Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated Tehran will not permit regional oil sales if Iran is prevented from selling its own, linking regional security to the absence of US forces and an "all or none" conflict equation amidst escalating US-Iran tensions.
An Iranian ballistic missile killed three US service members at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, striking housing units and exposing challenges in US air defenses. The attack, one of three in 24 hours, prompted US President Donald Trump to vow retaliation, while Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of 'unforgettable lessons'.
Oil prices showed mixed movements Monday, paring gains after Iran indicated potential negotiations with the U.S. amid ongoing American strikes and casualties. Renewed hostilities raise concerns over the Strait of Hormuz's oil transit security.
Tehran and the U.S. are in escalating conflict after an interim peace deal collapsed. Iran struck U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, including a Kuwaiti desalination plant, while American forces bombed Iranian sites for the eighth night, citing an attack in Jordan. Oil flows through Hormuz continue, but the situation remains tense.
US President Donald Trump claimed Iran is plotting his assassination, stating he's 'on every single one of their list.' This follows US strikes on Iranian targets and subsequent Iranian drone and missile attacks on US-linked facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, escalating regional tensions.
US President Donald Trump stated the ceasefire with Iran is "over" following fresh American strikes. China urged de-escalation and a return to negotiations, which Trump dismissed as futile, calling Iranians "liars".
US Central Command announced military operations against Iran in response to attacks on commercial shipping. Iranian media reported explosions near Sirik port. This action follows the US restoring sanctions on Iranian oil.
The US military launched strikes against Iranian targets early Wednesday following attacks on three merchant ships, including a Qatari LNG vessel, in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command stated the strikes aimed to impose costs for targeting civilian shipping, calling Iran's actions unwarranted and a violation of the ceasefire. No immediate claim of responsibility was made.
The US Senate passed a resolution directing President Trump to withdraw forces from Iran hostilities, with four Republicans joining Democrats. The vote is largely symbolic but reflects growing opposition to the president's Iran policy.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized NATO allies for not providing access to bases for potential attacks on Iran and for focusing on social policies over defense, announcing a 6-month review of US forces in Europe contingent on Europe's security responsibility.
A US official stated that allies' failure to meet NATO spending targets puts American troops at risk and could lead to reduced US contributions to NATO's organizational costs.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe, linking its outcome to European allies taking greater responsibility for their security. He criticized allies for denying access for potential Iran operations and for prioritizing gender equality and climate change over defense spending.
US President Donald Trump expressed impatience with Iran's slow negotiation pace, warning they would "pay the price" after American forces resumed air attacks in retaliation for Iran downing a US helicopter. The tit-for-tat strikes have stalled a potential deal, with diplomatic efforts continuing amid concerns over international humanitarian law.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied reports from Iran's ISNA news agency, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, of successful Iranian missile and drone strikes on the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and a US airbase in the region. CENTCOM stated that all Iranian attacks on American forces failed and that US forces are vigilant.
The Trump administration plans to significantly reduce US military capabilities offered to NATO members in a crisis, according to a Reuters report. The announcement is expected at a May 22 meeting in Brussels, with Washington also reportedly creating a "naughty and nice" list for allies.
US forces, with Nigerian partnership, eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the most active terrorist and ISIS's second-in-command, in a mission in Africa. Al-Minuki was under US sanctions since 2023.
US President Donald Trump announced a last-minute extension of the ceasefire with Iran following a mediation request from Pakistan’s top leadership, even as he appeared to suggest that American forces had inthorercepted a potentially lethal “gift from China” to Tehran. Describing the Iranian government “seriously fractured”, Trump said on social media that he agreed to hold off military operations against Iran at the behest of Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz...
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that American forces had intercepted a “gift from China” to Iran. Speaking ahead of the expiry of the current two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, Trump told CNBC that Tehran had “probably done a little bit of restocking” and implied that Beijing had been helping its efforts. He added: “We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice, a gift from China.” The claim was first made by former US ambassador to the United Nations...
The US military will begin blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on Monday at 10 am Washington time. The measure targets ports along the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman but will not impede vessels traveling to or from non-Iranian ports.
