OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will again skip the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting this week, with the Pentagon’s policy chief Elbridge Colby attending instead, according to two U.S. officials. Paul McLeary reports for POLITICO.

The Trump administration informed Congress on April 8 that Cuba has contributed up to 5,000 fighters for Russia’s war in Ukraine, while also providing “diplomatic and political support for Moscow,” according to an official transmission from the State Department. “The public record does not prove Havana officially dispatched all Cuban fighters,” the five-page unclassified report states. “However, there are significant indicators that the regime knowingly tolerated, enabled, or selectively facilitated the flow.” Hans Nichols reports for Axios."

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Thursday Iran update:

Senior Pakistani mediators yesterday arrived in Tehran for talks aimed at shoring up the ceasefire between the United States and Iran before it expires next week. A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry said that Iran continues to exchange messages through Pakistan, but the two sides have yet to agree to another round of talks. Two U.S. officials said Trump’s negotiating team - Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner - continued exchanging draft proposals with the Iranians and mediators on Tuesday. One official said they were getting closer to a deal. The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt yesterday denied reports that the United States had formally requested a two-week extension of the ceasefire. Aaron Boxerman, Erika Solomon, Tyler Pager, Karoun Demirjian, and Pranav Baskar report for the New York Times; Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report for Axios.

The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days, U.S. officials said, adding that the Trump administration is still considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if the ceasefire does not hold. The forces include about 6,000 troops aboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and its escorting warships and about 4,200 others with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group. Dan Lamothe reports for the Washington Post.

Iran could be willing to allow ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of its proposals it has offered to the United States, a source told Reuters. A Western security source said the proposal had been in the works, although it was not clear if there had been any response from Washington yet. Parisa Hafezi and Jonathan Saul report.

The U.S. blockade appeared to be working yesterday, with no Iranian-linked ships visibly able to leave the region, according to U.S. authorities and vessel-tracking firms. U.S. Central Command said yesterday that ten vessels had complied with directions to turn around and re-enter an Iranian port or coastal area. Kpler said that satellite data showed that two ships with links to Iran and subject to U.S. sanctions appeared to have made U-turns. Eight additional ships that have historically carried Iranian cargo were stationary in the Gulf of Oman or slowing down. Iran's Fars News Agency said yesterday that an Iranian ⁠supertanker crossed the strait towards Iran's Imam Khomeini port despite the blockade. Jenny Gross reports for the New York Times; Florence Tan reports for Reuters.

Iranian Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi said yesterday that if the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, “Iran’s powerful armed forces will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea.” It is unclear how much control Iran can exert over shipping. Aaron Boxerman, Erika Solomon, Tyler Pager, Karoun Demirjian, and Pranav Baskar report for the New York Times.

“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also — the World,” Trump said on social media yesterday. Trump also claimed that China “agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly.” The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment on Trump’s post, saying only that Beijing holds an “objective and impartial” stance on the conflict. Cate Cadell reports for the Washington Post.""

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Monday Iran war update:

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday, after the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon last week, that passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open,” but only on a route that runs close to Iran’s coastline and only “for the remaining period of the ceasefire.” A day later, Iran’s military declared that it would retake “strict” control over the strait until Trump ended the blockade. Trump responded that U.S. representatives were on their way to Islamabad for negotiations ahead of the ceasefire deadline and that the United States would attack every power plant and bridge in Iran if it did not accept a deal. Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian negotiators had said no negotiations would take place unless the United States ended the blockade. It remains unclear whether negotiations in Islamabad will go ahead. Anushka Patil reports for the New York Times; Daphne Psaledaki, Trevor Hunnicutt, and Saad Sayeed report for Reuters.  

President Trump yesterday accused Iran of firing on ships passing through the Strait in “a total violation of our ceasefire agreement,” while a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry said it was the U.S. blockade that was a violation of the ceasefire. Trump said on social media that the ships attacked by Iran were from France and Britain, though the two vessels that the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations organizations reported hit on Saturday appeared to be Indian-flagged. U.K.M.T.O said that gunboats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly fired on one vessel, a tanker, without radio warning. In the other incident, a container ship was “hit by an unknown projectile.” India’s external affairs ministry said it had summoned Iran’s ambassador over the incidents. Anushka Patil reports for the New York Times. 

Later on Sunday, a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Arabian Sea fired at the engine room of the Touska, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. Helicopter-borne Marines then seized the vessel. This was the first time a vessel was reported to have tried to evade the U.S.-imposed blockade. Central Command said that 25 other vessels intercepted by a Navy flotilla operating outside the strait had turned around when hailed by Navy crew members. Iran’s armed forces warned that they would soon retaliate for what they called “armed piracy,” according to Tasnim. Eric Schmitt reports for the New York Times.

Pakistan appeared to be readying for a fresh round of talks between the United States and Iran today as Islamabad went on a security lockdown last night, and officials said they would deploy 10,000 extra security forces in the city. The U.S. advance team has already reached Islamabad, a diplomat told the Washington Post. Tyler Pager, Shirin Hakim, Sanam Mahoozi, Rebecca F. Elliott, and Joe Rennison report for the New York Times; Mariana Alfaro, Taraa Copp, Joyce Sohyun Lee, and Sammy Westfall report. 

U.S.-Iranian negotiations, conducted remotely last week, were focused on a three-page memorandum of understanding to end the war, with one element being that the United States would release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Iran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium, two U.S. officials and two other sources told Axios. Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report."

lousubcap

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, my news feeds haven't had much to offer especially since the shoot 'em up with Iran started.  I keep checking around.  FYI-

lousubcap

Tuesday Iran war update:

"Pakistan is preparing for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran to resume. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei yesterday refused to confirm if Iran would take part in a second round of talks in Islamabad this week. A source said the Iranians were stalling amid pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: no talks without an end to the U.S. blockade. However, several Iranian officials quietly said Iran was planning to attend and that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, would lead the delegation if Vice President JD Vance attends. Three U.S. sources told Axios that Vance will arrive in Islamabad today. Josh Boak reports for AP News; Erika Solomon reports for the New York Times; Barak Ravid reports. 

President Trump also offered mixed messages yesterday about the path ahead for the war against Iran, declaring that he was in no rush to end the conflict while also expressing that further negotiations with Tehran would soon take place in Pakistan. “I am under no pressure whatsoever,” Trump said on social media, “although, it will all happen, relatively quickly.” Aamer Madhani, Munir Ahmed, and Russ Bynum report for AP News.  

A Pakistani source told Reuters today that there is momentum for talks to recommence on Wednesday, the day the current ceasefire is set to expire. An Iranian official said Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation in the talks but stressed no decision had been made. Steve Holland, Enas Alashray, and Mubasher Bukhari report. 

The U.S. Navy has turned back 27 ships trying to enter or exit Iranian ports since the U.S. blockade outside the Strait of Hormuz began last week, U.S. Central Command said yesterday. Eric Schmitt reports for the New York Times. "

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Wednesday Iran war update:

President Trump said yesterday that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran until Iran's “leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.” Trump said he had acted after receiving a request from Pakistan. The announcement came after Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Pakistan for a second round of peace negotiations was postponed indefinitely because Tehran had failed to respond to U.S. positions, a U.S. official said. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, responded to Trump's announcement today, saying “the extension of the ceasefire by Donald Trump had no meaning.” Luke Broadwater, Jonathan Swan, Farnaz Fassihi, and Somini Sengupta report for the New York Times;  Barak Ravid reports for Axios.  

One reason for Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire is that U.S. and Pakistani mediators have been waiting for Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to respond to the latest proposal and give a clear directive to his negotiators, a regional source and an Israeli source said. Khamenei is expected to respond today, according to the Israeli source. Sources added that Iran’s leadership has been engaged in an intense internal debate over whether to proceed with talks as long as the U.S. blockade continues. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz today, while a second vessel also came under fire, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center said. BBC News reports. 

Military planners from more than 30 countries will hold two-day talks in London from today, focused on drawing up detailed plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the U.K. government said. “The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the ​Strait and ​support a ⁠lasting ceasefire,” said U.K. Defence Minister John Healey. Reuters reports. 

The U.S. military yesterday stopped and boarded a sanctioned tanker, the Tifani, in the Indian Ocean carrying oil from Iran, the Pentagon said in a statement. Eric Schmitt reports for the New York Times. "

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

In recent months, Ukrainian negotiators floated the informal idea of naming a contested part of the Donbas region “Donnyland” during peace talks as a way to appeal to Donald Trump and encourage stronger U.S. support against Russia, according to four sources. Anton Troianovski and Andrew E. Kramer report for the New York Times. 

Ukraine will resume pumping oil through the Durzhba pipeline today, an industry source said. A lengthy suspension of oil flows through the pipeline following a Russian attack in January had sparked an angry backlash from Hungary and Slovakia, which remain reliant on it. They accused Kyiv of dragging its feet over the repairs. Yuliia Dysa and Pavel Polityuk report for Reuters. 

Ukraine has asked Turkey to host a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said yesterday. “We asked the Turks about it, we asked some other capitals,” Sybiha added. Reuters reports."

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And this from the Strait of Hormuz:

Ceasefire in question after Iran seizes ships

Iran has attacked multiple ships in the Strait of Hormuz less than a day after President Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely until Tehran agrees to negotiate a new deal.

© AFP

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gun boat approached and then fired on a container ship located 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. That attack caused “heavy damage” to the ship’s bridge, while no fires or environmental damage were reported and the crew was reported safe, according to the organization.  Later in the day, UKMTO noted that an outbound cargo ship eight nautical miles west of Iran was fired upon and had to stop in the water. In that case, the crew was also safe and there was no reported damage to the vessel.  The Fars News Agency in Iran, which is close to the IRGC, reported Wednesday morning that two “violating” ships were seized by the IRGC Navy and directed to the coast of Iran. It is unclear whether those ships are the same ones reported by the UKMTO.   On Tuesday afternoon, Trump announced that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran until officials from the latter return to the negotiating table.   “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,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.  He also instructed the U.S. military to continue its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been in place since April 13. That was in response to the IRGC restricting shipping through the waterway, a move that has rocked the oil industry and led to higher prices for gas and other items, such as fertilizer, in the U.S.   Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Senate ally to Trump, said the U.S. blockade of Iran’s oil shipments “will be growing” and “could become global soon,” sending a blunt warning to countries that have helped Iran sell its oil supplies.  Later Tuesday, Trump claimed that Iran “doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open.” But the regime is keeping restrictions in place to “save face,” he said.  “People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately,’” the president wrote on Truth Social. “But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!” Personal comments: Yep-Iran has the hammer, said another way, CHEETO by the ba!!s.   Never should have come to this if we hadn't been sucked into the cluster phque by Israel.   But here we are and the "Declare Victory" off-ramp is fading into the darkness.  F' us.

lousubcap

Thursday Iran war update:

Iran yesterday fired on three outbound ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them, calling it retaliation for the U.S. naval blockade and for the U.S. firing on the Touska, an Iranian ship, that did not stop when hailed by a vessel enforcing the blockade. The seized ships were the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas and the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca, both container ships. The crew members were “safe and accounted for,” and there were no reports of injuries, according to Technomar Shipping, a Greek company. David McHugh reports for AP News.

President Trump told reporters yesterday that he was “not in a rush” to end the conflict, adding that he wanted a “good deal.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Washington was “waiting to hear back from the Iranian regime,” which she says “cannot send a unified message yet which is why the president decided to extend the ceasefire.” When asked whether Iran’s seizure of two ships yesterday had violated the ceasefire, Leavitt said, “No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships.” BBC News reports; Lynsey Chutel, Leo Sands, and Michael Levenson report for the New York Times. 

The U.S. military has introduced Ukrainian counter-drone technology in recent weeks at the U.S. Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to five sources. Ukrainian military officials arrived at the base to train U.S. soldiers with Sky Map to detect incoming drones, including Iranian Shahed drones. David Jeans reports for Reuters. 

The Pentagon told the House Armed Services Committee in a classified briefing on Tuesday that it could take six months to fully clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines deployed by the Iranian military, three sources said. Lawmakers were told that Iran may have placed 20 or more mines in and around the strait. Dan Lamothe, Noah Robertson, and Ellen Nakashima report for the Washington Post. "

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Friday Iran war update:

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragachi is expected to travel to Islamabad on Friday, according to a Pakistani official and a report on Pakistan’s state broadcaster. Aragachi’s trip raises hope that direct talks with Washington could resume. Humza Jilani reports for the Financial Times.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill any boat” that is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the U.S. Navy was clearing the Strait of mines and that he was ordering it to continue doing so at “a tripled up level!” Kevin Breuninger reports for CNBC.

The Pentagon said it seized a second tanker carrying Iranian oil on Thursday. It was stopped in the Indian Ocean, according to the Defense Department. A U.S. military official told the New York Times’ Eric Schmitt that “Navy destroyers are also shadowing several other Iranian vessels.” It is now up to the White House to decide what to do with the seized ships and their cargo.

U.S. military officials are developing plans to target Iran’s capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz in case the ceasefire falls apart. Sources tell CNN’s Zachary Cohen that potential targets include “small fast attack boats, minelaying vessels and other asymmetric assets” that are helping Iran control the Strait. CNN.

A third U.S. aircraft carrier, plus its accompanying warships, arrived in the waters near Iran on Thursday. The USS George H.W. Bush strike group is carrying thousands of additional troops and dozens of advanced fighter jets. And more U.S. troops are headed to the region: Another “4,000-plus troops with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Corps task force, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive in the Middle East in coming weeks,” Tara Copp reports for the Washington Post.

In response to officials in Washington, including Trump, describing Iranian leadership as fractured, three senior Iranian officials put out statements on Thursday night saying the government was unified. The statements came from the speaker of the parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, plus the president and the head of the judiciary. James C. McKinley Jr. reports for the New York Times.

Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after talks between the two countries took place at the White House on Thursday. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that Israel is fighting inside Lebanon, was not present. During the ceasefire, which was set to expire on Sunday, attacks between the two sides have continued but the violence has been reduced. Israel has taken over parts of southern Lebanon and declared it a “buffer zone.” Simon Lewis, Steve Holland, Maya Gebeily and Ryan Patrick Jones report for Reuters.

With the Strait of Hormuz under a double-blockade, the world is “facing the biggest energy security threat in history,” Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, told CNBC on Thursday. If the closure continues, it could lead to further energy rationing and rising inflation. The oil crisis would likely lead to a boost for other energy sources such as nuclear energy, solar, wind, and coal, he said.

The United States has used so many of its munitions in its war against Iran that some U.S. officials fear it threatens the United States’ ability to defend Taiwan from Chinese attack. The United States has used more than 1,000 long-range Tomahawk missiles, as well as 1,500 to 2,000 critical air-defense missiles. These could take more than six years to replace, Alexander Ward, Shelby Holliday, and Yoko Kubota report for the Wall Street Journal.

An internal Pentagon email outlines options for punishing NATO allies who the United States believes failed to support Iran war operations, Reuters’ Phil Stewart reports. The options include suspending Spain from NATO but do not include a U.S. withdrawal from the alliance. Reuters."

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Monday Iran War update:

Trump on Saturday called off U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s trip to Islamabad for further talks with Iran. “I’ve told my people a little while ago, they were getting ready to leave, and I said, ‘Nope you’re not making an 18-hour flight there. We have all the cards.” Trump added that the Iranians could negotiate by phone instead. Trump’s announcement came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that he had shared with Pakistani officials in Islamabad a “workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran.” On Sunday, Araghchi returned to Islamabad for more talks with mediators, having left it on Saturday, before flying to Russia, according to Iranian state media. The New York Timesreports; Luke Broadwater and Pranav Baskar report for the New York Times. 

Iran gave the United States a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage,according to a U.S. official and two other sources. Araghchi made it clear to Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish, and Qatari mediators over the weekend that there is no consensus inside the Iranian leadership about how to address U.S. demands. Trump is expected to hold a Situation Room meeting today with his top national security and foreign policy team. One source said they would discuss the stalemate in negotiations and next steps. Barak Ravid reports for Axios. "

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

Russia’s biggest state-owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, on Friday recorded that Putin’s approval rating fell to 65.6 percent, its lowest level since before the beginning of the war and a drop of 12.2 percentage points since the start of the year. “The overall mood is that’s enough already; you’ve been fighting for long enough,” said one Russian official. Putin’s government has also faced unusually open and strident criticism from members of Russia’s financial elite over its handling of the economy in recent weeks. Catherine Bolton and Natalia Abbakumova report for the Washington Post.  

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Tuesday Iran War update:

President Trump yesterday told advisers that he is not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, according to multiple people briefed on discussions in the White House Situation Room. The proposal would have set aside questions about what to do with Iran’s nuclear program for the time being, U.S. and Iranian officials said.  Delaying nuclear talks could have been a way to reach a quick agreement to ease pressure on global energy and financial markets, but it would also be a sign that the war failed to achieve its goal for a deal on Iran’s enrichment program. Tyler Pager and Julian E. Barnes report for the New York Times; Parisa Hafezi and Steve Holland report for Reuters.  

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who pledged to “do everything that serves your interests and the interests of all the people in the region” to ensure peace. Russian state media did not report what kind of support, if any, Putin actually agreed to behind closed doors. Gerry Shih and Sammy Westfall report for the Washington Post. "

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Wednesday Iran war update:

"President Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran as negotiations remain stalled, U.S. officials said. Trump assessed that maintaining the blockade carries less risk than other options, despite it prolonging the conflict and straining the global economy. Iran told mediators on Monday that it would need a few days to consult with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei before presenting a modified proposal, sources said. Regional mediators remain skeptical that Iran’s offer would catalyze a breakthrough. Trump said yesterday that Iran told the United States that it is “in a state of collapse” and wants to open the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as possible.” It is unclear what Trump was basing his comment on. Iran has not confirmed that it is willing to reopen the strait. Alexander Ward, Laurence Norman, and Summer Said report for the Wall Street Journal; Barak Ravid reports for Axios. 

“The Iranians are painfully slow in their response,” a senior Pakistani official said. “There is apparently no one decision-making command structure. At times, it takes them 2 to 3 days to respond.” Three other sources said that Khamenei’s current role is to legitimize decisions made by his generals rather than issue directives himself. Iranian officials and analysts have said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now dominates both military strategy and key political decisions. Samia Nakhoul, Parisa Hafezi, and Asif Shahzad report for Reuters. "

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Thursday Iran war update:

U.S. Central Command has prepared a plan for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes on Iran in hopes of breaking the negotiating deadlock,three sources said. Two other sources said President Trump is set to be briefed on the new plans today by CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper. Trump told Axios that he is rejecting the Iranian proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade, while postponing nuclear talks to a later stage. A senior Iranian security source said yesterday that the U.S. blockade “will soon be met with practical and unprecedented action. Barak Ravid for Axios.

The Trump administration is seeking international partners for a new “Maritime Freedom Construct” coalition to enable navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to an internal State Department cable sent to U.S. embassies on Tuesday. The cable called on U.S. diplomats to press foreign governments to sign up to the coalition, which would share information, coordinate diplomatically, and enforce sanctions. Alexander Ward and Robbie Gramer report for the Wall Street Journal."

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Friday Iran war update:

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei yesterday vowed to protect the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and missile capabilities in a statement read by a state television anchor. Khamenei has still not been seen in public since taking over as supreme leader. Meanwhile, a senior official of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said any new U.S. strikes on Iran would usher in “long and painful strikes” on U.S. positions. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that it was not reasonable to expect quick results from U.S. talks. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News; Humeyra Pamuk and Tala Ramadan report for Reuters.  

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress yesterday that Trump does not have to comply with a law requiring presidents to seek congressional authorization to continue a war beyond 60 days because the ceasefire reached with Iran has paused the clock. This stance became a central backdrop at a Senate hearing on the Pentagon’s record $1.45 trillion budget, which instead focused heavily on the U.S. war with Iran and scrutiny of Hegseth’s leadership. Lawmakers clashed with him over civilian casualties, economic impacts, religion, and rhetoric. Megan Mineiro reports for the New York Times; John Ismay reports for the New York Times."

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The latest territorial update Russia-Ukraine:

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Monday Iran war update:

President Trump said yesterday that the United States will guide some ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz safely out of the waterway, calling it a humanitarian gesture requested by other countries whose vessels have been stuck for weeks. Trump said the operation, which he dubbed Project Freedom, would begin this morning. Trump also said yesterday that his representatives have been having “very positive discussions” with Iranian leaders about formally ending hostilities, despite a post on Saturday saying that he “can’t imagine that [Iran’s latest proposal] would be acceptable.” Dan Diamond reports for the Washington Post; Jacob Wendler reports for POLITICO; Ashley Ahn reports for the New York Times. 

Iran’s 14-point proposal made public over the weekend calls for the U.S. to lift sanctions on Iran, end the U.S. naval blockade, withdraw forces from the region, and cease all hostilities, according to the semiofficial Nour News and Tasnim agencies. The proposal seeks to resolve all issues, other than nuclear negotiations, within 30 days and aims to end the war rather than extend the ceasefire. Iranian officials yesterday said they received and were reviewing the U.S. response. Adam Schreck and Sam Metz report for AP News.

The Joint Maritime Information Center said today that the United States has established an “enhanced security area” in the Strait of Hormuz, positioned south of the usual shipping lanes, to help guide vessels safely through the region, and is urging mariners to coordinate closely with Omani authorities due to expected heavy traffic. In response, Iran’s armed forces issued a statement, saying, “We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive U.S. army, will be attacked if they attempt to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz.” Adam Schreck and Sam Metz report for AP News; Tala Ramdan and Jacob Bogage report for Reuters.  

Iran has stopped a U.S. Navy destroyer from entering the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said today. Fars said a vessel was hit by two missiles as it was sailing through the strait “in violation of traffic and shipping security.” U.S. Central Command denies that one of its warships has been struck by Iran. Sam Hancock and Angus Thompson report for BBC News. "

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Tuesday Iran war update:

President Trump was presented with a plan last week to send naval vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to open it by force, a senior U.S. official told Axios, adding that at the last minute, Trump opted for a more cautious approach. As of yesterday, the U.S. Navy is helping commercial ships crossing the strait by advising them on how to avoid mines and standing ready to intervene if Iran attacks them, though a source close to Trump warned this could mark the beginning of a process that may lead to renewed confrontation with Iran. Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report.  

U.S. warships yesterday shot down cruise missiles and drones that Iran fired at ships and commercial vessels being guided through the Strait of Hormuz by the U.S. Navy, Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, said. Army Apache helicopter gunships also sank six Iranian military speedboats, Cooper added. The U.S military said two U.S.-flagged merchant ships had successfully transited the strait yesterday as part of Trump’s latest plan to reopen it. Eric Schmitt reports for the New York Times; Adam Schreck, Ben Finley, and Sam Metz report for AP News. 

The United Arab Emirates said yesterday that it had been attacked by Iran, blaming the Iranians for a drone attack that caused a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and an attack on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. In Oman, two people were injured by an attack in Bukha, according to an Omani state news agency. Iran has not officially confirmed or denied that it resumed attacks. Aaron Boxerman, Ismaeel Naar, and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.

U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that the ongoing war has not significantly changed Iran’s nuclear timeline, which remains roughly up to a year to build a weapon if it chooses to do so. While recent U.S. and Israeli strikes damaged some facilities and military capabilities, Iran still retains key nuclear materials, meaning a major setback would likely require targeting its enriched uranium stockpiles. Gram Slattery, Jonathan Landay, and Erin Banco report for Reuters.  

“Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been buying 90 percent of its energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said yesterday. Bessent also urged China to “step up with some diplomacy” and push Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. Over the weekend, China ordered its companies not to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil, invoking a 2021 “blocking measure” that protects its firms from foreign laws that the Chinese government believes violate international norms. Alan Rappeport reports for the New York Times. 

The United States and Gulf Arab nations are drafting a U.N. Security Council resolution designed to condemn Iran for blocking the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said yesterday. The resolution is expected to require Iran to cease attacks on merchant shipping and attempts to impose tolls on shipping in the strait, and it will demand that Iran stop placing sea mines. Simon Lewis reports for Reuters. "

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday declared a two-day ceasefire on May 8-9 to mark Russia’s World War Two victory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered with his own proposed pause in fighting, saying Ukraine would observe its own ceasefire beginning at midnight on May 5. Reuters reports. 

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Wednesday Iran war update:

Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine said yesterday that the Iranian attacks earlier this week were “below the threshold of restarting major combat operations.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added, “Right now, the ceasefire holds.” Nevertheless, some U.S. and Israeli officials believe Trump could give an order to resume the war later this week if there is no substantive progress in negotiations. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.  

Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday defended the U.S. mission to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, dubbed “Project Freedom,” saying that “the Iranian regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway,” which he called a violation of international law. Hegseth said yesterday morning that the U.S. operation in the strait was defensive and temporary. Hegseth also said the U.S.-led operation to reopen the strait was “separate and distinct” from the wider war with Iran, adding that at some point the United States planned to hand over the mission “to the world.” Erica L. Green, Eric Schmitt, Greg Jaffe, and Leo Sands report for the New York Times; Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch report for POLITICO.

Later on Tuesday, President Trump announced that the United States was pausing “for a short period of time” efforts to help guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the change was “based on the request of Pakistan and other countries,” as well as “great progress” toward an agreement. Only three commercial ships made it through the strait under “Project Freedom.” Erica L. Green, Eric Schmitt, Greg Jaffe, and Leo Sands report for the New York Times; Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch report for POLITICO.

In comments on a visit to China today, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made no mention of Trump’s latest remarks regarding “Project Freedom,” but said Tehran was holding out for “a fair and comprehensive agreement.” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged a comprehensive ceasefire during the talks with Araghchi, saying the two-month conflict has caused major harm and threatens global stability. Reuters reports; E. Eduardo Castillo reports for AP News.  

A Pakistani source told  Reuters today that the United States and Iran are closing in on a one-page memo to end the war. “We will close this very soon. We are getting close,” the source said. Two U.S. officials and two other sources confirmed this, telling Axios that the White House believes it is close to getting an agreement on a one-page, 14-point memo to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations. The United States expects Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours. Reuters reports; Barak Ravid reports. "

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Thursday Iran war update:

Iranian officials and the Trump administration yesterday offered contradictory and rapidly changing assessments about the state of the war and peace talks. Hours after threatening more attacks, President Trump said the United States had “won” the war in Iran. Trump also said that Washington had had “very good talks” with Iran in the last 24 hours, adding “if they don’t agree [with the U.S. plan], the bombing starts.” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said his government was reviewing the U.S. plan and would “convey its views to the Pakistani side.” Another Iranian official dismissed a reported proposal to end the war as a “list of American wishes.” Leo Sands, Erica L. Green, and Caroline Houck report for the New York Times; Adam Schreck and Elena Becatoros report for AP News. 

Trump’s reversal on his plan to help ships go through the Strait of Hormuz came after Saudi Arabia suspended the U.S. military’s ability to use its bases and airspace to carry out the operation, according to two U.S. officials. A call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not resolve the issue, the officials said, forcing the president to pause “Project Freedom” to restore U.S. military access to the critical airspace. Mosheh Gains, Courtney Kube, Andrea Mitchell, Natasha Lebedeva, and Daniel Arkin report for NBC News.  

French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that he had held further talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Macron added that he had encouraged Iran’s president to consider the plans by France and Britain to establish an international mission to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reports.  

France yesterday deployed its carrier strike group to the Red Sea as part of planning for its potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment aims to assess the regional operational environment, expand crisis-management options to strengthen security, enable the integration of partner countries’ assets within a defensive framework consistent with international law, and help reassure maritime trade stakeholders, the French Army said. John Irish and Elizabeth Pineau report for Reuters; Thomas Adamson reports for AP News.  

Iranian airstrikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures or pieces of equipment at U.S. military sites across the Middle East since the war began, hitting hangars, barracks, fuel depots, aircraft, and key radar, communications, and air defense equipment, according to a Washington Post analysis of satellite imagery. The amount of destruction is far larger than what has been publicly acknowledged by the U.S. government. Evan Hill, Jarrett Ley, Alex Horton, Tara Copp, and Dan Lamothe report."

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Friday Iran war update:

The United States said it attacked military sites in Iran yesterday in retaliation for “unprovoked Iranian attacks.” U.S. Central Command said that Iranian missiles, drones, and small boats had attacked the U.S. Navy destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, but that U.S. forces had “eliminated inbound threats.” In response, the U.S. military targeted Iranian missile and drone launch sites, among other locations. The Iranian military accused the United States of first violating the ceasefire a day earlier by firing on an Iranian oil tanker heading toward the strait. Farnaz Fassihi, Pranav Baskar, Helen Cooper, and Erica L. Green report for the New York Times.

President Trump told reporters yesterday evening that the cease-fire with Iran was still intact after the exchange of fire. “They trifled with us today,” Trump said. “We blew them away.” Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.

A confidential CIA analysis delivered to administration policymakers this week concludes that Iran can survive the U.S. naval blockade for at least three to four months before facing severe economic hardship, four sources told the Washington Post. The analysis also shows that Tehran retains significant ballistic missile capabilities, three sources said. Warren P. Strobel, John Hudson, and Ellen Nakashima report.

The United Arab Emirates has secretly sailed several tankers loaded with crude through the Strait of Hormuz by switching off location trackers to avoid Iranian attacks, according to industry sources and shipping data. Florence Tan and Jonathan Saul report for Reuters. 

German intelligence officials believe the war with Iran has increased the risk of Iranian-linked hybrid attacks and domestic terrorism, including plots against Jewish and Israeli targets, five sources said. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt have publicly downplayed the threat as largely hypothetical, creating tension between security agencies and the government over how serious the danger is and how openly it should be communicated. Jim Tankersley, Philip Kaleta, and Christopher F. Schuetze report for the New York Times. 

The Trump administration has approved sales of thousands of air defense interceptor missiles and related services valued at $17 billion to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, according to State Department and congressional officials. The State Department gave formal notification of the sales to Congress last Friday, but it did not announce them in public statements, as with other arms sales to Israel and Gulf Arab nations that it authorized that day under an emergency provision. Edward Wong reports for the New York Times. "

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Monday Iran war update:

"In public statements, the United States and Iran continued to trade threats on Saturday, as tensions escalated following naval clashes and strikes on ships. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that any attack on Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz would be met with a “heavy assault” on U.S. ships and other U.S. targets in the region. President Trump posted a meme on social media of Iranian warships that had been sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Pranav Baskar and Devon Lum report for the New York Times. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff met on Saturday in Miami with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani as part of efforts to reach a deal to end the war in Iran, two sources told Axios. Barak Ravid reports.

Trump yesterday rejected the latest offer from Iran to end the war with the United States, declaring it was “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.” Trump commented hours after the Iranian government said it had sent a counterproposal to end the conflict. Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran’s response focused on “the necessity of lifting U.S. sanctions, ending the war on all fronts,” and demanded an immediate end to the U.S. naval blockade upon signing. Trump did not say what was objectionable, telling  Axios simply, “I don’t like their letter. It’s inappropriate. I don’t like their response.” Trump did not make clear whether he intends to continue negotiations or potentially opt for military action. Oil prices rose nearly 3% this morning following news of the continued deadlock that also leaves the Strait of Hormuz largely closed. Erica L. Green, Aaron Boxerman, and Adam Sella report for the New York Times; Barak Ravid reports; Nayera Abdallah, Elwely Elwelly, and Idrees Ali report for Reuters. 

“I think it's accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS News when asked about the Iran war, adding, “there are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled. There are still proxies that Iran supports. There are ballistic missiles that they still want to produce.” Netanyahu declined to give a timeline for ending the conflict. Cheyanne M. Daniel reports for POLITICO. "

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

“I think the matter is coming to an end,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday when asked about the war in Ukraine. Putin added that he was willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, and that his preferred negotiating partner would be Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Falconbridge report for Reuters.  

And there's this additional reporting regarding the above:

The most interesting news out of Putin’s pared-back weekend celebration was his throwaway comment that the war is “coming to an end.” It was quickly picked up by MAGA media as evidence Trump’s efforts are finally coming to fruition — but Ukraine’s European allies aren't buying it. One senior EU diplomat tells Playbook that Moscow is still making “illegal demands” on Ukrainian territory and harbors “outrageous war aims,” regardless of Putin’s comment.

POLITICO foreign affairs columnist Jamie Dettmer agrees. “The jaundiced view might be that Putin said what he did to keep Trump sweet and to string him along,” he told Playbook. “Some who think Russia is struggling economically with the impact of the war sanctions will take heart. But it is worth noting that Putin also expressed confidence in his Victory Day speech that Russia will be victorious over Ukraine — and the Kremlin’s spokesperson appeared later to temper Putin’s remarks, saying ‘reaching a peace agreement is a very long road with many complicated details.’”

Ukraine’s military and regional officials today reported Russian drone strikes and battlefield clashes over the past 24 hours, despite a U.S.-brokered, three-day ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday that Moscow had refrained from ​large-scale aerial and missile attacks but that it had continued assaults along parts of the long front where Russian forces are advancing. Russia's Defence Ministry also accused Ukraine of flouting the ceasefire, saying it had downed 57 ​Ukrainian drones over the past day and "responded in kind" on the battlefield. Reuters reports. "

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Tuesday Iran war update:

President Trump yesterday criticized Iran’s latest counterproposal again, calling it a “piece of garbage” and declaring that the cease-fire was “on massive life support.” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaiel Baqaei called the proposal “reasonable and generous.” Two U.S. officials told Axios that Trump is leaning towards taking some form of military action against Iran to increase pressure and force concessions on its nuclear program. “I think we all know where this is going,” one official said. Aaron Boxerman, Sanam Mahoozi, Michael Levenson, and Max Bearak report for the New York Times; Barak Ravid reports; Mariana Alfara and Karen DeYoung report for the Washington Post. 

The United Arab Emirates has carried out military strikes on Iran during the ongoing conflict, according to sources, casting the UAE as an active combatant in the war. The UAE has not publicly acknowledged the reported strikes, including on a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in early April. Summer Said and Shelby Holliday report for the Wall Street Journal. 

The U.S. ambassador to Israel today confirmed that Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to operate them to the United Arab Emirates to defend the country during the war in Iran. Melanie Lidman and Jon Gambrell report for AP News. "

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Nearly 20 countries are interested in drone deals with Ukraine, and four agreements have already been signed, Zelenskyy said yesterday. Ukraine has ⁠started to receive the necessary volume of fuel thanks to the agreements, Zelenskiy added, without elaborating. Reuters reports. "

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Wednesday Iran war update:

The United States could end the ceasefire and resume its attacks on Iran, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said yesterday. Hegseth told a congressional hearing: “We have to plan to escalate, if necessary. We have a plan to retrograde, if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets.” He declined to provide details, saying it would not be appropriate in a non-classified hearing. Karoun Demirjian, Megan Mineiro, Euan Ward, and Michael Levenson report for the New York Times.  

Trump told reporters yesterday that he did not think about the economic hardship Americans feel as a result of his war in Iran, and it did not factor into his negotiations to end it. “I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” Trump added. Erica L. Green reports for the New York Times.  

U.S. Central Command said yesterday that its forces had redirected 65 commercial vessels and disabled four ships amid the blockade imposed last month. At the same time, a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said that the “scope of the Strait of Hormuz has been significantly expanded” and had “transformed into a vast operational region.” Ami Daniel, the chief of Windward, a maritime intelligence firm, said, “There is a 600 percent rise in dark activity” in the strait. Many ships are turning off the transponders that transmit their locations and the radar that allows them to detect other ships. Ephrat Livni and Euan Ward report for the New York Times; Reuters reports.  

Both Iraq and Pakistan have cut deals with Iran to ship oil and liquefied natural gas from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, according to five sources. In ​a deal between Baghdad and Tehran, Iraq secured safe passage for two crude carriers, each carrying ⁠about 2 million barrels of crude, that passed through the strait on Sunday. Iraq is now working to secure Iran's approval for more transits, an Iraqi oil ministry official said. Similarly, two tankers loaded with Qatari LNG are headed to Pakistan following a separate bilateral ​agreement between Islamabad and Tehran, two industry sources said. Marwa Rashad and Ahmed Rasheed report for Reuters. 

Saudi Arabia launched numerous, unpublicized strikes on Iran in late March in retaliation for Iranian attacks carried out in the kingdom, two Western officials and two Iranian officials said. The officials added that Saudi Arabia made Iran aware of the strikes, and this was followed by intensive diplomatic engagement and Saudi threats to retaliate further, which led to an understanding between the two countries to de-escalate. Timour Azhari and Parisa Hafezi report for Reuters.  

U.S. intelligence shows that Iran has operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources. The sources said that the Iranians can use mobile launchers that are inside the sites to move missiles to other locations, and in some cases, they can launch missiles directly from the facilities. Iran also still fields about 70 percent of its mobile launchers across the country and has retained roughly 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpile, according to the assessments. The findings undercut months of assurances from Trump and Hegseth about the success of U.S.-Israeli strikes. Adam Entous, Maggie Haberman, and Jonathan Swan report for the New York Times.  

The cost of the Iran war to the United States has risen to $29 billion from an estimate of $25 billion last month, acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst told the House and Senate Appropriations panels yesterday. Connor O’Brien reports for POLITICO. "

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US-China Summit:

President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have concluded the first round of talks of their two-day summit in Beijing today. In the meeting, Xi told Trump that Taiwan is the most important issue between Beijing and Washington, warning him that “if handled poorly, the two countries will come into confrontation or even conflict, pushing the overall China-U.S. relationship into a very dangerous situation,” according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. Aside from Taiwan, Xi and Trump discussed trade, the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula, Xinhua reported. The White House said Trump and Xi agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must be open to support the free flow of energy, with both leaders agreeing that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Taiwan was not mentioned in the White House readout. Michael Birnbaum, Isaac Arnsdorft, and Rebbeca Tan report for the Washington Post; Lily Kuo and David E. Sanger report for the New York Times; Trevor Hunnicutt reports for Reuters.

Beijing today granted permission for hundreds of U.S. slaughterhouses to resume beef shipments to China. The approval came before the start of Trump’s talks with Xi. Keith Bradsher reports for the New York Times.

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Thursday Iran war update:

A confidential U.S. intelligence analysis details how China is exploiting the war in Iran to maximize its advantage over the United States across military, economic, diplomatic, and other fields, two U.S. officials said. When asked about the report, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, said, “Assertions claiming the global balance of power have shifted towards any nation other than the United States of America are fundamentally false.” John Hudson reports for the Washington Post. 

U.S. intelligence has also found that Chinese companies and Iranian officials have discussed arms transfers, plotting to send the weapons through other countries to mask the origins of the military aid, U.S. officials said. It is not clear how many, if any, arms have been shipped or to what degree Chinese officials have approved the sales. Julian E. Barnes, Mark Mazzetti, and Dustin Holz report for the New York Times. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “paid a secret visit” to the United Arab Emirates this spring to meet its leader, according to a statement released yesterday by Netanyahu’s office. The statement said the visit “brought a historic breakthrough in relations” between the U.A.E. and Israel. Hours later, the UAE denied that the visit had taken place, adding that the UAE conducts its relations with Israel publicly. Pranav Baskar and Johnatan Reiss report for the New York Times. 

Saudi fighter jets bombed targets linked to Iran-backed militias in Iraq, while retaliatory strikes were also launched from Kuwait into Iraq, multiple sources said. A Western official said some strikes took place around the time of the April 7 U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Reuters ​could not determine whether the rockets from Kuwait were fired by the Kuwaiti armed forces or the U.S. military. Timour Azhari, Ahmed Rasheed, and Humeyra Pamuk report."