Hamas Says It Is Ready for Gaza Deal’s Second Phase as Iran Tensions Escalate in Hormuz

A Hamas official says the terror group is prepared to move ahead with the second phase of the Gaza agreement while urging Washington to pressure Israel. At the same time, tensions with Iran are rising after the UAE accused Tehran of attacking a state oil company tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, as the IRGC said the strategic waterway would reopen only if the United States accepts Iran’s conditions.

Hamas Pushes for Second Phase in Gaza

A Hamas official said the terror group is ready to proceed with the second phase of the Gaza agreement and called on the United States to increase pressure on Israel.

The demand comes as Israel continues to face Hamas in Gaza and weighs the security implications of any further stage of an agreement involving the terror group.

UAE Accuses Iran of Tanker Attack

Regional tensions also intensified in the Strait of Hormuz after the United Arab Emirates accused Tehran of attacking a tanker belonging to a state oil company.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes, making any disruption there a major concern for regional security and global oil markets.

IRGC Sets Conditions for Reopening Strait

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only if the United States accepts Iran’s conditions.

The statement signals Tehran’s continued effort to use pressure on a critical international shipping route as leverage in its confrontation with Washington.

Report: US Military Leadership Looking for an Off-Ramp

CNN reported that the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff is seeking an “off-ramp” from the war with Iran.

The developments underline the growing pressure surrounding both the Gaza conflict and the wider confrontation with Iran and its regional network, with US and Israeli security decisions increasingly tied to developments across multiple fronts.