42 million ago, UN nuclear monitoring agency carried out inspection in Iran, Foreign Ministry says The United Nations’ international nuclear monitoring agency carried out an inspection of an Iranian nuclear site, the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday. Esmaeil Baqaei told Iranian journalists that the International Atomic Energy Agency carried out an inspection “a few days ago” in the city of Bushehr, which is home to the country’s only civilian nuclear power plant. President Trump has previously said he launched the war alongside Israel in February to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Tehran, for its part, has repeatedly insisted that it only uses nuclear materials for civilian purposes, such as power generation and medical work. Iran suspended IAEA inspections at all its facilities in the wake of the June 2025 attacks on many sites by the United States and Israel. Last week, the US military’s Central Command announced a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran’s nuclear program. 7:29 AM Iran and the United States continue to attack oil tankers in or near the Strait of Hormuz Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB said on Monday that four oil tankers had been “detained” in the Strait of Hormuz during the previous 24 hours. In a post on X, IRIB said the ships were “stopped,” without offering further details. Both Iran and the United States have attacked ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz that they believe are violating their respective restrictions in the waterway. Iran requires all commercial ships to coordinate with its security forces to use sea routes in the northern strait near its shores, and has launched missiles against some it accuses of using southern routes that the United States says are safe and open. Iranian authorities have claimed several times in recent weeks that ships using southern routes have struck sea mines, causing fires. The United States insists that the southern routes are safe and open despite continued attacks on ships using them, while US forces have attacked some commercial vessels accused of violating the US military blockade of Iran’s ports and ships, aimed at preventing the regime’s sale of oil and gas. On Saturday, US Central Command said it disabled a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman, just east of the strait, after the crew “ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran on multiple occasions.” An image from a video shared on social media by the U.S. military’s Central Command shows an attack on a cargo ship identified by CENTCOM as the St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda in the Gulf of Oman on Nov. 7, 2026. CENTCOM said the ship was hit and disabled after its crew “ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran on multiple occasions.” CENTCOM/Handout 6:25 AM Oil prices continue to decline cautiously as Trump casts doubt on return to full-scale fighting with Iran The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell 2% early Monday to $96.38 a barrel, continuing a downward trend seen for more than a week as markets appeared hopeful that President Trump would cast doubt on a return to full-scale war with Iran. Benchmark U.S. crude oil also fell, down 1.5% early Monday to $89.56 a barrel. Oil prices have risen significantly since the United States and Israel launched war with Iran, and Iran responded by attacking and threatening commercial ships in the key energy supply routes of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. They remain about 50% higher than a year ago, before the war began, but below the highs seen during the peak of the fighting, when Brent crude soared to around $120 a barrel. 5:42 AM Iran calls its proposal to shorten the implementation period of a potential peace deal a gesture of goodwill. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that Tehran’s proposal to reduce the implementation period of a potential peace deal with the United States to two days from the previous seven was a “sign of goodwill.” That deal called for the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran, as well as a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and a ceasefire on all fronts in the Middle East. “If the other side is really even remotely serious, Iran can fulfill its own commitments in two days,” he added. “We have already demonstrated that we are serious about meeting our commitments.” The previous ceasefire collapsed after several weeks, when Iran declared that the continuation of the US naval blockade was a violation of its terms. On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the likelihood of an imminent deal with Iran, calling Tehran’s demands “unacceptable.” The Trump administration has been pushing for Iran to agree to conditions on its nuclear program as part of an initial peace deal, but Tehran has long insisted that discussion on the issue can only begin after fighting and threats stop. 3:42 AM Rubio says US and Iran are not ‘on the brink of a breakthrough’ on deal Secretary of State Marco Rubio tempered expectations of an imminent deal between Iran and the US on Sunday night. Before leaving for Paris for a G7 meeting, Rubio said the two sides are not “on the verge of a breakthrough, although he reiterated that the president prefers a diplomatic solution.” reporters. He said he expects G7 allies to have many questions about the conflict and next steps. CBS/AFP 3:42 AM Trump expected to meet with Qatar mediator. President Trump will meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House on Monday. Qatar has been one of the key mediators in indirect talks between the United States and Iran aimed at reaching a deal to end the conflict. According to sources cited by Axios, Al Thani, who is one of the key mediators in those talks, hopes that Trump will give him more time for diplomacy. 3:42 AM Trump says he sees no reason to escalate war against Iran. President Trump said in an interview broadcast Sunday that he sees no reason to escalate the war against Iran and is “not seeking” to do so. “Well, I’m not looking to do it. “I think, historically, this will be a very good decision,” Trump said. “Is it a good decision for today and tomorrow? Maybe not.” The president cited Iran’s nuclear program as the main reason for starting the war, adding that he had done “the right thing for our country.” Watch more of Mr. Trump’s 60 Minutes interview and read the full transcript here. 3:42 AM Trump says new task force to extend naval blockade “is in full force and effect” President Trump said Sunday that the new US military task force to extend Iran’s naval blockade “is in full force and effect.” Iron Gate Work is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic of Iran. “Along with the largest naval blockade in history, very little enters or leaves Iran!” Trump said in a Truth Social post. Task Force Iron Gate aims to extend the success of the naval blockade to land trade routes, US Central Command announced Saturday. The group will be tasked with preventing military technology and illegal revenue streams from entering or leaving Iranian borders, including through the Caspian Sea, but it was unclear whether any force would be used. military.
