Day 64 | Trump ‘not satisfied’ with Iran’s latest proposal
US President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized congressional efforts to restrict his war powers after the Senate rejected the latest measure aimed at limiting his military authority. The US president was also expected to receive an updated briefing from Pentagon officials on possible military options related to Iran.
Meanwhile, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continued to rattle global markets, pushing the average price of gasoline in the United States to $4.30 per gallon, the sharpest single-day increase recorded in the past six weeks.
In Tehran, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei struck a defiant tone, insisting that Iran’s recent strategic gains are irreversible and delivering pointed messages to neighboring countries.
At the same time, tensions flared on the Lebanon border, where the Israel Defense Forces said several soldiers were wounded in Hezbollah attacks in the south. While no specific location was disclosed, the group said it carried out drone strikes in response to what it described as ceasefire violations.
‘Israeli’ military issues forced displacement order in southern Lebanon
‘Israel’s’ military has ordered residents of several towns and villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate, continuing displacement warnings despite a ceasefire.
The order covers Qaaqaait al-Jisr, Adchit al-Shaqif, Jebchit, Ebba, Kfar Jouz, Harouf, al-Duwayr, Deir ez-Zahrani, and Habboush, according to a post by the ‘Israeli’ army on X.
The announcement comes a day after at least eight people were killed in an ‘Israeli’ strike on Habboush, according to earlier reports.
US CENTCOM says 45 ships stopped under Iran port blockade
US Central Command said 45 commercial vessels have been turned back or redirected under its ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports, which began on April 13.
In a post on X, CENTCOM said US forces are patrolling international waters and enforcing the blockade, adding that ships were ordered to return to port to ensure compliance with the measures targeting Iranian maritime activity.
Trump says US acted “like pirates” in seizure of Iranian oil vessel
Donald Trump said the United States was “sort of like pirates” as he described a recent US Navy operation in which forces fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship, highlighting tensions surrounding maritime enforcement measures in the region.
Speaking at an event on Friday, Trump praised the US military, saying it had carried out the कार्रवाई with precision. He recounted an incident in which US forces fired into the engine room of a vessel he said was attempting to breach what he described as an “iron wall,” appearing to reference the interception by the USS Spruance of the Iranian-flagged ship “Touska” last month.
“The ship stopped… we landed on top of it… and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” Trump said, adding that the operation was “like pirates.”
Iran strongly condemned the seizure at the time. The country’s military described the incident as “maritime highway robbery” and “piracy,” according to statements carried by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
Tehran also warned of a potential response, saying its armed forces would retaliate against what it called US “armed piracy,” underscoring the risk of further escalation between the two sides.
US approves $4 bn Patriot missile sale to Qatar
The United States said Friday it had approved a $4 billion sale of Patriot missiles to Gulf ally Qatar.
The sale was deemed to support US “foreign policy and national security” objectives, the State Department said in a series of notices to Congress, amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Iran loses billions in oil revenue under US maritime blockade: Axios
The US Defense Department estimates that Iran has lost nearly $5 billion in oil revenue due to a US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, according to officials cited by Axios, intensifying economic pressure on Tehran.
The Pentagon said the operation, which began on April 13, has redirected more than 40 vessels suspected of carrying Iranian oil or other contraband. Officials also said 31 tankers carrying an estimated 53 million barrels of Iranian oil, worth at least $4.8 billion, are currently “stuck in the Gulf,” while two vessels have been seized.
‘Israeli’ army intercepts two drones near Kiryat Shmona
‘Israeli’ Army Radio, citing a source, said two drones launched toward Kiryat Shmona were intercepted before entering ‘Israeli’ airspace.
One dead seven wounded after ‘Israeli’ strike on Ain Baal in southern Lebanon
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that one person was killed and seven others injured in an ‘Israeli’ airstrike targeting the town of Ain Baal in southern Lebanon, amid rising regional tensions.
