Shafaq News- Washington

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is expected to remain heavily disrupted through late May, pushing US gasoline prices up to $3.88, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would “likely resume gradually” next month but would not return to pre-war levels until later this year. Before the conflict, the waterway carried roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies.

Around 10.5 million barrels per day of crude production were shut in during April across Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain amid disruptions tied to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, the agency said.

Global oil inventories are expected to decline by an average of 8.5 million bpd during the second quarter, helping keep Brent crude prices near $106 per barrel through May and June.

Shafaq News- Tehran/ Washington

American naval forces forced a Greek-flagged tanker carrying Iraqi crude oil to reverse course after it crossed the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s approval, marking the first reported case of a non-Iranian commercial vessel being turned back at the US blockade line, semi-official Tasnim News Agency said on Tuesday.

The tanker AGOIS FANOURIOS I had transited the Strait a day earlier before entering the Sea of Oman and setting course toward Vietnam.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not directly confirmed the incident involving the vessel. However, the command indicated that US forces have redirected 65 commercial ships and disabled four vessels since the naval blockade on Iran began on April 13.

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) continues operations in the Arabian Sea, including enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran. CENTCOM forces have redirected 65 commercial vessels and disabled 4. pic.twitter.com/5eV9g0CTLy

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 12, 2026

The United States and Iran continue to impose maritime restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US Navy preventing vessels from entering or departing Iranian ports while Tehran maintains limits on commercial traffic through the strategic waterway, which carries around 20% of global oil supplies.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran losing war, US losing endgame

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump is increasingly considering military optionsagainst Iran as frustration builds inside the White House over stallednegotiations and continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reported onTuesday.

Citing US sources, the outlet pointed to sharp differences within the USadministration over the next move. Some officials, including senior Pentagonfigures, are pushing for a tougher approach that could involve military strikesintended to weaken Iran’s position and to pressure Tehran back intonegotiations. Others continue to support giving diplomacy one final chance.

Some US officials have also questioned whether Islamabad has fullyconveyed Trump’s frustration in its contacts with Tehran, arguing that Pakistanmay have presented Washington with a more optimistic reading of Iran’s stance.

On Monday, Trump rejected Iran’s response to the US proposal aimed atending the war, describing it as totally unacceptable. In response, the IranianForeign Ministry insisted that its proposal to the United States is “notexaggerated,” while accusing Washington of maintaining “unreasonable demands.”

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

Shafaq News- Washington

The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 12individuals and entities on Monday for allegedly facilitating the IslamicRevolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) sale and shipment of Iranian oil to China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures are partof Washington’s EconomicFury campaign “to deprive the regime of funding for its weaponsprograms, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions.”

The department accused the IRGC of relying on front andshell companies in foreign jurisdictions “to obfuscate its role in oil salesand funnel the revenue to the Iranian regime.”

Among those designated were senior officials linked to theIRGC’s Shahid Purja’fari Oil Headquarters, including Ahmad Mohammadi Zadeh,Samad Fathi Salami, and Mohammadreza Ashrafi Ghehi, as well as companies basedin Hong Kong, Dubai, Oman, and Sharjah, accused of arranging oil shipments andfinancial transactions tied to Iranian crude exports.

The measures further targeted firms accused of facilitating Iranian oilshipments aboard sanctioned shadow fleet tankers transporting crude to overseasbuyers, particularly in China.

https://t.co/XqdnjpFXaI

— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) May 11, 2026

All designations were issued under Executive Order 13224,which targets groups and entities accused by Washington of supportingterrorism. Under the measures, all property and interests belonging tosanctioned parties under US jurisdiction are blocked, while US persons aregenerally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving them withoutauthorization.

Earlier this month, the department imposed sanctions on Iranlinked to maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting 30 individualsand entities.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump will meet his national securityteam on Monday evening to discuss Iran, Axios reported, adding that Trump isleaning toward military action.

Trump views any military operation aimed at extractingIran’s enriched nuclear material as “extremely dangerous,” the report added, revealingthat Israel has urged him to deploy special forces to secure Iran’s stockpilesof Uranium.

Earlier in the day, Trump described the current ceasefire as“fragile.”

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing a source close to Tehran’snegotiating team, denied reports that Iran had agreed to transfer enrichednuclear materials outside the country.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump on Mondayexpressed “disappointment” with Iranian Kurdish groups, accusing them ofkeeping weapons intended for anti-government protesters in Iran.

Speaking to reporters in the OvalOffice, Trump said the Iranian people took to the streets with “no guns,"adding, “We thought the Kurds were going to give [them] weapons, but the Kurdsdisappointed us. The Kurds take, take, take.”

He furtheralleged that Washington had “sent some guns with ammunition, and it wassupposed to be delivered, but they kept it.”

In an April interview with Fox News,Trump similarly asserted that the United States had sent “a lot” of weapons toprotesters during nationwide demonstrations in Iran and that “the Kurds tookthe guns.”

An official from the KurdistanDemocratic Party of Iran (KDPI), however, denied the accusations in aninterview with our agency at the time, stressing that no Kurdish party ineastern Kurdistan —referring to Iran’s Kurdish-majority regions— had receivedsuch support during the January protests.

Former US diplomat William Lawrencepreviously told Shafaq News that the Trump administration was betting oninternal unrest in Iran —particularly among Kurdish groups— as part of abroader strategy to pressure the Iranian government and fuel instability insidethe country.

Read more: Iran’s protests between economic crisis andpolitical contestation

Shafaq News- Geneva

Drone strikes in Sudan caused at least 880 civilian deathsbetween January and April 2026, accounting for more than 80% of allconflict-related fatalities, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turkwarned on Sunday.

The increasing reliance on drones by both sides couldprolong hostilities through the rainy season, which has historically slowedground combat operations, Turk said.

He urged international measures to prevent the transfer ofweapons, particularly advanced drones, to both parties in the conflict.According to Turk, escalating hostilities threaten humanitarian operations aslarge parts of Sudan face growing risks of famine and acute food insecurity.Repeated attacks on healthcare facilities, he added, have left many hospitalspartially or completely non-operational.

I am deeply worried by increased drone attacks in Sudan, which have killed at least 880 civilians already this year. I urge immediate and robust measures to prevent the transfer of arms to the fighting parties.https://t.co/D0Cc0MIc3o

— Volker Türk (@volker_turk) May 11, 2026

UN reported both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and theRapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted civilian infrastructure, including markets,hospitals, fuel depots, and supply routes. At least 28 attacks on marketscaused civilian casualties, while health facilities were struck at least 12times.

Most civilian deaths linked to drone attacks during thefirst months of the year were recorded in the Kordofan region. On May 8, dronestrikes on Al-Quz in South Kordofan and near El-Obeid in North Kordofanreportedly killed 26 civilians and injured others. Drone attacks have alsospread beyond Kordofan and Darfur into Blue Nile, White Nile, and Khartoum.

About 217 attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan sinceApril 2023 have killed 2,052 medical personnel and injured 810 others, theWorld Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday as the country’s health crisisdeepens after three years of war.

Last month, WHO described Sudan as facing “the world’slargest humanitarian and displacement crisis,” with nearly 34 million people inneed of assistance, including 21 million requiring urgent health support.

Shafaq News-Washington

US PresidentDonald Trump stated on Monday that he is considering reviving Project Freedomwith a significantly broader mandate than its original mission.

Speaking toFox News, Trump added that he has not made a final decision but is weighing ascope that would extend well beyond escorting commercial vessels through theStrait of Hormuz. He vowed to press engagement until a deal is reached,disclosing that Iran had told US negotiators the American side would need toretrieve "nuclear dust" from destroyed Iranian facilities, materialburied too deep for Tehran to recover with its own technology.

Earlier,Trump rejected Iran’s response to the US proposal aimed at ending the war,describing it as totally unacceptable. Later, the Iranian Foreign Ministryinsisted that its proposal to the United States is “not exaggerated,” whileaccusing Washington of maintaining “unreasonable demands.”

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

Shafaq News- London

Britain imposed sanctions on 12individuals and entities linked to Iran on Monday, accusing them of involvementin “hostile activity” and efforts to destabilize the United Kingdom and othercountries.

The measures, announced by the UKForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), include asset freezes,travel bans, and director disqualification sanctions targeting individuals, the“Zindashti Network,” and two exchange companies accused of facilitatingoperations linked to the Iranian government.

British authorities claimed thatsome of those designated were involved in threatening, planning, or conductingattacks against people and assets in Britain and abroad.

Under UK sanctions rules, funds andeconomic resources belonging to designated individuals or entities must befrozen, while providing financial resources to them is prohibited unlessauthorized by a government license. British authorities warned that violationsof sanctions laws could constitute a criminal offense.

The move comes a month after Britishpolice investigated possible Iran-linked involvement in a series of arsonattacks targeting Jewish sites in London, which triggered counter-terrorisminquiries and warnings over alleged hostile activity by Tehran or groupsoperating on its behalf.

Iran has repeatedly rejectedallegations of involvement in attacks or plots in the UK and elsewhere.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran insisted on Monday that its proposal to theUnited States is “not exaggerated,” while accusing Washington of maintaining“unreasonable demands.”

During a press conference, Foreign Ministryspokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei argued that Tehran is “acting responsibly” tosafeguard its rights and has presented “generous proposals” to Washington. Healso characterized regional security and stability, including in Lebanon, as“not an excessive demand,” adding that China fully understands Iran’s positionand recognizes that “the war imposed on us is not temporary.”

US President Donald Trump, however, had describedIran’s response to the latest American proposal aimed at ending the regionalconflict as “totally unacceptable.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, Tehran submitteda multi-page reply containing several counterproposals but stopped short ofaccepting key US conditions tied to its nuclear program and stockpile of highlyenriched uranium.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran losing war, US losing endgame

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump on Sunday described Iran’sresponse to the US proposal aimed at ending the war as “totally unacceptable”.

Earlier today, the Wall StreetJournal reported that Iran’s response to the US proposal includedseveral counteroffers but failed to meet key US demands regarding Tehran’snuclear program and stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

US President Donald Trump accused Iran of using “delay, delay, delay”tactics with Washington and the international community for nearly five decades.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Any French or British military deployment in theStrait of Hormuz under the pretext of protecting maritime navigation wouldamount to the “militarization” of the strategic waterway and could provoke aresponse from Tehran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warnedon Sunday.

Quoted by state television, Gharibabadi argued thatmaritime security cannot be achieved through “military displays of force,”particularly by parties “that are themselves part of the problem.” He alsodescribed the Strait of Hormuz as a sensitive regional waterway rather than“common property for powers from outside the region.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, however, clarifiedduring a press conference in Nairobi that Paris had “never considered” sendingwarships into the strait, instead backing a maritime security arrangement“coordinated with Iran.”

Earlier this week, the French armed forces said acarrier strike group was moving toward the Red Sea ahead of a possible futuremission. Reuters linked the deployment to a joint French-British initiativeaimed at securing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Shafaq News- Washington

American forces have intercepted four vessels andredirected 61 commercial ships since the naval blockade against Iran began onApril 13, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday.

The command noted that more than 20 US warships arecurrently participating in enforcement operations linked to the blockade onIran.

USS John Finn (DDG 113) sails behind USS Milius (DDG 69), USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE-7), and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Arabian Sea. Over 20 U.S. warships are enforcing the blockade against Iran. CENTCOM forces have redirected 61 commercial vessels and disabled 4 to… pic.twitter.com/gG9B2K5c9p

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 10, 2026

The United States and Iran continue to impose maritimerestrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US Navy preventing vessels fromentering or departing Iranian ports while Tehran maintains limits on commercialtraffic through the strategic waterway, which carries around 20% of global oilsupplies. Washington briefly launched “Project Freedom,” a naval escort missionfor stranded vessels, before suspending it less than 48 hours later, with USPresident Donald Trump attributing the move to requests from Pakistan and othercountries alongside what he described as “great progress” toward a “completeand final agreement” with Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile,indicated that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz would return to normalif the conflict is permanently resolved, the maritime blockade is lifted, andsanctions imposed on Iran are removed.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran losing war, US losing endgame

Shafaq News-Seoul

South Koreadisclosed Sunday that two of its cargo ships were struck in the Strait ofHormuz on May 4, in separate incidents that Seoul is still investigating —oneinvolving an aerial attack, the other a collision with an unidentified object.

Foreign Ministryspokesman Park Il told reporters that the HMM Namu was hit by two unidentifiedaircraft approximately one minute apart, triggering a fire in the engine roomthat spread rapidly through the vessel following the second strike. Theaircraft appeared on surveillance footage but could not be precisely identifiedin terms of type, origin, or size. Authorities plan to conduct further analysison engine debris and other fragments recovered after the attack.

All 24 crewmembers aboard the Namu were confirmed safe and the fire extinguished, SouthKorea's Foreign Ministry said.

In a separateincident on the same date, the ministry confirmed that a second HMM vessel,which had been stranded in the strait, was struck in its rear section by anunidentified object, following a field inspection by South Korean authorities.No further details were released on the nature of the object or the extent ofthe damage.

Shippingtraffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked since lateFebruary 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikeson Iran. Iran denied responsibility for the attack on the HMM Namu, with itsembassy in Seoul firmly rejecting and categorically denying the accusations.

Seoul's DefenseMinistry said it would "carefully review its position" on joiningUS-led escort operations in the strait, citing international law, maritimesafety, and alliance considerations.

Shafaq News- Madrid

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Sunday classified all passengers aboard the cruise ship Hondius as high-risk contacts after a hantavirus outbreak killed three people and infected at least eight others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier said the fatalities included a Dutch couple and a German citizen infected with the Andes strain of hantavirus, one of the few variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission through prolonged close contact. Severe cases carry fatality rates of roughly 30-40%, while infections typically begin with flu-like symptoms before potentially progressing to severe respiratory illness.

The vessel arrived off Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands under strict health controls after the Dutch-flagged ship was rerouted from Cape Verde earlier this week at the WHO’s request for controlled evacuation procedures. Passengers are set to be evacuated in small groups and transferred through specially arranged transport for self-isolation in their home countries rather than being allowed to use commercial flights, according to European health authorities coordinating the operation with Spanish officials.

The Hondius departed Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1 carrying about 240 passengers and crew from 23 countries before multiple infections were detected during the voyage. The WHO said exposure likely occurred during excursions in southern Argentina.

The outbreak has prompted renewed scrutiny of infectious disease risks aboard cruise ships following the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 2020 Diamond Princess outbreak that infected more than 800 people.

Shafaq News- Islamabad

A coordinated militant assault involving a car bombing and ambush killed at least 12 police officers in northwestern Pakistan, police said on Sunday.

Cited by Pakistani media, police clarified that militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a police outpost in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province before storming the compound and opening fire. Three surviving personnel were rescued and transferred to hospital.

Militants later ambushed reinforcements sent to the scene, while drones were also reportedly used in the assault. Images from the site showed the outpost destroyed, with burned vehicles and debris scattered across the area.

The militant alliance Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. The alliance emerged in 2025 as a coalition of militant factions operating in Pakistan’s northwest, including the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and Lashkar-e-Islam, amid a broader resurgence in militancy along the Afghanistan border.

Violence has remained concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which accounted for more than 90% of militant incidents and fatalities in 2025, according to Pakistani security assessments cited by local outlets. Militants have also expanded tactics in recent years to include suicide bombings, coordinated ambushes, improvised explosive devices, and drone-assisted attacks.

Shafaq News- Warsaw

Hackers targeted five water treatment plants in Poland inattacks that could have allowed them to seize control of industrial systems andpotentially compromise water safety, TechCrunch reported on Saturday, citingPoland’s Internal Security Agency.

According to TechCrunch, the agency said it had thwartedmultiple sabotage attempts over the past two years, including cyberattacksagainst critical infrastructure such as water facilities, power grids, andtransportation networks.

The report noted that authorities did not directly confirmRussian involvement in the water plant incidents, but Poland has recently facedrepeated cyberattacks attributed to Moscow-linked groups, including attempts todisrupt the country’s energy grid. TechCrunch highlighted that similar threatshave also targeted US infrastructure, including a 2021 breach at a Floridawater treatment plant where hackers tried to alter chemical levels.

Officials and cybersecurity agencies warn that water andenergy systems remain vulnerable worldwide, with recent advisories in theUnited States linking Iranian-backed hackers to attacks on industrial controlsystems used in utilities.

To continue reading, click here.

Shafaq News- Tehran

The head of Iran's Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, said thenational team must meet several conditions to compete in the 2026 FIFA WorldCup, scheduled for next month across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In an interview with Iran's sports channel, Taj pointed outthat all players and coaching staff —particularly those who served in theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), such as Mehdi Taremi and EhsanHajsafi— must receive US entry visas without complications. “Once visas areissued, players and staff must not be subjected to questioning by immigrationauthorities during travel.” Third, a clear mechanism must be established forissuing visas to Iranian journalists and supporters attending matches.

US authorities must provide the highest levels of securityand protective protocols at airports, hotels, main roads, and stadiums toprevent any incidents, Taj said, adding that supporters of both teams mustbring only their official national flags into stadiums, with any flag otherthan the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran strictly prohibited.

Among the conditions are: Iran's national anthem must bebroadcast correctly and without interruption at all matches, and journalists atpress conferences must limit their questions strictly to technical mattersrelated to the games.

Last week, the Iranian football delegation —including Tajhimself— was turned away at the Canadian border while attempting to enterVancouver for FIFA's General Assembly meeting. Canada's Immigration Ministersubsequently confirmed that Taj's visa had been revoked mid-flight due to hisalleged ties to the IRGC, which both Canada and the United States designate asa terrorist organization.

FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom wrote to theIranian Federation expressing regret over the incident and invited officials toZurich on May 20 for discussions on World Cup preparations. FIFA PresidentGianni Infantino has separately confirmed that Iran will participate in thetournament, including matches held on US soil.

The US Secretary of State previously stated Washington does not objectto Iranian players competing, but individuals proven to be affiliated with theIRGC would be barred from entering US territory.

ShafaqNews- Washington

USPresident Donald Trump warned Iran on Saturday that Washington would pursue a“different path” if efforts to reach an agreement to end the war in the MiddleEast collapse.

“We maygo back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen,” Trump told reporters at theWhite House, adding, “It’ll be Project Freedom Plus, meaning Project Freedomplus other things.”

Heoffered no details on what those measures could include.

Trumpintroduced “Project Freedom” on May 3 as a naval mission to escort strandedvessels through the Strait of Hormuz, but suspended the operation less than 48 hourslater, citing requests from Pakistan and other countries, alongwith reported progress in indirect talks with Iranian representatives.

Earlier today, the Wall Street Journal indicated that negotiations between theUnited States and Iran could begin next week in Islamabad, the capital ofPakistan. Preliminary arrangements remain under discussion, while the level ofrepresentation and the agenda have yet to be finalized.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

Shafaq News- Washington/ Moscow/ Kyiv

The US ⁠PresidentDonald Trump, on Friday, stated that ‌there will be a three-day ceasefire in ⁠the war between ⁠Russia and ⁠Ukraine, adding that the trucewill last from Saturday, the 9th of May, to the 11th. 

Soon after, Ukrainian⁠President ⁠Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed thatthe truce ⁠had beenarranged as part of ‌US efforts to negotiate an end to the war. 

In recent days, there have been many appeals and signals regarding the setup for tomorrow in Moscow in connection with our Ukrainian long-range sanctions. The principle of symmetry in our actions is well known and has been clearly communicated to the Russian side. An additional…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 8, 2026

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov later stated that anagreement on this matter was reached during our telephone contacts with the USadministration. “In turn, US representatives were in contact with Kyiv,” hesaid, clarifying that the agreement followed a recent telephone conversationbetween Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump.

“This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kineticactivity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country,” Trumpsaid, sharing hope that it would be “the beginning of the end of a very long,deadly, and hard fought War.” 

Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused the other of violatingceasefires declared separately this week as Russia readies to hold a VictoryDay parade on May 9, marking the Soviet Union's 1945 victory over Nazi Germany.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump continues to consider all optionsin dealing with Iran, while maintaining pressure through economic sanctions, theWhite House stated on Friday.

In remarks carried by US media outlets, the White House describedthe blockade on Iran as highly successful and choking its economy.

Meanwhile, citing advisers close to the president, TheAtlantic magazine reported that Trump is reluctant to resume military actionand prefers de-escalation ahead of a planned visit to China.

According to the magazine, Trump believes he can present anyagreement with Iran as a political victory. The report also cited White Houseofficials as saying that the president “holds strong leverage and is keepingall options available to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Trump had threatened Iran with “more severe” strikes ifTehran does not quickly sign an agreement currently under negotiation. Later inthe day, the US president sought to downplay the seriousness of recent clashesnear the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway used for a significant shareof global oil shipments, saying that a ceasefire remains in place.

Read more: Force without a finish line: Iran is losing the war, the US is losing the endgame

Shafaq News- Rome

The United States expects Iran to respond onFriday to a proposal aimed at ending the war and beginning negotiations,Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, adding that progress depends onwhether Tehran signals readiness for structured talks.

Speaking to reporters, Rubio said the US would assess the content of Iran’sresponse before determining next steps, warning that reports of Iran attemptingto establish a body to control maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz wouldbe “unacceptable”.

Citing an Iranian official, an Iranian media outlet reported earlier thisweek that Tehran is reviewing messages from the United States delivered throughPakistani mediators.

According to Axios, the proposed framework includes a temporary moratoriumon Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for gradual US sanctions relief andthe release of billions in frozen Iranian assets. The draft memorandum wouldalso address freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with bothsides easing restrictions during a 30-day negotiation period. It envisionstalks in locations such as Islamabad or Geneva to reach a broader agreementcovering Iran’s nuclear program, inspections, and long-term limits onenrichment.

Shafaq News- Washington

US forces intercepted an“unjustified” Iranian attack while carrying out “defensive strikes” on Iranianmilitary facilities, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Friday.

According to the Command, Iranian forces launched severalmissiles, drones, and small boats toward the guided-missile destroyers USSTruxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason as they transited the Strait ofHormuz en route to the Gulf of Oman. None of the vessels sustained damage.

https://t.co/FY4zUn9fYh

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 7, 2026

A statement from Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters,Iran’s armed forces central command, however, accused Washington of violatingthe April 8 ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker near Jask and anothervessel off Fujairah. The Iranian side also reported strikes on coastal areas inBandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island, while confirming that Iranian forcesresponded by targeting US naval vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and southof Chabahar.

Warning of potential escalation, Tehran asserted that theUnited States and its allies “must know that the Islamic Republic of Iran willrespond forcefully and without hesitation to any aggression or violation.”

Earlier today, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchireiterated that navigation in the Strait of Hormuz would normalize if the waris permanently resolved, the maritime blockade is lifted, and sanctions imposedon Iran are removed.

Tehran has restricted vessels linked to the United Statesand Israel from transiting the maritime gateway for more than two months inresponse to US-Israeli strikes, disrupting a corridor that carries roughly aquarter of global seaborne oil trade. Washington later imposed similarrestrictions on vessels departing Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump introduced “Project Freedom” onMay 3 as a naval mission aimed at escorting stranded vessels through theStrait, but suspended the operation less than 48 hours later, citing requestsfrom Pakistan and other countries as well as reported progress in indirecttalks with Iranian representatives.

Shafaq News- Moscow

Russia announced on Thursday that its forces will pause the “specialmilitary operation” in Ukraine from May 8 to May 10, linking the move to theupcoming Victory Day* commemorations in Moscow.

In a statement, the country’s Defense Ministry noted that any violationsof the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces, or attempts to target Russian settlementsor infrastructure, would trigger a “massive missile strike in central Kyiv.”

Describing the pause in fighting as a potential opening forde-escalation, Moscow urged Kyiv to comply with the ceasefire and demonstratereadiness to move toward ending the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously reported that Ukrainehad not received any official request from Russia regarding the ceasefire,cautioning that drone strikes could target Moscow during the commemorationevent.

*Victory Day is a Russian national holiday marking the Soviet victoryover Nazi Germany.

Shafaq News- Islamabad

The United States and Irancould reach an agreement “very soon,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said onThursday, amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistani Prime MinisterShehbaz Sharif also confirmed that Islamabad remains in contact with bothWashington and Tehran as mediation efforts continue.

Iranian President MasoudPezeshkian told French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone call onWednesday that any negotiation on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz requiresthe United States to first lift its naval blockade. He argued that renewed USsanctions and pressure had undermined diplomacy despite Iran’s participation innegotiations “in good faith.”

Trump had announced “ProjectFreedom” on May 3 as a naval mission aimed at escorting stranded vesselsthrough the Strait, but suspended the operation less than 48 hours later,citing requests from Pakistan and other countries as well as reported progressin indirect talks with Iranian representatives.

Axios previously reported,citing US officials, that Washington and Tehran are nearing a one-pagememorandum intended to halt the conflict. The United States expects Tehran’sresponse within 48 hours, according to the report, which said the frameworkincludes suspending Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, lifting US sanctions,releasing frozen Iranian funds, and removing navigation restrictions imposed byboth sides in the strait.

Iranian Foreign Ministryspokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said that the American offer "is still underconsideration by Iran,” and Tehran will convey its position to the Pakistaniside after completing its review and assessment.