- US pauses Hormuz escorts -

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was halting the US military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz after just one day, in a bid to reach a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war.

Trump's so-called "Project Freedom" to help vessels leave the Strait of Hormuz began on Monday.

But the US leader said on Truth Social that he was now pausing it after a request by mediator Pakistan and other countries, saying that "Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement" with Tehran.

- Cargo vessel struck in Hormuz -

A cargo vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in a statement.

"A verified source reported a cargo vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile," in the strategic waterway, the agency said, adding that the incident was reported around 1830 GMT on Tuesday.

The environmental impact of the strike is unknown and an investigation is underway.

- Rubio, Lavrov talk Iran, Ukraine -

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to the State Department, on a day of deadly Russian attacks in cities across Ukraine.

The diplomats discussed the war in Ukraine as well as Iran.

- US says offensive stage of war is 'over' -

The United States has completed its offensive operations against Iran, Rubio said Tuesday, nearly a month into a fragile ceasefire.

"The operation is over -- Epic Fury -- as the president notified Congress. We're done with that stage of it," Rubio told reporters at the White House.

- Iran denies attacking UAE -

Iran's military denied launching any attacks on the United Arab Emirates in recent days, after the Gulf country accused Tehran of launching drone and missile barrages against it.

- US vows tough response in Hormuz -

US forces are ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered, Washington's top military officer said as the Pentagon threatened a "devastating" response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Hormuz Strait.

The warnings came after Iran's powerful chief negotiator said Tehran "had not even started yet", after a spate of attacks in the crucial trade route by both sides on Monday threatened to reignite the Middle East war.

- Trump urges Iran to 'do the smart thing' -

Trump urged Iran to "do the smart thing" and make a deal to end the war, saying -- even as a ceasefire teetered -- that he did not want to kill more Iranians.

"They should do the smart thing, because we don't want to go in and kill people. Really don't," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about Iran. "I don't want to, it's too tough."

- Zelensky offers Bahrain help -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been offering his country's know-how fighting Russian- and Iranian-made drones to Middle Eastern nations, offered to help Bahrain in his latest visit to the region.

"Ukraine is ready to share (its) security expertise with Bahrain and help strengthen the protection of life," Zelensky said in a statement online after meeting King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

- Calls for de-escalation -

French President Emmanuel Macron said he would speak with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian later Tuesday, as world leaders pressure Iran to negotiate an end to the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz implored Iran to "return to the negotiating table and stop holding the region and the world hostage", echoing calls from Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

- Iran-FIFA meet -

FIFA has invited the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) to its headquarters for talks over the country's participation at this year's World Cup, a source told AFP.

Iran's presence at the tournament, held in the United States, Canada and Mexico between June 11 and July 19, has been shrouded in uncertainty since the war erupted.

- Maersk sails through Hormuz -

Denmark's freight giant Maersk said one of its ships had sailed through the Strait of Hormuz under US escort, adding the transit was completed "without incident".

- India criticises strike on UAE -

India condemned a drone strike on an energy facility in the United Arab Emirates in which three Indians were injured, urging uninterrupted access to the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE said Iranian strikes had hit targets including its vital Fujairah energy hub, calling the attacks "a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable transgression".

- South Korea mulls Hormuz involvement -

South Korea said it would "review its position" on joining US operations in the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump urged Seoul to take part following an apparent Iranian attack on one of its ships.

burs-md/pnb

A.P. MOELLER-MAERSK