Tehran accused Washington of not being serious about negotiations as a vessel caught fire 63 nautical miles southeast of al-Faw, Iraq. Meanwhile, the new Mecca Alliance met with Iran’s president in Tehran. Both sides agreed to continue talks and seek peace, showing that regional diplomacy remains active despite rising risks.

* Tehran has accused Washington of not being serious about negotiations, while security risks in the Gulf continue to escalate with UKMTO reporting a vessel caught fire 63 nautical miles (117km) southeast of al-Faw, Iraq.

* Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, which make up the newly-formed Mecca Alliance, have met with Iran's president and security chief in Tehran, where both sides have agreed to continue talks and seek peace.