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

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Iran war and proxies:

• Israeli forces kill three high-ranking soldiers in attacks on Lebanon and at least eight Palestinians in a Gaza City encampment.
• Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has delivered an “important message” to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and urged an end to the US-Israel war on Iran.
• Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemn Iran’s latest attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait.
• Tehran, which says the attacks were in response to US assaults on its coastal region, has condemned what it called a lack of will by Washington to “reduce tensions and return to the path of stability”.

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Iran war update:

In Iran

• The US military says its forces downed two Iranian drones “that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz”.
• Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the latest US attacks as “flagrant” violations while condemning Washington’s “hostile and provocative behaviour”.
• Iranian state media reported that Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday for talks with Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
• Naqvi said he was carrying a “special letter” from his country’s army chief and prime minister ⁠to Khamenei, ISNA reported.

In the US

• The US government will attempt to redirect Iranian assets to Gulf states for rebuilding and repairs of damage caused by Iran, a source familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency.
• The disclosure came a day after Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, told CNN that a peace deal to end the three-month war hinged on the release ⁠of $24bn in Iranian assets frozen by the US.
• Iranian state television confirmed that the Iranian team’s players and technical staff had received US visas for the upcoming World Cup, but reported that 15 administrative and managerial members of the delegation had been refused.
• “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences,” an unnamed US administration official said, according to the AFP news agency."

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Monday Iran war update:

Israel said overnight that Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel in the first such bombardment since the ceasefire took effect in April. Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed the missile launches, citing the Iranian armed forces as saying that “if Israel responds to Iranian attacks or does not stop its attacks on Lebanon, Iranian attacks will continue.” Yemeni Houthis also claimed a missile attack on Israel, saying that Israel-affiliated vessels in the Red Sea are now a target again. Kareem Chehayeb, Samy Magdy, Melanie Lidman, and Cara Anna report for AP News. 

President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night not to retaliate against Iran’s missile attack because “we are close to doing something good in terms of a deal,” according to a senior U.S. official and an Israeli source. Trump also told The Financial Timesyesterday that Netanyahu “won’t have any choice” but to accept any deal the U.S. secures from negotiations with Iran. “I call the shots. I call the shots. He doesn’t call the shots,” Trump said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Edward Luce reports; Parisa Hafezi, Nayera Abdallah, and Steven Scheer report for Reuters.

The Israeli military said this morning that it struck a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, in southwestern Iran. Iran has closed the airspace around Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport following waves of Israeli attacks. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps threatened to expand its retaliation after Israel struck the petrochemical facilities and said it had fired on a similar Israeli industrial site in the coastal city of Haifa. AP News reports; Sanam Mahoozi reports for the New York Times. 

Trump called for Iran and Israel to immediately stop shooting in a post on social media today. Leo Sands reports for the New York Times. "

Edit to add:

Recent U.S. intelligence reports say the Pentagon has raised Israel’s counterintelligence threat level to “critical” after concerns that Israeli agencies intensified efforts to spy on U.S. officials and eavesdrop on U.S. negotiations with Iran, including targeting senior figures involved in policy and diplomacy, according to some U.S. officials. Julian E. Barnes and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times. 

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Monday Russia-Ukraine war update:

Ukraine on Saturday hit a Russian military base and other targets near St Petersburg using long-range drones. The Russian authorities called the attack “unprecedented”, with Gov. Aleksandr Drozdenko of the Leningrad region announcing that more than 140 drones had been shot down. The Ukrainian drone strike on St. Petersburg was the second such attack in four days. Neil MacFarquhar reports for the New York Times.  

The leaders of the United Kingdom, Ukraine, France, and Germany yesterday discussed the urgent need to increase production of weapons to combat Russia’s powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile during a meeting in London. They issued a joint statement, underlining “the urgent need to scale up the production of interceptors and co-develop anti-ballistic missiles and deep strike capabilities.” No details, financial or otherwise, on how this would be done were provided. Pan Pylas reports for AP News.  

A French fighter jet on a NATO mission shot down a drone that entered Latvia’s airspace from Russia today. Andrius Sytas and Janis Laizans report for Reuters

A Ukrainian drone crossed into Moldova early this morning, with fragments of it showing traces of an explosion that were found in a field near the eastern village of Lopatna. "Regardless of the drone's origin, Russia - which launched an illegal war in the neighbouring country - bears ​responsibility for any unmanned aerial vehicle that enters Moldovan territory," ​the Moldovan foreign ministry said. Reuters reports. "

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Tuesday Iran war update:

A U.S. Army helicopter went down near the coast of Oman on Monday night but President Donald Trump said the pilots were “fine.” It is not clear what caused the Apache helicopter to crash but the two crew members on board were safely rescued after the incident, Eric Schmitt, Maggie Haberman, and Jonathan Swan report for the New York Times. “The cause of the incident is under investigation,” a statement from U.S. Central Command said. 

After Iran and Israel appeared ready to return to full-scale war over the weekend, the two countries signaled Monday that their escalating strikes are over for now. The strikes over the weekend were the first time Israel and Iran directly attacked one another since a “ceasefire” was declared in April. Both countries said Monday that if the other side attacked again, they would respond forcefully. Gerry Shih, Lior Soroka, and Susannah George report for the Washington Post. 

President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull back on military strikes against Iran in a phone call on Monday morning, telling Netanyahu that both sides were close to a breakthrough on talks. It was not the first time the president claimed to be nearing an agreement. The call with Trump prompted Netanyahu to call off new strikes on Iran that Israel was planning to take. Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan, and Ronen Bergman report for the New York Times. 

But on Tuesday morning, Israel launched new strikes across southern Lebanon, putting the fragile ceasefire on shaky ground again. “The Israeli airstrikes hit areas of southern Lebanon that were not covered by evacuation warnings that Israel’s military had issued hours earlier. Lebanon’s state-run news agency reported that at least nine people were killed in one strike near the southern city of Tyre.” Euan Ward reports for the New York Times. 

Early Tuesday, Trump claimed that a deal with Iran to end the war could be reached in “two or three days.” Speaking to reporters, the president said it would be a “very, very good deal that will not in any way allow nuclear weapons.” Joseph Wilkins reports for CNBC. 

Beginning in March, Trump has said that a deal with Iran is around the corner at least 37 times. Trump has made this claim “in social media posts, public appearances and phone calls with the media,” often portraying Iran as desperate to sign a deal. Aaron Blake for CNN."

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Wednesday Iran war update:

The IRGC said today it had carried out attacks against a U.S. base in Jordan and 21 other targets in the Gulf overnight. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said yesterday, “We will leave no attack or threat unanswered,” adding, “Leave our region if you want to be safe.” Dave Lawler and Barak Ravid report for Axios; Estelle Shirbon, Christina Anagnostopoulos, and Farouq Suleiman report for Reuters. 

Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran toward the Azraq region, according to a military statement published by Jordan’s official news agency today. The military said there was no material damage or casualties. Qasim Nauman reports for the New York Times.  

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said today that diplomatic efforts with the United States could not advance while there were repeated ceasefire violations. “Following overnight events, we need to re-assess... any diplomatic process requires a minimum stable environment,” he said. Tala Ramadan reports for Reuters."

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Thursday Iran war update:

"President Trump said yesterday that Iran would “pay the price” for stalled peace negotiations. “We’ll see what happens, but we hit them hard yesterday, and we’re going to hit them again hard today,” Trump said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters during a visit to U.S. Central Command’s headquarters that “CENTCOM will be busy tonight because we are going to hit Iran hard.” Hegseth added, “[Iran is] going to have tap, tap, tap bombs dropping on key facilities… It is not to restart the war but to set the terms for a deal.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios; AP News reports.  

The United States and Iran traded a new round of attacks early this morning. The latest U.S. attack began shortly after midnight in Tehran, according to U.S. Central Command. Explosions were heard in Qeshm, Bandar Abbas, Minab, and Sirik, Iranian news outlets reported. Iran’s foreign ministry said today that the latest round of U.S. strikes had “effectively rendered the ceasefire of April 8, 2026, meaningless.” Iran said it had responded with attacks on targets at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, adding that the Strait of Hormuz was now closed to any type of vessel. Shirin Hakim, Eric Schmitt, Qasim Nauman, and Lara Jakes report for the New York Times.

Efforts to reach an interim deal to end hostilities between Iran and the United States have intensified, three Iranian sources and a European source told Reuters today. The sources said Tehran and Washington were still exchanging messages over details of a memorandum of understanding amid the current strikes. The Iranian sources said a political understanding had been reached, but issues such as the release of Iranian funds had yet to be resolved. “Iran ​wants $6 billion to $12 billion of its frozen funds to be released to Tehran, while Washington wants to release funds in ​stages for humanitarian goods and rejects returning funds to Iran outright,” said one of the Iranian sources. Parisa Hafezi and John Irish report. 

U.S. strikes early Wednesday destroyed what appears to be a drinking-water facility on Iran’s southern coast, according to an analysis by the New York Times. Iranian state media reported that the United States had hit water storage buildings, and a local official said that water was cut off to more than 20,000 people living in a town and villages nearby. It is unclear if Washington intentionally struck the water facilities or knew what was in the buildings. Christopher Koettle and Christiaan Triebert report; Leo Sands, Sanam Mahoozi, and James McManagan report for the New York Times. "

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Friday Iran war update: (So much bull$hit)

“We ended the war in Iran today,” President Trump said yesterday at a telerally for the Georgia governor’s race. A few hours earlier, Trump said in the Oval Office that a deal with Iran could be signed “maybe over the weekend, in Europe,” and that if so, Vice President JD Vance would take part. Trump claimed that Iran’s supreme leader had approved the deal, which he said would result in the immediate resumption of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Chris Cameron reports for the New York Times; Max Bearak, Jonathan Swan, Pranav Baskar, and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.  

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said yesterday that Iran had not reached a final decision on an agreement, according to Iranian state media. Three sources told Axios that Qatari mediators and Iranians officials believed they had reached an agreed-upon text that the United States would accept following talks on Wednesday. According to the sources, Iranian officials told several countries yesterday that the Tehran talks produced an agreement in principle, but Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei still needed to give final approval. Humeyra Pamuk and Parisa Hafezi report for Reuters; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Trump’s announcements came after he called off planned military strikes in Iran, citing progress in talks. Trump had said on Thursday morning that the United States would “be hitting Iran VERY HARD TONIGHT” and suggested in an interview that he might deploy the U.S. military to take Kharg Island. According to two administration officials, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Pakistani defense chief Asim Munir called Trump a few hours later and persuaded him that a deal with Iran was near. One official said these calls led to Trump walking back his latest attack plans. Dasha Burns and Felicia Schwartz report for POLITICO; Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

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Monday Iran war update:

Trump told Axios yesterday that the U.S.-Iran deal to end the war was still on track despite Israel's strike in Beirut and Iranian threat to retaliate,saying, “It shook it up. It delayed the signing by a few hours. It was supposed to be now. Now it is scheduled for a few hours from now. Trump added, “Why did [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] have to do a **** attack? I was so pissed off. I let him know. He has no **** judgement. I let him know that.” Barak Ravid reports.

The United States and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement yesterday,Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced, with an official signing ceremony expected on Friday and more detailed nuclear negotiations to follow. The deal is expected to extend the ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and launch talks over Iran's nuclear enrichment and the disposal of its highly enriched uranium. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Jonathan Swan, Farnaz Fassihi, and Ronen Bergman report for the New York Times.  

Trump said on social media that the deal would reopen the strait, and that he had authorized “the immediate removal of the United States naval blockade” on Iranian ports. Earlier on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave conflicting explanations about when the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, first saying it would happen immediately after a U.S.–Iran agreement was signed, later suggesting the process could take anywhere from two weeks to 30 days while the U.S. blockade remains in place. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that the agreement, which it described as a “memorandum of understanding,” called for an immediate end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television but said Iran would not start implementing it until it is signed on Friday. Yan Zhuang, Farnaz Fassihi, and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times; Cheyanne M. Daniels reports for POLITICO." 

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

Russia has unleashed one of its heaviest air raids on Ukraine in weeks, killing rescuers in the northeast and setting a historic cathedral ablaze in Kyiv, even as diplomatic moves elsewhere raised faint hopes of wider de-escalation.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 70 missiles and 611 drones overnight, most of them at the capital, and that air defences shot down 50 missiles and 582 drones. Officials said at least four people were killed and about 30 injured in Kyiv, including children, as missiles and drone debris hit apartment blocks, markets and power lines, plunging some 140,000 residents into darkness.

The Dormition Cathedral in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an 11th-century monastery complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site, caught fire after what local authorities said was a direct hit. Flames tore through the roof of the landmark overlooking the Dnipro River, with Metropolitan Epiphanius of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine calling the strike “a crime against humanity, history and Christianity”.

In Kharkiv, officials said Russia used a “double tap” tactic, launching further strikes on the site of an earlier attack and killing four emergency service workers and a municipal official. Additional attacks were reported in Dnipro and the Sumy region.

Moscow’s Ministry of Defence said its forces used long-range precision weapons and drones to hit military-industrial facilities, conscription offices and airbases, insisting their goals had been achieved.

Ukraine has stepped up its own long-range attacks, saying a drone attack killed three people in the Russian city of Tula and that bridges to occupied Crimea were hit in a bid to cut supply lines."

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Tuesday Iran war update: (who knows the reality! One thing you can count on is that CHEETO is NOT transmitting reality!)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that the (unpublished) agreement between the United States and Iran, signed electronically on Sunday, was Trump’s decision, adding that for Israel “the struggle has not ended.” Netanyahu said Israel had its own interests and would keep Israeli forces in Lebanon “as long as necessary.” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted on social media that “Trump’s agreement does not bind us,” adding “Israel is not subject to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign country.” Jon Gambrell, Elena Becatoros, and Michelle L. Price report for AP News; Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times; Gerry Shih and Lior Soroka report for the Washington Post.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said today that the deal would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. “The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of complete end of the war,” Araghchi said. “Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end.” The United States has not said whether Lebanon was part of the final agreement. Jon Gambrell, Michelle L. Price, and Sam Metz report for AP News.  

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other senior U.S. officials are skeptical that Iran genuinely intends to make the nuclear concessions required in a final agreement, citing U.S. intelligence that Iranian officials' private discussions differ from their public commitments, according to three sources. Ratcliffe raised his concerns with Trump over the weekend, with support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, two sources said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios. 

U.S. lawmakers reacted cautiously to Trump’s announcement of a preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement, with Republicans and Democrats expressing frustration about the lack of clarity around the deal. “We do not have an agreement just yet, so we will see when there is text out there,” Sen. John Thune (R-SD) told reporters at the Capitol yesterday. “If it is a secret deal, then how can I take it seriously?” Sen Thom Tillis (R-NC) said yesterday afternoon. Robert Jimison and Michael Gold report for the New York Times.  

Trump said yesterday that the Strait of Hormuz was “already partially open” and would be “completely open” on Friday, adding that U.S. forces are “doing a little hunting for a couple of mines.” Trump is expected to ask European leaders to provide help in locating and clearing mines laid by the Iranians during the war. French President Emmanuel Macron said that today’s working lunch at the G7 summit would focus on the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, including a possible Franco-British-led maritime mission. John Ismay and Nicholas Kulish report for the New York Times; Joh Irish, Michel Rose, and Gabriel Stargardter report for Reuters.  

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei yesterday disputed contentions by the Trump administration that ships will now be able to transit the Strait of Hormuz without charge, saying it intended to charge “fees…in exchange for the services that are provided” but not “tolls.” There was little indication of what services Iran would be providing. Iranian officials have said they might assess environmental charges. Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times.  

Two international shipping companies told The New York Times today that their ships had not resumed crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Japan-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said that its operations would not resume “until safety has been sufficiently confirmed.” Yesterday, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations said that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect, warning ships not to attempt to go in or out of those ports “until direction is given.” John Yoon reports. 

The United States has reportedly been using covert ship-to-ship oil transfers, similar to techniques Iran has long used to evade sanctions, to move Gulf oil exports around disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to satellite images and sources. The secret operation, overseen by the U.S. military and involving at least 92 vessels since May, has helped move millions of barrels of oil despite the conflict. Feras Dalatey, Jonathan Saul, Dmitry Zhdannikov, and Edward Carron report for Reuters.  

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Wednesday Iran war update:

A $300 billion private fund designed to trigger investment into Iran is outlined in the U.S.-Iran framework agreement, and more than half that sum has already been committed, a source told Reuters. The new fund is not part of a reconstruction or reparations program, and will not include any U.S. government money or grants, the source said, adding that companies based in the United States, the Gulf Arab states, Asia, South America, and Africa have agreed to commit financing for energy, logistics, manufacturing, and transport. Andrew Mills, Maha El Dahan, and Parisa Hafezi report.

President Trump told reporters at the G7 summit, “We are not investing any money in Iran, by the way.” Trump said there was likely to be a need to invest in Iran in the future, given the devastation following the conflict, but that it was not his immediate focus. Asked by CBS News on Monday about the possibility of a $300 billion fund, Vice President JD Vance did not deny it. Cleve R. Wootson Jr and Dan Diamond report for the Washington Post.  

The United States will allow Iran to immediately begin selling oil and fuel under the agreement, a senior U.S. official said yesterday. The provision for waiving sanctions on ​Iranian oil sales will take effect once the agreement is signed on Friday, and also will cover services ​including banking, transportation, and insurance to facilitate the sales, the source said. Timothy Gardner reports for Reuters.  

A Hezbollah spokesperson told Reuters the group believed Iran would not sign a final nuclear deal unless Israel withdraws troops from Lebanon.Fighting in Lebanon has eased significantly after the Iran-U.S. MOU, but has not ​stopped in full, and Israel has said troops would remain in the country's south. Reuters reports.  

In a statement today, G7 leaders called for “an immediate robust ceasefire” in Lebanon and the permanent disarmament of Hezbollah. The G7 leaders also said they had committed to “accelerate the diversification of energy supply routes to reduce global vulnerability to the Strait of Hormuz and ​to increase our energy stocks.” Steve Holland and Jana Choukeir report for Reuters.  

Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles have called for ideas to convince ship owners to take the risk of transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, two energy industry officials said. Discussions have centred on ways to convince insurance companies to offer coverage to travel through the Strait, the officials added. Another proposal included a fee-based “VIP” pass for a naval escort through the waterway, three sources said. Ben Lefebvre and Scott Waldman report for POLITICO.  

French President Emmanuel Macron said this week he could be ready to quickly deploy fighter jets and frigates to the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to remove mines, but that a request must come from not only the United States, but also Iran and Oman. A U.K. official said Britain “stands ready” to send assets to the region but would not specify conditions or a timeline for deployment. Myah Ward, Clea Caulcutt, Esther Webber, and Giorgio Leali report for POLITICO. "

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

The Russia-Ukraine war is not the United States’ fight, Trump told reporters at the G7 summit yesterday. “Look, we have nothing to do with it, we sell weapons to them,” Trump said. “It has no impact on us, other than we sell weapons. We’re thousands of miles away.” Erica L. Green and Zolan Kanno-Youngs report for the New York Times. "

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Thursday IRAN WAR - MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

President Trump yesterday issued a defense of his deal with Iran, lashing out at critics who have said the agreement achieves even less than the one President Barack Obama negotiated, and threatening to bomb Iran again if it does not adhere to the agreement, during an hour-long press conference. Trump also criticized Israel, saying the U.S. ally had a right to defend itself against Hezbollah but that he believed they were at times too heavy-handed. Erica L. Green, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Farnaz Fassihi, and Michael Levension report for the New York Times; Dan Diamond, Natalie Allison, Cleve R. Wootson Jr., and Michael Birnbaum report for the Washington Post.  

Trump also told reporters at the G7 summit that he ended the war in Iran to avoid economic catastrophe. He said he did not want comparisons to Herbert Hoover, who presided over the market crash that ushered in the Great Depression, adding, “He was always the one I didn’t want to be.” Later, Trump noted that if the war continued, the world would begin to run out of oil stockpiles. David E. Sanger reports for the New York Times. 

Trump’s remarks came as a senior U.S. official disclosed what the official said was the full text of the 14-point agreement. The deal would, among other things, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, outline a $300 billon investment plan for Iran’s reconstruction, and at least temporarily lift restrictions on the country’s oil exports, according to the official. It would also push talks about Iran’s nuclear program into a 60-day negotiation period, with the $300 billion fund only going into effect once a final deal is reached. Erica L. Green, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Farnaz Fassihi, and Michael Levension report for the New York Times.  

The deal also seeks to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah by committing the United States, Iran, and their allies to immediately stopping military operations on “all fronts, including in Lebanon.” Neither Israel nor Hezbollah has signed on to the deal, and both have indicated that they will not be bound by it. Erica L. Green, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Farnaz Fassihi, and Michael Levension report for the New York Times.  

The text says nothing about Iran's ballistic missiles or support for terrorist organizations and militias in the region, despite Trump's insistence — dating back to his first term — that any deal with Iran would have to cover those issues. “They have to have some because other people have some,” Trump said yesterday. “Missiles aren't the problem.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios. 

Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the agreement remotely yesterday evening, and the deal is now in effect, two U.S. officials told Axios. The signing was supposed to happen in Switzerland tomorrow. A diplomat from a mediating country and another source said there had been discussions about signing it sooner, intending to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before Friday. In a statement, the Swiss foreign ministry said that the plan is ​still for the United States and Iran, ‌and ⁠mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, to meet tomorrow at Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing ​the ​agreement. Barak Ravid reports; Reuters reports.  

Three Saudi-flagged supertankers with six million barrels of crude onboard sailed through the Strait of Hormuz hours after the deal was signed, ship tracking data showed today. Reuters reports. "

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Monday Iran war update:

The first round of high-level U.S.-Iran talks under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding concluded early Monday after marathon weekend negotiations at Bürgenstock, with Qatar and Pakistan saying in a joint statement that the talks produced “encouraging progress.” Vice President JD Vance led the U.S. team alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi represented Tehran. Technical talks are expected to continue in Switzerland this week. Humeyra Pamuk, Dave Graham, and Tala Ramadan report for Reuters; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

The Qatar-Pakistan joint statement said the parties agreed to create a “High Level Committee” to provide political oversight of the mediation, with chief negotiators reporting to working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, monitoring, dispute resolution, and other matters. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Deva Lee reports for CNN. 

The joint statement also said the parties agreed to create two implementation channels: a communication line to prevent incidents and miscommunication in the Strait of Hormuz, and a Qatar and Pakistan facilitated deconfliction cell involving Lebanon to help ensure the end of military operations there. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Deva Lee reports for CNN.

The progress came after a near breakdown over President Trump’s public threats on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran refused to continue the four-party format after Trump said he had warned Iranian officials that if they closed the strait, “you won’t have a country,” while U.S. and mediation sources told Axios and CNN that talks nevertheless continued through mediators and into the night. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Lex Harvey reports for CNN; Reuters reports.  Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Deva Lee reports for CNN. 

Araghchi said after the talks that Iran had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets abroad, and the launch of a reconstruction and development plan. He did not provide details, and U.S. officials had not confirmed the claim. Lex Harvey reports for CNN; Reuters reports; Benoit Faucon, Alexander Ward, and Summer Said report for the Wall Street Journal.

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed sharply Sunday after Iran said it had again closed the waterway, citing Israeli and U.S. violations of the interim peace deal, with Kpler data showing five vessels passing through, down from 26 a day earlier. The data may miss ships traveling with transponders off, while the U.S. military said commercial vessels were still operating. Florence Tan reports for Reuters; Humeyra Pamuk, Dave Graham, and Tala Ramadan report for Reuters.

Four Qatar controlled LNG tankers entered the Strait of Hormuz Monday through the Iranian route, the first such movement since the U.S. Israeli war with Iran began, despite a broader slowdown in shipping after Tehran again said it had closed the waterway. Florence Tan and Emily Chow report for Reuters.

President Trump said Saturday there would be “NO TOLLS” for passage through the Strait of Hormuz during or after the 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire period, unless talks fail and Washington imposes its own fees. Trump said any future toll would be “by and for the United States of America” for its role as “Guardian Angel” to Middle Eastern countries. Reuters reports."

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries have left more than one-fifth of Russia’s refining capacity offline, according to outside analyst estimates cited by the Wall Street Journal, as fuel-sale restrictions spread across 53 regions of Russia and occupied Ukraine. Crimea halted private fuel sales Sunday and limited supplies to essential government services, while repeated strikes on a Moscow refinery that supplies more than one-third of the capital region’s fuel have added pressure far from the front. Alexander Osipovich reports for the Wall Street Journal."

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Tuesday Iran war update:

On Tuesday, Iran rebutted claims made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance that it would allow the return of inspectors from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. A spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry said there is no visit scheduled for U.N. inspectors to access the country’s nuclear sites. Iran began blocking IAEA inspections after the United States and Israel bombed the country’s nuclear sites in June 2025. On Monday, Vance presented the return of U.N. inspectors as a major breakthrough in negotiations. Leily Nikounazar and Leo Sands report for the New York Times. 

On Monday, the United States temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran, allowing the country to sell its oil in dollars, including to American buyers, for the first time in decades, as negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program continue. The move is “a boon for the regime, which is in desperate need of foreign exchange. It means Iranian banks can receive payments directly from abroad, allowing the regime to more easily repatriate its oil revenue,” report Benoit Faucon, Laurence Norman, and Marianne LeVine for the Wall Street Journal."

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Wednesday Iran war update:

"On Tuesday, Iran and the United States issued contradictory statements over what has been officially agreed to in their negotiations. Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, clarified some of the confusion on Wednesday when he said Iranian nuclear sites would be visited by his inspectors. On Tuesday, Iranian officials said they had not agreed to U.N. inspections (contradicting U.S. Vice President JD Vance), and that Iran’s missile programs were not included in the agreement either. Suzanne Maloney, of the Brookings Institution told the New York Times, the different public accounts highlight “how little has actually been agreed upon yet.” David E. Sanger and Yeganeh Torbati for the New York Times. Mari Yamaguchi and Jon Gambrell for the Associated Press. 

Iran and Oman said in a joint statement Tuesday that they are working on an agreement for the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz, including the cost of managing transit. Omar Tamo and Julian Lee report for Bloomberg."

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

Moscow may be looking to escalate its war with Ukraine by pressuring Belarus to become more involved in it. Russia has been using ground stations in Belarus to direct its drones deeper into Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv will strike these “ground stations in Belarus if the country continues to allow Russia to use them.” Thomas Grove and Daria Matviichuk for the Wall Street Journal. "

Botch

Interesting primary results here in Utah this morning.  Our former Democrat representative, Ben McAdams, voted for impeachment, and he was knocked out of office by a trump toadee.  Well, he and three other Dems ran for the nomination, and McAdams won by an over two-to-one margin.  His TV ads bragged about his impeachment vote, so it sounded like there's a difference of opinion now; polls show he'll easily beat the toadee come November.  
 
Two other Reps who support the traitor did win their republican primary, we'll see what happens in November.
 
And the biggest, best surprise is state senator and state senate President, Stuart Adams, was beaten in his primary.  He was responsible for pushing for a proposed data center up north of here, originally to be the largest one in the US (NO water up there!).  Huge backlash from the locals, whom he ignored.  Fortunately two citizens (not in the press) did some digging and Adams had quietly bought up 300 acres surrounding the only Interstate exit near the proposed site, and he got caught red-handed.  Great!  (this is why I maintain my republican membership, even though I won't vote for them anymore; in Utah only reg. republicans can vote in the rep. primaries, and it's the only time we can remove a corrupt republican; won't happen in the general election).  

lousubcap

Thursday Iran war update:

The Senate late Wednesday voted against advancing a follow-on war powers resolution that would have blocked President Trump from resuming hostilities against Iran, after Trump pressed Republicans who had supported a similar measure a day earlier. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who backed Tuesday’s resolution, voted no after a White House briefing, while Sen. Rand Paul voted present and said he was giving Trump “more space and leverage” in negotiations. Theodoric Meyer reports for the Washington Post; Mary Clare Jalonick, Steven Sloan, Joey Cappelletti, and Lisa Mascaro report for the AP; Patricia Zengerle reports for Reuters. 

Trump faced Republican criticism over the Iran war in a closed-door Senate meeting Wednesday, including a clash with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who said the administration had not given Americans or Congress enough information about the conflict or its framework deal with Iran. Hours later, Senate Republican leaders blocked advancement of a war powers resolution after Cassidy received a White House briefing and switched to no. Alexander Bolton and Helen Huiskes report for The Hill; David Morgan and Patricia Zengerle report for Reuters.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday afternoon that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz were close to prewar levels, with roughly 72 ships and 20 million barrels of oil transiting in the previous 24 hours as tankers moved with military escorts. Wright said in a post on X that many vessels were still avoiding the main channel because of mine risks and that full normalcy would require demining. Steff Danielle Thomas reports for The Hill; Liz Hampton reports for Reuters.

A Liberian oil tanker exited the Strait of Hormuz Thursday using a new route near Oman’s shore, despite Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warning that routes not coordinated with Tehran were “dangerous” and “prohibited.” The transit came amid U.S.-Iran disputes over the interim accord, shipping access, possible mines, and Iran’s claimed authority over the waterway. Jon Gambrell reports for AP."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

Moscow’s main oil refinery is expected to remain out of production for at least six months after Ukrainian drone strikes hit the plant twice this month, two industry sources told Reuters. The refinery is the largest fuel supplier to the Moscow region, and its shutdown adds to Russia’s widening fuel crunch as officials consider a diesel export ban and possible fuel imports while public gasoline sales remain suspended in Crimea. Reuters reports.

Ukrainian drones knocked out power in Sevastopol, Russian-occupied Crimea’s largest city, and targeted facilities in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, and Moscow regions, officials said, as Kyiv intensifies long-range strikes on Russian energy, military, and supply infrastructure. Ukraine said the latest attacks hit the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant and two Russian satellite communications centers, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would continue preemptive attacks on facilities Russia uses to expand its war effort. Reuters reports; Illia Novikov reports for AP.

The Kremlin denied a Wall Street Journal report that Moscow is pressuring Belarus to help expand the war in Ukraine, while Zelenskyy said Belarusian relay stations allegedly used to guide Russian drones had stopped working. Reuters notes that Russia has relied increasingly on Belarusian refineries to supply gasoline and diesel as Ukrainian strikes strain Russia’s domestic fuel market. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Friday Iran war update:

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Friday that the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding provides for IAEA supervision of Iran’s nuclear material and facilities, and that inspections would be necessary, as Washington and Tehran dispute what the interim deal requires. Grossi said technical work on IAEA access has started, while talks with Tehran over its uranium stockpile remain at an early stage, adding that a “very strong” verification system is needed. AFP and CNBC report.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have taken different public tones on Israel and the preliminary U.S.-Iran deal, with Vance criticizing Israeli actions he said undermine peace efforts and Rubio defending Israel’s Lebanon campaign as a response to Hezbollah attacks, Reuters reports. The White House and State Department denied any policy split, saying the administration remains aligned behind President Trump. Gram Slattery reports.

Saudi Aramco resumed crude loadings Friday at its Ras Tanura terminal in the Gulf after a nearly four-month halt, shipping data showed. Two Saudi-controlled supertankers were loading crude and another was waiting nearby, as regional producers moved to restore exports following the preliminary U.S.-Iran deal. Florence Tan and Siyi Liu report for Reuters.

CNN separately reported that a U.S. official said the vessel was hit in an Iranian drone attack, without providing further details. Iran has not claimed responsibility. Mohammed Tawfeeq, Zachary Cohen, and Jessie Yeung report.

In response, the U.N.’s shipping agency paused its Strait of Hormuz evacuation operation, saying the targeted vessel had passed through the strait but “did not transit under” the agency’s “evacuation framework.” International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the pause is meant to reconfirm safety guarantees, while Reuters reports that 57 ships carrying about 1,100 seafarers had used the evacuation plan from Jun. 23 to the morning of Jun. 25.

Iran is seeking to charge for security, safety, and environmental services in the Strait of Hormuz, estimating the plan could generate $40 billion a year for participating states, officials told the Wall Street Journal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected the idea during his Gulf tour, saying no country has the right to charge for use of international waterways. Benoit Faucon, Summer Said, Costas Paris, and Robbie Gramer report."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

The EU disbursed the first 3 billion-euro tranche of a 90 billion-euro loan to Ukraine as European leaders opened a reconstruction conference in Gdansk. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said another 6 billion euros for drone production will follow in the coming days, while European leaders launched an equity fund to support strategic Ukrainian sectors. Claudia Ciobanu reports for AP.

Russian air defenses intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight across 12 Russian regions, occupied Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday. The barrage appeared to be one of Ukraine’s largest drone attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion, coming after Zelenskyy ordered what he called a “40-day influence operation” to pressure Moscow into ending the war. AP reports.

Zelenskyy said Russia is moving significant air-defense assets to protect Moscow, Valdai, and the Kerch Bridge after Ukrainian long-range drone strikes deep inside Russia. His claims could not be independently verified and Russian officials did not immediately comment. Illia Novikov reports for AP."

lousubcap

Monday Iran war update:

President Trump said Saturday that Iran had violated the cease-fire and threatened further military action after the U.S. strikes, writing on Truth Social that the United States may be “forced to militarily complete the job” and that, if so, “the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.” Tyler Pager reports for the New York Times.

All drones and missiles launched by Iran in the latest attack wave were intercepted, shot down, or failed to reach their targets, a U.S. official said Sunday. No U.S. troops were injured, and no U.S. bases were affected, the official said. John Ismay reports for the New York Times.

Bahrain and Kuwait said their air defenses intercepted Iranian attacks yesterday morning, with Kuwait reporting two ballistic missiles intercepted and no casualties reported. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they had struck eight U.S. targets at the Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain and the Al Salam military base in Kuwait in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iran’s southern coast, and warned that cease-fire violations could jeopardize the broader agreement. Yan Zhuang reports for the New York Times; Pranav Baskar reports for the New York Times and New York Times; Farnaz Fassihi reports for the New York Times.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi yesterday met senior Iraqi officials in Baghdad and accused the United States and Israel of violating parts of the memorandum of understanding. Araghchi said Iran was acting in good faith but would respond to breaches, and called for a security framework led by countries in the region rather than outside military powers. Shirin Hakim reports for the New York Times.

Iran and the United States agreed to halt recent attacks in the Gulf and resume technical talks over the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said yesterday, though Iran has yet to confirm an agreement. The official said both sides would “stand down for now” and vessels could move freely, while Axios reports talks are expected Tuesday in Qatar. Iranian state TV separately cited an official saying Tehran skipped talks scheduled for Sunday because of recent attacks and unmet memorandum conditions, including access to unfrozen funds. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Benoit Faucon, Robbie Gramer, and  Alexander Ward report for Wall Street Journal; Nandita Bose, Menna Alaaeldin, and Yomna Ehab report for Reuters; Elwely Elwelly reports for Reuters.

Araghchi said yesterday that Tehran interprets the preliminary U.S.-Iran memorandum as giving Iran sole responsibility for managing Strait of Hormuz transit, and warned that alternate routes bypassing Iranian waters could delay the waterway’s full reopening and increase tensions. Analysts told the New York Times that Iran views control over the strait as key leverage in nuclear talks and as a fallback deterrent if diplomacy collapses. Erika Solomon reports for the New York Times; Sanam Mahoozi reports for the New York Times.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said yesterday that the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains “substantial,” following attacks on vessels Thursday and Saturday. The agency said overall risk is lower than before the U.S.-Iran agreement, that traffic has increased through both Omani- and Iranian-controlled routes, and that U.S.-assisted commercial transits continued despite the elevated threat. Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times."

lousubcap

Tuesday Iran war update:

President Trump said on social media yesterday that U.S. and Iranian officials would hold talks in Qatar on Tuesday, at Tehran’s request. The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would fly to Doha this week for the sessions. A U.S. official said that following the weekend’s strikes, both sides will cease hostilities as “technical talks are slated to continue in all areas of the [memorandum of understanding].” Shirin Hakim and Hari Raj report for the New York Times; Cheyanne M. Daniels reports for POLITICO. 

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi yesterday confirmed that an Iranian delegation would be in Doha, but denied that they would meet directly with U.S. officials. Gharibabadi said the Iranians would meet with Qatari mediators instead. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Doha had “no relation” to the Americans' visit and no talks between the two sides were scheduled. Shirin Hakim and Hari Raj report for the New York Times; Andrew Mills, Parisa Hafezi, and Bo Erickson report for Reuters.

French President ⁠Emmanuel Macron yesterday said he was working with Oman to de-escalate tensions and would cooperate with partners to de-mine the Strait of Hormuz. Gharibabadi responded with a post on social media, stating that the removal of mines was to be carried out solely by Iran according to the 14-point MOU. He warned France against complicating the situation. Andrew Mills, Parisa Hafezi, and Bo Erickson report for Reuters. "

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

Moscow came under a major drone attack overnight, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who added that Russian air defenses had shot down more than 60 drones and that emergency services were working at crash sites. Sobyanin did not say where the drones had come from, and there was no comment from the Ukrainian authorities at the time of writing. John Yoon reports for the New York Times.  

Russian missiles and drones yesterday killed at least 12 civilians and injured 40 others, according to Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his plea for Europe to step up its development of air defenses to block Russia’s ballistic missiles, saying “people need greater protection from such horrific attacks.” Hanna Arhirova and Barry Hatton report for AP News. "

lousubcap

Wednesday Iran War update:

President Trump has weighed a return to all-out war with Iran, holding multiple conversations in recent days with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, but has decided to stick with diplomatic talks for now, U.S. officials said. Trump has also told aides that he is fine if negotiations with Tehran blow past an Aug. 18 deadline for a nuclear deal, the officials said, adding that he is satisfied with ordering one-off strikes on Iran when it violates the current agreement. Alexander Ward and Lara Seligman report for the Wall Street Journal.  

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha yesterday for what the ​White House described as “high-level” talks, but Iran and host Qatar said they would meet with mediators, rather than the Iranians themselves. Andrew Mills and Elwely Elwelly report for Reuters.  

Oman recently delivered a formal proposal to the United States and other Western allies that outlined a plan in which shipping companies would pay Iran and Oman service fees to use the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Iranian official and four diplomats. A regional diplomat said the proposal mentions voluntary fees, rather than a mandatory toll. However, the Iranian official said the payments would be obligatory. Vivian Nereim, Farnaz Fassihi, and Erika Solomon report for the New York Times." 

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

Ukraine has asked the EU to allocate €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility for military aid, arguing there is a six-to-nine-month window in which additional support could have a significant impact on the battlefield despite existing EU funding. Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine still faces a major defence funding shortfall this year and is also seeking an additional $20 billion in military assistance from the 50-nation Ukraine Defence Contact Group. Reuters reports. 

Polish special services are preparing for possible Russian sabotage operations aimed at inflaming tensions between Poles and Ukrainians,Tomasz Siemoniak, minister in charge of special services, said today. More broadly, Siemoniak said Western intelligence agencies are concerned about the risk of Russian hybrid, or even ⁠kinetic attacks, ​against Poland and the Baltic states. Reuters reports."

Gulfcoastguy

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