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News in the US/Israel/Iran recap for May 30 included the new Iranian fast attack boats being unveiled to large public gatherings, a mine allegedly found near the coast of Oman, the latest developments, or not, in the negotiation process, what the newspapers claimed, along with other news that occurred around the Middle East.
Negotiation News:
⚡️ Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Saturday that Iran gains concessions not through talks, but with missiles, noting the US defence budget was $1.5 trillion, but with minimal resources, Iran created the maximum – “The very miracle promised by the Supreme Leader,” he said.
🔹 Ghalibaf added: “I 100% deny any pressure on leadership – today, 32 million people have registered for sacrifice – the Leader manages from a position of strength.”
⚡️ Iranian politician and senior military officer with the IRGC Mohsen Rezaee said the US were betraying diplomacy yet again: “As predicted, the US President is betraying diplomacy for a third time,” he said on X: “By continuing the naval blockade and being greedy in negotiations, he has proven more than ever that he is not interested in negotiations and is pursuing other goals.
⚡️ General-Secretary of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi met with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana earlier this week, at a meeting where Kazakhstan offered to host Iran’s uranium stockpile if Washington and Iran reached an agreement on Iran’s disputed nuclear program, according to remarks published by the Financial Times on Friday.
⚡️ US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the US military was ready should war resume in Iran: “Our ability to recommence if necessary is… we are more than capable, our stockpiles are more suited for that, both there and around the globe because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful ammunitions, so we’re in a good place.”
🔹 Hegseth continued: “The US is ready to resume attacks against Iran if an agreement cannot be reached – President Trump is patient and wants to reach a great deal that ensures Iran doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon.”
⚡️ President Trump told Fox News that the US were close to a ‘very good agreement’ with Iran, stating that he preferred the diplomatic option over other options, and said the Iranians were very skilled professional negotiators, so reaching a result took time, but there was no rush to achieve the potential agreement, Tasnim News reported.
What the media claimed:
⚡️ Israeli news outlet Maariv reported that various speculations about Iran and the US reaching a temporary agreement have left Israel concerned about the economic consequences of the deal, because now they have to fear not only nuclear and missile issues, but also the reduction or lifting of Iran’s sanctions,
The report also referred to Trump’s efforts to present a political achievement in Iran, claiming that the US President was seeking an agreement that could be presented to the American public as a diplomatic success.
⚡️ US and Israel’s war against Iran started 92 days ago, and now its at a point where President Trump continues to review a proposed ceasefire agreement aimed at extending the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.
🔹 Ongoing negotiations continue to focus on Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief and the future of Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, while both Washington and Tehran accuse each other of ceasefire violations when the US Navy attempts to provide cover while vessels transit the Strait without transponders switched on.
🔹 Tensions remain high in the region despite diplomatic efforts, as military activity continued in and around the Gulf, along with Israel’s ongoing operations across the region, and uncertainty over whether a final deal between the United States and Iran can be reached.
⚡️ In an unprecedented scathing attack, Haaretz said criticised Netanyahu’s policies towards Tehran and described Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal as a strategic mistake, noting that returning to the JCPOA would be a dream right now.
🔹 Haaretz also slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s longtime exaggerated stance that Iran was a threat, stating the approach influenced a significant part of Israel’s political and security structure, while other important issues such as Palestine were marginalised.
⚡️ New York Times claimed to have seen a draft ceasefire deal between the US and Iran, alleging it involved a ‘reconstruction program investment fund,’ partially run by the United States, that would be promised to Iran in the event of a final agreement, with some sources claiming the fund would be $300 billion, but more details were to be discussed in further negotiations.
🔹 Iranian officials reportedly proposed that US companies, such as oil and energy corporations, should be allowed to invest in Iran after the signing of the deal.
⚡️ Iran are sticking to its original position in regards to nuclear talks, refusing to budge and not expected to give any major concessions while continuing to reject key US demands, including handing over its highly enriched uranium stockpile and changes to its core nuclear policy, reported the New York Times.
🔹 The emerging proposal appears few immediate concessions from Iran, despite Trump’s claims of a resounding victory, the report said, noting that in essence, the deal would end the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran in exchanging for Iran lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with the most difficult issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program, deferred to a later round of negotiations.
⚡️ President Trump has been frustrated by how long it has taken Iran to respond to US proposals, so has reportedly issued a tougher revised framework which could be intended to pressure Iran into quickly accepting a deal, which has already been sent to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei for approval.
🔹 While its unclear what the exact changes were, the NYT said that officials claimed updated terms were partly driven by Trump’s concerns over provisions involving the unfreezing of Iranian funds.
⚡️ Axios followed previous reports that President Trump had requested several changes to the draft agreement during the Situation Room meeting on Friday, wanting stronger language on key issues, including the handling of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, as well as provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
🔹 The report alleged the current MoU included a commitment from Iran not to pursue a nuclear weapon and a 60-day period for negotiating nuclear restrictions and sanctions relief, but Trump was seeking more specific terms, while adding that Iran had received but not approved the final text, and US officials expected Iran’s response could take several days.
⚡️ Israel Hayom published a report claiming Qatar transferred funds to Tehran to help facilitate the continued passage of Qatari oil and LNG tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, despite public US statements about enforcing sanctions against Iran, noting that dozens of tankers have passed through the Strait over the past week, some escorted by the US Navy, while others received transit approval from the IRGC.
🔹 The report alleged that Qatari support strengthened its position as a mediator in the talks between the US and Iran, claiming that as part of the efforts, Qatar proposed that the first payment to Iran under the emerging understandings amounted to around $12 billion from Iranian funds currently being held in Qatar.
Hormuz News:
⚡️ Satellite data appears to show that an Iranian bulk carrier named Keyvan reached the shores of Iran near Imam Khomeini Port and bypassed through the US naval blockade.
⚡️ Iran’s IRGC Navy continue to coordinate and navigate marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz with protection and security, stating that another 20 ships had contacted the relevant authorities and made safe passage.
⚡️ US CENTCOM intercepted another Iranian ship attempting to pass the blockade that President Trump said would be abandoned on Friday night, but Iranian media including Tasnim News and IRNA confirmed that the US blockade was still in force, having had several Iranian vessels turned around who also thought the Strait was open.
🔹 According to the AP, the Lian Star bulk carrier, sailing under the Gambia flag, ignored repeated warnings from US forces overnight while attempting to enter an Iranian port, so an American aircraft later disabled the vessel in the Gulf of Oman, where it remained adrift, while a US official added that US forces haven’t yet boarded the vessel.
⚡️ US Central Command statement regarding the disabled vessel:
🔹 U.S. forces operating in the Gulf of Oman enforced blockade measures by disabling a Gambia-flagged maritime vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, May 29.
🔹 U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces observed M/V Lian Star transiting international waters toward an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman and issued more than 20 warnings while informing the vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade.
🔹 A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.
🔹 U.S. forces have disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 to fully enforce the blockade as a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect.
⚡️ Following what Iran consider repeated violations by US forces in the Strait of Hormuz this week, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters released a statement on Saturday saying the Strait was managed with full authority.
🔹 The statement said that given the unity of the route, it is emphasized that all ships, commercial vessels and oil tankers were only required to transit through designated routes after obtaining permission from the IRGC Navy.
🔹 Warning the vessels of non-compliance, the statement added that violations of regulations would seriously jeopardize transit security, while warning any military vessel’s action to interfere in the management of the Strait or disrupt transit would be targeted by Iran.
⚡️ Director-General of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hossein Noushabadi said on Saturday that the proposal by Iranian officials to cooperate with Oman in order to manage ship traffic and collect insurance service fees and environmental costs from vessels passing through was one of the reasons for Trump’s recent threat against Oman, due to the fact US are using this waterway for their own purposes.
🔹 Threatening to attack or impose sanctions on Oman is an absolutely ‘illegal act’ and ‘contrary to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law,’ he said, adding that the international community must respond responsibly to the approach to prevent the increasing normalisation of violations of international legal norms.
⚡️ Iranian MP Alireza Salimi told Tasnim News Agency on Saturday that the Parliament’s decision is to turn the exercise of management over the Strait of Hormuz into law, and the bill would be finalised to become legislation.
🔹 Salimi said when President Trump and others said that the Strait of Hormuz remain open, this is Iran’s matter, and Iran will not allow the others to decide, adding that Iran will turn its management into law through parliament.
🔹 “The entire framework of the law on exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz will be fully and item-approved and finalised only in parliament, and the parliament’s firm decision is that the bill on exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz will soon be resented in a plenary session for reviewing and voting – it will certainly be one of the most significant laws in Iran’s history,” Salimi said.
⚡️ NBC reported that the US military hadn’t confirmed Iran had placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, despite President Trump’s statements, including this week, despite ongoing searches of the strategic waterway by the US Navy.
🔹 According to the report, the extensive military searches were carried out with advanced means including unmanned vehicles, and found ‘several objects that may have been mines,’ but none were definitively identified as mines.’
⚡️ JMIC and UKMTO issued a new advisory warning that the maritime threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains at “CRITICAL” amid the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports.
🔹 The statement urged vessels to maintain continuous monitoring of VHF Channel 16, clearly demonstrate transit intentions, comply with directions from blockading forces.
⚡️ Omani Maritime Security Centre issued an urgent statement warning that due to the sighting of a naval mine west of the Inshore Traffic Zone in the Strait of Hormuz within Omani territorial sea, the Maritime Security Centre urges all seafarers, fishermen, and vessels to exercise the utmost caution while navigating in the area, adding that all maritime users were advised to keep a safe distance from any suspicious objects, and report them immediately to any relevant authorities.
⚡️ Videos surfaced on various Telegram intelligence pages which showed what appeared to be an Iranian naval mine which was allegedly spotted in waters near Oman in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, which looks similar to a 300kg Maham-3 mine.
⚡️ Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister said that tolls for the Strait of Hormuz were negotiable, opposing any permanent tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but announced that Doha was ready to consider temporary and limited tolls if the action would help restore normal shipping to the strategic waterway.
⚡️ Tasnim News reported that communications with Iranian sailors had revealed the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was continuing despite President Trump’s comments about it re-opening in a Friday Night Truth Social post, and Iran sailors said they have received threats from the US Navy that they will be fired upon if they approach the blockade.
⚡️ Turkish Foreign Minister said on Saturday that the global consequences of disruptions in the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz was getting worse, saying the priority of negotiations between Tehran and Washington was to resolve the Strait of Hormuz issue, and this matter was more important than Iran’s nuclear file.
News from Iran:
⚡️ Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a ceremonial statement to the Iranian Parliament on Saturday, outlining Iran’s entry into a ‘new era’ and the grandeur of the roadmap for governance at a new national and international standard.
🔹 Khamenei said that Iran had passed ‘turbulences and challenges,’ which meant the country had found a new strategic position in the world which required a rethinking of the country management, adding that Parliament must move beyond an administrative role to establish Iran’s position in a new geometry of power.
🔹 Accordingly, the success of the future Parliament depended on how much it could move beyond superficial issues and elevate to the level of a nation that had passed through ‘great historical trials.’
⚡️ Iran’s new missile-armed fast attack boat, called the ’27 Rajab,’ was publicly unveiled to large crowds in Tehran’s Enghelab Square on Saturday night, as Iranian’s gathered for night 90 of street celebrations.
🔹 According to reports, the low-profile vessel uses a trimaran or catamaran-style hull, which is capable of carrying two cruise missiles that have a range of up to 700km, and operates effectively in waves up to 3 metres high.
🔹 The 27 Rajab appears to be designed around Iran’s longstanding ‘mosquito fleet’ doctrine, which relies on large numbers of small, fast, heavily armed boats that swarm and threaten larger naval vessels in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
⚡️ Iran have been finding creative ways of beating the US Naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, this week seeing a train carrying Iranian LPG reaching Pakistan via special tankers, reported Mehr News Agency.
⚡️ Director-General of Crisis Management of Isfahan Governorate Mansour Shishehforoush told Mehr News Agency that an assessment of 18,457 damaged residential and commercial unite in 31 cities and 12 villages of the province had been conducted since the war.
🔹 Of the total evaluated units, 100 residential units needed to be rebuilt, 1,033 needed major repairs, and the rest fell into the minor repair category, as damages reported in the city of Isfahan included 11, 638 residential and commercial units, as well as 6,819 residential and commercial unites in other cities of the province, have been registered as damaged and evaluated by technical experts.
🔹 According to the Director-General, more than 60% of the damaged buildings have been repaired across the province, which included installing glass and windows, replacing or installing doors, applying drywall and repairing walls, with work taken in conjunction with the Isfahan Municipality and the Housing Foundation, cooperation of Jihadi groups and benefactors, as well as the participation of property owners.
⚡️ Vice President and Head of the Energy Organisation and Strategic Management Organisation Serghab Esfahani said on Saturday that adjusting energy carrier prices are not on the agenda, while announcing a rewards-based and public-benefit model that would replace price increases.
🔹 Esfahani said that there would be a national plan in which people would receive cash rewards for every amount of consumption reduction, which would help the country to overcome the difficult dilemma of fuel imports, the cost of reduced medicine budgets, along with the crisis of power and gas outages.
⚡️ Chinese Manpads were suspected to be responsible for Iran being able to down the F15 according to initial investigations, while sources told NBC it was also suspected China supplied Iran with long-range early warning radar to track stealth jets, resulting in the interception of an F-35, but it is currently unclear when such weapons, if any, were delivered to Iran, and Chinese officials have always denied any arms exports to Iran.
⚡️ Iran suffered a devastating defeat in their bid to pass a resolution at the World Health Assembly, condemning ‘multiple attacks against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities,’ because out of more than 180 countries, only 19 supported the resolution, 30 opposed it, while 132 abstained or remained absent.
⚡️ Iranians living abroad remain divided over the future of Iran, reported the Washington Post, stating that some members of the diaspora express support to overthrow the Islamic Republic, while others oppose foreign intervention, fearing further instability.
🔹 Differing views among the Iranians followed months of war and political upheaval, with many voicing frustration over the current leadership but disagreeing on how political change should occur.
🔹 However, despite those divisions, many interviewed by the Post said they remained deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation inside Iran and the impact of the conflict on relatives and citizens across the country.
Other News:
⚡️ Al-Arabiya Al-Jadeed reported that following Muqtada al-Sadr’s recent decision to dissolve his affiliated military group has raised questions about goals and motives, with some speculating that it is part of a media war that al-Sadr has launched against his rivals.
⚡️ Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told reporters following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that as long as Palestine is not recognised according to the pre-1967 model and Jerusalem is not made its capital, no flexibility on recognising Israel will be possible.
🔹 “There are many rumours circulating about the Abraham Accords,” Dar said: “Pakistan is committed to its longstanding position regarding Palestine and Gaza, and there will be no change in Islamabad’s policy toward Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.”
⚡️ Saudi Arabia complained to the US about the UAE’s attacks on Iran, stating they were increasing the risk of Iranian attacks on regional energy infrastructure, calling on the United States to pressure the UAE to stop retaliatory attacks, and instead join the diplomatic efforts being made by regional countries, reported the WSJ.
⚡️ Dozens of Israeli soldiers have remained at a military facility in the United Arab Emirates, where they were deployed in early March to operate and secure Iron Dome batteries that Israel had supplied to the UAE during the war.
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