Iran says it stopped three tankers in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they stopped three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as the United States and Iran vie for control over the vital waterway.
In recent weeks, Iran has hit tankers using a route hugging the Omani coast to traverse the strait, in a bid to strong-arm vessels into using its own waters and paying for safe passage.
"Three oil tankers, provoked and tempted by the child-killing American army, were trying to pass through the mine-laid route south of the Strait of Hormuz, but after one of them exploded and caught fire, the other two quickly turned around and turned back," the Guards said in a statement quoted by Iranian state media.
The statement did not say when the incident happened.
"The powerful IRGC Navy emphasises that the Strait of Hormuz is under our control... and any ship that is deceived by the US and intends to pass without coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran will suffer the same fate," the Guards added.
Iran says tanker caught fire near Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that one of three oil tankers had caught fire after an explosion while attempting to pass through what they described as a mined route south of the Strait of Hormuz, and that the two other tankers had turned back.
The Guards said the Strait of Hormuz was under their control and "completely closed" while US actions continued in the region, warning that no tanker would be allowed to enter or leave without coordination with Iran.
The statement gave no vessel names or timing for the incident.
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- Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
- Ancient Lebanese city of Tyre added to heritage danger list
- Trump attends dignified transfer of US service members killed in action
- Trump says US will destroy a bridge or power plant for each Iranian attack in Hormuz
Kuwait intercepts hostile drones after Iranian strikes
Kuwait's army said early Thursday it was intercepting hostile drones, following several days of Iranian strikes on the country.
"Kuwaiti air defences are currently responding to hostile drone threats," the army said in an overnight message on X. "Any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defence systems intercepting hostile targets."
US launches new wave of strikes on Iran military targets
The US military said on Wednesday it launched a new round of strikes on Iran at President Donald Trump's direction, marking the 12th successive night of American attacks.
"The mission will continue to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," the US Central Command said in a statement.
Houthis say they targeted two Saudi oil tankers
Yemen's Houthis said on Thursday they had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers, identified as ENCELA and LAYLIA, saying the vessels violated a naval blockade imposed by the group.
The Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, drawing a warning from the Saudi-led coalition that it would respond "firmly", in a move that threatens to disrupt global energy supplies beyond the Gulf.
US, Saudi Arabia sign civilian nuclear cooperation deal
The United States on Wednesday announced that it had reached a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright signing the pact and a separate bilateral safeguards agreement alongside Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
"Together, these two agreements lay the legal foundation for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership that advances several priority economic and strategic objectives, including nuclear non-proliferation," the US Energy Department said in a statement.
Iran warns of 'eye for an eye' response if infrastructure hit
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Iran would respond in kind to any attack on its infrastructure, after Washington threatened to bomb a bridge or power plant for every ship targeted in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our defence doctrine is clear: eye for an eye. Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response," Araghchi said on X. Iran's state broadcaster quoted the military as saying that US threats "will have no result other than the expansion of the war".
Israel's spy chief held talks on Iran war in Washington, Axios reports
The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency traveled to Washington two weeks ago to discuss the Iran war, in his first visit to the U.S. capital since taking office, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two unidentified sources with knowledge of the situation.
He met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and White House officials, the report said.
The Iran war has cost the US $37.5 billion dollars, Defense Secretary Pete Hesgseth says
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate committee that the Pentagon needs nearly 70 billion dollars in additional funding for the war in Iran. The hearing turned combative as Senators demanded explanations as to the military's strategy to win or otherwise end the war. Story by Bryan Quinn.
Iran's top negotiator says no one will sell oil in the region if Iran cannot
Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Wednesday that no one will be able to sell oil in a region where Iran is not able to do so, adding that if Tehran's security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe.
"The equation of this war is clear: either all or none," Qalibaf said in a post on X, adding that the security of the Strait of Hormuz lies in the absence of American forces.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf have prompted US intelligence analysts to investigate whether Russia assisted Iran by providing targeting information or advanced drone technology, Reuters reports.
Four sources familiar with US intelligence told Reuters that US intelligence officials have not yet reached firm conclusions about the possible Russian involvement in the attacks on CIA facilities. But they cited the
strikes' effectiveness and apparent precision, as well as Russia's broader technical support for Iran, as possible evidence.
At least two CIA sites were struck in March, Reuters and other outlets have reported. One of the facilities was the CIA station in Saudi Arabia, which is located in the US embassy in Riyadh, and a separate site was located in eastern Iraq. Some of the sources said additional CIA sites had been hit, but they did not disclose details.
Ancient Lebanese city of Tyre added to heritage danger list
Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon hit in recent months by Israeli bombardment, has been added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in danger.
"The site has been directly hit and has sustained damage. Furthermore, its state of conservation is a cause for growing concern, particularly given the possibility of further impacts," the organisation said.
"Optimal conditions are no longer in place to ensure the conservation and protection of the property's outstanding universal value," said the UN body, adding that it was the Lebanese government that requested its inclusion on the list.
The coastal city was caught up in recent months in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and tens of thousands of its residents fled after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders covering districts including some archaeological areas, though most locals have have since returned.
Trump attends dignified transfer of US service members killed in action
President Donald Trump is attending the dignified transfer of four more service members who were killed in action.
US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth is also attending the ceremony at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salute as a US Army team carries the remains of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan at the Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson, AP)
Yemen's Houthis sent radio warning to ships
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been recorded sending radio warnings to ships, according to the International Chamber of Shipping.
"We can confirm that the Houthis were recorded transmitting a warning message to ships in the region," the ICS said.
On Monday, the Houthis announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis did not say how they would enforce their blockade and have so far not attacked any ships.
If enforced, the embargo could further strain Saudi Arabia's economy by cutting off access to its Red Sea ports, which have been vital for oil exports as renewed fighting limits passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump to attend dignified transfer of US soldiers killed in Iran war
President Donald Trump will attend a ceremony for four US service members killed in Iranian attacks in the Middle East, later today.
The ceremony, known as a "dignified transfer" of the bodies, comes amid growing frustration with Trump's war against Iran.
Trump will travel to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the ceremony.
US presidents, vice presidents and dignitaries regularly attend the solemn transfer ceremonies at Dover – home of the largest US military mortuary – during times of war or conflict that result in the deaths of US troops.
The three US service members killed when an Iranian missile hit their sleeping barracks at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Friday were First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, 28, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19. All three were assigned to US Army air defense brigades.
The fourth death, of Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, occurred on Sunday in a separate incident in Erbil, Iraq, during a controlled detonation of an attack drone.
Trump says US will destroy a bridge or power plant for each Iranian attack in Hormuz
President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the US will destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
In his latest warning on social media, the US president returned to earlier threats to target civilian infrastructure in retaliation for Iranian attacks.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” Trump wrote on social media.
Iran media reports US strike on Larak island in Hormuz
Iranian news agency Tasnim has reported a US missile strike on the island of Larak in the Strait of Hormuz and said residents heard a loud explosion there.
"At 2:48 pm, the island of Larak was targeted by an American missile," Tasnim said. "The competent authorities are currently carrying out an investigation to determine the scale of the attack, the exact point of impact and the extent of the potential damage."
Sirens sound in Bahrain
Sirens sounded in Bahrain, the interior ministry said, with an AFP correspondent in Manama hearing an explosion, two weeks into renewed US-Iran hostilities that have seen daily Iranian attacks on the island kingdom.
"The siren has been sounded ... Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry said in a statement on X.
Iran's revolutionary guards say they targeted Prince Hassan and King Faisal bases in Jordan, state media reports
Yesterday's key developments:
• Lebanon's military said that Israeli troops fired near its soldiers deploying in a so-called "pilot zone" that Israel is to withdraw from under a US-backed agreement, with Israel saying it only fired "warning shots".
• US President Donald Trump vowed to help Lebanon with its 'Hezbollah problem' in a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington.
• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the United States' war in Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, as he faces questions from senators over Iran war funding.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
