Iran war updates: Tehran slams US’s ‘reckless military adventure’ in Hormuz

By Zaid Sabah, Nils Adler, Alex Milan Durie, Usaid Siddiqui, Stephen Quillen and Mariamne Everett

Here are some of the day’s top developments:

• The US military said it struck two Iranian-flagged oil tankers trying to enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman – the second straight day of naval confrontations.

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said “every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure”.

• Dozens of people have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon in one of the deadliest days since fighting began with Hezbollah on March 2.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European allies to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action against Iran as it blocks the Strait of Hormuz.

• At least one sailor was found dead after the US attack on an Iranian ship on Thursday night, with 10 other seafarers wounded and four missing.

• US Central Command says US forces have “redirected” a total of 57 commercial vessels and “disabled” three vessels since it began its blockade on Iranian ports.

Massive oil slick reported off Iran’s Kharg Island

An oil slick is spreading off the coast of Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal for the Islamic Republic, The New York Times reports, citing satellite images.

It was not immediately clear what caused the spill located off the island’s west coast. It appeared to cover more than 52 square kilometres (20 square miles), according to an estimate by Orbital EOS, which monitors oil spills.

The slick appeared to be spreading southward towards Saudi Arabia’s waters.

Kharg Island is at the heart of Iran’s oil export industry, a linchpin of the country’s battered economy, and lies in the Gulf north of the narrow, strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Kharg Island has Iran’s largest oil terminal, oil pipelines, storage tanks and related infrastructure.

Control of Hormuz Strait like having an ‘atomic bomb’: Iran adviser

Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, has compared controlling the critical waterway in the Gulf to a country possessing a nuclear weapon.

“The Strait of Hormuz represents an opportunity as precious as an atomic bomb,” said Mokhber.

“Indeed, having in one’s hands a position that allows you to influence the global economy with a single decision is a major opportunity.”

Iran has largely blocked non-Iranian shipping through the strait since the ⁠war began with US-Israeli air strikes across Iran on February 28.

The US imposed a blockade on Iranian vessels last ⁠month.

Lebanese news agency reports at least 31 killed in Lebanon today

At least 31 people, including a rescue worker, were killed on Friday in wide-scale Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, according to the official National News Agency.

It was one of the deadliest days since fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah restarted on March 2.

Among those killed were five people in two air strikes targeting the town of Toura in the Tyre district. Rescue operations are still ongoing to search for a missing girl beneath the rubble, it reported.

An Israeli army drone also targeted a car on the road connecting Kfarchouba and Kfarhamam in the Hasbaiyya district, killing the civil defence worker.

Five people were killed in Israeli air strikes targeting villages in the Bint Jbeil and Nabatieh districts.Four more were killed in a strike on the town of as-Sultaniyah in the Bint Jbeil district.

Despite a “ceasefire” announced on April 17 that was extended until May 17, the Israeli army continues to carry out daily strikes on Lebanon.

Muslim group demands end to Israeli occupation of Palestine

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) demanded immediate international action to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory and advance a two-state solution.

Delivering a statement on behalf of the OIC group during a meeting at UN headquarters, Turkiye’s UN ambassador, Ahmet Yildiz, said the Palestinian issue has reached a breaking point amid continuing violence and political deadlock.

“The need for practical measures to resolve the Palestine question and the crises in the Middle East have become more pressing in view of the broad implications for global peace and security,” said Yildiz.

The meeting focused on conditions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and was organised by several member states of the UN Security Council, including the UK and France.

Yildiz condemned ongoing Israeli assaults on Palestinians across the occupied territory.

“The devastating war in Gaza and ongoing assaults by Israel, the occupying power, on the Palestinian people and their rights, land, security and dignity across occupied Palestine make it a matter of urgency to address the root causes,” he said.

“The illegal Israeli occupation must end. We call for respect of the ceasefire in Gaza, which is being violated every day by Israel.”

US and Iran may resume talks next week in Islamabad

Talks between the US and Iran could resume as early as next week in Pakistan’s capital, a news report says.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said the two sides are working with mediators to formulate a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding that would set the parameters for a month of talks aimed at ending the war.

The draft is said to include discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme, easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and the possible handling of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles to another country.

Key issues remain unresolved, however, it noted.

The extent of any sanctions relief remains up for debate and could prevent talks. If negotiations progress, the initial one-month period could be extended by mutual agreement, according to the Journal.

US imposes sanctions on 10 people, firms for aiding Iran arms sector

The ⁠US ⁠Treasury has announced sanctions against 10 ⁠individuals and companies for assisting efforts by Iran’s military ‌to secure weapons and raw materials used to build Tehran’s Shahed drones.

The sanctions targeted some entities in Hong Kong and China.

The Treasury said it’s also prepared to take action against any foreign company supporting illicit Iranian commerce, including airlines.

The Treasury move ⁠comes days before President Trump plans ⁠to travel to ⁠China for a ⁠meeting with President Xi Jinping and as efforts ‌to end the war in Iran have ‌stalled.