Iran tightens grip on Hormuz despite cease-fire - WSJ

The UAE on Wednesday called for a sustained approach to tackle Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles and full range of threats amid a precarious truce, Bloomberg reported.

It is seeking clarification on Trump’s two-week ceasefire to ensure Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz unconditionally, the report added.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton on Wednesday endorsed President Trump’s stance that there must be no uranium enrichment for Iran.

Cotton called it the central flaw in Obama’s deal, saying Iran demands it only to build a nuclear weapon, in a post on X.

Former US ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday cautioned against viewing the ceasefire with Iran as a setback for Tehran, adding instead that it aligns with what she described as Iran’s long-standing strategy of delay.

“Don’t mistake this ceasefire as a loss for Iran. Their strategy has always been delay, delay, delay. In their view, they are winning,” Haley said to Fox News.

"Washington’s next steps would be critical, and it should contain for sustained pressure on Iran’s missile program and regional proxies, as well as the removal of all enriched uranium," she added.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for Lebanon to be included within the scope of the ceasefire, adding that the truce must apply across all areas of confrontation to be credible.

Macron said he conveyed to Massoud Pezeshkian and Donald Trump that their decision to accept a ceasefire was the best possible course, while urging all sides to fully respect it.

"I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all theaters of confrontation, including in Lebanon. This is a necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and sustainable," Macron posted on X.

US Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that Iranians are promising to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance added that he wants to be involved in negotiations with Iran because he thinks he can help.