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⚡️ Today’s roundup includes talks between senior officials, Iran targeting Jordan overnight, three ships stopped in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran in the past 24 hours, one vessel stopped by US Central Command blockade, and other news in relation to the Iran-US war.
⚡️ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump held a 1 hour and 15 minute meeting at the White House, which Israeli officials described as ‘very good’ and ‘very positive,’ according to Israel Channel 12.
🔹 The talks focused primarily on Iran, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while also discussing the US-Israel partnership and broader opportunities in the Middle East.
🔹 A senior Israeli official said Netanyahu presented Israel’s position as Trump prepared to decide on the next steps regarding Iran, adding: “We are at a critical juncture, President Trump will make a decision soon about the way forward – we are not pressuring him, but we are also not burying our heads in the sand.”
⚡️ Spokesperson of the Central Command of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya announced the Iranian blockade of Hormuz would now impact countries who received funds from stolen Iranian assets.
🔹 Ebrahim Zolfaghari said: “The President of the United States, following aggressive actions and continuous efforts to destabilise the region, has declared:
🔹 “Compensation will be paid from the frozen assets of Iran for the damage sustained by vessels during the war against Iran, due to insecurity created by the US military and violations of illegal and unsafe routes in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz,” Zolfaghari said.
🔹 While warning the ‘criminal President of the United States’ about the consequences of this illegal action, ‘we announce to all companies and countries that welcome Trump’s proposal and use the frozen assets of Iran under this pretext, that from now on, the armed forces of Iran will not allow any of their vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.’
⚡️ Oman proposed that Iran joined a regional mechanism to manage the Strait of Hormuz, modelled on the Strait of Malacca, under which users of the waterway would make voluntary contributions to fund navigation, environmental protection, and search and rescue operations, according to Reuters.
🔹 The proposal was suggested previously by Oman, and has regional backing because it would prevent Iran from exercising control over the strategic waterway, instead placing its management under a cooperative regional framework.
⚡️ US Central Command said forces had redirected 18 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2 to ensure compliance, since restarting the blockade of the Iranian ports, which is an increase of one vessel from Monday’s update.
⚡️ Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced on Tuesday that Bushehr Airport in the country’s southwest has been rendered completely inoperable as a result of US missile strikes.
🔹 Speaking at a press conference, Mohajerani detailed the destruction after inspecting the site, noting that the terminal was left out of service, and pointing to the remains of a newly purchased aircraft obliterated by a direct hit.
🔹 The aggression extended far beyond Bushehr, severely damaging regional aviation hubs including airports in Iranshahr, Semnan, and Bandar Abbas, alongside the Bushehr Meteorological Centre.
🔹 Mohajerani emphasised the onslaught caused extensive devastation to vital civilian infrastructure and private property across the nation, crippling livelihoods from local fishing boats to tourism enterprises.
🔹 The relentless campaign also targeted critical transit networks, destroying 12 bridges, two tunnels, and the main railway station in Bandar Abbas.
⚡️ Plans by the United Arab Emirates appear to be positioning the country between multiple defence and protection agreements, aimed at securing the country’s future through defence and strategic cooperation agreements with Israel and the US, while simultaneously pursuing to restore economic and diplomatic ties with Israel, according to the FT.
🔹 The UAE has resumed limited trade with Iran, restarted Iranian flights, and begun allowing thousands of Iranian residents stranded abroad to return, while Emirati officials also see potential investment opportunities if sanctions are eventually lifted.
🔹 Despite the diplomatic thaw, Abu Dhabi continued to strengthen military ties with Washington and Jerusalem, expanding cooperation in air defence, AI, technology, and defence industries while investing in infrastructure resilience and alternative trade routes to reduce independence on the Strait of Hormuz.
🔹 A senior UAE official said the country’s détente with Iran is part of a broader strategy to manage relations with Tehran while strengthening deterrence and preparing for future conflict.
⚡️ Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz disclosed to Channel 14 on Tuesday that US aircraft operating from bases in Israel had carried out strikes against Iran in recent weeks, claiming that the Iranians were aware.
🔹 The information revealed was barred from publication under Israel’s military censorship rules, according to Israeli Army Radio.
🔹 Military censors subsequently approved the information for publication after Katz’s remarks.
🔹 Under Israeli law, authority to approve the release of classified information generally rests with the Prime Minister or the Chief Military Censor, meaning the Defence Minister is not authorised to unilaterally disclose such information.
⚡️ European allies are declining to back a US-led naval patrol in the Strait of Hormuz until there is confidence that a ceasefire with Iran will hold, according to Politico.
🔹 US and British officials are planning an international conference in London to define participating countries’ roles, including mine-clearance operations and escorting commercial shipping, but officials said the efforts remain in its early stages and no major progress is expected in the near term, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has urged the UK and France to help lead the coalition.
⚡️ Overnight, Iran launched four ballistic missiles towards a US base in Jordan, reported i24News, while Axios was told by US officials that all missiles launched had been intercepted, and footage showed interceptions taking place above Jordan.
