akhand Jyot installation, havan-puja and symbolic picture of Maa Vagdevi were installed here. Union Minister of State Savitri Thakur also reached Bhojshala and participated in the worship.
Union Minister of State Savitri Thakur arrived for havan-puja.
A crowd of devotees was seen in the Bhojshala premises since morning. Havan, Vaastu puja and Akhand Jyot installation were organized here along with religious rituals. A symbolic oil painting of Maa Vagdevi was also installed. Before the event, the entire premises was purified with cow urine and dung.
During this time, Union Minister of State Savitri Thakur also reached Bhojshala. He participated in worship and havan. While discussing with the media, he said that this is a big victory of religion, faith and belief. He took this decision in Ayodhya Ram Mandir Describing the importance of the construction, he said that Raja Bhoj had built this place for religion, spirituality and teaching.
Collector Rajeev Meena, SP Sachin Sharma were also present on the spot.
During the program, administrative officials including Collector Rajeev Ranjan Meena and SP Sachin Sharma were also present on the spot. Extensive security arrangements were made in and around the Bhojshala premises. Collector Rajiv Ranjan Meena said that under the responsibility given to ASI by the Honorable Court, ASI has issued new orders regarding puja in Bhojshala and in the context of the same, puja is being performed here. We are committed to security and peace.
Superintendent of Police Sachin Sharma said that on the orders of the Honorable Court, the Central Archaeological Survey Department has issued a new guideline regarding the Bhojshala of Dhar. Under the same, worship is being done here today. I and DM Saheb also participated in this. SP Sharma said that sufficient police force is deployed to maintain peace in the city.
There was an emotional atmosphere at the Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas organized in Tehsil Khaga on Saturday in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, when a 70-year-old old man, who arrived with the help of a stick, stood in front of the District Magistrate and said… Sir, I am alive. Hearing the complaint of the old man, the officers present there were also surprised.
DM Nidhi Vats reprimanded the Tehsil employees and ordered an investigation into this entire matter. He assured the old man of all possible help. Other complainants in the tehsil were also surprised.
According to the information, Bhura, a resident of Valipur Ekadla village of Khaga tehsil area, stood in front of the DM and said that I am not dead but alive. Hearing this, the DM got upset and reprimanded the employees. Old Bhura gave an application to District Magistrate Nidhi Gupta Vats alleging that with the connivance of the accountant and some Tehsil employees, he was declared dead in the government records. Not only this, about one bigha and two biswa of his land was also inherited in the name of another person.
The old man told that when he came to know about this fraud, he was forced to make rounds of the authorities for justice. After wandering for several days, at the Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas organized in Khaga Tehsil, he narrated his pain in front of the District Magistrate and proved himself to be alive.
DM gave instructions for action
District Magistrate Nidhi Gupta Vats was also surprised after listening to the old man. Taking the matter seriously, he directed for immediate investigation and assured strict action against the culprits. He also talked about providing all possible justice to the old man.
This incident has raised serious questions on the functioning of the tehsil administration. Resentment is also being seen among the villagers regarding this matter. People say that if the matter had not been revealed in time, the old man could have been evicted from his own land forever.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has started strengthening its political base keeping in mind the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Under this strategy, the party is taking out ‘Give employment, give social justice’ march in the entire state. The fifth phase of this campaign will start from Meerut today. Ghaziabad In which the party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh joined along with hundreds of workers and leaders. The march started from the Commissionerate Park in Meerut, where a large number of party supporters were present.
AAP says that the purpose of this yatra is to make the youth aware of issues like employment, better education and social justice. The party is continuously reaching out among the public and raising questions about the policies of the BJP government and is trying to present itself as a strong alternative.
BJP is distracting people from real issues- Sanjay Singh
MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP government of playing with the future of the youth, eliminating employment opportunities, making recruitment examinations a victim of corruption and paper leaks and diverting people’s attention from real issues. He said that this march has become a mass movement for social justice, equal opportunities and protection of constitutional rights. Sanjay Singh said that until the youth do not get respectable employment, all the claims of development will prove to be hollow.
We will fight the 2027 assembly elections strongly
Sanjay Singh appealed to the public and said that those who want to protect employment, education, health, interest of farmers and social justice should join this movement. While talking to ABP News, he said that he is going among the public on many social issues like NEET paper being out. Will contest the 2027 assembly elections strongly. He will set out to explain to the people how BJP misleads people.
Politics has now intensified regarding the long pending Panchayat and civic elections in Rajasthan. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel has clearly said that it is not possible to conduct elections without giving political reservation to the OBC category. After his statement, a new debate has erupted in the politics of the state.
In this case, Congress is stuck on OBC reservation, due to which the matter is stuck. According to the minister, if Congress wants, elections can be conducted even without reservation. But Congress is not ready at any cost without reservation.
Reservation politics heats up before civic elections
While talking to the media in Jodhpur, Jogaram Patel made a direct attack on Congress and said that if Congress publicly announces that civic and panchayat elections should be conducted without OBC reservation, then BJP is fully ready for it. He even said that he himself can demand from the government to carry forward the election process without reservation.
Election wait is long in Rajasthan, issue stuck on reservation
The minister said that conducting elections is not the job of the government, but is the responsibility of the constitutional institutions. He clarified that Panchayat and civic elections are conducted by the State Election Commission, whereas the government only provides arrangements.
Elections stuck on OBC reservation, minister said – ready now if Congress says yes
Jogaram Patel cited the 2021 decision of the Supreme Court as the reason behind the delay in elections. He told that the court had clearly said that before giving political reservation to OBCs, it would be necessary for the state government to constitute an OBC Commission and take its report. Due to this process elections are being postponed.
The election bugle will sound when the report comes.
He accused the previous Congress government of not forming the OBC Commission for three years, whereas the present BJP government formed the commission as soon as it came to power. Now the government is waiting for the report of the commission. Only after the report comes, the reservation blueprint will be decided and then the path for elections will be clear.
However, the minister also admitted that there is currently no fixed time limit for when the commission’s report will come. In such a situation, the wait for Panchayat and civic elections in the state may drag on even longer.
Israeli opposition leaders Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have united in an attempt to defeat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lead Israel’s next government. But while they have lots to criticise Netanyahu about, they have few qualms with his wars in Gaza and the rest of the region.
Those wars – in particular the genocide in Gaza, with more than 72,000 Palestinians killed – have made Israel more unpopular than ever internationally. But Bennett and Lapid, both former prime ministers, seem to be betting that they will be able to rehabilitate Israel’s global reputation if they get into power in elections that must take place before the end of October.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Launching the bid for government in April, Bennett, who is on Israel’s far-right politically, promised voters “an era of correction”, one where “professionals” who “think only of the good of Israel” would lead the country, rather than the division and isolation brought in by Netanyahu.
Internationally, Israel finds itself more isolated than ever before. A United Nations commission has determined that Israel has in fact committed genocide in Gaza. In Europe, numerous countries, such as Spain, Norway, and the Republic of Ireland, have been outspoken in their criticism of Israel, with pressure growing from within the European Union to suspend the bloc’s trade pact with Israel. Even within the population of its most stalwart ally, the United States, polls repeatedly point to both sides of the political divide growing increasingly angry with Israel’s multiple wars and its apparent influence over US politics.
And, of course, Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
Isolation
“Israel is becoming more isolated,” Beth Oppenheim, a policy fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told Al Jazeera, pointing to polling in both the US and Europe. “For now, Trump and Netanyahu retain their public ‘bromance’, though cracks have emerged during the Iran and Lebanon wars, with the president issuing humiliating diktats to Israel on Truth Social.”
In Europe too, Israel has grown increasingly isolated, with only memories of the Holocaust and more transactional concerns on trade and arms deals standing in the way of a unified response, she added.
And yet, on the question of the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, and the occupation of the Palestinians, Bennett and Lapid have few criticisms – and on occasion say that Netanyahu has not gone far enough.
Rather than addressing the tens of thousands of people that Israel has killed in Gaza since 2023 or the dire humanitarian situation forced upon the enclave’s survivors, last year Bennett framed the Palestinian group Hamas as being inherently embedded in Gaza’s remaining civilian infrastructure, thereby justifying Israel’s continued attacks.
Analysts have suggested that the Bennett-Lapid alliance will offer little in terms of security policy that is different from that of Netanyahu [File: Khames Alrefi/Anadolu Agency]
“Essentially, they’re just relying on the assumption it’s not Israel that is hated around the world, but Netanyahu,” Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador and consul general in New York, told Al Jazeera, “which is fine, but that’s not what they’re going to be judged on. [They are going to be judged on] policy and so far, they’ve been competing with each other to be ever more bellicose.”
“At no point has either questioned the premise for Israel’s position on Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz or even Iran,” Pinkas said. “Have they asked if the regime collapsed, why the people didn’t rise up as Netanyahu said, or offered a new policy towards Palestine? No. All they’ve done is criticise the ceasefire.”
The only friend that counts
While European leaders have been more openly critical of Israel than in the past, the one relationship that matters the most for Israel – with US leaders – is still holding. And Bennett and Lapid will prioritise maintaining that relationship.
“Bennett will want to get Trump on his side,” political pollster Mitchell Barak told Al Jazeera.
“Europe and many in the West will do what they do,” he said of the lack of Israeli public concern over European outrage. “But it’s Israel’s security and the relationship with the US that will have the most influence on the public. For now, Netanyahu has that, but we know that Trump can be unpredictable and, if Netanyahu looks like he’s slipping, Trump hates a loser.”
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, on October 13, 2025 in Jerusalem [File: Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/Getty Images]
How entrenched Israel’s isolation in Europe might be was also open to question, analysts said.
Western governments have long profited from intelligence gathered by Israel, as well as profited from trade with the country, not least with its cutting-edge technology and spyware software. A change of personnel at the top, Oppenheim suggested, may be enough to signal a return to much of the international fold.
“While Western publics are increasingly hostile towards Israel, most governments are still hoping they don’t have to act. A more palatable new government would give leaders an opportunity to reset relations with Israel,” Oppenheim said.
“But a new Israeli government won’t change the fundamental trajectory. It could pursue a more pragmatic policy towards the Palestinian Authority, clamp down on settler terrorism, and may also be better placed to make diplomatic concessions,” she said. “There is, however, virtual consensus across all Jewish Israeli parties on rejecting Palestinian statehood while pursuing a more belligerent security doctrine. Netanyahu’s main challenger Naftali Bennett is a true ideological right-winger, while Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Lapid and other centrists [in Israeli terms] effectively compete to outdo one another with hawkish rhetoric.”
European countries, therefore, face a test. They can take the removal of Netanyahu as an opportunity to ease the pressure on Israel, much of which has been a political necessity brought on by public disgust at Israel’s actions. Or they can signal that Israel must change its ways, and not necessarily its leaders – in essence telling Israel that the shift in support for Israel is staying for the long term.
“A more polite Israeli leadership that makes the right noises may be just the ticket to allow Western governments a reset,” Oppenheim said. “But if the government’s policies don’t change, Israel will be unable to stave off a reckoning with the West in the long term.”
Access Denied
You don’t have permission to access “http://hindi.news18.com/cricket/rcb-win-over-punjab-will-benefit-5-teams-know-ipl-2026-playoff-scenario-10485136.html” on this server.
FIFA offers solutions for each of Iran’s concerns before games in US, Iran’s football chief says.
Published On 17 May 202617 May 2026
FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom says he held a constructive and positive meeting with Iran’s football chief, Mehdi Taj, expressing confidence about the country’s participation at the World Cup.
“We’ve had an excellent meeting and constructive meeting together with the Iran football association,” Grafstrom told the Reuters news agency on Saturday. “We’re working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them in the FIFA World Cup.”
Iran are scheduled to play all three of their group matches in the United States, but the team’s participation in the June 11 to July 19 tournament has been in question since the US and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, sparking a regional conflict.
More questions have arisen after the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) President Taj was refused entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver this month.
An FFIRI delegation led by Taj turned back upon arrival at Toronto’s main airport, citing their treatment by Canadian immigration, and missed a pre-World Cup FIFA gathering in Vancouver. They alleged “unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials” despite holding valid visas.
In 2024, Canada listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organisation”, and statements from the Canadian government indicated that Taj was denied entry due to his alleged ties with the IRGC.
Grafstrom declined to provide details on the visa situation for Iran’s players but said the two sides had the opportunity in Istanbul, Turkiye, to discuss some operational matters and had a positive exchange.
Taj said the FFIRI had a good meeting with Grafstrom and other FIFA officials.
“I am pleased that they listened to Iran’s points, all 10 points that we had raised, and they offered solutions for each of them. I hope, God willing, that our national team can go to the World Cup without any problems and achieve very good results there,” he said.
Asked if FIFA had secured assurances on entry and visa arrangements for Iran’s players, Grafstrom declined to elaborate.
“We’ve discussed all relevant matters, but I think it’s not the place to discuss the details,” he said. “Overall, a very positive meeting and we’re looking forward to continuing the dialogue.”
Iran had asked for their World Cup matches to be switched to Mexico, which is cohosting the tournament with the US and Canada, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino insisted all games must be played at the grounds originally scheduled.
Iran’s squad will leave Tehran for a training camp in Turkiye on Monday before moving on to their US base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, in early June.
Iran are scheduled to get their World Cup campaign under way against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are also due to play Belgium and Egypt in Group G.
