Trump says he thinks Middle East countries "owe it to us" to join the Abraham Accords, and adds, "I'm not sure we should make the deal if they don't sign"
TRUMP: The Strait is going to be open to everybody. It's international waters. We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. Oman will behave like everybody else or we'll have to blow them up. They understand that
Trump says that if Iran doesn't make concessions, "then the man on my left [Hegseth] is gonna finish them off"
Trump: "We're not talking about any easing of sanctions or giving money. No sanctions, no money, no nothing”
President Trump says he wouldn't be comfortable with China or Russia taking Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium
Trump: "The strait is gonna be open to everyone. It's international waters. We're gonna watch over it. Nobody is gonna control it”
Trump to PBS News: Iran will not receive sanctions relief in exchange for giving up highly enriched uranium
Rosatom head announces that the return of company employees to Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran has been postponed
The White House is calling what Iranian state television has reported about the MoU a "complete fabrication”
Iranian media: Fire in an administrative building at Khomeini Airport near Tehran
Iranian state television: The general framework for the Islamabad memorandum has not yet been finalized, and Iran will not take any step without a "verification mechanism".
Iran says it has a draft of the initial, unofficial framework for a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S., Reuters reports citing Iranian state TV. According to Tehran, if a final deal is reached within 60 days, the MoU will be approved in the form of a binding UN Security Council resolution. Under the draft MoU, U.S. military forces will withdraw from the vicinity of Iran and lift the naval blockade. In return, Iran has committed to restoring the number of commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within one month. Military vessels are not included in this draft agreement, according to Iran's state TV. The management and route of ship traffic through the Strait will be handled by Iran in cooperation with Oman. Iranian state TV stated that the MoU framework is not yet finalized, and no step will be taken by Tehran without "tangible verification."
Iranian state television: Tehran pledges in return to restore commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within one month.
Iranian TV: Draft memorandum of understanding with the United States stipulates lifting the US naval blockade imposed on Iran
US Central Command: We have diverted 109 commercial vessels since the start of the naval blockade imposed on Iran.
South Korea summoned Iran’s ambassador on Wednesday to protest an attack on a South Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after investigators found the ship was likely hit by Iranian-developed anti-ship missiles, Yonhap reported.
Advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader: The true guarantor of any agreement with the United States is the Strait of Hormuz.
Advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader: Our red line is clear this time, and papers and signatures alone are not a guarantee for any potential agreement.
IRGC: The likelihood of war breaking out is low, but our forces are ready
CENTCOM: Recent media reporting claims that the U.S. Navy has restarted escorting or assisting commercial vessels during transits through the Strait of Hormuz. FALSE. TRUTH: Project Freedom has not resumed, and U.S. forces are not currently escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. Navy has resumed escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz under a renewed “Project Freedom” mission. A Greek supertanker carrying two million barrels of crude was recently guided through the route after being stranded in the Gulf since March. The Navy is expected to assist about a dozen more vessels, including tankers and container ships, in the coming days. Source: WSJ
3 week agoLive metrics show a partial restoration to internet connectivity in Iran on day 88, after 2093 hours of near-total isolation from international networks, the longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history. It is unclear if the restoration will be sustained
3 week agoIranian TV shows the remains of the American drone that was shot down yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz
The last remaining major dispute between the U.S. and Iran in the negotiations is the issue of unfreezing Iranian funds, despite progress made through Qatari mediation, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News reports. “No agreement is possible until the agreed-upon funds have been deposited. Given America's history of breaking promises, Iran does not consider these understandings finalized and has stated that it is prepared for all possible options,” according to Fars
Iran's military warns new aggression will trigger wider, more violent retaliation
CENTCOM spox Capt Tim Hawkins to Fox: "U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire
Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem says an Iranian source claimed heavy gunfire heard near Bandar Abbas began after the IRGC targeted a vessel at sea, followed by US fighter jets striking IRGC naval boats. Several IRGC personnel were killed, the source added
Iran has warned Washington that any Israeli strikes on Beirut or its southern suburbs would seriously jeopardize ongoing efforts to end the war, and could derail the diplomatic track altogether - Al Jazeera
Fars News Agency: Explosions heard near Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask
Al Jazeera: Qatari mediation resulted in an agreement between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran's frozen assets.
