US Warns Iran Against Holding Region Hostage, Cites Negotiations
An American diplomat stated the U.S. has extended an offer of negotiation to Iran while also preparing for other potential actions.
The United States has offered Iran channels for negotiation and is prepared for alternative actions if necessary, a senior U.S. diplomat said Sunday. Donald Blome, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, stated that the U.S. cannot permit Iran to hold the region and the global economy hostage.
Blome made these remarks at the Manama Dialogue, a security forum in Bahrain. He indicated that negotiation channels have remained open and active, but the U.S. is also prepared to proceed in a different direction.
In parallel developments, Iran designated Britain’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organizations and its MI6 foreign intelligence service as a hostile entity. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United Kingdom of supporting U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran through the provision of military bases and logistical assistance. This designation could lead to the prosecution of individuals accused of collaborating with MI6 under Iranian law and potentially escalate military tensions between the two nations.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of eight people, including a young boy, according to hospital reports. The Israeli military stated it had targeted several militants in Khan Younis and one Hamas militant in northern Gaza. The conflict, which began with Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has led to significant casualties. Since a ceasefire in October 2025, over 1,570 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, bringing the total death toll in the war to over 74,500. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, does not differentiate between civilians and militants.
In the Persian Gulf, Qatar's liquefied natural gas shipping company, Nakilat, reported that one of its vessels sustained damage on Friday night from "unidentified objects." The company stated that no crew members were injured and there was no environmental impact, with the vessel remaining operational. The statement did not attribute the attack to any specific actor, though Iran has previously warned about vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz without permission.
Separately, the United Nations is seeking an investigation into the death of a UN staffer held by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The staffer, Mohammad el Shami, had been in custody since June 2024, and the UN received no information on his well-being despite repeated requests. This follows the death of a World Food Program worker in Houthi custody in February 2025.