The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said Sunday that an unidentified northbound cargo ship reported being attacked by several small craft off Sirik, Iran, east of the strait.

All crew members were reported safe. It was the first such incident in the area since April 22 and at least the 24th reported attack in or near the strategic waterway since the Iran conflict began, the agency said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. However, Iranian officials have repeatedly asserted control over the strait and warned that vessels not affiliated with the United States or Israel could be forced to pay a toll or face repercussions. The UKMTO said the threat level for maritime traffic in the region remains critical.

Back in April, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire without warning on a container ship transiting the strait, heavily damaging its bridge, according to the U.K. Maritime Traffic Organization. A second vessel reported being fired upon west of Iran and was left disabled and adrift, the agency said.

The escalation comes as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a tense standoff, despite a three-week ceasefire that has largely held. President Donald Trump said Saturday that further U.S. military action remains possible.

At the same time, the president said he is reviewing a new Iranian proposal for negotiations but signaled skepticism about its prospects.

“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable,” Trump wrote on social media, accusing Tehran of decades of wrongdoing.

Speaking to reporters as he boarded Air Force One, Trump declined to specify what actions by Iran would trigger renewed U.S. strikes.

“If they misbehave, if they do something bad,” he said, adding that military action “is a possibility.”

The renewed maritime violence coincides with a growing legal dispute in Washington over presidential war powers. The Trump administration reached the 60‑day limit under the War Powers Act on May 1 after notifying Congress of hostilities with Iran on March 2. The White House has not sought congressional authorization to continue military operations.

Italian newspapers say Rubio is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state. The meeting would take place one day before the anniversary of Leo’s first year as pontiff. Rubio attended the pope’s inaugural Mass as leader of the Catholic Church.

The State Department told Straight Arrow Rubio will meet with Holy See leadership to discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere.

Leo has been outspoken in his criticism of the war in the Middle East. He and President Donald Trump have both used social media to air sharply contrasting views, prompting speculation of a rift between the two. The pope has said his remarks are not directed at any individual but reflect long-standing church positions on war and peace.

The Pope’s comment comes after Trump accused the pope of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” a response to Leo's opposition to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Trump also briefly posted, then deleted, an image on social media depicting himself in a pose resembling Jesus. The post drew criticism from some Christian leaders. Trump later said he believed the image showed him “as a doctor.”

The president has dismissed suggestions that he is in a conflict with the pope.

“I’m not fighting with him,” Trump said. “I have a right to disagree with the pope.”

Italy’s Corriere della Sera reported Rubio also hopes to meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and he is expected to hold talks with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.

On Thursday, Trump threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Italy following a dispute in late March, when Italy denied U.S. access to a military air base in Sicily. Trump issued a similar warning to Spain. On Friday, the Pentagon announced 5,000 U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Germany over six to 12 months.

Asked during a Thursday news conference whether he would take similar action against Spain and Italy, Trump said it was “probably” something he would consider.

“Why shouldn’t I?” he said. “Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”

Straight Arrow is awaiting comment from the Vatican.

Round out your reading

• First, it was the schools. Now they’re coming for your cellphone at work.
• Why one of America’s top economic forecasters is worried about a recession.
• AI companies may not be adhering to their own guidelines — with potentially deadly outcomes.
• Data centers are a thorny issue for Democrats. Maine shows us why.
• We’re building a new Straight Arrow. Help us shape our future by taking our survey.

Israeli forces seized 22 boats carrying around 175 activists near Crete, Greece. Most of the activists were disembarked in Crete, while two were sent to Israel for “questioning,” according to Israeli authorities. The BBC reported that the flotilla set off for Gaza two weeks ago, with a total of 58 vessels from Spain, France and Italy coming on the trip to break through Israel’s aid blockade. 

The Global Sumud Flotilla confirmed in a statement that two activists, Spanish-Swedish citizen Saif Abukeshek, who is of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila, were transferred to Shikma Prison in Askalan. Citing the Brazilian embassy, the flotilla said Ávila has been subjected to “torture, beatings, and mistreatment” during his detention. 

During a monitored visit, embassy officials reported seeing visible marks on Ávila’s face. Although he was examined by a doctor, “adequate medical care was not provided,” the flotilla said.

Abukeshek, the flotilla said, was tortured and severely abused aboard a military vessel before being transferred to the prison. 

 Both are now on a hunger strike. Ávila, the flotilla said, has not been informed of charges against him. 

 “Ávila and Abukeshek’s continued detention raises serious concerns of arbitrary detention, denial of due process, and violations of the absolute prohibition on torture under international law,” the flotilla’s statement said. 

Israel also arrested and deported people on board another flotilla going to Gaza in October 2025. 

Multiple other activists on the flotilla said they were injured by Israeli forces as well. One of them, Zack Schofield of Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation some suffered concussions after being shot by rubber bullets. Shofield said a friend of his was beaten. 

​​A spokesperson from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied this account to ABC.

Israel also deported and arrested members of a flotilla that tried to go to Gaza in October 2025. Amnesty International said in a statement that it documented ill-treatment and abuse of activists detained in that case as well, including sleep deprivation, denial of drinking water and medical care. 

“Israel’s brazen and unlawful interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels and the arbitrary detention of dozens of activists underscores the dangerous consequences of decades of impunity for Israel’s ongoing atrocity crimes against Palestinians, including genocide in the Gaza Strip and apartheid, and its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory,” the organization said in a statement.

Israel's Foreign Ministry claimed that Abukeshek and Ávila are tied to an organization connected to Hamas. 

“Both will receive a consular visit from the representatives of their respective countries in Israel,” the foreign ministry said on X.

Khaled Khiari, the UN’s assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, said in remarks to the Security Council earlier this week that the population in Gaza is still facing deadly Israeli strikes and dire humanitarian conditions despite a ceasefire agreement from last October. 

“While some improvements in access and aid delivery have been observed in recent weeks, unpredictable access, limited operational crossings, and restrictions on critical humanitarian items termed 'dual-use' items by Israel continue to constrain the UN response,” Khiari said. “Food security remains a challenge, while essential services — particularly water, sanitation, and health — are again on the brink of collapse.”

In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification confirmed a famine in Gaza. Following the ceasefire agreement, 100,000 still experienced these conditions, the IPFSP said in December. 

The governments of Spain and Brazil said in a joint statement that they “condemn in the strongest possible terms the abduction of two of their citizens in international waters by the Government of Israel.”

“This flagrantly illegal action by the Israeli authorities outside their jurisdiction constitutes a violation of international law, which may be invoked before international courts, and may constitute a criminal offence under our respective national laws,” the statement said.

Spanish President Pedro Sánchez said at a campaign event that he has three messages for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: that Spain will protect its citizens; that it will always defend international law and that “we demand the freedom of the Spanish citizen kidnapped on the flotilla.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office on Thursday called for the immediate ​release of all Italians who were "unlawfully detained.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Thursday several NYC residents were on the flotilla, and his team was in contact with state and federal partners to confirm their whereabouts and conditions. 

“This is a brazen violation of international law,” he said. “Those detained must be released.”

The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, said the flotilla is a “meaningless political stunt” and threatened to use “available tools to impose consequences on those who provide support” to it.

Round out your reading

• First, it was the schools. Now they’re coming for your cellphone at work.
• Why one of America’s top economic forecasters is worried about a recession.
• AI companies may not be adhering to their own guidelines — with potentially deadly outcomes.
• Data centers are a thorny issue for Democrats. Maine shows us why.
• We’re building a new Straight Arrow. Help us shape our future by taking our survey.

The latest violence comes as Ukrainian and international nuclear officials marked four decades since the April 26, 1986, explosion of Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant — the world’s worst nuclear accident.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, toured a newly opened permanent Chernobyl exhibition at Kyiv’s National Museum on Sunday. Zelenskyy warned that Russia’s military operations risk repeating history.

“Through its war, Russia is once again bringing the world to the brink of a man‑made disaster,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media, pointing to Russian‑Iranian Shahed drones regularly flying over the site. One drone struck the plant’s protective structure last year, he said.

Grossi echoed those concerns, saying repairs to Chernobyl’s damaged outer protective shell must begin immediately. The IAEA said assessments show the damage sustained during a strike in 2025 has already compromised a key safety function of the structure, increasing risks to the older concrete sarcophagus beneath it if left unaddressed.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has estimated that repairs would cost at least $586 million.

Chernobyl anniversary renews debate in US

The anniversary of the disaster has also prompted renewed debate about nuclear power well beyond Ukraine. In the United States, policymakers have moved to expand nuclear energy production, arguing it is necessary to meet future electricity demand and reduce carbon emissions.

In May 2025, President Donald Trump issued four executive orders calling for the expansion of the U.S. nuclear power industry, including a goal of adding 300 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050. The orders also directed faster reactor testing and licensing, expanded fuel production and fuel recycling, and an overhaul of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Critics, however, warn that weakening regulatory safeguards risks ignoring hard‑earned lessons from past disasters. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Straight Arrow Energy Reporter Keaton Peters the push for rapid expansion raises alarms.

“Complacency is the enemy of safety,” Lyman said, warning that policymakers appear “anxious to unlearn” the lessons of Chernobyl.

The 1986 disaster was triggered during a late‑night safety test that was conducted without proper coordination between reactor operators and safety personnel, according to the World Nuclear Association. A cascade of technical failures and human errors led to a massive explosion and radioactive release that reshaped global nuclear policy and left long‑lasting health and environmental consequences.

Forty years later, as war rages near the remains of the plant, nuclear officials say the lessons of Chernobyl are as urgent as ever.

In a post on Truth Social Saturday, Trump said there has been "too much time wasted on traveling, too much work" and accused Iran of having "tremendous infighting and confusion within their leadership."

"Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!" Trump wrote.

This came after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.

During the meeting, which lasted around two hours, Sharif "emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for the peace and stability in the region and beyond," Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, said.

"Was pleased to meet H.E. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister of Iran, and his delegation in Islamabad today," Sharif said on social media. "Had a most warm, cordial exchange of views on the current regional situation."

After the meeting, Araghchi left Pakistan. He wrote on X that he shared Iran's position on a "workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran."

"Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy," Aragchi wrote.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Friday that the Iranian delegation would not meet with the U.S.

Trump on Tuesday announced that a ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran would be extended "until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal."

Still, he said a U.S. naval blockade on any ships entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz would continue.

The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran said on Saturday that if the U.S. continues this blockade, and what it called "banditry and piracy" in the region, it will face a strong response from Iran's armed forces.

The country’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the command said Iran “possesses greater might and readiness than before to defend the country’s sovereignty, territory, and national interests.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the blockade is expanding, with a second aircraft carrier expected to join U.S. forces in the coming days.

Israeli attacks kill 4 in Lebanon

Lebanon's Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed four people in the town of Yohmor, despite a temporary ceasefire that was agreed to on April 17.

Both sides have said that the other has violated the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli military said Saturday that two projectiles were launched from Lebanon toward Israel.

Trump said Thursday that the ceasefire was extended by three weeks. However, Hezbollah deemed it "meaningless" after Lebanese authorities said two people were killed by an Israeli strike on Friday.

Round out your reading

• First, it was the schools. Now they’re coming for your cellphone at work.
• Why one of America’s top economic forecasters is worried about a recession.
• AI companies may not be adhering to their own guidelines — with potentially deadly outcomes.
• Data centers are a thorny issue for Democrats. Maine shows us why.
• We’re building a new Straight Arrow. Help us shape our future by taking our survey.

Reuters reported that Israeli troops destroyed abandoned Lebanese villages in this area. Israel says this is being done to protect "direct threats to communities in northern Israel" from Hezbollah.

The war between Israel and Hezbollah started on March 2, when the group launched rockets into Israel in retaliation for joint U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Israel invaded Lebanon after that. More than 2,300 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began and more than 1 million people displaced, The Associated Press reported.

Just hours after the 10-day ceasefire went into effect at midnight on Thursday, Lebanese officials said Israel violated the deal. On Friday, there was smoke rising from at least one village in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces, according to the Lebanese army, carried out what it called “a number of acts of aggression.”

Then on Saturday, the Israeli military conducted aerial and ground strikes in southern Lebanon, saying there were several incidents where militants approached areas near Israeli troops, according to the AP.

Also on Saturday, a United Nations peacekeeping force was attacked with small arms fire. One peacekeeper from France died and three others were injured. While French President Emmanuel Macron and the peacekeeping force said Hezbollah was responsible, the militant group denied being involved.

Despite the tension, displaced Lebanese citizens are making their way home.

Hassan Najdi, a 28-year-old electrical engineer who returned to the town of Srifa, which was heavily damaged from Israeli airstrikes, told The Guardian that "everything has changed a lot."

"The features of the place are completely different. When you first enter the village, you can’t even recognise that this is the Srifa it used to be,” Najdi said.

Picture shows Israeli soldier damaging Christ statue

After verifying a photograph of one of their soldiers destroying a statue of Jesus Christ on a cross in Lebanon, the Israeli military said it is now investigating what happened.

The photo, which was taken in Debel, shows the statue is upside down. An Israeli soldier in the picture can be seen hitting Christ's head with what appears to be an ax.

“We certainly condemn this shameful act because it offends our religious feelings and is an attack on our sacred beliefs,” Maroun Nassif, the deputy head of the Debel municipality, said to CNN.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it views the incident with "great severity."

"The soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops," it said on X. "The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings. Furthermore, the IDF is working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place."

The discussions gained traction after Germany, which for years preferred to keep the U.S. at the center of European defense, began shifting its position under Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Why Europe is preparing for a larger NATO role

The shift reflects growing concern across Europe that Washington may no longer be a dependable guarantor of the continent’s security.

The Journal reported that President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland helped push the talks forward. More recently, Trump has complained bitterly about Europe’s refusal to back the U.S. military campaign in Iran, giving efforts to plan for a future without U.S. support new urgency.

That anxiety also surfaced publicly in February at the Munich Security Conference, where officials and analysts described a world order under strain and questioned whether the United States could still be counted on as it once was.

Straight Arrow News previously reported from the conference that its 2026 security report warned of “wrecking-ball politics” and that attendees voiced concern about whether long-standing alliances could hold.

Merz said at the conference that the rules-based order “no longer exists” and warned that Europe’s freedom is “not guaranteed.”

Unbiased. Straight Facts.^TM

While no country has ever fully left NATO, France withdrew from the alliance's military command structure in 1966 under President Charles de Gaulle before returning in 2009.

What officials say Europe would have to replace

Officials involved say the discussions are not about building a separate alliance, but about shifting more NATO responsibilities to European governments. The aim is to ensure the alliance can still deter Russia and continue operating if the United States reduces its presence or support.

That would require Europeans to take on responsibilities now heavily concentrated in U.S. hands. The alliance's framework relies heavily on American dominance across key areas, including supply chains, reconnaissance and military authority. 

According to The Journal, officials are now working through practical questions about who would run key military functions if U.S. officers stepped aside, including exercises, logistics and force movement near NATO’s eastern flank.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said NATO remains “irreplaceable” for both Europe and the States.

“But it’s also clear that we Europeans must assume more responsibility for our defense, and we are doing that,” said Pistorius, according to The Journal. “NATO must become more European in order to remain trans-Atlantic.”

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Europe is already taking on more of that burden and argued the transition should happen in a “managed and controllable way,” not through a rapid U.S. withdrawal.

How Germany’s shift changed the debate

The biggest political change appears to be in Berlin. The Journal reported that Merz began rethinking Germany’s traditional dependence on the U.S. after concluding late last year that Trump appeared willing to abandon Ukraine and that shared values were no longer clearly shaping Washington’s NATO policy.

That shift in Berlin helped bring together countries — including France, Britain, Canada, Poland and the Nordic states — for contingency discussions.

Still, the hardest gaps remain unresolved. While European governments can assume more command positions, years of relying on U.S. military power have left them short on critical capabilities. The Journal reported that Europe still lacks key strengths in intelligence, surveillance, missile warning and nuclear deterrence.

That helps explain why some of the most sensitive discussions now extend beyond conventional forces. After Trump threatened Greenland, Merz spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron about whether France’s nuclear umbrella could be broadened to protect Germany and other European allies, The Journal reported.

What Europe can do now — and what it still cannot replace

For now, the planning is informal and has not become an official NATO overhaul, The Journal reported. But officials are already considering steps that could reduce Europe’s dependence on Washington, such as increasing defense production and, in some countries, reconsidering military conscription.

Even supporters of the shift say the transition would be difficult and incomplete without the U.S. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe post remains American, and no European government can quickly replace the military, intelligence and nuclear role Washington now fills.

Regional officials told The Associated Press that mediators are working to extend the ceasefire, which expires next Wednesday, for at least another two weeks. They said both sides gave an “in principle agreement" to do so.

War 'very close to over'

Trump told The New York Post on Tuesday that a new round of talks could happen in Pakistan "over the next two days."

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres also said after a meeting with Pakistan’s foreign minister it’s “highly probable” talks will resume.

In an interview aired Wednesday morning on Fox News, Trump said he believes the war won't go on much longer and once again signaled hope for renewed talks.

"I think it's close to over, yeah," he said. "I mean, I view it as very close to over. You know what? If I pulled up stakes right now it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country. And we're not finished. We'll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly."

Strait of Hormuz blockade fully in place

Meanwhile, the U.S. military says its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and all Iranian ports has now been "fully implemented."

U.S. Central Command said in a post on social media that American forces have achieved “maritime superiority” in the Middle East.

"U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea," the post read.

U.S. officials said during the first 24 hours of the blockade, American warships issued warnings to six vessels, which then reversed course. They said five of the ships were carrying oil.

The Pentagon is also sending thousands of additional troops into the Middle East in the coming days, according to a Washington Post report.

The Post said that will include about 6,000 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and several warships escorting it. About 4,200 others with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Corps task force, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive near the end of the month.

The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. has positioned more than 15 warships for the operation. Ship-tracking data cited by CNN and BBC Verify shows light traffic near Iranian ports and a sharp drop in overall flow— but not a total halt.

Why the blockade falls short of full control

The U.S. is trying to squeeze Iran economically by blocking traffic tied to its ports, not by closing the Strait entirely.  But Iran still holds a key advantage: geography.

The Washington Post reports that the Strait’s narrow lanes, shallow waters, islands and elevated coastline make ships highly exposed to mines, missiles, drones and small-boat attacks. That means the real deterrent is not simply the U.S. Navy’s presence. It is the continued risk of crossing at all.

Before the war, more than 130 ships crossed the Strait daily, according to Kpler data cited by The Post. Since the ceasefire, that average has fallen to about seven a day. More than 700 vessels remain in the Gulf, according to Windward data.

How the US is enforcing the blockade

The Journal reports the U.S. is likely trying to intercept  or quarantine vessels outside the Persian Gulf, in areas like the Arabian Sea, rather than crowd warships near  Iran’s coastline. That approach reduces the danger from Iranian attacks  while still targeting ships linked to  Iranian commerce.

If a ship’s crew refuses to comply, enforcement would require specialized tactical units, like Marines or Navy SEALs, to board vessels. Former officials also told the Journal that if the U.S. actually takes control of tankers, it may need replacement crews and designated places to hold them. 

The Journal also reports Iranian-flagged ships may still attempt to pass through the Strait, potentially with armed escorts from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

CNN’s reporting suggests enforcement remains uneven and difficult. Windward analysts say outbound traffic may be easier to control than inbound vessels, especially when ships use deceptive tracking practices. 

A shipping executive told CNN the blockade should not be taken too literally.

“I would be careful not to interpret that too literally as a physical interdiction at the Strait itself,” said Bjorn Hojgaard, CEO of Anglo-Eastern.

What ship-tracking data shows so far

So far, shipping data shows both pressure and gaps in enforcement. CNN reports limited movement in and out of  Iranian ports during the first full day, but says some tankers are still transiting the Strait. 

BBC Verify reports at least four Iran-linked ships crossed after the blockade began, including vessels tied to  Iranian ports or already under U.S. sanctions. Some ship positions may also be masked through spoofing. That mixed picture helps explain continued caution across the shipping industry. . The Post reports Hapag-Lloyd is still avoiding the Strait under its current risk assessment. Analysts told the paper traffic is unlikely to rebound quickly unless operators believe the ceasefire will hold and the threat to vessels will ease. 

CNN also reports the broader dispute remains unresolved. Iran continues to link full access to the Strait  to a wider agreement  over its nuclear program, sanctions, security guarantees and other terms, while the U.S. is demanding the immediate reopening of the waterway.

China is openly pushing back on the blockade. A foreign ministry spokesperson called it “dangerous and irresponsible.”

And President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday to play a "constructive role" in promoting peace talks in the Middle East. He reportedly floated a four-point proposal that Chinese state media says calls for upholding the principle of regional peaceful coexistence and respecting national sovereignty, while underscoring the principles of coordinating development and security. 

Pakistan is also moving to host another round of talks between the U.S. and Iran before the ceasefire expires next week. The first round in Islamabad ended with no agreement after a marathon 21 hours.

Saudi Arabia is also now pressing the U.S. to end the blockade and continue negotiations with Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Nuclear power remains a sticking point

Vice President JD Vance said on Fox News Channel's "Special Report" Monday that there was some progress made during last weekend's talks, but Iran is still not agreeing to give up its nuclear program.

“The President of the United States, has said he would be very happy if Iran was treated like a normal country, if it had a normal economy, if its people were able to prosper and thrive," Vance said. "But in order for Iran to be a normal country economically, it's going to have to be a normal country from the perspective of not pursuing a nuclear weapon. And it's going to have to be a normal country from not pursuing terrorism."

The U.S. reportedly proposed a 20-year minimum suspension on Iranian uranium enrichment rather than a permanent end to the program.

The New York Times reported that Iran formally countered on Monday, saying they'd agree to suspend enrichment for up to five years. The Times says President Donald Trump turned that offer down.

Oil prices ease but remain high

Meanwhile, oil prices are easing as markets watch for signs these talks could move forward.

U.S. crude fell about 1.7% early Tuesday to around $97 dollars a barrel. Brent crude, the global standard, dropped 0.9% to about $98 a barrel.

More talks remain possible, but the White House has also shown little desire for a long, open-ended bargaining process.

At the same time, officials are considering limited military strikes alongside the blockade, while a return to a broader bombing campaign appears less likely given the chance of wider destabilization in the region.

Trump’s public posture combined escalation with the possibility that diplomacy could continue. He said “most points were agreed to,” but that the nuclear issue was not, leaving open the chance of more talks even as he threatened Iranian infrastructure and ordered the blockade to begin.

What the blockade would do

Trump said the Navy would begin a blockade, stop or divert vessels that paid tolls to Iran and start clearing mines from the waterway. He framed the move as a response to what he called Iranian extortion in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

U.S. Central Command described the operation more narrowly. It said the blockade would begin at 10 a.m. ET on April 13 and would apply to maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports. It also noted that the military would allow commercial ships traveling through the Strait to and from other nations' ports to pass unimpeded.

Why the talks broke down

The talks in Islamabad left the core dispute unchanged. Vance said the United States had made its “red lines” clear and that Iran had chosen not to accept them. According to U.S. officials, these demands required Iran to allow toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, completely dismantle its uranium enrichment capabilities, hand over its highly enriched uranium, agree to a new regional security pact and halt its funding for militant proxies like the Houthis and Hezbollah.

In contrast, Tehran's public description of the talks put the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, war reparations and the broader end of the conflict alongside the nuclear issue, showing that Tehran is negotiating over more than enrichment alone.

Each option carries risk

Each option carries obvious costs. A return to major combat could trigger another round of energy disruption after the earlier war already pushed up gasoline prices and created shortages in critical goods. A blockade also presents tactical dangers. U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal cautioned that warships stationed in the tight confines off the Iranian coast would have minimal time to react to sudden drone or missile strikes.

For the White House, the domestic politics are difficult too. Higher fuel prices remain a liability, and a wider war would likely deepen criticism from voters already wary of another Middle East conflict. According to The Times, the administration is balancing pressure on Tehran against the risks of a broader war.

Some unnamed officials and analysts, according to The Journal, view a blockade as the most viable alternative for the administration, allowing it to squeeze Tehran economically without immediately committing to another massive bombing campaign. But Iran has already shown it can withstand pressure for long periods and remains defiant even after weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes.

What comes next

For now, the administration is moving first with maritime pressure under Trump’s order and CENTCOM’s guidance. After that, the key question is whether the administration uses the blockade to force Iran back into negotiations or decides that more coercion, including limited strikes, is necessary. The current ceasefire expires on April 21, giving the White House a short window to see whether maritime pressure will change Iran’s position.

Trump criticized the first American pope on Sunday night, saying he's not  “doing a very good job” and that “he’s a very liberal person." Trump also accused Pope Leo of "catering to the radical left.”

Iran war criticism

Trump's comments come after the pope last week criticized Trump's public threats to “wipe out” an entire civilization in Iran. The pontiff urged people to contact their Congress members and object.

Leo has been critical of the war in Iran since it began and over the weekend, he reiterated his calls for peace at a special prayer vigil at St. Peter's Basilica, saying the "madness" needs to end.

Trump fired back in a lengthy social media post. He then doubled down when reporters asked about it.

"We don't like a pope that's going to say that it's okay to have a nuclear weapon, we don't want a pope that says crime is okay in our cities. I don't like it," Trump said. "I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo. He's a very liberal person and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime. He is a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world. I'm not a fan of Pope Leo."

In his post, Trump also alleged that Leo was only chosen as Pope “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

Pope Leo reponds

Pope Leo responded on Monday, telling reporters on the papal plane on his way to Africa for an 11-day tour that he has “no fear of the Trump administration."

"I don't want to get into a debate with him. I don't think that the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing," he said. "And I will continue to speak out loud against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue, multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say: there's a better way to do this."

Pope Leo stressed that he is not attacking Trump or anyone else with his appeals for peace and criticisms of the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling conlict worldwide.

"The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” Leo said.

“I congratulated the victorious party,” Orbán told supporters in Budapest. “We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition as well.”

In a message posted to social media, Orbán described the outcome as a “painful defeat” and thanked his supporters for their efforts, writing that they had “fought bravely” throughout the campaign and urging them to remain committed to Hungary’s future.

Initial official results showed Orbán's opposition, led by Péter Magyar, with a commanding lead in a vote expected to have repercussions across Europe and beyond.

Magyar said Orbán acknowledged the outcome in a phone call shortly after results became clear.

"Thank you, Hungary!" Magyar wrote on X.

Magyar later added on Facebook that he also received congratulatory calls from Emmanuel Macron and Manfred Weber, signaling swift recognition from key European leaders following the upset.

The result marks a dramatic political shift in Hungary, where Orbán had governed since 2010, shaping the country’s domestic and foreign policy and positioning himself as a leading voice among nationalist and conservative movements in Europe.

"I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran," Trump said on Truth Social. "No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas."

Other countries will be involved with the blockade, Trump said, though he did not specify which ones.

Following Trump's announcement, U.S. Central Command said forces are set to begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at 10 a.m. ET Monday.

"The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," the command said. "CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports."

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil flows, has been effectively closed since the war with Iran began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against the country in late February.

U.S. forces will destroy any mines Iran laid in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump also said Sunday.

"Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!" he wrote.

Iran's response

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that any military vessels that approach the strait will be seen as a breach of the current ceasefire agreement in place between the U.S. and Iran, Reuters reported.

Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, according to state media, said Trump's blockade threats would not affect Iran.

"If you fight, we will fight, and if ​you come forward with logic, we will deal with logic," he reportedly said.

US, Iran talks end with no agreement

The U.S. and Iran's inability to come to a peace agreement came after 21 hours of negotiations over the weekend.

Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. delegation had “a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians” during the talks, which took place in Pakistan.

Still, “we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement,” Vance said.

“We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on, and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on,” he said. “We’ve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms.”

Asked by a reporter what the Iranian side rejected, Vance said the U.S. needs to see "an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon."

"That is the core goal of the President of the United States, and that's what we've tried to achieve through these negotiations," Vance said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said while the two parties “reached an understanding on a number of issues,” there were still “differences of opinion” on a couple of important matters.

“These negotiations were held after 40 days of imposed war and were held in an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. It is natural that we should not have expected from the beginning to reach an agreement within one meeting,” he said, according to Iranian state media.

In messages posted on social media and remarks delivered in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff called for prayers for those suffering due to war, with particular attention to Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.

“May the light of Christ bring comfort to afflicted hearts and strengthen the hope for peace,” he said, urging that “the international community’s attention to the tragedy of this war not waver.”

The pope also expressed solidarity with the people of Lebanon, describing a time marked by “sorrow, fear, and unwavering hope in God.” He called on parties involved in conflict there to declare a ceasefire and seek a peaceful solution.

“The principle of humanity… entails a moral obligation to protect the civilian population from the horrific effects of war,” he said.

Although there is a ceasefire in the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have continued. Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah.

Marking the upcoming third anniversary of the conflict in Sudan, Leo renewed his appeal for warring parties to lay down their arms and begin dialogue without preconditions.

“How much the Sudanese people are suffering, innocent victims of this inhuman tragedy,” he said, urging combatants to “silence their weapons” and pursue “a sincere dialogue aimed at ending this fratricidal war as soon as possible.”

Earlier, addressing faithful gathered for the Regina Caeli prayer, Leo reflected on the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. 

After the prayer, Leo asked the faithful to accompany him spiritually on his apostolic journey beginning Monday, which will take him to several African nations, including Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

Leo concluded by urging continued prayer and faithfulness, particularly in a world “in such great need of peace.”

The ceremony, central to Orthodox Christian Easter observances, is held annually on Holy Saturday and is believed by the faithful to mark the miraculous appearance of a flame inside the tomb of Jesus. The fire is then passed from candle to candle among worshippers and later carried to Orthodox communities around the world.

Patriarch Theophilos III emerged from the church holding torches bearing 33 candles, distributing the Holy Fire to worshippers and delivering a message of hope and the Resurrection.

The church reopened two days earlier after a 40-day closure imposed under wartime restrictions.

Tensions flared on Palm Sunday, when Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was briefly blocked from entering Jerusalem’s Old City to celebrate Mass, despite prior understandings that senior clergy would be granted access for Holy Week services. The Vatican said he was accompanied by a senior Franciscan official.

By Sunday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered authorities to allow access.

“Even though I understand this concern, as soon as I learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, I instructed the authorities to enable the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes,” Netanyahu said.

Israeli police defended the restrictions, citing security concerns linked to the conflict with Iran. In a statement, police warned of a “real and present danger” from missile fire and falling debris in the Old City, where many buildings lack bomb shelters.

Under directives from the military’s Home Front Command, police said restrictions applied to all holy sites in the Old City “for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.”

Police added that the area has been targeted by missiles multiple times in recent weeks and said the threats “do not discriminate between religions.”

Church leaders described the disruption as unprecedented, saying it was the first time in centuries that Palm Sunday Mass had effectively been halted under the patriarch’s leadership. They said churches had acted “with full responsibility” since the war began, canceling public gatherings and broadcasting services globally.

Authorities said major holy sites, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Mount, have reopened following updated defense guidance after a ceasefire with Iran.

For Saturday’s ceremony, Israeli police deployed hundreds of officers, border guards and volunteers across Jerusalem, particularly in the Old City, citing expectations of large crowds.

In a social media statement, police said forces had been deployed since early morning to ensure a safe environment for the thousands of Christian worshippers attending the ceremony.

Officials said the measures are intended to safeguard public order while preserving freedom of worship amid ongoing regional tensions.

Vance said the U.S. delegation had "a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians" during the talks, which took place in Pakistan.

Still, "we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement," Vance said.

"We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on, and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on," he said. "We've made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said while the two parties “reached an understanding on a number of issues," there were still “differences of opinion" on a couple of important matters.

“These negotiations were held after 40 days of imposed war and were held in an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. It is natural that we should not have expected from the beginning to reach an agreement within one meeting,” he said, according to Iranian state media.

This is a developing story. An older version of this article can be seen below.

Negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are underway in Pakistan, following the announcement earlier in the week of a fragile ceasefire between the two countries.

“The U.S., Pakistan and Iran are holding a trilateral face-to-face meeting today,” a senior White House official said, according to The Washington Post. Iranian officials also confirmed to CNN that the talks are being held directly.

Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning. He leads the U.S. coalition, which includes Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law. The vice president's national security adviser, Andy Baker, and Michael Vance, a special adviser to the vice president for Asian affairs, are also present.

Iran's delegation is being led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani.

Before he left for Pakistan on Friday, Vance told reporters President Donald Trump gave the U.S. delegation "pretty clear guidelines" regarding the talks, and that he expected them to be "positive."

"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance said.

So far, both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir facilitated the 10-point deal, Trump said in a Truth Social post, under which Iran must immediately withdraw any forces blocking ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Wednesday morning, the Iranian government said the Strait of Hormuz was closed again. Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon, Iran said, violated the agreement. More than 300 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday, with the Lebanese Health Ministry saying more than a third of them were women and children. The BBC reported that some of these attacks hit densely populated neighborhoods.

The Israeli military struck what it said Saturday were over 200 "Hezbollah targets" in Lebanon in the last 24 hours.

While Israeli and U.S. officials said the ceasefire does not apply to Israel's attacks on Lebanon, this contradicts what Sharif has said, as well as the plan reported on by Iranian state media. 

In light of the "current internal circumstances," Lebanon's Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, said Saturday he will postpone his trip to the United Nations and the United States.

At least 3,000 people in Iran have been killed since the war started on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on the country, according to The Associated Press. There have been 2,020 reported killed in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and over 12 in Gulf Arab states.

Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, and hundreds injured.

On Friday, Iran's Ghalibaf said two of the measures agreed to in the ceasefire agreement "have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations."

Trump, meanwhile, posted on Truth Social that the Iranians "have no cards, other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways."

"The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!" Trump said.

During a televised address to Pakistan on Friday, Sharif said while the two-week-long, temporary ceasefire was announced, the real challenge would be for a long-term end to the fighting.

He said it will be "a make-or-break” stage.

The Trump administration said it sent a 15-point plan to Tehran in March, but didn't disclose the details publicly.

Officials speaking anonymously to The Washington Post said it involves sanctions relief in return for the removal of all enriched uranium from Iran, as well as limits to its nuclear and missile programs.

This article has been updated to reflect the correct number of notes in the Trump administration's plan. Straight Arrow News regrets the error.

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage, and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.

The movement marked the first known transit by U.S. warships through the strait since the start of the war against Iran.

The operation was not coordinated with Iran, a U.S. official told Axios.

Iranian state media characterized the transit as a violation of a ceasefire agreement and reported threats to target the ships. The U.S. official said no such warning was received.

The transit comes as the reopening of the strait remains a key provision of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal. The waterway, which lies off Iran’s southern coast, is a critical route for global oil shipments and broader international trade.

Shipping traffic has remained limited in the days following the ceasefire, with only a small number of vessels reported to have passed through Saturday. A U.S. official said earlier in the week that some ships had avoided the route due to intimidation concerns.

In a social media post early Saturday, President Donald Trump referenced efforts to secure the strait, stating that the U.S. was “starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz” and downplaying Iran’s military capabilities.

“I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy, because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world,” Starmer said on the ITV News “Talking Politics” podcast.

He was referring to the recent U.S. war with Iran, which led the Iranians to block the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply is shipped through the Strait. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the continuing war also disrupted natural gas supplies and drove up prices across Europe.

Uncertainty over Strait 

Starmer’s comments came amid uncertainty about the status of the Strait of Hormuz despite this week’s announced ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

Only a handful of ships — and, possibly, no tankers — have passed through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reopening the Strait was a condition Trump demanded when he called off a planned assault that he said would destroy the Iranian civilization.

“Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social. “That is not the agreement we have!“    

Starmer told ITV’s Robert Preston that what happens with the Strait is a major test for the ceasefire.

"Our position is 'open means open' for safe navigation,” he said. “That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through."

The world, he said, will have to “wait and see” whether the Strait fully reopens.

“Some of the discussions in the last couple of days have been, let’s see what happens in two, three, four days,” Starmer said. “That’ll begin to be the test. So it’s not what people say on day one or day two.”

Regardless, he blamed both Trump and Putin for the volatility in energy prices.

“The impact on our economy … is clear to see,” he said.

Trump has said he was “disappointed” in Starmer after the British leader refused to allow the U.S. military to launch attacks on Iran from bases in the U.K.

In an email to CNBC, the White House did not directly respond to Starmer’s criticism in the ITV interview.

“Many world leaders have spent decades talking about the threat posed by Iran, but doing nothing about it,” spokesperson Anna Kelly wrote. “President Trump took courageous action to ensure Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, and as he said, we are far along with a definitive agreement to deliver lasting peace.”

‘A matter of principles’

In the interview, Starmer also called on Israel to end its attacks on Lebanon, where it has targeted Hezbollah strongholds but also killed civilians.

Ending the fighting in Lebanon should be part of any ceasefire involving Iran, he said. Israel and the U.S. say Lebanon was not part of the initial ceasefire deal — a contention that Iran disputes.

“But let me be really clear about it: They’re wrong,” Starmer said of Israel’s strikes in Lebanon. “That shouldn’t be happening. That should stop.”

“The question isn’t a technical one of whether it’s a breach of the agreement or not,” he added. “The question is actually a matter of principles.”

Media Miss by the right: Some European MAGA allies distance themselves from Trump’s Iran war

Some of Trump's biggest right-wing allies in Europe are starting to criticize the war with Iran.

According to The Associated Press, the leader of France’s National Rally Party called Trump's war goals “erratic,” and the head of the Alternative for Germany Party has urged American troops to leave their bases.

And Italy's premier refused to let the U.S. use a Sicilian air base to launch attacks on Iran.

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Media Miss by the left: Trump claims ‘authorities’ are investigating CNN

Trump says "authorities" are investigating CNN over the way it reported the ceasefire in Iran.

In its live blog, CNN shared a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council in which it claimed to have “achieved a great victory." Trump responded in a post on social media. "Fake news CNN put out a knowingly false and dangerous statement," he wrote.

CNN is standing by the statement, saying it came from official Iranian channels. 

It was not the only news outlet to report the statement.

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To keep up with stories being missed or under-reported by partisan media outlets visit SAN’s Media Miss archive.

Straight Arrow News identifies Media Misses based on coverage data available at the time of publication. Some outlets may choose to cover a story after our analysis is published. Our methodology prioritizes timely, prominent coverage across a range of sources, but we continually review and refine our approach to ensure balance and accuracy.