TOP STORIES
Trump Says He Hasn’t Decided If Iran Can Enrich Uranium in a New Deal | Wall Street Journal
President Trump said Wednesday that he hasn’t decided whether Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium under a new nuclear deal, signaling that the White House might be flexible on a central issue in the talks. Asked if Iran can have a civilian enrichment program if it didn’t produce weapons-grade material that could be used in a bomb, Trump said: “We haven’t made that decision yet.”
President Trump publicly promised Iran Wednesday that he would bring the country’s nuclear project to an end — one way or another. “I would much prefer a strong, verified deal,” the president [said] . . . “Well, we could actually blow ’em up. Blow ’em up, or just de-nuke ’em,” the 78-year-old added, referring to the theocracy’s atomic sites. “But there are only two alternatives, blow ’em up nicely or blow ’em up viciously.”
Iranian Terror Suspects ‘Targeted Israeli Embassy in London’ | Times of London
The Israeli embassy was the target of a terror plot linked to Iran, The Times has learnt. A group of Iranian men are suspected of planning an atrocity at the embassy in Kensington, west London. Counterterrorism officers, supported by the military, swooped in to make arrests at the weekend fearing that an attack was imminent.
UANI IN THE NEWS
Unelected bureaucrats are once again playing politics with British national security: this time in relation to the threat emanating from Iran’s regime. The message needs to be clear to Prime Minister Keir Starmer: intervene now and take back control from Whitehall or on your head be it if and when the Ayatollah successfully carries out a terrorist attack on British soil. And any intervention must begin with the proscription of the regime’s terror arm – the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Daily Kickoff: White House Waffles on Iran | Jewish Insider
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and James Lankford (R-OK) and Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Brian Mast (R-FL) are slated to speak at an event this morning on Capitol Hill hosted by United Against Nuclear Iran, which will display an Iranian Shahed-136 drone in the Cannon Office Building.
Panama Key to Iran's Sanctions-Busting Oil Fleet, Watchdog Says | Iran International
US-based watchdog group on Thursday accused Panama of playing a key role in enabling sanctions evasion by Iranian oil tankers while Tehran’s oil ministry announced a significant rise in crude exports. The organization United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) said 17% of a fleet of vessels it suspects of smuggling sanctioned Iranian oil are currently flying the Panamanian flag.
In a statement, UANI described Panama’s maritime registry as the “most commonly used national registry among this shadow fleet,” citing tactics such as flag-hopping, fake ownership records, and manipulation of automatic identification systems (AIS). “Panama has long been the flag of choice for sanctions violators and oil smugglers,” said UANI CEO Mark D. Wallace. “We’ve repeatedly provided the AMP [Panama Maritime Authority] with names, evidence, and warnings. Their lack of consistent, proactive enforcement continues to undermine global sanctions compliance.” UANI’s tanker tracker lists 542 foreign-flagged vessels suspected of involvement in sanctioned oil shipments from Iran.
If there's one thing that transcends Iranians' personal beliefs and politics, it's the name of the body of water historically known as the Persian Gulf—a name that has become a point of national pride amid efforts by some Arab states to rename it the Arabian Gulf. So it came as little surprise that Iranians responded with outrage after a report that US President Donald Trump had endorsed the suggested name change. . . . Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, noted that the US military has used the term “Arabian Gulf” for years. But, he added, “In my experience, there's one thing that unites Iranians: ensuring it's called Persian Gulf.”
Trump's Linguistical Change Unites Iranians Against Him | Israel Hayom
The move could jeopardize Trump's support among Iranians who back his hardline stance against Tehran, warns Behnam Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, as cited in The Associated Press. "This decision will have the inadvertent effect of watering down [Trump's] pro-max pressure constituency inside and outside the US and Iran that has supported the White House's Iran agenda," he wrote on X. Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, noted that the US military's use of "Arabian Gulf" aligns with Arab partners but alienates Iranians, who are unified in insisting on the Persian Gulf name, according to The Associated Press.
NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
“Without prejudging the [nuclear] negotiations, I will say so far so good, we’ve been very happy [that] the Iranians have responded to some of the points that we’ve made,” Vance told the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington. “So far, we’re on the right pathway.” “We don’t care if people want nuclear power. We’re fine with that, but you can’t have the kind of enrichment program that allows you to get to a nuclear weapon, and that’s where we draw the line,” he continued. . . . “We think that there is a deal here that would really integrate Iran into the global economy, that would be really good for the Iranian people, but would result in the complete cessation of any chance that they get a nuclear weapon—that’s what we’re negotiating towards,” Vance said.
US VP Suggests Some Leeway on Iran Nuclear Enrichment | Iran International
US Vice President J.D. Vance said on Wednesday that Iran must not be allowed to enrich uranium to levels that would enable it to develop nuclear weapons—remarks that may be seen as an apparent nod to Iran’s insistence on maintaining low-level enrichment.
"They can have civil nuclear power. OK, we don't mind that, but... no one right now has a civil nuclear program with their entire enrichment infrastructure that can enrich to the 90-plus percent needed to get to fissile material and a nuclear weapon," Vance said at the Munich Security Conference in Washington DC.
Trump has returned to office with a clear message: Iran will never possess nuclear weapons. But clarity on what that entails—and how to achieve it—is still lacking.
Trump Ditched Israel with Surprise Houthi Truce. That Doesn’t Bode Well on Iran | Lazar Berman
[T]he [U.S.] ceasefire [with the Houthis] also points to a clear danger for Israel. Trump surprised Jerusalem with his announcement, and didn’t seem to care much about what it meant for Israel’s security. This mirrors the nightmare scenario for Israel as Trump pursues nuclear talks with Iran. With Israel on the sidelines, the president could suddenly announce a deal with Iran that leaves its nuclear program intact. Israel would find itself isolated, and unlike in the Houthi case, it would be inconceivable that it would attack Iran after an agreement with Trump. The US president has talked tough on Iran. Yet his partiality toward agreements with enemies through direct talks seems to be driving policy, and Israel’s point men — Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer — have failed to influence policy or even keep abreast of secret talks.
SANCTIONS, SHIPPING, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Zombie Oil Supertanker in China Points to Iran Trade Workarounds | Bloomberg
After buckling under pressure from Beijing and Washington, the clandestine supply chain that carries Iranian crude to China is finding new workarounds. A tanker identifying itself as Global discharged about 2 million barrels of Iranian oil at a port managed by a Chinese provincial government in late April, ship-tracking data show. However, the vessel was actually a very large crude carrier called Gather View that had been sanctioned by the US and took over the identity of a previously scrapped ship to evade a crackdown on the trade. It’s the first time a so-called zombie ship was observed entering a government-run port in Shandong since the province, home to the world’s biggest buyers of Iranian crude, issued a directive forbidding sanctioned tankers in January.
Turkish Bank Tells US Supreme Court It Should Be Immune from Iran Sanctions Charges | Reuters
Turkey's state-controlled Halkbank asked the US Supreme Court to throw out a lower court ruling saying it could be prosecuted on criminal charges it helped Iran evade American sanctions. In a petition posted this week on the Supreme Court's website, Halkbank said it was entitled to “absolute immunity” under the common law because the sovereign immunity that countries have extends to their instrumentalities. . . . Prosecutors said Halkbank helped Iran secretly transfer $20 billion of restricted funds, and helped launder money through the US financial system.
HOSTAGES
Family of American Hostage Tortured in Lebanon Wins Landmark Case Against Iran | Fox News
After a nearly four-year search for justice, a U.S. court has found in favor of the family of a Lebanese American man held hostage in Lebanon, finding that the Islamic Republic of Iran, working through its proxy Hezbollah, should be held liable for their father’s kidnap and torture. Two of Amer Fakhoury’s daughters, Guila and Zoya Fakhoury, told Fox News Digital that on May 1, a U.S. District Court judge found Iran responsible for Fakhoury’s imprisonment.
France Seeks to Raise Pressure on Iran over Couple’s Detention | Reuters
Supporters of two French citizens held in Iran for three years staged rallies on Wednesday to demand their release as France's foreign ministry said it would soon file a legal complaint against Tehran at the International Court of Justice. Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris have been held since May 2022. Iranian state television aired a video later that year with them appearing to confess to acting on behalf of French intelligence services, which Paris categorically denies. . . . France has accused Iran of keeping Kohler and Paris in conditions akin to torture in Tehran's Evin prison and not allowing proper consular protection.
PROTESTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Advocacy Group Condemns Iran's Intensifying Crackdown on Press Freedom | Jurist News
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the escalating crackdown on press freedom in Iran on Tuesday, and urged Iranian authorities to immediately cease their systematic persecution of journalists and media organizations. This development comes in the wake of the conviction of six media activists from both private and state-affiliated outlets by political-press courts in Iran last month.
U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS
Iran Warns Trump Renaming Persian Gulf Will ‘Bring the Wrath of All Iranians’ | Forbes
Iran sharply condemned President Donald Trump’s reported plans to start referring to the Persian Gulf as the “Gulf of Arabia” or the “Arabian Gulf” in his latest push to expand his global stamp. . . . Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a pointed warning in response to the reports, writing on X that “any short-sighted step in this connection will have no validity or legal or geographical effect” and “will only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life.”
MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS & PROXY WARS
Iran Welcomes End of US Attacks on Yemen, Foreign Ministry Says | Reuters
Iran welcomes the end of U.S. attacks on Yemen, its foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced Washington would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthi militia.
Houthi Missile Strike on Ben-Gurion Airport Seen as Victory in Iran | Jerusalem Post
Iranian media has hailed the recent Houthi missile strike on Ben-Gurion Airport as a major victory, according to Beni Sabti, a senior researcher in the Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies.“In the past two days since the Houthi missile struck Ben-Gurion Airport, the Iranians have been beside themselves,” Sabti said. “They are overjoyed and deeply satisfied with what they view as a major and meaningful success. From their perspective, this is a significant achievement — their proxy succeeded using their own missile and technology. It’s a tremendous victory in their eyes.”
Satellite Images Show US B-52 Bombers Deployed Near Iran | Newsweek
New satellite imagery showed two B-52 bombers at the U.S. Naval Support Facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing Washington's long-range strike capabilities near Iran at a time that talks with the U.S. on its nuclear program have so far fallen short of a deal to avert threatened military action.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Inside Qom Seminary, Iran’s Political and Spiritual Powerhouse | Iran International
Nestled in the heart of Iran's second holiest city, the century-old Qom Seminary is the most influential Shi’ite clerical institution in the country and arguably the world. As the academic and spiritual powerhouse of Shi'ism, the Qom Seminary plays a central role in shaping Iran's religious elite and, by extension, much of the country's theocratic structure. Beneath its religious facade, however, lies a vast, opaque network of political influence, financial entanglements and government control.
Power Outage to Hit Iran Gov’t Offices | Jerusalem Post
Iran announced that the country will experience planned power outages and reduced working hours in all government offices between the hours of 6 am and 1 pm due to its severe energy crisis, Israeli media sources reported.
Online Gun Market Thrives in Iran Despite Harsh New Law | Iran International
Despite a new law targeting the illegal arms trade, Iran’s underground gun market continues to thrive on encrypted Telegram channels where vendors openly offer firearms ranging from pistols to Kalashnikov rifles. . . . Iran’s black market extends far beyond guns. Unlicensed alcohol, sex work under the guise of massage services, and a growing narcotics scene—from cocaine to synthetic pills—share the same digital infrastructure, relying on anonymity, encrypted platforms, and rapid logistics.
CONGRESS & IRAN
Prominent Senate and House Republicans are collecting signatures on nearly identical draft letters to President Donald Trump insisting that any nuclear deal with Iran must include the full dismantlement of the regime’s nuclear program and that the verification protocols from the original 2015 nuclear deal are no longer a viable option, Jewish Insider has learned.
EUROPE & IRAN
Iran Rejects Reports of Alleged Plot to Target Israeli Embassy in London | Sky News
Iran has rejected reports that Iranian nationals were allegedly involved in a plot to target the Israeli embassy in London. . . . It comes after media organisations including the Times newspaper reported the Israeli embassy in Kensington was understood to have been the target of an alleged plot.
Dissidents in UK Warn of Growing Iran Danger amid Alleged Israel Embassy Plot | Guardian
Iranian dissidents in the UK have warned that Tehran is growing “more aggressive and dangerous” overseas as it emerged that the Israeli embassy in London was the target of a major alleged terror plot.
Iran Running 'Terror Cell Network' Across Europe - Warning After UK Plot Foiled | Express
An Iranian state-backed terror network operating across Europe — including the UK — is actively recruiting from criminal gangs and Muslim communities, a former Israeli intelligence official has warned.
ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON, & IRAN
Israeli Minister Says Israel Will Do to Iran What It Has Done to Gaza | Al Arabiya
Israel will do to Iran what it has done to Hamas in Gaza, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Thursday, days after an attack on Ben Gurion airport by Iran-backed Houthi militia. “I warn... Iranian leaders who finance, arm and exploit the Houthi terrorist organization: the proxy system is terminated and the axis of evil has collapsed,” Katz said in a statement.
SOUTH ASIA & IRAN
Iran’s Foreign Minister Repeats Call for Restraint in India-Pakistan Standoff | Al Arabiya
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called for restraint between India and Pakistan upon landing in New Delhi on Thursday, state media reported, a day after India targeted what it says are “terrorist camps” in Pakistan in retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir last month. “We hope that India and Pakistan will prevent the escalation of tension in the region,” Araghchi said, reiterating calls for restraint he made during his visit to Pakistan on Monday.