The U.N. International Maritime Organization paused its operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel reported an attack, reigniting concerns about ‌whether a preliminary deal to end the Iran war will hold.

The cargo ship said it was hit close to Oman by a projectile, British navy agency UKMTO said, hours after Tehran warned vessels against taking routes that it had not approved.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran had fired on the ship, while Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which Tehran established to manage requests for ships to travel through the strait, said vessels outside routes it has set will ​not be guaranteed safe passage.

“Consequences arising from passage through unauthorized routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander,” the Iranian authority said.

Four sources identified the ship ​as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely. A security source said it was likely targeted by a drone.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. government. ⁠U.S. President Donald Trump warned earlier this month that if Iran did not honor an agreement aimed at ending the war and reopening the strait that the U.S. would probably go back to ​bombing the country again.

SHIPS AND SEAFARERS STRANDED FOR MONTHS

The IMO was helping to get hundreds of stranded ships and thousands of seafarers out of the strait where they had been stranded for months ​since the start of the war in late February.

It decided “to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region,” IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.

The IMO said the ship involved in the suspected attack was not part of its evacuation program.

The initiative, which was launched on Tuesday, was a voluntary option ​for ships and their crew to sail out of the Gulf using two routes – one via Iranian waters and the other via Omani waters, with U.S. oversight, the IMO said this week.

Benchmark oil ​prices rose 2% following reports of the attack, which analysts said rekindled concerns about how long it could take for Gulf oil flows to resume normal levels.

The Oman incident is likely to refocus attention on the ‌extent of ⁠Iran’s future control over the Strait of Hormuz which, before the conflict, handled a fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Before the incident, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio – wrapping up a tour of the Gulf to reassure states about the interim pact – told reporters that if Iran threatens or blocks ships in the strait, “then we’re going to have a problem.”

Iran, though, has signaled it would continue to assert control over the strait.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that safe passage through the strait would only be possible through routes designated by Iran, adding that it would ​take action against vessels that failed to comply.

The ​Revolutionary Guards also ordered two Panama-flagged ships to ⁠change course on Thursday, British maritime security company Ambrey said.

Earlier, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said shipments through the strait were approaching levels seen before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with at least 20 million barrels of oil exiting the waterway in the previous 24 hours.

Other shipping ​data showed crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz rose this week to their highest level since the war began in February, while ​South Korea’s Oceans Ministry said eight ⁠more South Korean vessels have exited the strait.

During the conflict, Iran took effective control of the vital chokepoint, disrupting oil flows and rattling global energy markets and the wider economy.

The war is weighing heavily on Trump ahead of November midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Just one in four Americans believes the war was worth the cost, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

Conflicting accounts have emerged over elements of the ⁠framework ceasefire deal, ​which has prompted criticism of Trump at home and abroad.

Disagreements persist over financial incentives for Iran, nuclear inspections, control of ​the Strait of Hormuz and Israel’s parallel war in Lebanon.

Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said on Thursday that the U.S. assertion that Iran would spend its unfrozen assets to buy U.S. agricultural products was false.

The deal sets up 60 days of ​talks to tackle thornier issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.

(Reuters)

A sweeping change to US immigration rules could soon reshape how international students plan their education in the country, with a proposed policy introducing a fixed four-year limit on student stays.

The White House has cleared a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation that would replace the long-standing “Duration of Status” (D/S) system with a time-bound admission model for foreign students and exchange visitors.

According to Bloomberg reports, under the proposed changes, most international students would be permitted to stay in the US for up to four years. After this period, those continuing their studies would be required to obtain formal approval to extend their stay.

Currently, students can stay for the full length of their academic programme as long as they maintain valid status, without a fixed expiry date.

If implemented, the change could affect F-1 student visa holders, J-1 exchange visitors and other categories, requiring more frequent interaction with US immigration authorities.

The rule has cleared review by the White House Office of Management and Budget and is expected to move toward publication in the Federal Register, with implementation likely within 30 to 60 days of final notification.

What is the proposed change?

Under current plans reported by Bloomberg, international student stays could be capped at around four years, regardless of how long their academic programme runs.

The rule would apply to multiple visa categories, including:

• F-1 student visas
• J-1 exchange visitor visas
• Other related study-based visa categories

If implemented, students whose programmes extend beyond the limit would need to apply for formal extensions through US immigration authorities.

The regulation has already cleared review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is expected to be published in the Federal Register, with an implementation window of 30 to 60 days after publication.

How the current ‘Duration of Status’ system works

At present, international students in the US are admitted under the Duration of Status (D/S) framework.

This allows students to stay in the country for as long as they:

• Remain enrolled full-time
• Maintain valid student status
• Comply with visa conditions

There is no fixed end date attached to their stay.

This system allows flexibility to:

• Extend academic programmes
• Switch universities or courses
• Progress from undergraduate to postgraduate studies
• Complete Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT

What would change under the new rule?

The proposed system would replace this flexible model with a fixed admission period, likely around four years for most students.

Key implications include:

• Students would no longer have automatic stay based on enrolment
• Extensions would require approval from USCIS
• Additional documentation and biometric checks may be required
• Processing delays could affect academic timelines
• Overstaying without approval could lead to legal consequences

In effect, continued study in the US would depend on periodic immigration approvals rather than academic enrolment alone.

Why the US government is proposing the change

The Department of Homeland Security argues that the current system makes it harder to track compliance and identify visa overstays.

A fixed end-date model, officials say, would:

• Improve monitoring of foreign students
• Strengthen immigration enforcement
• Standardise visa oversight across categories

Why Indian students could be most affected

India is the largest source of international students in the United States.

According to the Open Doors 2024 report, more than 331,000 Indian students were enrolled in US institutions in the 2023–24 academic year — nearly 30% of all international students.

Many of these students are in programmes that exceed four years, including:

• PhD and doctoral research programmes
• Long-duration master’s degrees
• Technical and professional courses

Under the proposed system, these students may face:

• More extension applications
• Increased immigration scrutiny
• Greater uncertainty around long-term academic planning

Key concerns raised by experts and institutions

Organisations such as the Association of American Universities (AAU), American Council on Education (ACE) and NAFSA have warned that fixed stay limits could:

• Increase administrative burden
• Create uncertainty for research-based programmes
• Make it harder to maintain legal status in longer academic tracks

They also caution that changes could affect transitions into work pathways such as OPT.

What happens if a visa stay expires?

A major concern under the proposed framework is enforcement.

If a student’s authorised stay expires:

• They may begin accruing unlawful presence immediately
• Delays in extension processing could create legal risks
• Immigration penalties could affect future US travel eligibility

According to immigration firm Fragomen, this could significantly raise the stakes for administrative delays or paperwork errors.

Impact on OPT and post-study work pathways

The effect on Optional Practical Training (OPT) is still unclear.

However, experts warn that moving away from the D/S system could:

• Complicate transitions from study to employment
• Add procedural steps before work authorisation
• Increase pressure on visa timelines for STEM OPT participants

OPT remains a key pathway for international graduates seeking US work experience.

What about the grace period?

Earlier versions of the proposal suggested reducing the post-study grace period for F-1 students from 60 days to 30 days.

This period is currently used to:

• Apply for OPT
• Transfer universities
• Change visa status
• Prepare for departure

Any reduction would tighten post-graduation timelines significantly.

When could the rule take effect?

The rule is not yet in force.

• OMB review has been completed
• Final publication in the Federal Register is pending
• Implementation could begin 30–60 days after publication

Experts suggest rollout may occur later in 2026, though timelines remain uncertain.

What should students do now?

There is no immediate change for current or prospective students.

At this stage, students should:

• Continue under existing visa rules
• Monitor updates from DHS and USCIS
• Stay in touch with university international offices

What happens next

The regulation is not yet in force. It still requires formal publication before becoming law.

Once published, the government is expected to announce an implementation timeline, which experts say could begin later in 2026.

Until then, the current Duration of Status system remains unchanged, allowing students to stay in the US for the full length of their academic programme as long as they comply with visa conditions.

Agencies

 The United States waived sanctions on Iran for 60 days from Monday after the first talks under a nascent ​peace deal, while officials reported a sustained lull in fighting in Lebanon under the agreement aimed at ending hostilities across the region.

The developments followed a weekend that had appeared to ‌put the week-old accord in jeopardy, including threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to restart the war if Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran declared the strategic waterway closed. Tanker traffic through the strait started to pick up on Monday and oil prices resumed their slide.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland had laid a good foundation for a final peace deal, although Iran denied that it had begun discussions of its nuclear program.

U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, and Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed ​thousands and displaced millions. The Iran war has also shaken markets around the world and raised global oil prices, which settled 3% lower on Monday after Vance reported progress had been made.

The two ​sides, trying to build on the interim deal they signed last week, agreed a roadmap towards a permanent agreement within 60 days at the talks in the Qatari-owned Swiss ⁠mountain resort of Buergenstock, mediators Pakistan and Qatar said.

They also agreed on a mechanism to end fighting in Lebanon between U.S. ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah, and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage ​for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz in order to avoid conflict in the strategic waterway.

In the first of several steps envisaged under the agreement to provide economic relief to Iran, the U.S. Treasury announced a waiver until August ​21 on sanctions, allowing Tehran to sell oil and related products and receive payment for them.

VANCE DELIVERS UPBEAT ASSESSMENT

Vance, who has maintained an upbeat tone since the memorandum of understanding was signed, said Tehran had agreed to allow in nuclear inspectors, and to establish mechanisms to handle its assets frozen abroad and manage ceasefires.

“We laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal,” he told reporters after taking part in the talks.

However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told the official IRNA news agency that ​Iran had not yet discussed nuclear issues or made new commitments.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Monday that Iran will agree to have weapons inspections to ensure “nuclear honesty.”

“If Iran doesn’t live up to their ​agreement, or if they’re not behaving, I will do what I have to do,” Trump later told reporters.

Iran has limited inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency since the U.S. and Israel launched a first round of air strikes last year, ‌and suspended them ⁠entirely when war broke out in February. It says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on social media that Tehran had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some of its frozen assets abroad and the launch of a reconstruction and development plan for Iran.

Vance said White House envoy Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, had come up with a process whereby the U.S. and Qatar would have control over Iranian funds when they are unfrozen, and the money could be spent on U.S. corn, soy and wheat.

“So, the money that we lift is going to go to our farmers,” Trump told reporters.

However, Iran’s Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said there ​was no such obligation and said at least some ​of the remaining frozen funds could be used to ⁠buy other non-sanctioned goods, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.

HALT TO HOSTILITIES

Technical talks were due to continue for the rest of this week.

The interim peace agreement calls for ending all hostilities, including in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March after Hezbollah fired across the border.

Israel was not party to the peace agreement and says it will not ​withdraw its troops from Lebanon, but on Friday it agreed a new ceasefire. Though intense fighting continued for another day, Lebanese officials said it had abated since ​Saturday night.

Israel and Lebanon were due ⁠to start a new round of talks in Washington on Tuesday, with Beirut determined to press ahead with direct negotiations even as they appear to be overshadowed by Iran’s decision to make Lebanon part of its negotiations with the United States.

Hassan Wazni, director of a hospital in the heavily bombarded city of Nabatieh, said it was the first two full days of calm since the war began.

“I’m monitoring the situation day by day, and most of the time I’m sleeping in ⁠the hospital. This ​is the longest a ceasefire has held,” he told Reuters by phone.

More than a million Lebanese have been displaced by the war, ​and though some have begun returning to their homes, many are still too wary.

In Qennarit, a southern town, mourners carried the bodies of four women killed in Saturday’s wave of Israeli strikes. The coffins were draped in yellow Hezbollah flags with the group’s green logo of ​an arm holding an assault rifle.

Reuters