US Demands Iran Cease Strait of Hormuz Attacks Amid New Sanctions and Assassination Plot Revelations
Washington issues 24-hour ultimatum for open shipping lanes as new sanctions target Iranian banker and intelligence points to Trump assassination plot.
Carla Rooney
The United States has delivered a 24-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding a public commitment to halt attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and guarantee open, toll-free shipping lanes.
The Treasury Department accuses Ansari of financing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards.
Ansari diverted public funds into an extensive overseas portfolio, benefiting government elites and the IRGC alongside his personal enrichment.
Meanwhile, Israel shared intelligence with the US regarding a new Iranian assassination plot against Donald Trump.
Israeli intelligence confirms Iran devised a new plan to eliminate Mr. Trump; US officials note the report's timing after the ceasefire broke.
Iran has sought the President's assassination since 2020, maintaining a continuous threat against the former leader.
President Trump referenced threats against his life while speaking to journalists in Turkey during the NATO summit, stating, "I'm on every list. I saw this morning, I'm on every single one of their lists."
I'm on every list. I saw this morning, I'm on every single one of their lists.
Trump swapped planes as a security tactic following attacks and threats, indicating a heightened security posture.
The former US President's remarks followed the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a pivotal figure in Iranian history, where Iranian demonstrators made open calls to kill Trump.
Protesters at Khamenei's funeral chanted, "We Will Kill Trump," a direct and public threat.
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz dropped significantly, impacting a critical economic artery for global oil supplies.
The US Central Command (Centcom) stated the IRGC attacked a Cyprus-flagged vessel, the MV GFS Galaxy, in the Strait of Hormuz, causing significant damage and a missing crew member.
Centcom further stated Iran failed to adhere to the Memorandum of Understanding, missing another opportunity.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated the waterway was closed until further notice and launched attacks on US bases and allies in the region.
The IRGC claimed it hit a US base in Jordan, while the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain all responded to missiles and drones from Iran.
State media reported Iran closed the Strait until further notice after firing a naval cruise missile at a vessel attempting to sail along an unapproved route.
Iran's Guards claimed the vessel was "hit by warning shots and stopped" after ignoring repeated instructions, asserting Iran controls the sea route and permits transit only through its approved designated routes.
Iran's ambassador to the UN stated that any external interference in the Gulf channel would violate the interim deal, while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed Iran has so far kept its word, unlike the so-called US Treasury Secretary who is violating Para 9 of the MOU.
Officials blamed the latest strikes against vessels on a power struggle in Tehran, with rogue hardliners seeking to derail the fragile truce.
Iranian officials privately disclosed to the President that an 'errant' sect of hardliners, attempting to undermine negotiations, carried out the attacks on commercial vessels.
Despite these tensions, Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in negotiations in Oman, signaling ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Donald Trump claims thousands of missiles are "locked and loaded" and targeted at Iran, should the nation's administration pursue its threat.
orders have already been given for the US military to completely decimate all regions of Iran over a one-year timeframe, which would be subject to extension.
Trump also claims "orders have already been given" for the US military to "completely decimate" all regions of Iran over a one-year timeframe, which would be "subject to extension."