Iran’s exiled crown prince splashed with red liquid after railing against ceasefire

A protester threw red liquid at Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on Thursday after the son of the ousted the shah demanded European nations help Iranians fighting for democracy, and railed against the ceasefire in the US-Israeli bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic.

The 65-year-old was splattered while leaving Germany’s federal news conference building, as he was greeted by some supporters but also bitter opponents. One activist was detained after splashing Pahlavi with what appeared to be tomato juice, according to police.

Pahlavi appeared unhurt by the liquid coating the back of his blazer and neck, and waved to his supporters before he got into a car that drove away. (Read More)

Ceasefire or Smokescreen? Rumors Swirl of US Ground Operation to Break Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Grip

While President Trump extends the US-Iran ceasefire to allow for Pakistani-led mediation, regional sources allege the move masks preparations for a major military escalation. With the US naval blockade tightening and Iran claiming its first shipping tolls, tension reaches a breaking point. While the Trump administration presents the latest extension of the US-Iran ceasefire as a diplomatic opportunity to reach a permanent deal, some Arab and Iranian sources are claiming it is merely a “smokescreen” for an impending large-scale US ground operation aimed at breaking Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.

These unverified claims, which have circulated in regional media and statements from Iranian officials, allege that President Trump is using the current period of relative calm to complete the deployment of infantry and armored forces at bases near Iran. The sources further suggest the US is preparing for a physical takeover of strategic port cities or islands to permanently secure freedom of navigation in the strait if Tehran refuses the latest ultimatum.

President Trump has repeatedly expressed reluctance for major ground wars in the region, favoring air, naval, and economic pressure instead. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (April 21) that the US would extend the fragile ceasefire with Iran with no fixed expiration date. The extension was made at the request of Pakistani mediators and to allow Iran’s “seriously fractured” government time to submit a unified proposal for a permanent peace deal. (Read More)

Dr. Bill Salus Comment: If this happens, meaning if the US sends boots on the ground into SW Iran, which is the anicient territory of Elam, then it could lead to the prophtic fulfillment of Jeremiah 49:36-37, which declares;

""I will bring enemies from all directions, and I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds. They will be exiled to countries around the world. I myself will go with Elam’s enemies to shatter it. In my fierce anger, I will bring great disaster upon the people of Elam,” says the Lord. “Their enemies will chase them with the sword  until I have destroyed them completely.""

Trump extends ceasefire with Iran

The president said he is maintaining a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and extending the ceasefire until the “fractured” government of Iran can submit a proposal. 

U.S. President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, while continuing the U.S. military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. “Based on the fact that the government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump stated. 

The president said he has directed the military to continue the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and has extended the ceasefire “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.” The ceasefire brokered on April 8 was set to end by Wednesday. (Source)

Military Alert: Hormuz Siege Leaves Iran with Its Back to the Wall

The Israeli defense establishment is bracing for extreme scenarios following an 80% collapse in Iranian oil exports. The U.S. siege on the Strait of Hormuz is creating a massive deficit in the Tehran regime’s budget. According to updated assessments:

Export Plummet: Iran has lost approximately 80% of its oil export capacity. A direct loss of over $1 billion every month. Roughly 100,000 workers in the oil, petrochemical, and defense industries have lost their jobs. Meanwhile the land-based "Goureh-Jask" pipeline allows for only 300,000 barrels per day, enough to keep the regime on "life support" but insufficient to prevent industrial collapse.

Despite President Trump’s claims regarding the destruction of the Iranian Navy, the situation on the water remains volatile. In the last 24 hours, Iranian "swarm" tactics, using small, fast boats armed with missiles, have been used to harass vessels in the Strait. The Israeli Navy and Military Intelligence (Aman) are providing the U.S. military with real-time intelligence to track smuggling routes and hostile movements.

Israeli security officials are worried that Iran may choose a "game-breaking" move to escape the pressure which may include a coordinated synchronized missile and drone attack which will involve Iran, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah has already begun increasing friction in Southern Lebanon (launching rockets and a drone yesterday), claiming "ceasefire violations" by Israel to undermine ongoing negotiations.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is conducting twice-daily situational assessments to ensure the IDF can transition from "zero to sixty" across all fronts instantly. While Trump pushes for negotiations under the threat of bombardment, Israe understands that the intense economic pressure on Tehran could trigger a regional explosion, specifically during the upcoming Independence Day period. (Source)

Buried but not out, Iran’s ballistic missile threat weathers US-Israeli strikes intact

IDF says Tehran still has hundreds of launchers and 1,000 missiles, many of which are ‘plugged’ underground but not destroyed, as Tehran looks to rebuild weapons stockpile.

For six weeks, the United States and Israel pummeled Iran’s military infrastructure — with US Central Command saying it had struck over 13,000 targets, and Israel reporting some 4,000 of its own. Yet even in the final days before a two-week ceasefire was announced, ballistic missiles continued to be launched at Israel and other states in the region.

While Tehran’s rate of launches dropped sharply as the war progressed — from roughly 80 missiles fired at Israel on the first day to around 10-20 per day over the following weeks — the sustained attacks have raised questions about the extent of the damage inflicted in both the most recent war and an initial round of fighting in June.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently told reporters that the US-Israel bombing campaign had “functionally destroyed” Iran’s missile program and rendered its military “combat ineffective for years to come.” Yet the IDF says over the roughly six weeks of fighting, it managed to set back Iran’s missile project only partially, owing in part to the hardened nature of underground facilities, while slowing, but not significantly halting, the buildup of the Islamic Republic’s stockpile.

With ceasefire talks between the US and Iran set to resume Tuesday, Israel is concerned that the ballistic missile issue is not being included in the talks and that the sides may come to an agreement that allows Iran to continue building up its missile program, Army Radio reported Monday, citing a senior Israeli source. Speaking to Reuters Monday, a senior Iranian source said Tehran’s “defensive capabilities,” including its missile program, were not open to negotiation with the United States. (Read More)

Trump says he was 'surprised' by 'Chinese gift to Iran' found in seized tanker ship

"We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know, but I was a little surprised," Trump said during an interview with CNBC.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday during an interview with CNBC that the US found "a gift from China" in one of the ships seized from the Iranian regime that was trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz towards Iran, amid the American blockade of Iranian ports. "We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know, but I was a little surprised," Trump said during his interview with CNBC.

According to an additional Bloomberg report, the White House did not respond to requests for comment on Trump's interview. Additionally, the Chinese embassy in Washington told Bloomberg that China's exports of military products are handled "prudently and responsibly, with strict controls on the export of dual-use articles.” Bloomberg noted that both Russia and China aided Iran during the last war, with Moscow providing intelligence and targets while Beijing's role was not as clear.

A recent report from The Financial Times revealed that Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite, giving the Islamic Republic a new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war. The TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by the Chinese company Earth Eye Co, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force in late 2024 after it was launched into space from China, the report said, citing leaked Iranian military documents. (Read more)

Intelligence document warns: Hamas rebuilding under cover of the ceasefire

A document circulated to a very limited group of senior political officials paints a troubling picture of the rehabilitation of Hamas’s military wing and an accelerated recruitment of terrorists.

An IDF intelligence document sent in recent days to a highly restricted group within Israel’s political leadership reveals that the Hamas terror organization is managing to take significant advantage of the current ceasefire to rebuild itself. According to information published by Channel 12 News, the organization is systematically working to restore and improve its force-building capabilities in the Gaza Strip while exploiting the complex political situation to buy time.

The document explicitly states that “Hamas is stalling for time while simultaneously organizing and improving its force-building in the Strip, including the rehabilitation of its military wing, accelerated recruitment of operatives, seizure of goods, and demonstrations of civil and governmental sovereignty in the territories it controls." Although the report notes that Hamas has not yet managed to achieve a “technological or operational leap forward," the gradual process of rebuilding its capabilities is advancing steadily and in a concerning manner.

Security officials familiar with the details claim that developments on other fronts-primarily the confrontations involving Iran and Lebanon-are serving Hamas’s interests. According to these officials, American attention is currently focused on other regional flashpoints, allowing Hamas to avoid meeting its obligations as outlined in President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

The organization is exploiting loopholes in the agreements to reestablish its civilian control on the ground and take control of humanitarian goods entering the Gaza Strip. Senior members of Israel’s security establishment expressed deep concern over the continuation of this trend, warning that the current reality could undermine the achievements of the war. (Source)

US hosts talks as Lebanon seeks ceasefire extension with Israel

The US will host a second meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys on Thursday, with Beirut seeking the extension of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people, including a journalist. The US-mediated ceasefire, which is set to expire on Sunday, has yielded a significant reduction in violence, but attacks have continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops have seized a self-declared buffer zone. Iran-backed Hezbollah says it has "the right to resist" occupying forces.

Wednesday marked Lebanon's deadliest day since the ceasefire took effect on April 16. Those killed by Israeli strikes included Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, according to a senior Lebanese military official and her employer, the Al-Akhbar newspaper.

Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel reignited on March 2, when the group opened fire in support of Tehran in the regional war. The ceasefire in Lebanon emerged separately from Washington’s efforts to resolve its conflict with Tehran, though Iran had called for Lebanon to be included in any broader truce. Hezbollah said it carried out four operations in south Lebanon on Wednesday, saying they were a response to Israeli strikes.

Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel went on the offensive in response to Hezbollah's March 2 attack, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel is occupying a belt of the south that extends 5 to 10 km (3 to 6 miles) into Lebanon, saying it aims to shield northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah, which has fired hundreds of rockets during the war. The Lebanese government has opened direct contacts with Israel despite strong objections from Hezbollah, which was established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982. (Read More)

Moments before the ceasefire | Raid on Hezbollah facility deep inside Lebanon

Israeli forces raided a Hezbollah main staging area and struck 70 targets. More than 20 Hezbollah terrorists were killed. Prior to the ceasefire taking effect, IDF soldiers, with the support of the Israeli Air Force, conducted operations against Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of Dibbin in Southern Lebanon  

Before the ceasefire agreement came into effect, IDF troops, under the command of the 91st Division and in coordination with the Israeli Air Force, completed an operation in the area of Dibbin, approximately 12 kilometers inside Lebanese territory.

During the operation, troops engaged a Hezbollah compound in the area, wherein terrorist activity had been identified and intelligence indicated attempts to carry out attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians. Within a matter of hours, more than 70 targets were struck and over 20 terrorists were eliminated in close-quarters combat and from the air. (Ed note: The area of Dibbin in South Lebanon is located about 19 miles inside the Israeli border. It is also about 19 miles southeast of the city of Sidon.) (Source)

Israeli population hits 10.244 million

As the country marks its 78th birthday, the population continued to grow at a steady pace, with a year-on-year increase of 1.4%, according to the data.

Israel’s population has reached 10.244 million as the country marks its 78th Independence Day, according to data released on Sunday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Of the total population, 7.97 million are Jews and others (76%), 2.15 million are Arabs (21%) and 296,000 are foreign residents (2.9%), according to the figures. Israel’s population has grown by 146,000 since its last Independence Day, registering an increase of 1.4%, the Bureau noted.

During this period, about 177,000 babies were born, some 21,000 immigrants arrived, roughly 48,000 people died and the net balance of Israelis staying abroad stands at approximately 45,000. At the time of the state’s founding, Israel’s population was 806,000. Today, it is more than 12.5 times larger, according to the CBS data. More than 3.5 million immigrants have arrived in Israel since the establishment of the state in 1948, about 1.68 million (47.8%) of them since 1990.

Israeli demographics remain young among Western countries, with about 27% of its population aged 0–14 and 13% aged 65 and older. As of the end of 2024, about 45% of the world’s Jewish population lives in Israel, and about 81% of Jews in Israel are native-born (“sabras” in Hebrew), according to the Bureau. (Source)

Iran claims Trump’s ceasefire extension is a 'ploy for surprise strike'

Tasnim news agency reports Tehran did not request the ceasefire extension announced by Trump and suspects it may be a deception to enable future US or Israeli strikes.

The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Tuesday night that Iran did not ask to extend the ceasefire with the US, following the announcement by US President Donald Trump on the matter. According to the report, Iran is not ruling out the possibility that everything, including the extension of the ceasefire, is a deception by Trump. The Iranian news agency brought up the possibility that Trump might announce an extension, but that the United States or Israel could later carry out strikes in Iran.

Tasnim cited information indicating that Iranian officials are closely monitoring such a possibility and that Iran does not underestimate such a scenario. Meanwhile, an adviser to Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, according to Reuters, that Trump’s ceasefire extension is a “ploy to buy time" for a surprise strike.

The adviser said that the continuation of the US blockade on Iranian ports was “no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response". Trump announced earlier on Tuesday that the ceasefire in Iran would be extended for an unspecified amount of time, in order to allow the Iranian leadership time to submit a proposal for a deal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump made clear that the US naval blockade will remain in place until an Iranian proposal is submitted.

"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump wrote. (Read More)

Opposition to US talks grows in Tehran as ceasefire deadline nears

Mounting opposition to negotiations with Washington in Tehran is casting doubt over whether Iran will proceed with a new round of talks with the United States in Islamabad as the ceasefire deadline approaches. Iranian officials and state media have increasingly emphasized a lack of interest in continuing negotiations. State television has claimed that a majority of Iranians oppose further talks, a narrative reinforced by coverage from Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated outlets including Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency.

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Iran’s delegation in the first round of talks, struck a defiant tone earlier this week, saying Tehran would not accept negotiations “under the shadow of threats” and had spent the past two weeks preparing “to reveal new cards on the battlefield.” Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, warned that Iranian forces are prepared to deliver an “immediate and decisive response” to any violation of agreements or commitments. Abdollah Haji-Sadeghi, the Supreme Leader’s representative to the IRGC, said “there are no negotiations for now,” adding: “We will negotiate whenever the enemy accepts our conditions.”

On the US side, rhetoric has also hardened. President Donald Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he does not intend to extend the ceasefire and that Washington is prepared for a military approach. According to the Washington Post, Vice President J. D. Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad has been postponed. Political activist Ali Gholhaki, considered close to Ghalibaf, argued that negotiations in Islamabad should only occur if the United States ends its naval blockade and moderates its nuclear demands. Hardline commentator Foad Izadi was even more explicit, saying in an interview that entering negotiations now would be a mistake.

“We must raise the cost of this war to a significant level,” he said. “Wars ultimately end with negotiations, but they have not yet paid the expected price.” Opposition to talks has also surfaced within Iran’s parliament. Vahid Ahmadi reaffirmed Iran’s right to uranium enrichment under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, stating that enriched materials would “under no circumstances” be removed from the country. State television also aired footage of a pro-government rally where participants chanted “Death to compromisers.” A television host claimed that 87% of Iranians believe the war should continue—an assertion critics say cannot be independently verified. Despite the hardline chorus, some voices have warned against abandoning diplomacy. (Read more)

If they seek war, we are ready...': Iran sets condition for talks in Pakistan after Trump's ceasefire extension

Iran says it will join talks in Islamabad only if the US ends its naval blockade, calling it a ceasefire violation. As Trump extends the truce, Tehran remains sceptical, citing shifting US demands, while tensions rise and uncertainty surrounds peace negotiations.

Iran's Condition For Talks

Iran has set a condition for attending the talks in Pakistan to end the war with Iran. Iran's United Nations (UN) envoy Amir Saeid Iravani has said that negotiations will be held in Pakistan’s capital once the United States ends its blockade of Iranian ports. His comments came as US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with a hope that Tehran would submit a proposal to end the conflict permanently. The Iranian envoy said that United States must halt its ‘violation of the ceasefire.’ The 10-day ceasefire was to end on Apr 22.So far, no senior Iranian officials—including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — have responded to the extended ceasefire.

What Is The Condition?

In a statement to Iranian media IRNA and Tasnim News agency, Iravani said, "As soon as Washington ends the naval blockade, I think the next round of negotiations will be held in Islamabad. "The United States must halt its ‘violation of the ceasefire’ before any new round of negotiations. We have not been the initiator of military aggression. If they seek a political solution, we are ready. If they seek war, Iran is ready for that as well...When that happens, the next round of negotiations will take place in Islamabad." He warned, "If the US wants a political solution, they are ready, if they want war then Iran is also ready." Additionally, Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has mocked America saying ceasefire extension means "nothing" because the “losing side cannot dictate terms.” He termed the ceasefire extension as a ploy “to buy time for a surprise strike.”

What We Know About Iran-US Talks In Pakistan?

The uncertainty around the peace talks in Pakistan's Islamabad continues. The White House said in a statement that Vice President JD Vance and the US negotiating delegation would not be travelling to Pakistan. Iran has expressed its doubt about the ceasefire talks stating that it could be a "ploy for surprise strikes" on the country. But high-level security is in place in Pakistan, with administration deploying over 20,000 security personnel in and around Rawalpindi and Islamabad. (Read More)

Report: Israel doubts prospects of Iran deal, coordinated potential attack plans with US

Israel is doubtful that a deal will be reached between Iran and the United States in the expected talks between them and is jointly preparing with Washington for the war’s resumption, a senior security official tells the Kan public broadcaster.  “The Iranians are trying to stall for time and are speaking in multiple voices. We and the Americans are coordinated and ready to resume the war immediately,” the official says, as Iran is yet to decide whether it will attend the second round of talks in Islamabad before the current two-week ceasefire ends.

Israel and the US have been preparing for a resumption of the war since the ceasefire began, sources familiar with the matter tell the Hebrew network, including conducting exercises involving fighter jets and refueling tankers across the Middle East.

During the visit of CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper to Israel last week, joint plans and a target bank were approved, including strikes on national and energy infrastructure sites across Iran, according to the report. These attacks would be intended to apply further pressure on the Iranians to agree to relinquish their nuclear program and enriched uranium, the report adds. (Source)

At West Bank event, Smotrich declares Israel will rebuild Gaza settlements, fulfilling ‘prophecies’

Israel will return to the Gush Katif settlement bloc abandoned during the 2005 disengagement from Gaza, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declares during an Independence Day event in the West Bank settlement of Brukhin, during which he praises the current government for “leading a true revolution” by announcing “no fewer than 103 new settlements in Judea and Samaria.”

Among the settlements approved by the government were Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim, which were evacuated during the disengagement, and their reestablishment is an “historical correction of the injustice of the expulsion,” Smotrich declares, stating that “we have returned home, and this time forever.”

“And just as we returned to Northern Samaria, we shall also return to Gush Katif,” he adds, citing Jeremiah’s prophecy of Israel’s return to its land, and stating that “today, here in Samaria, the prophecies of consolation are no longer a dream but the view from the window. The prophecies are taking shape in cranes and tractors, in agriculture and homes, and in boys and girls playing in the streets.” “We are not just reading the prophecies, we are privileged to be the generation that fulfills them,” he says, praising the government for its military and economic achievements.

Smotrich’s speech comes two days after he called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fully occupy and settle the Gaza Strip, insisting that the end of the war against Hamas in Gaza must be accompanied by territorial expansion during a ceremony marking the resettlement of the West Bank town of Sa-Nur. Despite Smotrich’s proclamations, a return to settlement in Gaza is strongly opposed by the US and remains highly unlikely in the foreseeable future. (Source)

Israel will face resistance if troops stay in Lebanon, Lebanese Parliament Speaker says

"It [Israel] will smell the scent of resistance every day," said Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanon's most senior Shi'ite statesman and a Hezbollah ally. Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker warned on Tuesday that Israeli forces in parts of the country's south would face resistance if they fail to withdraw, signaling a risk of renewed confrontation ahead of US-mediated talks this week.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah mediated by Washington came into effect on Thursday, but Israeli forces remain deployed in a belt of Lebanese land 5-10 km deep along the entire border. Israel has said it aims to create a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim terrorist group.

On Thursday, the US will host ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon, which were dragged into war on March 2 when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran in the regional conflict. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanon's most senior Shi'ite statesman and a Hezbollah ally, told Lebanese newspaper al-Joumhouria that Lebanon could not tolerate losing a meter of land.

If Israel "maintains its occupation, whether of areas, positions, or by drawing yellow lines, it will smell the scent of resistance every day," said Berri, leader of the Shi'ite Amal Movement. The IDF and Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both referred to Israel's deployment line in Lebanon as the "Yellow Line" last week - the same term used by Israel for its deployment line in Gaza. Israeli officials have since refrained from describing it in those terms, instead calling it the "Forward Defense Line," marked on a military map published on Sunday, which also included a "naval forward defense area" extending from Lebanon's coast to the sea. (Read More)

IDF says Hezbollah breached truce, launching rockets at troops, drone at Israel

The Hezbollah terror group violated a ceasefire in Lebanon on Tuesday by firing several rockets at Israeli troops stationed in the south of the country, as well as launching a drone at Israel, the military said. Hezbollah took responsibility for the attacks, which it claimed were in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire. According to the Israel Defense Forces, Hezbollah fired several rockets toward troops stationed in the Rab al-Thalathine area, within an Israeli-held security zone.

The IDF said that it struck the launcher used in the attack within a few minutes. Separately, the IDF said that sirens that sounded in the communities of Kfar Yuval and Ma’ayan Baruch on the Lebanon border were not false alarms as it had initially reported. Following an examination, the IDF said the alerts were triggered in the border communities due to the interception of a drone that was launched from Lebanon. The drone was shot down before crossing the border, according to the military. The IDF said the attacks were “blatant violations of the ceasefire agreement.” No injuries were reported.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli artillery position in the northern border community of Kfar Giladi with a rocket barrage and attack drones. Hezbollah claimed to have documented over 200 Israeli violations of the ceasefire since it took effect on Friday. The terror group said the attacks on the IDF were carried out in response to those violations and its “right to resist occupation and repel it.”  (Ed note: The area of the Rab al-Thalathine is about 9 to 12 miles directly north of the Sea of Galilee.)  (Read More)

Trump announces: Ceasefire extended until Iran submits a proposal

Trump announces the extension of the ceasefire with Iran until its fractured leadership submits a unified deal proposal. The US naval blockade remains firmly in place.

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the ceasefire in Iran would be extended for an unspecified amount of time, in order to allow the Iranian leadership time to submit a proposal for a deal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump made clear that the US naval blockade will remain in place until an Iranian proposal is submitted.

"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump wrote.

“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other," he added. Trump’s announcement followed a New York Times report stating that an expected trip by Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan for a second round of talks with Iran has been put on hold.

The postponement came after Tehran failed to respond to the latest US negotiating positions, a US official with knowledge of the situation told the Times. A senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency later on Tuesday that Pakistan has yet to persuade the US to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz. (Read More)

Iranian Delegation Has Not Departed for Islamabad as US-Iran Talks Hang in Balance

Pakistan continues its mediation efforts, but the absence of the Iranian team on the scheduled day adds to the brinkmanship surrounding these high-stakes talks - the first direct US-Iran negotiations in decades.

As the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran approaches its expiration, Iranian state television has confirmed that no Iranian delegation has departed for Islamabad, directly contradicting earlier expectations of renewed talks in Pakistan today. According to an on-screen alert broadcast by IRIB (Iranian state TV) on Tuesday afternoon local time, “no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad so far,” and no team, primary, secondary, or follow-up, has left Tehran.

This comes hours after reports suggested an Iranian delegation, possibly including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, would arrive in the Pakistani capital on Tuesday morning for a second round of Pakistan-brokered negotiations with the US. Mounting Uncertainty Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline. 

* Pakistani authorities had been preparing for high-level talks, with tight security measures already in place in Islamabad.  

* The US side, led by Vice President JD Vance, had signaled plans to proceed, but as of now, diplomatic momentum has stalled.Iranian officials and state-linked media (including Tasnim) have repeatedly cited the ongoing US naval presence and “unreasonable demands” as reasons for hesitation, stating there is “currently no decision” to send a team while the blockade remains in effect.

The initial round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month produced a temporary ceasefire, but no permanent agreement. With the truce reportedly set to expire on Wednesday night (Washington time), failure to resume negotiations raises fears of renewed escalation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz where tensions have flared again. Iran has conditioned any further engagement on the lifting of US measures and a more “realistic” American approach. Meanwhile, US officials have described the situation as critical, with President Trump previously warning that a deal is unlikely without significant concessions from Tehran. (Ed note: Could it be that Tehran is holding back because they are thinking that President Trump will crack?  Does Tehran believe the Media and Liberals that are screaming that "Trump is crazy, and they must remove him?")      (Source)

Vance to travel to Islamabad, Iranian delegation gets reported approval from supreme leader - Axios

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to leave for potential peace talks with Iran in Islamabad on Tuesday morning, Axios reported early Tuesday, citing three US sources. Earlier on Monday, US President Donald Trump told theNew York Post that Vance and his delegation were already en route to Pakistan, but conflicting sources claimed the vice president was still in the US. Axios reported that the White House first waited for a signal from Tehran that an Iranian delegation would also be joining.

According to a source with knowledge cited by Axios, the Iranian negotiating team hesitated due to pressure from the IRGC to hold a stronger line and to refuse talks without an end to the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian team was urged to join the meeting by mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, Axios reported, but, according to the source, didn't leave until they received approval from Iran's supreme leader.

The Iranian delegation's plan to travel to Islamabad was also reported earlier on Monday by the New York Times, citing two Iranian officials. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed-Bagher Ghalibaf is expected to lead the delegation. Vance's delegation is expected to include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. (Source)

'We have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield': Ghalibaf warns Trump as ceasefire nears deadline

Iran rejects talks under pressure as Ghalibaf accuses Trump of coercion, while ceasefire tensions and US-Iran negotiations remain uncertain≥.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said that US President Donald Trump is attempting to reshape negotiations into coercion, warning that Tehran rejects talks conducted under pressure. President Donald Trump “seeks to turn this negotiating table— in his own imagination— into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Ghalibaf said in a post on X on Monday (April 20). “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” the post added.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is reviewing all options following discussions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as tensions continue over a potential US-Iran ceasefire framework. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the country “is taking all aspects into consideration” and will decide its next steps while continuing consultations. The ministry also thanked Pakistan for its “good offices and mediation” but accused the United States of undermining diplomacy through “provocative actions” and alleged ceasefire violations, including threats against Iranian commercial vessels. 

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that diplomatic channels remain open despite uncertainty over the next round of talks between Washington and Tehran. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said he expects the ceasefire window with Iran to expire “Wednesday evening Washington time,” adding it is “highly unlikely” he would extend it without progress on a deal. (Source)

Iran diplomacy wobbles as factions compete to avoid looking soft on US

Apparent divisions over negotiations with the United States may have strengthened the most confrontational elements within Iran’s political landscape and facilitated the rise of new hardline actors.
Backed by the more uncompromising faction within the senior ranks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), these emerging hardliners have been testing their ability to disrupt talks that already face significant obstacles.

Within the IRGC itself, commanders appear to be split into at least two camps. One faction, associated with IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi and Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, is widely described by Iranian observers as favoring continuation of the conflict. The opposing faction aligns more closely with former IRGC Air Force commander and current Majles Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. He is believed to retain influence within the IRGC’s aerospace branch and to maintain ties to the household of Iran’s slain leader Ali Khamenei, including his son Mojtaba.

Despite their rivalry, both factions share a core objective: ensuring the survival of the Islamic Republic. Their disagreement lies in the methods and strategic direction needed to achieve that goal. Similar infighting existed before the latest war and under Ali Khamenei, but the absence of a figure with comparable authority appears to have widened the field to rival forces. Among civilian political actors, many have attempted to distance themselves from the ultraconservative Paydari Party, which has been the loudest anti-American voice in Tehran for some time. Yet their ideological and personal links to Paydari figures remain evident.

Even Ghalibaf, now seen by many as the de facto leader of Iran’s “pragmatic” camp, has referred to these actors as a radical militia. He has also hinted at their connections to Paydari-aligned figures such as former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and hardline lawmaker Amir Hossein Sabeti, both of whom journalists in Tehran accuse of enticing anti-talks rallies. Over the weekend, an X account identifying itself as “Fans of Saeed Jalili” sharply criticized Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accusing them of falsely suggesting that their more moderate positions toward Washington had been endorsed by Mojtaba Khamenei. (Read More)

High Alert: IDF Prepares for Sudden Iranian Attack as Nuclear Negotiations Teeter

Israeli defense officials are maintaining peak readiness across all branches as the government prepares for a potential sudden attack by Iran or a state directed strike in the wake of failing nuclear negotiations.

As the window for a breakthrough in diplomatic negotiations with Iran appears to be narrowing, the Israeli defense establishment is operating under a state of heightened alert. With the possibility that the current nuclear talks may collapse entirely, the Israel Defense Forces, led by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, are conducting continuous, around the clock situational assessments to ensure the country is prepared for any sudden Iranian aggression.

The security situation remains fluid, as Israeli intelligence agencies, including Military Intelligence and the Mossad, work to provide the political echelon with a comprehensive picture of Iranian intentions. Despite ongoing monitoring, senior security sources indicate that there is currently no definitive information regarding the specific response expected from Tehran. However, there is growing skepticism within the defense community that the current regime, heavily influenced by extreme elements within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, would ever agree to a complete and verifiable surrender of its nuclear program or the transfer of its enriched uranium to a third party.

Security experts suggest that the current diplomatic framework may require additional, more significant leverage to change the regime's behavior. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is also grappling with internal divisions within the Iranian government, which further complicate the path toward a stable agreement. Contrary to some external reports, the Israeli government remains fully updated on the details of the American negotiations, allowing for close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem. (Read More)

New round of Israel-Lebanon talks set for Thursday as US said trying to extend truce

A second round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place on Thursday, an Israeli and a US official tell The Times of Israel on Monday. The meeting, the official said, will take place at the State Department in Washington, and will include staffers from the Israeli, Lebanese, and US sides. Israel will be represented by its envoy to the US, and Lebanon by its former ambassador to Washington, Simon Karam.

“The United States welcomes the productive engagement that began on April 14,” a State Department official told The Times of Israel, confirming that the US will host a second round of talks on Thursday. “We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.”Last Tuesday, Leiter and Lebanon’s current envoy in the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, met for roughly two hours, marking the highest-level direct talks to date between Israeli and Lebanese officials. The talks were mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other American diplomats.

Thursday’s talks will take place days before a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah is set to expire. But Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday, following a meeting with US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, that the US was making an effort to extend the truce, according to the Asharq al-Awsat outlet. A lawmaker for Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and is sworn to Israel’s destruction, castigated the direct talks and vowed to continue “resistance” against Israeli troops’ presence in the south of the country. He also vowed that his terror group would not lay down its weapons, something both Israel and the Lebanese government have demanded. (Read More)

Officials: Iran could soon rebuild ballistic missile system

Israeli officials warn Iran's ballistic missile array not part of negotiations, warn failure to address issue may lead to another round of fighting.

Israeli officials are concerned that Iran could restore its ballistic missile array within a relatively short period if the issue is not addressed in the context of a future agreement. According to an IDF Intelligence Directorate assessment, subject to censorship limitations, Iran could rebuild its capabilities within “very few years."

Security officials warn that failure to address the missile issue could lead to another round of fighting with Iran in the near future. The concern is that any emerging agreements may not include this central component.

A senior Israeli official told Army Radio that “the missile issue is currently not on the negotiating table. That is troubling."  (Source)

Quietly Rearming: The Disturbing Iranian Move During the Ceasefire

While the world follows the mediation talks in Pakistan, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard's Air Force reveals data on an unprecedented rate of armament. As international mediators in Islamabad work to stabilize a fragile ceasefire, Tehran is projecting a defiant image of its military reality. General Seyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, declared that Iran has utilized the days of quiet to replenish its stockpiles of missiles and drones at a pace exceeding pre-war levels.

A dramatic video released by the "War Media" center showcased underground, bomb-proof storage facilities being filled with advanced technological equipment. Mousavi directed sharp criticism toward the United States, claiming that while Iran relies on domestic technology and rapid local production, "the enemy" is forced to import ammunition "drop by drop" from across the world and cannot keep up with Iran's pace of rearmament.

These statements come amid a severe economic crisis in Iran, including the loss of over one million jobs and ongoing internet outages affecting millions of citizens. Despite internal pressure and sanctions, Tehran continues to use the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic bargaining chip, declaring it will not hesitate to respond forcefully to any "piracy" by the U.S. (Source)

Trump says talks to take place Tuesday, as Iran says it has ‘no plans’ to attend

US president says he’s optimistic on prospects for deal, threatens to blow up bridges and power plants if Tehran doesn’t agree to demands; Netanyahu says war is ‘not over yet’.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that talks with Iran on extending the ceasefire would resume on Tuesday, while the Islamic Republic indicated it was not planning to send a delegation and was pessimistic about the prospects of the talks. Trump told Fox News that White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would be heading to the Pakistani capital Islamabad for the negotiations, and if Tehran does not agree to a deal, the whole of Iran would be “blown up.”

He told the outlet that bridges and power plants in Iran would be targeted, repeating his threat to target civilian infrastructure — plans that appeared to have been halted after the ceasefire was reached nearly two weeks ago. The break in the fighting is set to expire on Wednesday if an extension is not agreed upon.Trump told Fox he is demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give up its highly enriched uranium, a demand Tehran has not agreed to.

Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities, all while repeatedly threatening over the years to annihilate Israel. Contrary to Trump’s claim, Iranian state media reported on Sunday night that Tehran was not planning to take part in new talks. “There are currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks,” state broadcaster IRIB said, citing Iranian sources. (Read More)

Trump says US took control of Iranian cargo ship that tried to break blockade

US President Donald Trump announces that the US has taken custody of an Iranian cargo ship that attempted to pass a blockade that Washington has been maintaining around Iranian ports. “Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA — nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier — tried to get past our naval blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump claims in a Truth Social post.

“The US Navy guided missile destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave [it a] fair warning to stop,” Trump continues. “The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineer room. Right now, US Marines have custody of the vessel.” “The TOUSKA is under US Treasury sanctions because of [its] prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” the US president adds. (Source)

Ghalibaf defends Iran-US talks amid hardline backlash

Iran’s lead negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf defended indirect talks with the United States in a televised interview Saturday after hardline critics accused him of “betrayal” and even hinted at a “coup” over the negotiations in Islamabad. The backlash, which has intensified in recent days across hardline media and social platforms, prompted Ghalibaf to sit for a lengthy interview on state television aimed largely at persuading critics who reject any form of diplomacy and advocate continued confrontation.

In the interview, Ghalibaf framed negotiations not as a retreat but as a continuation of the conflict by other means. Diplomacy, he said, is neither a withdrawal from Iran’s demands nor separate from the battlefield, but a way to consolidate military gains and translate them into political outcomes and lasting peace. Most notably, perhaps, he cautioned against exaggerating Iran’s leverage, stressing that US military superiority and capabilities should not be underestimated.

Hardline critics have intensified attacks on Ghalibaf, particularly on domestic social media platforms such as Eitaa, accusing him of ignoring red lines set by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and signaling weakness toward the United States. One critic wrote in a post that “there is no good in negotiation except harm,” adding that Ghalibaf’s remarks suggested an optimism about progress in the talks that was “worrying.” Another post went further, calling on the Revolutionary Guard to intervene and stop what it described as Ghalibaf’s “betrayal.”

Similar rhetoric has surfaced in nighttime gatherings by pro-government supporters, where speakers denounce negotiations and potential concessions—such as handing over enriched nuclear material, a core US demand—and chant slogans including “Death to compromisers.” Ghalibaf did emphasize his personal commitment, declaring that for him there is no distinction between the battlefield and the negotiating table and that he is ready to sacrifice “both my life and my reputation” for “the people to attain their rights.” The controversy widened after a social media account linked to ultrahardliner Saeed Jalili, a longtime political rival of Ghalibaf and a member of Iran’s national security council, published a post with the hashtag “coup plotter.” (Read More)

Iran's IRGC Quds Force head Qaani visits Baghdad, meets Shi'ite political, militia leaders - report

Iran's Quds Force head Esmail Qaani visited Baghdad to discuss Iraq's next prime minister and the future of Shi'ite militias amid US sanctions.

The head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, visited Baghdad and held talks with political and militia leaders amid unresolved negotiations over who should be the next Iraqi prime minister, a source told Iraqi outlet Shafaq News on Saturday. This would represent Qaani's first visit outside of Iran since Operation Roaring Lion began on February 28. According to Agence France-Presse, Qaani's visit began on April 8.

Qaani, whose Quds Force is the main backer of the Shi'ite militias, met first with militia leaders before separately meeting with leaders of the Shi'ite Coordination Framework, which is a coalition of pro-Iran Shi'ite parties that forms the largest bloc within Baghdad's parliament. According to Shafaq's source, Qaani was attempting to reach an agreement on a consensus candidate to nominate as the prime minister.

Discussions also included the future of the terror militias, including proposals to integrate them into state security institutions and separate political and armed wings, Shafaq reported. The coordination framework initially sought to support Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister following January's elections, but US President Donald Trump emphasized at the time that his return to power would lead Washington to cut off aid. (Ed note: Is the IRGC's Qaani visiting Iraq to inquire if the Iraqi Shi'ite militias are prepared to attack Israel if directed?)   (Read More)

WATCH: IDF strikes ready-to-fire Hezbollah launcher in southern Lebanon

The IDF additionally released a warning to civilians in southern Lebanon, urging them not to move south of certain villages due to ongoing operations against Hezbollah. Overnight, the IDF struck a loaded, ready-to-fire Hezbollah launcher in Qalawiyah, north of the IDF’s established Forward Defense Line in southern Lebanon, the military announced on Monday. The launcher posed an immediate threat to Israeli troops and civilians and was destroyed in self-defense, the IDF stated.

The military asserted that during the ongoing temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, it will “continue to take the necessary measures in self-defense against threats, while ensuring the security of Israeli civilians and the soldiers deployed in the area.”

On Monday morning, the IDF released a warning to civilians in southern Lebanon on X/Twitter, urging them not to move south of certain villages along the Forward Defense Line due to ongoing operations against Hezbollah. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, stated that, for safety reasons, Lebanese civilians are required to remain north of several villages until further notice. Civilians are also forbidden from approaching the Litani River area, as Israeli forces maintain positions in the area during the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire period, Adraee noted. (Ed note: Qalawiyah is located very close to Bint Jbeil in Lebanon.)  (Source)

IDF reveals Forward Defense Line in southern Lebanon

The IDF has established a Forward Defense Line in southern Lebanon, the military announced on Sunday, publishing a map of the new line on Telegram. "Five divisions, alongside Israeli Navy forces, are operating simultaneously south of the Forward Defense Line in southern Lebanon in order to dismantle Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites and to prevent direct threats to communities in northern Israel," the IDF said.

The announcement follows IDF action on Saturday in which several sites in southern Lebanon were targeted, with the military saying that the presence of Hezbollah operatives there was a violation of the ceasefire agreement. Lebanese media reported that Hezbollah saw the IDF attacks as a breach of the ceasefire agreement, with the terror group planning to notify Iran of the perceived violation.

In addition, US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday that he had prohibited any attacks by Israel against Lebanese targets. "Israel is prohibited from bombing Lebanon any longer,” said Trump, also confirming last week that the US will work with Lebanon separately to "deal with the Hezbollah situation in an appropriate manner.”Later on Saturday, the IDF announced that over 250 terrorists were killed and over 1,000 weapons and munitions were located and destroyed south of the Forward Defense Line. (Ed note: Great map. Click on the article to really study it. The city of TYRE is about 12 miles above the border of Israel, and the Litani River is about 5 miles above the city of TYRE.)  (Read More)

‘Who is he to deprive a nation ‌of its legal rights?’: Pezeshkian slams Trump for opposing Tehran’s nuclear programme

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Donald Trump for opposing Iran’s nuclear program, asserting Tehran’s legal rights, while Pakistani security sources suggest a second round of US-Iran peace talks may occur by April 24.

Amid the ongoing speculation over the second round of US-Iran peace talks, the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticised Donald Trump, saying the US president has no justification to deprive Iran of what he described as its lawful nuclear rights. In remarks reported by the Iranian Student News Agency, Pezeshkian said Washington continued to clash with Tehran over nuclear issues, but insisted that Iran’s position was grounded in its rights. “The US president says Iran should not make use of its nuclear rights, but he does not answer for what crime,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying. “Who is he, after all, to deprive a nation of its legal rights?” he questioned.

He added that Iran was not seeking to escalate tensions. “Iran is not seeking to expand the war and has not started any conflict and will not do so. We have not attacked any country, and under the current circumstances we have no intention of attacking any side. We are only engaged in legitimate self-defence,” he said.Despite this assertion, Iran has carried out attacks across the region during the ongoing conflict, including strikes reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq and Turkey, as well as the British overseas territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the West Bank. Other alleged activity has been reported in Azerbaijan, with maritime targets said to include Thai-flagged vessels.

Pezeshkian also condemned attacks on civilians and scientific institutions. “The assassination of scientists, attacks on scientific centres, targeting innocent people and the killing of 168 schoolchildren have no justification, and no free human being in the world accepts such behaviour,” he said. Meanwhile, two Pakistani security sources told Al Jazeera that a new round of negotiations between the US and Iran is likely to take place before Friday (April 24). Speaking on condition of anonymity, they cited the arrival of two US C-17 Globemaster aircraft at Noor Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, as well as heightened security measures in the Pakistani capital. (Source)

Trump: Iran ‘got a little cute’ by blocking Hormuz again, but talks going ‘really well’

Iranian security council says it will hold strait until ‘war fully ends’; Egypt’s FM says Cairo, Islamabad working on US-Iran ‘final agreement’; report: US to seize Iran-linked ships worldwide.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday Iran “got a little cute” byreimposing its closure on the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the day, but insisted that the White House is in touch with Tehran and that the dialogue is “working out really well.” Israel, however, is preparing for the possibility that the talks will collapse and the situation in the strait will escalate, a source told the Kan public broadcaster. In addition, US forces are preparing to begin boarding and seizing Iran-linked ships in international waters across the globe, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Iran said Saturday that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces,” as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect. Iran’s security council further said that the strait will remain in Iranian control until “the war fully ends and lasting peace is achieved in the region.” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it had been presented with new American proposals during a recent visit by Pakistan’s army chief, who is serving as an intermediary with Washington. The council did not reveal what was in the proposals, but said that they were still under review. Further talks would require the US to abandon “excessive demands and adjust its requests to the realities on the ground,” it added.

Iran also fired on at least three tankers attempting to pass the waterway on Saturday, only a day after it announced that it was opening the strait in accordance with the ceasefire deal with the US. Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence that a new deal was within reach. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again. Briefing reporters in the White House, Trump downplayed the situation, insisting that dialogue with Iran was “working out really well” despite the closure of the strait. (Read More)