Are US-Iran talks actually happening?published at 09:16 GMT

09:16 GMT

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

President Trump is hailing "very strong talks" with Iran. So far, there are only signs of a much smaller opening.

Iran remains deeply suspicious of the US. Two previous periods of talks, in February and in June 2025, were both shattered by US-backed Israeli attacks.

There are reports of calls between Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff. But these conversations are described as very preliminary.

Many countries, including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, are trying to reduce tension. All three leaders have strong personal ties with Trump and have been actively engaged with Arab leaders during this crisis. Oman, the traditional mediator most trusted by Iran, is also involved.

We live in unpredictable times but reports suggesting that leading Iranian official, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, could soon meet US vice-president JD Vance seem fanciful.

Trump keeps searching for his Iranian version of Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez – a powerful but pragmatic player whom he can bend to his will.

That won't happen in Iran's multi-layered system of clerics and commanders where hardliners, including Ghalibaf, are now calling the shots and demanding a very big price to end this war.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Strikes have started again on Tehran now, according to two sources in the east of the city.

Iranian outlets have also said that air defence has been activated in parts of eastern Tehran.

Image source, EPA

Israel says its air force carried out a "wide wave of airstrikes" on "regime infrastructure" in Tehran on Monday.

It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday night that Israel would continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, after he had a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

"We are crushing the missile programme and the nuclear programme," he said on X, adding: "We will safeguard our vital interests in any scenario."

Trump said earlier on Monday the US would hold off attacking Iran's power plants for a five day period after having "productive" conversations with Tehran.

US Central Command said on Monday evening that America continued to "aggressively strike Iranian military targets with precision munitions".

Doubling down on fossil fuels would be the "absolute wrong lesson" from an energy crisis, UK energy minister Michael Shanks tells BBC Breakfast.

"Everything this government is doing is about fighting the corner of households... so we can bring down bills now and in long run," Shanks says.

His comments come hours after the government announced developers will be required to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England as part of new planning requirements.

Asked whether the government should relax rules on fossil fuel drilling to bring down bills, Shanks says oil and gas in the North Sea is "hugely important" but the future lies in a clean power system "that gets us off this rollercoaster".

Caroline Hawley and Soroush Pakzad

Image source, Supplied

Tehran and other cities have been pummelled by US and Israeli airstrikes for more than three weeks.

The toll on civilians is mounting fast. Most of their stories will never be told. But through the thick, black smoke of war and an internet blackout, small fragments of information are getting out.

Parastesh Dahagain was killed while working in her pharmacy in Tehran after a nearby IT company was struck, according to the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre.

Video posted online shows a mourning ceremony for Parastesh – framed pictures of her nestled among candles and flowers.

Her brother Poorya wrote on Instagram that his sister was just doing her job.

Another woman, Berivan Molani – a 26-year-old lifestyle blogger who ran an online clothes shop – had returned to Tehran the day before she died, because she was homesick.

Molani was in bed when debris from an air strike struck her head. Several of her neighbours were killed in the Israeli airstrike that targeted Iran's intelligence minister Esmail Khatib, said Razieh Janbaz, a friend of Molani.

Night-time footage released by the Iranian Red Crescent shows rescuers removing fallen masonry to try to reach Berivan's trapped mother as she begs to know: "Is my daughter alive?"

• The Iranian civilians killed in the war

Gabriela Pomeroy
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

• There is still confusion over talks between the US and Iran, after US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the countries had "constructive" talks. Iranian officials denied any substantive talks between the two nations, and the White House later said the situation was "fluid"
• On Monday, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported that a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official told them "we received points from the US through mediators and they are being reviewed"
• Reports suggest that Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff could meet Iranian officials this week in Pakistan. The country says it is happy to host talks should they be required
• The oil price fell after Trump mentioned the prospect of talks, before climbing back to more than $100 a barrel

• On the ground overnight, Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, causing damage to buildings in Tel Aviv and central Israel. In Lebanon, state media reported Israeli strikes on Beirut overnight, and this morning the Israeli military told residents in the south to evacuate as it prepared to target more Hezbollah infrastructure
• UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves will focus on the economic impact today when she updates MPs in the House of Commons on how the situation in the Middle East is affecting the UK. She is expected to set out some principles on how to support people if energy bills spiral in the coming months

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, EPA

For UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves there is an economic shock to react to, in real time.

In the House of Commons later, she will focus on the domestic impact of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. I am told there will be three elements to her address to MPs, beginning with a short update on how the war is affecting the economy.

There will also be a section on energy security, with a promise to crack on with delivering new nuclear power stations. What is described as "a new anti-profiteering framework" will be set out too.

Reeves will then talk about the principles that will drive any further support to families if energy bills spiral in the coming months.

Given the energy price cap on gas and electricity is in place until the end of June, ministers have time to work out what might be feasible, affordable and necessary.

Image source, Bahrain MOI/X

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior says its Civil Defence has extinguished a fire at the site of a company, which it does not name, blaming "Iranian aggression".

It comes around six hours after it said on X that sirens had been sounded, as people were warned to shelter in a safe place.

Earlier, we reported that search and rescue teams had been deployed to central Israel, where "reports of impacts" had been received.

We are now seeing some pictures from Tel Aviv.

Smoke can be seen rising, and emergency teams are pictured working at the site of strikes. A building has been partially reduced to rubble. The extent of the damage is unclear.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The Israel Defense Forces has issued evacuation warnings to residents in areas of southern Lebanon.

It follows reports from state-run media that several neighbourhoods in southern Beirut were targeted by Israeli airstrikes overnight.

The National News Agency says warplanes were spotted overnight launching attacks on the area.

Earlier, Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut.

Carrie Davies
BBC Pakistan correspondent

Pakistan is "always willing to host talks" provided "the parties desire" them, according to the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson.

Tahir Andrabi tells the BBC that Pakistan "has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and stability in the region".

There has been speculation that senior US officials could meet Iranian officials in Pakistan. Andrabi would neither confirm nor deny any conversations had been held with any party about holding talks.

The White House earlier warned that the situation was "fluid" and cautioned that no formal meetings between any top leaders from the US and Iran had been announced.

There has been no public statement about Pakistan officials speaking to senior US officials.

Israeli search and rescue teams have been deployed to central Israel where "reports of impacts have been received", according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Images posted to the Telegram account of Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service show smoke rising from buildings and debris.

Earlier, we reported that emergency crews were also sent to southern Israel where damage was detected, after Israel's military sent out numerous alerts overnight warning of Iranian missiles heading towards the country.

Image source, EPA

Speaking during a visit to Australia, European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the need for negotiated peace to bring an end to the Iran war, saying she was "deeply concerned" about the ongoing conflict.

"It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East," von der Leyen said alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.

Some EU countries are preparing to assist in a "mission" to protect the Strait of Hormuz once the war ends, von der Leyen said.

"We all feel the knock-on effects on gas and oil prices, our businesses and our societies," adding that the trade channel is "critical for the energy supply lines worldwide".

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they are are heading to "several areas" in the country's south where "reports of impacts have been received", according to a statement.

Several alerts of missiles launched from Iran towards Israel have been issued overnight.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump's activities over the past few days have been a mix of diplomacy and diversions - with the occasional swing towards the surreal.

On Friday, he said the US war against Iran was "winding down".

By Saturday night, he had given Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face withering new airstrikes on its energy production infrastructure.

On Sunday, he golfed and by Monday morning, he said the Iranians were engaging in "constructive" talks with the US. Later that day, he visited Graceland, music legend Elvis Presley's historic home.

US contact with an unnamed Iranian leader - not confirmed by Iran - was enough to merit a five-day stay of the threatened attacks, he said.

But the prospect of talks was enough to send the US stock market surging and global oil prices dropping.

Now, Trump is back in Washington, where a new five-day countdown to US attacks on Iranian power infrastructure will begin.

After fits, starts and a pilgrimage to the home of a deceased rock legend, Trump may have provided the first indication of a real breakthrough.

Or it could be just the latest instance of this president realising that the ultimatum he delivered put him in a tight spot, forcing a move to buy himself more time.

You can read more analysis here.

At least one building in Nesher, located in the Haifa region of northern Israel, has been hit by a missile overnight.

Earlier, the Israeli military warned missiles were launched towards the country from the direction of Iran.

Emergency services say one woman suffered a shrapnel injury while she was on her way to a shelter.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says Japan will begin releasing part of its national oil stockpile on Thursday, in response to growing supply concerns.

Takaichi said in a post on X, that "from this week on the 26th, we will begin releasing national stockpiles".

Japan already tapped into private stockpiles last week to secure the "amount required for Japan as a whole", the post said.

Nearly 95% of the oil Japan uses flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Daniel Bush
Washington correspondent

The White House on Monday appeared to tamp down speculation surrounding potential US-Iran negotiations over the war after President Donald Trump suggested the two sides were making "major" progress toward a deal.

Trump's comments about negotiations on a whirlwind day of remarks on the war sparked reports that US Vice-President JD Vance might represent the administration in talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan.

But the White House says the situation is “fluid” and cautioned that no formal meetings between any top leaders from the US and Iran have been announced.

"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press," Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, tells the BBC in a statement.

"This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House," Leavitt says.

Peter Hoskins
Business reporter, Singapore

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

The price of Brent crude has moved back above $100 a barrel, after plunging on Monday.

On Tuesday morning in Asia, the oil benchmark was up by 3.75% at $103.69 (£77.42), while Nymex Light Sweet was 3.42% higher at $91.55.

The price of Brent fell by more than 10% on Monday after US President Donald Trump delayed fresh strikes on Iran that were seen as an escalation of the conflict and said a peace deal could be reached soon.

But now investors are weighing that against Tehran's denials that it had held talks with the US.

• Read more on the fluctuating oil price

Amid conflicting reports about possible US-Iran negotiations, a senior Iranian foreign ministry official told the BBC's US partner CBS News: “We received points from the US through mediators and they are being reviewed."

CBS clarifies that this step was taken as a potential precursor to talks, and that talks are not confirmed or under way.

The comments come after President Trump said the US and Iran held talks on ending the war, but Iran's parliament speaker denied it.

Trump has reiterated that the US could reach a deal to halt the conflict after walking back on threats to bomb Iranian energy sites and postponing the strikes.