Iran says its military has learned from previous US-Israeli attacks and warned that renewed strikes would result in "many more surprises" for Donald Trump.The remarks from foreign minister Abbas Araghchi came as US vice president JD Vance said he was “not certain” about a peace deal with Tehran and warned the American military was “locked and loaded” for a resumption of the war.In a White House briefing on Tuesday, Vance said “a lot of good progress has been made” in negotiations with Tehran in recent days, but added: “You never know until you know, right?”Earlier, president Donald Trump stated that he could order “another big hit” on the country. He claimed that he was “an hour away” from ordering a fresh volley of strikes on Iran in order to force Tehran to agree a deal, after he had reviewed the latest peace terms. Russia, meanwhile, has offered help to facilitate talks between the US and Iran. "Russia is ⁠ready to provide all possible assistance in resolving this conflict, and the ‌parties involved ​are ‌well aware of ⁠this," Sergei Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, said. Admiral says help from UK in Strait of Hormuz ‘appreciated at appropriate time’Help from Britain and other European allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz “would be appreciated at the appropriate time”, a top US commander has said.Admiral Brad Cooper, who heads American forces in the Middle East, made his comments as he was pressed over a proposed UK and France-led defensive mission to safeguard shipping in the strategic waterway once the Iran conflict is over.While he made clear its operation was a matter for the respective governments, he told Congress there had been talks at a military level in relation to planning.Admiral Cooper appeared before a hearing on Capitol Hill as Donald Trump said he had given Tehran “a limited period of time” to reach a deal to end the war after calling off fresh strikes in the face of “serious negotiations”.Repeating Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, the US president said: “Whether it’s popular or not popular, I have to do it – because I’m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch. It’s not going to happen.” Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 06:00Group behind viral Trump-Epstein monument targets administration’s Iran policyAn anonymous art collective behind a controversial statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has opened a new exhibition mocking the administration's foreign policy just miles from Mar-a-Lago.The group, known as The Secret Handshake, has launched a weeklong pop-up exhibition at Mtn Space, a gallery in Lake Worth Beach. Running through Friday, the interactive display features a functional, retro-style arcade cabinet that parodies the Trump administration’s communications surrounding the conflict with Iran.The piece, titled “Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell,” was originally unveiled as a three-cabinet installation at the D.C. War Memorial in Washington.More here.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 05:45Two Chinese tankers carrying Iraqi crude exit Strait of HormuzTwo Chinese tankers laden with oil exited the Strait of Hormuz this morning, shipping data showed, brightening hopes that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran may soon be resolved.The Chinese ships, among a handful of supertankers carrying Iraqi crude, exiting the Gulf this month, passed through the narrow strait carrying around 4 million barrels of crude, according to data from LSEG and Kpler.Oil prices eased on the positive ‌signals from the White House and in the Gulf, with Brent crude falling to as low as $110.16 ‌a barrel, before regaining much of its losses. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 05:30Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 05:17Iran warns of 'many more surprises' if US renews attackIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Tehran has gained military knowledge from previous attacks and a renewed war will "feature many more surprises"."Months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions," he said, referring to the downing of an American F-35 fighter jet."With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises," he added. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 05:00Earthquake strikes war-torn IranA magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck near Southern Iran this morning, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.The quake was at a depth of 14km, EMSC said.The quake struck parts of ​Hormozgan ⁠province and ‌was felt by residents of Qeshm and Hormoz cities, ‌as well as in ‌rural areas in Bandar Abbas. Fars news said the epicentre ⁠was near Bandar Laft at a depth of 20km.The director general of crisis management at the Hormozgan governorate told Iranian media that ‌no damage had been ​reported so far from ‌the earthquake, ⁠but assessments were ongoing. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:45Oil prices fall to $110 after Trump says war will end 'very quickly 'Oil prices ​eased today after president Donald Trump again asserted the war with Iran will end "very quickly", ‌though investors remain wary about the outcome of peace talks amid continued disruptions to Middle East supply from the conflict.Brent crude oil futures fell 45 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $110.83 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 27 cents, ​or 0.3 per cent, to $103.88. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:30Senate advances measure to end Iran warA growing number of Republicans defied president Donald Trump as the Senate advanced legislation seeking to compel his administration to withdraw from the ongoing conflict with Iran.Since President Trump ordered an attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on war powers resolutions. These measures would require him to either gain congressional approval for the military engagement or withdraw troops. Republicans had previously managed to block such proposals.However, a crucial shift occurred when Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, fresh from a primary election loss in which President Trump endorsed his opponent, switched his vote.More here.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:21Russia ready to 'help with US-Iran talks'Russia's deputy foreign minister has claimed that Moscow was ready to help out with talks between the US and Iran over their ongoing conflict."Russia is ⁠ready to provide all possible assistance in resolving this conflict, and the ‌parties involved ​are ‌well aware of ⁠this," Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by TASS as saying. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:18Trump says he was 'an hour away' from launching strikesPresident Donald Trump has expressed his hopes that the Iran conflict will not continue but said that the US may have to order “another big hit” on the Islamic Republic.The US president said he was “an hour away” from launching fresh attacks before allies in the Middle East asked him to postpone them, due to the possibility of a peace deal being agreed.He said that America’s decision would be known “very soon”.“I hope we don't have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit... I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon,” he told reporters.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 May 2026 04:12