Iran warns US against planned Hormuz escort mission
Welcome back to the Daily Briefing.
This is Ezgi Akin, filling in for Gabrielle.
In today’s edition:
- Iran warns US against planned Hormuz escort mission
- Lebanon's parliament speaker rejects Israel talks without halt to fighting
- US evacuates Iranian crew via Pakistan in confidence-building step
- Israeli opposition unites in bid to unseat Netanyahu
Thanks for reading,
Ezgi
Iran warns US against planned Hormuz escort mission
Commuters make their way past an anti-US billboard referring to President Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz, installed on a building in Tehran.
Iran’s military warned on Monday that it would target US forces entering the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump announced a plan to escort ships through the waterway.
Trump announced the operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” on Sunday as a humanitarian effort to assist vessels stranded by Iran’s blockade.
“They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
In response, Tehran said any passage must be coordinated with its forces and threatened direct retaliation.
“We warn that any foreign armed force — especially the aggressive US military — if they intend to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz, will be targeted and attacked,” said Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi in a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
The standoff follows stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States over maritime access in the strait.
US Central Command said the escort mission would involve destroyers, aircraft and 15,000 personnel.
Iran’s closure of the strait has disrupted global flows of oil, gas and fertilizer, while the United States has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports. Brent crude rose 3.8% to $112.3 a barrel on Monday amid the standoff.
Also on Monday, the United Arab Emirates said that Iran fired two drones at a tanker affiliated with its state oil company ADNOC in the strait.
Lebanon's parliament speaker rejects Israel talks without halt to fighting
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (not seen) in Beirut, Lebanon Oct. 18, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo
Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, said on Monday that there can be no negotiations with Israel unless the fighting in southern Lebanon stops.
Israeli forces ordered evacuations from additional villages beyond a self-declared security zone, citing Hezbollah ceasefire violations. Israel launched its offensive to push back Hezbollah in March after the Iran-linked militant group’s cross-border attacks.
US-brokered talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington led to a 10-day ceasefire announced on April 16, intended to halt hostilities and create space for further diplomatic discussions on border security and a longer-term arrangement. A follow-up round on April 23 extended the truce by three weeks.
US evacuates Iranian crew via Pakistan in confidence-building step
US forces patrol near the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska after it was boarded and seized by US forces on Sunday, at a location given as the Arabian Sea, in this handout image released April 20, 2026. — US Central Command via X
The United States has evacuated 22 crew members from an Iranian-flagged container vessel and transferred them to Pakistan, which will hand them over to Iranian authorities, Pakistani officials said Monday, describing the move as a “confidence-building measure” amid ongoing tensions.
The vessel, the Touska, operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, was seized by US forces last month near Iran’s Chabahar port after allegedly failing to comply with warnings and breaching a US-imposed blockade.
Tehran condemned the seizure as unlawful and demanded the release of the ship and its crew. Pakistan said the vessel would be moved to its territorial waters for repairs before being returned.
Israeli opposition unites in bid to unseat Netanyahu
Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during a meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022. — MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images
Israel’s opposition is coalescing ahead of October elections, with former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid launching a joint ticket aimed at unseating Benjamin Netanyahu.
The alliance, branded “Together,” is seeking to build momentum by consolidating votes and may expand to include former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who is seen as a credible centrist figure, Rina Bassist reports.
The strategy reflects concerns that fragmented opposition parties could fail to cross electoral thresholds, while a unified bloc could project viability.
However, ideological differences and a reluctance to partner with Arab parties complicate the coalition's prospects, with polls pointing to a potential deadlock.