U.S.claimsit hit two Iranian-flagged oil tankers. CENTCOM says it is blocking 70 tankers from Iranian ports. President Donald Trump calls exchange of fire with Iran a “love tap” and insists the ceasefire is holding. Saudi Arabia and Kuwaitlift restrictionson U.S. military. Trump administrationquietly approves$17 billion in Patriot missile sales to Gulf states. Israeli attacks on Lebanon kill 13. Two Palestiniansdescribesexual violence and torture in Israeli detention in testimony to Al Jazeera. Palestinian rights groupreportsescalating abuse of detainees in Israeli prison isolation wing. Global Sumud Flotilladetaineesallege sexual violence and abuse by Israeli forces. UAE transfers $100 million to fund new Gaza police force. CPJdemandsan FBI update on the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, four years after her death. Federal courtstrikesdown Trump’s 10% tariff. TrumpextendsEU tariff deadline to July 4. Federal judgepermanently barsDOGE from canceling $100 million in humanities grants. New Yorkpasses restrictionson ICE cooperation. Trump administration reviewing Mexico’s 53 U.S. consulates, raising prospect of closures. Pro-Israel PAClaunches$400,000 ad blitz on behalf of Jasmeet Bains. U.S.imposesmore sanctions on Cuba. Brazil’s LulasaysTrump told him he would not invade Cuba. Former President of Hondurasdiscussescovert disinformation network targeting Latin American left in leaked calls. Mexican opposition PRIpetitionsU.S. to designate ruling Morena party a terrorist organization. Russia and Ukrainetradeceasefire violations ahead of Victory Day celebrations. Fighters linked to Al-Qaedakillat least 30 in central Mali. ISWAP fightersattackNigerian army base in Borno state. Britain’s Laboursuffershistoric losses in local elections.
FROM DROP SITE:Israel kills son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya as it pushes maximalist demands in Gaza talks.
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U.S. claims it hit two Iranian-flagged oil tankers:U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)claimedon Friday it struck two “unladen” Iranian-flagged oil tankers it said were attempting to violate the U.S. blockade by entering an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.
CENTCOM claims it is blocking 70 tankers:Earlier, CENTCOM claimed its forces were blocking 70 tankers from entering or leaving Iranian ports. “These commercial ships have the capacity to transport over 166 million barrels of Iranian oil worth an estimated $13 billion-plus,” it said.
Trump calls exchange of fire a “love tap” and insists ceasefire holding:President Donald Trump insisted the ceasefire with Iran is holding after U.S. forces exchanged drone, missile and gun fire with Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf. CENTCOM said it was responding to what it called “unprovoked” attacks, while Iran said it had retaliated after U.S. Navy ships targeted an oil tanker in Iran’s territorial waters. Trump played down the exchange of fire, calling the U.S. strikes “just a love tap” in a phone call with ABC and insisted the ceasefire remained intact.
Iranian foreign minister accuses U.S. of “reckless military adventure”:Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday accused the U.S. of engaging in a “reckless military adventure” and repeatedly undermining diplomatic efforts to end the war. “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire? Whatever the causes, the outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure and diplomacy is always the victim,” Araghchi said in a social media post.
Additional clashes on Thursday:
Iran’s Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the country’s IRGC,reportedon Thursday that parts of the Bahman Qeshm pier—a commercial and passenger port on the eastern side of Qeshm Island at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz—were struck during what it described as exchanges of fire between Iranian forces and “the enemy,” with state broadcaster IRIB also reporting sounds of explosions in the area. Further details were not immediately available. Qeshm is a crucial part of the shipping corridor approved by Iran.
Source: Drop Site News: Drop Site Daily