Strait of Hormuz Escalation: The U.S. launched new strikes on Iran after attacks on commercial ships, and Washington is now demanding Iran issue a public statement that the strait is open and ships won’t be targeted—while Trump says the ceasefire is “over” but talks will continue. Retaliation Across the Gulf: Iran’s IRGC says it hit U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, with missiles and drones targeting facilities including the Fifth Fleet area, warning of “crushing responses” if attacks repeat. Diplomacy Under Strain: Iran’s foreign ministry denies it asked for U.S. talks, but says it accepted Qatar’s mediation visit; Qatar, Egypt, and Pakistan are pushing to restart negotiations as the MoU’s future hangs on compliance. Regional Mediation: Egypt and Qatar urged de-escalation and implementation of the U.S.-Iran MoU; Pakistan PM Sharif urged Iran to preserve “hard-earned peace.” Nuclear Pressure: Satellite imagery reports suggest Iran is repairing previously damaged nuclear sites, raising questions about MoU status. Gaza Coordination: Israeli and Egyptian senior officers met in Cairo to discuss Gaza reconstruction steps under Trump’s plan. Turkey-Gulf Defense: Turkey’s S-400 sale to a Gulf state is reported as a step to boost air defenses amid the Iran-Gulf conflict. Other Middle East Watch: Egypt blocked a cruise ship carrying LGBTQ+ passengers; Turkey and Uzbekistan pledged deeper cooperation.