Vance warns Iran not to ‘play’ the US as he departs for peace talks in Pakistan

WASHINGTON (AP) — US Vice President JD Vance on Friday warned Iran not to “play” the US as he headed to Pakistan for high-stakes negotiations aimed at ending their war. US President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict with Iran to now find a resolution to the war that began six weeks ago and stave off the US president’s astonishing threat to wipe out its “whole civilization.” Israel, which launched the military campaign against Iran jointly with the US six weeks ago, is not represented at the talks. Host Pakistan has no diplomatic ties with Israel and does not recognize its sovereignty.

The ceasefire declared by Trump on Tuesday night came with core declared goals of the war unfulfilled, including ensuring that Iran does not attain nuclear weapons, destroying its missile program, and creating the conditions for the Iranian public to overthrow the regime. Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

An Iranian delegation has already arrived in Islamabad, the Wall Street Journal reported, saying the Iranian team was being headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. There was very heavy security across Islamabad on Friday, with the city said to be under a lockdown. Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, the vice president said, “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s gonna be positive. We’ll, of course, see.” (Read More)

IRGC commander, Iranian FM Araghchi clash over negotiating team before US-Iran talks - report

The sources shared that IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi is attempting to curb the authority of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Senior Iranian officials are disagreeing over the composition of the negotiating team ahead of US-Iran talks on Friday, Iran International reported, citing informed sources. The sources shared that IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi is attempting to curb the authority of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran International wrote. According to Iranian media reports, the delegation will be led by Ghalibaf.

Vahidi has called for the inclusion of Mohammad Bagheer Zolghadr on the negotiating team, whom Iran International previously reported had been appointed Secretary of the National Security Council as a direct result of IRGC pressure on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The negotiating team has been pushing back against the demand, as they consider Zolghadr too inexperienced for strategic negotiations.

The IRGC commander-in-chief and the IRGC Aerospace Commander have also insisted that the delegation refuse to negotiate on Iran’s missile program, according to Iran International. Ghalibaf has repeatedly stated on Thursday and Friday that the ceasefire in place for negotiations to begin includes a ceasefire in Lebanon, which both Israel and the US have denied.

US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of “doing a very poor job, dishonorable, some would say,” of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “That is not the agreement we have!” Trump wrote in a post shared on Truth Social. US Vice President JD Vance left for Pakistan on Friday, saying that US President Trump had given the group “some pretty clear guidelines” on negotiations. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good ​faith, ​we're ⁠certainly willing to extend the open hand," ​Vance said.   (Ed note: Could this be the beginning of a power struggle between the IRGC and the Government?)  (Source)

US intel said to assess Iran still has thousands of ballistic missiles, can recover launchers

Iran still has thousands of ballistic missiles it could fire by recovering launchers currently buried in underground facilities, the Wall Street Journal reports. Citing US officials familiar with American intelligence assessments, the report says though half of Iran’s missile launchers are destroyed, damaged or trapped under rubble, many can be repaired and recovered from the subterranean sites.

US and Israeli officials are also quoted saying that while Iran now has half as many missiles as before the war, it still has thousands of medium- and short-range ballistic missiles it can take out of hiding or uncover from below ground.

The report also says some US officials are worried Iran will use the ongoing ceasefire to rebuild its missile stockpiles. (Source)

Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad, sets preconditions for peace

Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf arrives in Islamabad for US talks, demanding a Lebanon ceasefire and release of frozen assets first. US VP Vance warns Iran against playing games.

An Iranian negotiating delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Friday arrived in Islamabad for peace talks with the United States, Iranian media reported. The report stated that negotiations would begin if Washington accepted Tehran’s “preconditions." Ghalibaf had earlier put forward two measures which he said "must be fulfilled before negotiations begin": a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets.

He claimed in a post on social media that both had been "mutually agreed upon between the parties" but had "yet to be implemented" Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, who will head the US delegation to the talks in Islamabad, warned Iran not to "play" Washington. "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance told reporters before taking off for Islamabad from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

He warned, however, that "if they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive" Despite the claims by Iranian officials that a ceasefire in Lebanon is part of the ceasefire between the US and Iran, the US and Israel have clarified that Lebanon is not included in the Iran ceasefire. (Source)

Israel to Lebanon: You want peace? Disarm Hezbollah.

Netanyahu says direct negotiations with Lebanon will begin soon, even as Israel makes clear the Iran ceasefire does not shield Hezbollah from further strikes. Israel is preparing to open direct talks with Lebanon, with one objective placed squarely at the center: disarming Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Jerusalem intends to begin direct negotiations with Lebanese counterparts as soon as possible, framing the move as a response to repeated requests from Beirut and as part of a broader effort to change the security reality on Israel’s northern front.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed at the Cabinet meeting yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement. He added: “The Negotiations will focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the establishment of peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon. Israel appreciates the call made today by the Prime Minister of Lebanon to demilitarize Beirut.” The announcement lands at a moment of sharpened Israeli pressure on Hezbollah. Israeli and American officials have both made clear in recent days that the ceasefire with Iran does not apply to Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In other words, whatever pause now exists on one front does not extend automatically to Tehran’s Lebanese proxy.

Hezbollah entered the current war on March 2, launching rockets and suicide drones at Israel after the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening phase of Operation Roaring Lion, known on the American side as Epic Fury. Israel responded by escalating its campaign against the group, citing Hezbollah’s violation of the US-brokered ceasefire reached on November 27, 2024. Since then, Jerusalem has expanded its aerial campaign and pushed forces deeper into parts of Southern Lebanon to stop cross-border attacks.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Air Force carried out what it described as its largest coordinated strike waveagainst Hezbollah targets since the start of the current campaign. The operation hit command centers, headquarters, and military infrastructure in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and Southern Lebanon. Netanyahu, pointing to the scale of the operation, said Hezbollah had absorbed “the greatest blow since the pagers,” referring to the September 17–18, 2024 attacks in Lebanon that wounded thousands of Hezbollah operatives. “We attacked 100 targets in 10 minutes, in places Hezbollah was certain were immune,” he stated. (Ed note: Does the Lebanese government have either the ability or will to really "disarm Hezbollah"?  (Read More)

Israel sets four-tier plan for Lebanon campaign

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday outlined four IDF deployments in Lebanon that he said serve as “the foundations of the plan” for military action against Hezbollah. Katz published the plan in a statement shortly before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had instructed the government to negotiate with the Lebanese government on dismantling Hezbollah and on a peace deal, noting that the military action against the terrorist group was made possible by “the agreement on separating the fighting arenas.” This was a reference to the Israeli and U.S. position that the April 8 ceasefire with Iran does not extend to the terrorist group in Lebanon. Katz called this “a major achievement led by the prime minister.”

The Israeli action plan in Lebanon “is based on four lines: The border line, which includes demolition of buildings in border adjacent villages in Lebanon,” and second, “The defensive line in Lebanon, which was extended from five outposts to 15,” Katz said. He called the third line the “anti-tank line,” a reference to areas from where Hezbollah is able to directly fire, often with missiles intended for destroying tanks, at Israeli forces, civilians and infrastructure. A ground incursion led to the seizure of the so-called anti-tank line, Katz said, “and we are extending it in additional locations.”

The fourth line, he said, is the Litani line, a reference to the river in Southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces “will control the Litani line as part of its control of the Litani area and prevent the penetration of additional terrorists southward and the return of residents,” Katz said. Hezbollah has amassed its military power south of the Litani. The terrorist group had agreed to end its presence south of the river in the terms of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that went into effect in November 2024, but the group broke the ceasefire on March 2, joining the fighting against Israel alongside Iran. Independent of the four deployments, Katz said that “the IDF will strike forcefully from the air, in accordance with the model employed in Iran, targeting terrorists and launchers in the Litani area and launch sites beyond it.” (Read More)

Israel excludes France from talks with Lebanon, sources tell 'Post'

Israel has refused to allow France to be involved in the direct talks between it and Lebanon, which are set to begin next week in Washington, two sources told The Jerusalem Post on Friday. An Israeli official said that “France’s conduct over the past year - including initiatives aimed at limiting Israel’s ability to fight in Iran, and a complete lack of willingness to take concrete steps to help Lebanon disarm Hezbollah - has led Israel to view France as an unfair mediator.”

The Israeli decision follows growing anger over France’s behavior in recent months, particularly since the joint Israeli-American strike against Iran. France refused to allow US aircraft carrying weapons to Israel to pass through its airspace. In addition, since Hezbollah began firing a day after the Israeli-American strike on Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron and other senior French officials have been pressuring Israel not to launch a ground operation in Lebanon. Lebanon itself has, in recent weeks, sought to hold direct negotiations with Israel, mainly in order to prevent a large-scale Israeli military operation in the country. These overtures were made through both senior officials in the Trump administration and officials in the French government.

While the Trump administration told the Lebanese, “First take serious steps to disarm Hezbollah, and then we will speak with Israel,” the French government, led by President Macron - who also spoke several times with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue - attempted to promote direct talks. However, Israel showed little interest, maintaining that the Lebanese government is not acting against Hezbollah and that Israel therefore has no choice but to operate on Lebanese territory itself. (Read More)

Israel expels Spain from US's CMCC in Kiryat Gat over 'obsessive anti-Israel bias'

Israel expelled Spain from the United States' Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, according to a Foreign Ministry statement on Friday afternoon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that this came "after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel."

"Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world," Netanyahu said, adding that he is "not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price." Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar noted that the move, which was carried out in coordination with the United States, stemmed from the Spanish government's "obsessive anti-Israel bias."

"Spain's obsessive anti-Israel bias under Sánchez's leadership is so severe that it has lost all capacity to play a constructive role in implementing the peace plan of [US President Donald Trump]'s peace plan and the center operating under the framework of this plan," Sa'ar said. Spain was notified of the decision. The CMCC, which is a part of US Central Command (CENTCOM) was created in October 2025 in order to oversee and facilitate the flow of humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from the international community into the Gaza Strip under Trump's Gaza peace plan. (Read more)

Ambassador Leiter to Pakistani minister: You're not a mediator, you're the problem

Israeli Ambassador to the US sharply rebukes Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif for calling Israel “evil" and accusing it of genocide.

Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, on Thursday blasted Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, after he lashed out at Israel, calling it “evil and a curse for humanity" and accusing it of committing genocide in Lebanon. “The Ayatollahs chanted ‘Death to Israel’ - and now a so-called ‘mediator’ is echoing the same language," Leiter wrote on social media, referring to the fact that Pakistan is mediating talks between the US and Iran.

“You are not a mediator Mr. Asif, you are the problem. Even if it is to your dismay, Israel is here to stay. That’s not for negotiation," added the Ambassador. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar had earlier responded strongly to the remarks by the Pakistani Minister, stating that "Israel views these blatant antisemitic blood libels very gravely from a government claiming to 'mediate peace.'" Sa'ar noted that "calling the Jewish state 'cancerous' is effectively calling for its annihilation.

"Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar vowed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office commented: "Pakistan Defense Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace." (Source)

Pakistan's Defense Minister Deletes Vicious Anti-Israel Post

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif sparked a diplomatic crisis with Israel after calling it a "curse for humanity." Forced to delete the posts amid pressure from PM Shehbaz Sharif, the incident now threatens the fragile US-Iran ceasefire talks being hosted in Islamabad. A major diplomatic crisis erupted in the Pakistani capital on Friday as the government scrambled to perform damage control following a series of inflammatory social media posts by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

The incident, which occurred just as Pakistan is positioning itself as a central mediator in historic US-Iran peace talks, has drawn a blistering response from Jerusalem and threatened to derail Islamabad’s newfound status as a regional peacemaker. In a series of now-deleted posts on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Asif launched a scathing attack on Israel, responding to ongoing military strikes in Lebanon. The Minister’s rhetoric went far beyond standard diplomatic criticism, including:

* Calling Israel “evil and a curse for humanity.”
* Accusing the country of committing “genocide” in Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran.
* Describing Israel as a “cancerous state” created on Palestinian land to “get rid of 

   European Jews.”

* Concluding with a hope that those responsible “burn in hell.”

The posts sent shockwaves through the Pakistani government. Sources close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told reporters that both the military and political leadership were "furious" at the timing of the remarks. With US Vice President JD Vance and high-level Iranian officials currently in Islamabad for ceasefire negotiations, the Defense Minister’s outburst was viewed as a reckless breach of Pakistan’s neutrality. Under intense internal pressure, Asif was forced to delete the posts within hours. (Read More)

Fair mediator? Pakistani minister calls Israel 'evil' and 'cancer'

Israel’s Foreign Minister condemns Pakistan’s defense chief for inflammatory rhetoric, questioning its role as mediator between allies and Iran. 

Pakistani Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif launched a harsh attack against Israel on Thursday amid the Pakistani-mediated ceasefire and negotiations between the United States and Iran, and the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Asif wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that "Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon." 

 
He continued: "Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran, and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated. I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded strongly to the remarks by the Pakistani Minister, stating that "Israel views these blatant antisemitic blood libels very gravely from a government claiming to 'mediate peace.'"

Sa'ar noted that "calling the Jewish state 'cancerous' is effectively calling for its annihilation." "Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar vowed. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office commented: "Pakistan Defense Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace." (Source)

‘Unacceptable’: European countries slam IDF strikes on Hezbollah amid US-Iran truce

UK says it is ‘deeply troubled’ by Israeli attacks, France calls them ‘unacceptable’; Italy condemns ‘bombings on civilian population.’

The UK and several EU countries on Thursday condemned a wave of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that came after a truce agreement between the US and Iran, which Iran and its proxy Hezbollah said also applied to Lebanon, but the US and Israel said did not. British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper told Sky News: “We do want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon,” adding: “I’m deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from Israel in Lebanon yesterday. “We’ve seen the humanitarian consequences, the huge mass displacement of people in Lebanon. So we do strongly want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon,” she added.

Speaking to Times Radio, Cooper said that if the truce is not applied to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, “that will destabilize the whole region.” “That escalation that we saw from Israel yesterday was deeply damaging, and we want to see an end to hostilities,” she said.

Israel said Wednesday’s airstrikes were planned for weeks and targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group. Among the targets, the IDF said, were Hezbollah command centers and other military infrastructure, including intelligence headquarters and offices used by Hezbollah to plan attacks on IDF troops and Israeli civilians; infrastructure of Hezbollah’s rocket and naval units; and assets of the terror group’s elite Radwan Force and aerial unit. (Ed note: Well, Gee, guys: UK, France, and Italy, any word about the hundreds upon hundreds of rockets that Hezbollah has sent into the Northern and Central parts of Israel causing about 80,000 people to leave their homes in the north of Israel?) (Read More)

Europe Backstabs America On Lebanon

By calling for an end to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Europe isn’t seeking peace; it is unknowingly (or worse, knowingly) endorsing a Hezbollah-led state.

The European demand for Israel to halt its strikes to "save the negotiations" is a strategic absurdity. It signals to the Ayatollahs that Europe has no fundamental problem with Lebanon becoming a permanent satellite of the Islamic Republic. In their rush to avoid friction, London and Brussels have effectively signaled their surrender to Hezbollah’s control over Beirut.

This approach ignores the Iranian regional playbook. Tehran utilizes pauses to fortify, rotate, and exhaust enemies, via attempts at regime change. This happened in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and even Bahrain. For Israel and the U.S., the mission is clear: producing a definitive expiration date on the current strategy. Every day that Europe pressures Israel for "restraint" is a day that Iran moves closer to a regional "fait accompli."

If the West continues to ignore the intelligence regarding Hezbollah’s intentions, they will soon wake up to a Mediterranean sea dominated by an Iranian proxy state. We must realize that if we cannot secure Lebanon through precision and timeline-driven military pressure on Iranian assets, the final move may require the absolute economic decapitation of the regime via its oil fields. It is time to stop playing by Tehran and Europe's rules. (Ed note: A very interesting alalysis of the situation.) (Source)

Israel says peace talks with Lebanon to begin ASAP, rejects calls for truce first

Under international pressure to engage in diplomacy after deadly strikes, Netanyahu says disarming Hezbollah will be focus of talks, said set to kick off next week in DC.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday evening that Israel would begin negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a full peace agreement between the countries. The announcement came a day after the Jewish state led the largest and deadliest wave of airstrikes on its northern neighbor since the start of the current round of fighting with the Iran-backed terror group. Jerusalem and Beirut seemed to be at odds over the conditions under which the talks would take place, with Lebanon demanding a ceasefire first, while Israel insisted that they be held under fire.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated appeals to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement, following heavy international pressure on Israel to engage in diplomacy. The talks “will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon,” he said.

In a later video message, Netanyahu hailed the potential for a “historic and sustainable peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.” In a message addressed to residents of northern Israel, the premier stressed that “there is no ceasefire in Lebanon,” noting that Israel was “continuing to strike Hezbollah with great force,” and would “not stop until we restore your security.” (Read More)

Intelligence Breakthrough: Lebanese Civilians Provide the Data Needed for Precision Strikes

In a significant development, thousands of Lebanese citizens have reached out to Israeli security forces to provide critical information on Hezbollah's senior leadership and hidden infrastructure.

The Israeli security establishment has revealed that a massive wave of cooperation from Lebanese civilians has directly led to some of the most significant military achievements in the current war. Following a psychological operations campaign by Unit 504, which involved dropping thousands of flyers across Lebanon, over a thousand local residents have come forward with actionable intelligence. This influx of data has provided the Intelligence Directorate with the precise locations of high ranking officials and sensitive military assets, allowing for a series of successful strikes and targeted eliminations that have crippled Hezbollah's operational capabilities in the south.

The most prominent result of this civilian cooperation was the successful elimination of Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashim, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front. Hashim, a pivotal figure in the organization's military hierarchy, was targeted and killed last week after several Lebanese citizens identified his secret hideout and reported it to Israeli authorities. Acting on this specific and verified information, the IAF conducted a precise strike on the location, neutralizing one of the most senior terror leaders responsible for operations against Israel.

This level of cooperation from the Lebanese public marks a major shift in the intelligence landscape of the war. Unit 504’s flyers specifically called on residents to assist in uncovering Hezbollah’s infrastructure to protect their own communities from the consequences of the war. The resulting phone calls and messages have not only exposed leadership hideouts but also revealed weapon storage sites and launch positions embedded in civilian areas. Security officials emphasize that this human intelligence is a vital supplement to technological surveillance, proving that even as Hezbollah tries to bury itself within the population, the people themselves are increasingly willing to push back against the terrorist organization’s presence. (Source)

IDF deals heavy blow to Hezbollah missile array

IDF reports destruction of over 200 launchers and elimination of senior Hezbollah figures as operations continue to target threats on northern Israel.

As part of efforts to degrade and undermine the firing capabilities of Hezbollah, the IDF has struck and dismantled more than 200 rocket launchers, including approximately 1,300 launch tubes. This week, Ali Kamel Abar al-Hassan, the artillery officer in the Nasser Unit of Hezbollah, was struck and eliminated.

In addition, more than 250 Hezbollah artillery operatives have been struck and eliminated, including 15 ommanders responsible for artillery systems in various sectors.

The IDF declared that it "will continue operating with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and will not allow harm to the citizens of the State of Israel, particularly residents of the north."  (Source)

Syria, Jordan, Turkey sign deal to launch regional trade corridor

The agreement prioritizes the railway sector, including a proposal to link Anatolia in the north with the port of Aqaba in the south and extend toward the Gulf.

A trilateral memorandum of understanding has been signed by Syria, Jordan, and Turkey to develop the transport sector and enhance trade and transport links among the three countries, seen as signaling a new regional direction toward economic integration and the revitalization of cross-border trade routes. The agreement was signed during a meeting in the Jordanian capital, Amman, attended by the transport ministers of the three countries. The memorandum establishes a joint institutional and technical framework encompassing land, maritime, and rail transport, and forms specialized committees and joint working groups to standardize procedures and policies across the three countries.

It also aims to turn these commitments into concrete projects, backed by investment and digital upgrades, to improve efficiency and sustain long-term cooperation. The coordination is expected to ease the movement of goods and passengers and streamline border procedures, improving supply chain efficiency and boosting trade among the three countries.

A three-year roadmap outlines the steps and measures required by transport authorities, aiming to turn borders from simple crossing points into hubs for economic integration and joint development. Central to this effort is the “Middle Corridor,” which the three countries hope to activate as a strategic route that links markets and expands transit trade, with the potential to reshape the region’s economic landscape. (Read More)

Hezbollah fires missile at southern port of Ashdod as IDF strikes launchers in Lebanon

Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire into Friday, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of peace talks with Lebanon, which had continued to reel from major Israeli strikes two days earlier. There was no immediate response to the Israeli announcement from Lebanon, which had repeatedly proposed talks to end the war, or from Hezbollah. Netanyahu said that talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and “establishing peaceful relations” between the countries.

Negotiations are expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington, according to a person familiar with the plans. The talks are to be handled on the American side by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, and on the Israeli side by Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicacy of the situation.

A Lebanese diplomatic official familiar with the developments said that the country has not yet appointed someone to lead talks from Beirut. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is keen to have a temporary ceasefire when talks commence in parallel with those between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Israel’s announcement came hours after it had warned of escalation and said that it had killed an aide and nephew of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, Ali Yusuf Harshi.

Later Thursday, Hezbollah said its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, from which the Israel Defense Forces has sought in recent days to clear the Iran-backed terror group’s operatives and infrastructure. Hezbollah, in a statement, said it used light arms and RPG fire against Israeli soldiers who were advancing in the town, as well as rocket barrages on other troops in the area. The IDF did not report casualties among Israeli forces on Thursday. (Ed note: Bint Jbeil is not the same town as Gebal in Psalem 83:7. Gebal or Byblos whch is now called Jbeil is located on the coast north of Beirut.)  (Source)

Fearing a Ground Invasion, Iran Seals Off Isfahan Nuclear Tunnels

New high-resolution imagery from ISIS reveals a deliberate "lockdown" at Iran’s Isfahan facility. Following the burial of tunnel entrances in February, Iranian forces have now added roadblocks and earth berms to deter ground raids on its 60% enriched uranium stockpile.

 

According to an analysis released yesterday (April 9, 2026) by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), images taken on April 8 reveal makeshift roadblocks and added physical barriers now installed directly in front of all three tunnel entrances. These include earth berms, debris, fencing, and other obstacles specifically designed to slow or prevent ground access.

The entrances themselves were already completely buried with soil back in February. ISIS assesses this is not preparation to reopen the site for operations, but rather a deliberate lockdown to protect it against potential airstrikes or special-forces raids.

Key context (per IAEA and ISIS):

* The Isfahan tunnels are believed to hold a significant portion of Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, material that could be further processed into fuel for multiple nuclear weapons.

* Vehicle activity, checkpoints, and security equipment remain visible on site, signaling tight ongoing control by Iranian forces.

This latest move comes as regional tensions remain high and the Isfahancomplex continues to be viewed by Tehran as a highly sensitive target. (Source)

Trump Warns Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Tanker Fees

President Donald Trump warned Iran on Thursday against charging fees on tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, writing on Truth Social: “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!”

The statement follows reports that Iranian authorities and forces linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have demanded up to approximately $2 million from large tankers for safe passage through the narrow 22-mile waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Some payments have reportedly been discussed or accepted in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrencies, including dollar-pegged stablecoins.

On Wednesday, ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl reported asking Trump about the alleged tolls. According to Karl, the president responded by describing a possible U.S.-Iran “joint venture” to help secure the strait as “a beautiful thing.” In March, President Trump was asked by Bloomberg’s Annmarie Hordern if Iran should be able to charge ships a fee to go through the strait. “Should they be able to? They shouldn’t be able to. They’re doing it a little bit,” Trump said.

Earlier this month, Iran notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) — the UN body responsible for global shipping safety — that vessels from non-hostile countries could receive safe transit through the strait if they coordinate with Iranian authorities and do not support actions against Iran. The communication stressed that, as a coastal state, Iran was restricting passage for ships it considered linked to aggressors, claiming consistency with international legal principles. (Read more)

Trump: Iran will not possess enriched uranium, will dig up all ‘nuclear dust’

The U.S. president hailed the two-week ceasefire agreement with Tehran, suggesting the deal could mark the beginning of a ‘golden age’ in the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Tehran will not possess enriched uranium and that together with Washington they will “dig up and remove all of the deeply buried … nuclear ‘dust. Posting on Truth Social, the president said that the reportedly 440.9 kilograms of uranium has been under satellite surveillance since “Operation Midnight Hammer” in June. “Nothing has been touched from the date of attack. We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran,” Trump wrote. Many of the 15 points have already been agreed to,” he added, referring to the plan, presented to Iran by the United States, toend the con flict, which started on Feb. 28 during a joint U.S.-Israeli preemptive attack on the Islamic Republic.

Iran, on the other hand, proposed its own 10-point plan, which is “a workable basis on which to negotiate,” Trump stated on Tuesday. The sides are expected to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan later this week to begin negotiations. In an earlier post on Wednesday, Trump hailed the two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, suggesting the deal could mark the beginning of a ‘golden age’ in the Middle East. “A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well,” he continued.

“I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!” he added. Trump said on Tuesday evening that he agreed to a “double-sided ceasefire” with Iran after talking to the Pakistani prime minister, who “requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran. If the Iranian regime agrees to the “complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump stated. (Read More)

"America is Back": Trump Vows All-Out War if Iran Deal Fails

President Trump issues another chilling ultimatum to Tehran, vowing that U.S. forces will remain in striking distance until Iran fully surrenders its nuclear ambitions. As the White House rejects "scornful" proposals, Trump warns of a military response "stronger than anything ever seen." President Donald Trump issued a blistering warning to Tehran on Thursday morning, declaring that U.S. military forces will remain stationed in and around Iran until every provision of the current agreement is met. 

In a characteristically blunt statement, the President signaled that the United States is prepared to resume hostilities with unprecedented force if the diplomatic path falters. The President emphasized that the U.S. military presence, including naval vessels, aircraft, and ground personnel, is not going anywhere. He noted that additional ammunition and weaponry remain in place to ensure compliance.

"If for any reason this does not happen, which seems unlikely, then the 'fire will start,' bigger, better, and stronger than anything ever seen before," Trump wrote. He reiterated that the core tenets of the deal are non-negotiable: Iran will never possess nuclear weapons, and the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and secure Trump concluded with a formidable message regarding the readiness of the armed forces: "Meanwhile, our great military is preparing and equipping, and even resting, and is actually looking forward to its next conquest. America is back!"

The President’s comments come amid a backdrop of escalating rhetoric from Tehran. Mohammad Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, claimed that agreements with the West were violated even before negotiations could formally begin. Tehran has alleged three specific "critical violations" by the U.S. and Israel: A breach of the ceasefire in Lebanon. The intrusion of a drone into Iranian airspace. The denial of Iran's "right" to enrich nuclear material. Observers suggest these accusations reflect deep internal fractures within the Iranian leadership as the regime struggles to reconcile the strict terms of the agreement with domestic hardliners.  (Read More)

JD Vance: It Would Be ‘Dumb’ of Iran to End Negotiations over Lebanon, Which Was Never Part of Ceasefire

Vice President JD Vance told reporters Wednesday that Lebanon was never part of the United States’ ceasefire with Iran, and it would be dumb of Iran to let negotiations disintegrate over Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Vance made the comments as he was departing Hungary for the United States.

“I actually think—and there’s a lot of bad faith negotiation and a lot of bad faith, you know, propaganda going on—I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding,” Vance said. “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise.” “We never indicated that was going to be the case. What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran and the ceasefire would be focused on America’s allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states,” he added.

Vance said that Israel, as he understands it, has “offered… frankly to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful; that’s not because that is part of the ceasefire.” “I think that’s the Israelis trying to set us up for success, and we’ll, of course, see how that unfolds in the next few days,” Vance said. (Read More)

Oil Giants Revolt Against Iran's Tolls For Strait of Hormuz

Energy executives and lobbyists are storming the White House to block a proposed $2.5 million-per-ship toll in the Strait of Hormuz. Industry giants warn that the secret deal could spark a global gas price explosion and give Iran unprecedented control over the world's most vital maritime chokepoint. Major oil company executives and industry consultants are actively lobbying the White House, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubioover concerns about the Trump administration’s ceasefire agreement with Iran, according to Politico.

The industry is strongly opposed to any part of the deal that would allow Iran to charge tolls on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports cited in the article indicate the proposed fees could reach approximately $1 per barrel, or up to $2–2.5 million per ship. Oil representatives argue that these tolls would be passed directly to consumers, significantly driving up global oil and gasoline prices. They also warn that permitting Iran to impose such charges would set a dangerous precedent for other critical maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Malacca and the Bosporus. 

Additionally, the industry has raised concerns that making these payments could violate existing U.S. sanctions on Iran. The oil sector is calling the tolls issue one of the most problematic elements of the current truce terms. The report is based on discussions with multiple industry sources familiar with the lobbying efforts. No official White House comment on the specific meetings has been issued so far. (Source)

Iran's Araghchi seen as country's most powerful foreign minister yet - explainer

The son of an Iranian carpet merchant from Isfahan, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who will accompany the parliament speaker in peace talks with the United States in Pakistan, has compared the country's negotiating style to the bartering of the bazaar, an approach requiring "patience and great time."

Iranian and US officials are expected to hold talks on Friday to discuss a long-term settlement after the longtime foes agreed on a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire to suspend a six-week-old war that has killed thousands, spread across the Middle East, and caused unprecedented disruption to the world's energy supplies. Tehran said the Iranian delegation, led by influential former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will enter peace talks with caution, citing a deep trust deficit with Washington.

Israel removed Araghchi and Ghalibaf from its hit list after Pakistan urged Washington to press Israel not to target them, a Pakistani source told Reuters last month, making them some of the few top figures left that could negotiate with the United States after scores of Iran's senior political and military officials were targeted during the war. Araghchi, Iran's top diplomat since 2024, was picked by Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to lead several rounds of talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, in efforts to resolve Tehran's longstanding nuclear dispute with the West. (Read More)

Iranian FM says US must choose between ceasefire, supporting Israeli action against Hezbollah

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on the United States to choose between maintaining a temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran and continuing to support Israel's war against Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah in a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday. "The US must choose - ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both," Araghchi asserted. Aragchi claimed that the terms of the ceasefire explicitly outline Lebanon's inclusion in the deal, a claim that US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have denied.

Iran's Parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also took to social media to make similar complaints, accusing the US of having already violated three clauses outlined in the Iranian 10-point proposal that the ceasefire deal was based on. "The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments.... has regrettably been repeated once again," Ghalibaf claimed in a statement released on X/Twitter.

He claimed the US violated Lebanon's inclusion in the ceasefire, citing an assertion from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in addition to claiming that Iranian airspace had been violated since the ceasefire went into effect. Ghalibaf also decried the US for "denial of Iran's right to enrichment," an issue that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated is a "red line" that Trump is unwilling to back away from during a press conference about the deal. (Read More)

IDF launches largest airstrikes yet on Hezbollah; Trump: Iran truce doesn’t cover Lebanon

The Israeli Air Force on Wednesday carried out its largest wave of airstrikes yet against Hezbollah, the military said, after announcing that it would keep fighting the Iran-backed terror group in Lebanon, despite the two-week ceasefire with Tehran that came into place hours earlier. The prime minister of Pakistan, who mediated between the US and Iran, declared in his post announcing the two-week ceasefire overnight Wednesday-Thursday that it would cover Lebanon as well. Iran said the same, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has insisted that Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah would continue. Trump weighed in on the issue later Wednesday, telling a PBS reporter during a phone interview that Lebanon was not included in the Iran ceasefire.

When asked why not, Trump responded: “Because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of too. It’s alright.” Asked if he was okay with Israel’s ongoing strikes against Hezbollah, Trump said: “It’s part of the deal — everyone knows that. That’s a separate skirmish.” The IDF strikes came as Hezbollah urged civilians not to return to southern Lebanon before, and as a Hezbollah official said the terror group had not publicly committed to the ceasefire because Israel had not either.

The Israel Defense Forces said its strikes targeted Beirut, the eastern Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. It issued evacuation warnings ahead of the strikes for Lebanese civilians in Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas of southern Lebanon. A source in Lebanon’s civil defense reported dozens of people killed in Beirut, and the Lebanese health ministry called on people there to clear the roads to let ambulances through. At least a dozen people were killed in other strikes in the southern Lebanese cities of Sidon and Tyre, according to Lebanese authorities and state media.   (Read more)

Watch: IDF troops pursue and strike Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon

IDF's 146 Division continues operations in southern Lebanon, eliminating some 130 terrorists and dismantling over 1,000 terror sites to secure northern Israel.

146 Division troops continue their activity in southern Lebanon, strengthening the forward defensive area for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the residents of northern Israel.

According to a statement Tuesday from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the Division’s soldiers eliminated approximately 130 terrorists and dismantled more than 1,000 terror infrastructure sites.

In several instances, Division soldiers identified terrorists who posed an imminent threat to them. With rapid target acquisition and engagement, the terrorists were eliminated by the Israeli Air Force following attempts to flee. (Source)

Trump agrees to ‘double-sided ceasefire’ with Iran for two weeks

“The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all military objectives,” the U.S. president said. 

 
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday evening that he agreed to a “double-sided ceasefire” with Iran after talking to the Pakistani prime minister and field marshal, who “requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran.”

If the Iranian regime agrees to the “complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump stated. “This will be a double-sided ceasefire.” Trump said the “reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all military objectives and are very far along with a definitive agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran and peace in the Middle East.”

“We received a 10-point proposal from Iran and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate,” Trump said. “Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalized and consummated.” (Source)

Iran fires repeatedly at Israel after Trump extends ultimatum to Tehran

Non-stop sirens blare across central, southern and northern parts of Israel after US president announced 2-week suspension of bombing tied to Iran reopening Strait of Hormuz; 3 teens lightly hurt in Tel Sheva. 

  

After U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of bombing tied to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran launched a series of missile barrages at Israel early Wednesday, triggering sirens across central, southern and northern parts of the country.

The first salvo set off alerts in the Jerusalem area and the Shfela lowlands in central Israel. Military officials said air defense systems intercepted the missile, and Magen David Adom said crews were dispatched to a site where interceptor debris was reported. No injuries were reported. (Source)

Iran says it attacked Kuwait, UAE after strikes on its oil facilities

Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates after airstrikes against oil facilities on Iran’s Lavan island on Wednesday morning, state television reports.

“Missile and drone attacks on the Emirates and Kuwait have taken place a few hours after the targeting of Lavan island oil facilities in Iran,” IRIB says in a report.

State TV also quotes the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company as saying the Lavan Oil Refinery facility on the island “was subjected to a cowardly attack” at 10 a.m. (0630 GMT). (Source)

Iran violates ceasefire agreement hours after Trump announces truce

Iran launched missiles toward Israel early Wednesday morning, hours after US President Donald Trumpannounced a two-week ceasefire involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Air raid alerts continued in Israel after the truce was announced, raising immediate doubts about whether the arrangement would hold.
Later on Wednesday, the Bahrain Interior Ministry said that air raid sirens were activated across the country following an Iranian attack on its territory. Later on Wednesday, Bahrain confirmed the attack was carried out by Iran, with the missile causing a fire without leaving anyone wounded.

Trump said the ceasefire was tied to Iran halting attacks and allowing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with talks scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Friday under Pakistani mediation. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it had accepted the two-week ceasefire, while stressing that the war itself had not ended and warning that any further move by its enemies would be met forcefully.

The ceasefire was challenged beyond Israel as well. Reuters reported an Iranian strike on Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical area, and missile alerts in the United Arab Emirates after the truce announcement, underscoring that the threat was regional from the outset and that the pause in fighting was already under strain. Israeli officials had expressed skepticism about the truce from the outset. However, in the material reviewed, no clearly attributable new statement from the Prime Minister’s Office responding specifically to the post-ceasefire launches had been publicly confirmed. (Read more)

Iran continues to attack Gulf states amid lack of US and Iranian specification on when truce begins

Neither Iran nor the US has offered any time for the ceasefire to begin, with the Islamic Republic continuing to attack Israel along with tho e Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.  (No Source)

Trump says Iran’s uranium ‘will be perfectly taken care of’ as he claims ‘total and complete victory’

US President Donald Trump tells AFP that Iran’s uranium will be “perfectly taken care of” under a two-week ceasefire deal with Tehran.

“That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn’t have settled,” Trump says in a telephone interview when asked about what would happen to Iran’s enriched uranium.

He adds the United States won a “total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it.” (Source)

Oil lifeline back? Tehran reopens Strait of Hormuz for 2 weeks as US-Iran agree to 11th-hour truce

Is the Strait of Hormuz finally reopening after weeks of chaos? Iran, in a X post, has announced a two-week safe passage window as part of a temporary ceasefire. With global markets on edge, is this a real breakthrough or just a pause?

Iran on Tuesday (Apr 7) gave a green light to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for a period of two weeks as the United States and Tehran agreed to a temporary ceasefire just under an hour before US President Donald Trump's deadline to launch a devastating new wave of strikes was set to expire. In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint whose closure has rattled global energy markets, sent oil prices surging past $100 a barrel, and pushed several Asian nations toward fuel rationing since the conflict began on February 28

Two-week ceasefire in place: What did Iran say about Hormuz?

The United States of America and Iran pulled back from the edge Tuesday, agreeing to a two-week ceasefire. Announcing the truce on Truth social just an hour before his deadline to launch large-scale military strikes, Trump said, "Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks." (Source)

Can Iran’s environment be saved?

Much of the global conversation about Iran revolves around security, conflict, and nuclear risk. What is less discussed is an environmental collapse already unfolding, with consequences that extend well beyond its borders. In recent weeks, as US and Israeli strikes have targeted the Islamic regime’s military infrastructure, public attention has also turned to vast underground tunnel networks used to house missile systems, some carved deep into mountains over decades. As Iran’s environmental crisis deepens, these networks reveal the scale at which the regime has mobilized land, resources, and engineering capacity for its military agenda rather than for environmental protection or public infrastructure.

This points to a broader reality: Iran’s environmental strain is not only the result of neglect or mismanagement, but also of deliberate policies that have redirected natural and economic resources toward militarization at the expense of long-term sustainability. These policies have pushed the country’s water resources, ecosystems, and air quality to the edge of collapse. In recent years, millions of Iranians have lived without reliable access to clean water or breathable air. Aquifers have been depleted, rivers have dried, and major cities face hazardous levels of air pollution.

The recent military action by the United States and Israel comes against a regime that has systematically exploited Iran’s resources in pursuit of military and ideological goals, with lasting consequences both inside and beyond its borders. These developments have already weakened a regime that has long been a major source of global instability, but what comes next will shape not only Iran’s political trajectory but also the future of its landscape, and with it, regional stability. If the Islamic Republic remains in place, regardless of how it is presented, the outcome is not difficult to predict; the current trajectory points toward environmental collapse.

Over more than four decades, the regime has demonstrated neither the capacity nor the willingness to preserve the country’s resources or to ground its governance in science. Under political and economic pressure, such systems tend to reinforce existing patterns rather than pursue meaningful reform. The result is an environmentally exhausted state facing water scarcity, uninhabitable regions, toxic air, and accelerating ecological decline. (Read more)