TOP STORIES
Trump Says US to Stop Strikes on Houthis in Yemen | CNN
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the US would “stop the bombings” against the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen, after the Houthis told the US that “they don’t want to fight anymore.” . . . The understanding between the US and the Houthis not to attack each other is aimed at building momentum for nuclear deal talks with Iran, the people said.
Houthis: US Deal ‘Embarrasses’ Israel, Attacks Will Continue | Times of Israel
The ceasefire agreement between the Houthis and the US “serves the Palestinian cause and embarrasses Israel,” an unnamed spokesperson for the Iran-backed rebel group tells Al Jazeera, as officials confirm that the deal will not halt attacks on Israel. “We will continue targeting Israeli ships until aid is delivered to Gaza,” the spokesman continues, saying, “We will assess any future American support for Israel and determine our position accordingly.”
President Donald Trump plans to announce while on his trip to Saudi Arabia next week that the United States will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, according to two U.S. officials. Arab nations have pushed for a change to the geographic name of the body of water off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran has maintained its historic ties to the gulf.
UANI IN THE NEWS
The arrests of seven Iranians in two major anti-terror operations over the weekend coincide with growing concern about the rogue state's activities on British soil. A covert war is currently being waged by UK security forces to try to prevent Iran from targeting its enemies on our streets. The shocking scale of this threat was made clear last year by MI5 director general Ken McCallum, who said spies and police had identified 20 credible Iranian plots to kill or kidnap people in the UK since 2022. . . . Experts have also warned that some Iranians who come to study at British universities as international students on state scholarships are also spies. Kasra Aarabi, of the United Against Nuclear Iran think-tank, said IRGC recruiters did not focus on hiring British Iranians, who are usually secular and oppose the Ayatollah regime. But British Shias who originated from Pakistan, Iraq and Lebanon were targeted at the Arbaeen festival in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala, which attracts up to 20 million pilgrims a year.
U.S. Suspends Bombing After New "Ceasefire" with Houthis | Maritime Executive
After the ceasefire announcement, analysts' attention has quickly turned to the Houthis' Iranian sponsors - and the question of whether the truce would be durable. "If this sticks, the Houthis and Iran will use the quiet to rebuild Houthi capabilities in Yemen and try to create the illusion that Tehran is de-escalating amid U.S.-Iran talks when it's a tactical pause to survive," said United Against a Nuclear Iran's Jason Brodsky. "Recall after Israel struck Iranian soil last year, the regime pushed Hezbollah into a ceasefire to not only buy quiet to rearm, but to avoid further damage to Iranian interests."
The Calendar: . . . 9 a.m. Cannon Caucus Room 390 — United Against Nuclear Iran displays an Iranian Shahed-136 drone on Capitol Hill to call attention to Iran malign drone proliferation, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA); Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) . . . [RSVP to] [email protected]
Experts have also warned that some Iranians who come to study at British universities as international students on state scholarships are also spies. Kasra Aarabi, of the United Against Nuclear Iran think-tank, said IRGC recruiters did not focus on hiring British Iranians, who are usually secular and oppose the Ayatollah regime. But British Shias who originated from Pakistan, Iraq and Lebanon were targeted at the Arbaeen festival in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala, which attracts up to 20 million pilgrims a year.
NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
Next Round of Iran-US Nuclear Talks Likely to Be in Oman at Weekend | Reuters
A fourth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is likely to take place over the weekend in the capital of Oman, with Iranian state media pointing to May 11 as a probable date.
Iran Pressed Houthis into Truce with US to Build ‘Momentum’ in Nuclear Talks | Times of Israel
Iran leaned on Yemen’s Houthi rebel group to reach a truce with the US over attacks in the Red Sea in a move aimed at pushing along negotiations for an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program, according to reports.
US-Houthi Truce May Remove Major Irritant to Iran Nuclear Talks | Iran International
An apparent truce to a blazing Yemen front in Iran's regionwide confrontation with Israel and the United States could deal a fillip to flagging Iran-US talks that had been dogged by the uptick in fighting.
HOSTAGES
Sister Says Jailed French Couple in Iran Are at Breaking Point | Radio France Internationale
“They are at the end of their strength. Jacques’s face is more and more marked by the detention – you can feel he is dying slowly in that cell,” Noémie Kohler told RFI. “Cécile and Jacques are increasingly desperate and are less and less optimistic.” Kohler, 40, and Paris, who is in his seventies, were arrested on 7 May 2022 at the end of a tourist trip to Iran. They are accused of spying—charges they strongly deny.
PROTESTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Political Prisoner Warns Against Rising Executions in Iran | IranWire
Political prisoner Golrokh Iraee has warned from inside Evin Prison about Iran’s escalating execution numbers, criticizing what she describes as widespread public indifference to the crisis. In a letter smuggled from prison, Iraee said, “Being just a voice is not enough,” and called for more action against capital punishment.
Three Baha’i Citizens Begin Prison Sentences in Central Iran | IranWire
Three members of the Baha'i religious minority from central Isfahan have been taken into custody to begin serving two-year prison sentences, according to human rights monitors. Arshia Rouhani, Hamid Manzavi, and Arash Nabavi reported to the Enforcement Branch of the Isfahan Prosecutor's Office on Monday and were subsequently transferred to Dastgerd prison. . . . The three men were convicted on charges including “propaganda in favor of groups opposed to the state,” “propaganda against the government,” and “membership in groups intending to disrupt national security.” Monzavi and Rouhani were sentenced in June 2024 by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammadreza Tavakkoli, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported.
‘Hope in Every Move’: How Dance Becomes Protest in Iran | IranWire
As night falls over Tehran, shadows move across the walls of a quiet villa on the city’s edge. Inside, a dozen young women move to the rhythm of banned music; their dance is a quiet rebellion against the rules the Islamic Republic has enforced for over four decades. . . . Beyond these walls, the dancers risk arrest, harassment, and imprisonment. Yet still, they dance.
U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS
Iran Rebukes Trump’s Reported Plan to Rename Persian Gulf in Official US Usage | Iran International
President Donald Trump plans to announce that the US will begin officially referring to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf,” the Associated Press reported — a move condemned by Iran as a politically motivated affront to its national identity and historical legacy. The move, which comes amid a broader effort to deepen ties with Persian Gulf Arab states, marks a break with long-standing international convention, prompting sharp rebuke from Iran, which shares the longest coastline along the body of water.
ISRAEL, MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS, & PROXY WARS
Israeli Air Strikes Hit Sanaa Airport, Power Plants | Iran International
The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had struck and fully disabled Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport and power plants in the second round of airstrikes since Monday after the Iran-backed Houthi group attacked Israel's main airport.
Israel Blindsided by Trump’s Houthi Announcement, Sources Tell ‘Post’ | Jerusalem Post
Israel was not informed in advance about US President Donald Trump's announcement regarding the Houthis, an informed source told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.
Israel Alarmed by Trump-Houthi Deal amid Iran Talks | Israel Hayom
An Israeli source familiar with the matter admitted that Jerusalem was taken by surprise by President Donald Trump's announcement of a deal with the Houthis, describing it as “very bad news for Israel,” particularly amid ongoing US negotiations with Iran. Still, Israel is awaiting the clarification promised by the White House.
Netanyahu and Katz Issue Warning to Iran After Israelis Strikes on Yemen’s Houthis | Times of Israel
Sitting in the Israeli Air Force command bunker at the Kirya military headquarters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz send a warning to Iran after the IAF strikes Houthi targets for a second day. “I have said many times that whoever attacks Israel — his blood will be on his own head,” says Netanyahu, adding that he promised yesterday that there would be multiple “blows” in response to Sunday’s Houthi missile strike on Ben Gurion International Airport. He says that the choice and timing of targets is meant to punish the Houthis, but also to send a message to Iran, “without whose approval and long-term support, the Houthis could not carry out the criminal missile attack against us.”
Yemen, Iran Will Be Left ‘Unrecognizable’ If Attacks Continue, Says Israeli Envoy | Arab News
Israel’s UN ambassador threatened Yemen’s Houthi militia and Iran in remarks made during Israeli Independence Day celebrations. “If the Houthis and their Iranian masters want to play with fire, they will find their own lands unrecognizable,” Danny Danon said on Tuesday at UN Headquarters in New York City.
Iran Calls for US to Withdraw Support for Israeli Strikes on Yemen | Guardian
Iran has urged the US to end its support for Israel’s continuing strikes on Yemen, claiming Israel is trying to use its conflict with the Houthi-led government to drive a wedge between Iran and the US in the negotiations over the future of Tehran’s civil nuclear programme.
Chinese Warship Shows Up Amid Rising US-Iran Threat of War | Newsweek
China dispatched a warship to the Persian Gulf for a visit as tensions between Iran, Beijing's strategic partner, and the United States continue to grow over the nuclear program of Tehran. The Chinese naval port call in the United Arab Emirates, a vital U.S. security partner, comes ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to the Gulf country next week, where the Middle East is his administration's focus on diplomacy and regional security cooperation.
The discovery of an Iranian explosive charge, along with Hamas documents seized in Gaza, offers further proof: Khamenei praises the massacre while denying responsibility, as the Quds Force, led by Saeed Izadi, played a key role in planning the terror campaign against Israel.
For former US national security adviser John Bolton . . . any allegations of Iranian state-sponsored terrorism are to be taken extremely seriously. Mr Bolton told me the Iranians have several former and serving US officials on their assassination list, but their most valued target continues to be Donald Trump. He also revealed that “Iran's terror network is really quite extensive in Europe and the United States.”
Take a moment to savor President Trump’s shocking announcement that the Houthis waved the white flag and the US agreed to stop its devastating bombing campaign of the Yemeni terrorists. . . . Chalk one up for peace through strength and the crushing impact of American weaponry. And note the unmistakable message to Iran: We mean business and you’re next unless you drop the nuke program.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Mysterious Port Blast ‘Reduced Iran's Leverage’ | Jewish News Syndicate
A rash of unexplained blazes and blasts at sensitive industrial, port and alleged Islamic Republican Guard Corps-linked facilities across the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent days raised questions about internal security, regime competence and potential covert actions.
Port Explosion Leaves Dozens with Serious Eye Injury in Iran | IranWire
More than 30 people have sustained eye injuries following the major explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, Hammiham newspaper reported on Tuesday. The injuries include corneal burns, eyelid lacerations, severe eye trauma, and multiple cases of complete blindness.
Iran’s continued struggle with electricity shortages has led to the implementation of rolling blackouts in the capital, Tehran.
Huge Dust Storm Sweeps into Iran, Affecting Millions | New Arab
Iranian authorities ordered schools and offices closed in seven western provinces Tuesday as a dust storm swept in from neighbouring Iraq, with around 13 million people told to stay indoors.
Flames of Port Blast Are Out but We’re Burning Inside | Iran International
Another disaster, more Iranians killed, no one held accountable, the media gagged: the port blast on Iran’s Persian Gulf coast was news and not news at the same time. The explosion struck Bandar Abbas, one of Iran’s most vital trade arteries. It cloaked the city in toxic fumes. Schools and government offices were shut, residents were told to stay home and wear masks. Yet officials tried to downplay the severity. Soon speculations and gossip rivered, as is the case usually, to fill the vacuum left by the state’s evasion.
CONGRESS & IRAN
Sen. Graham: 'It's Long Past Time to Hit Iran Hard' | Jewish News Syndicate
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday urged Israel to consider destroying Iran’s oil facilities and to continue striking Houthi terrorists in Yemen. . . . “To my friends in Israel, do what you have to do to protect your airspace and your people. It is long past time to consider hitting Iran hard. It wouldn’t take much to put Iran out of the oil business,” Graham tweeted.
RUSSIA, UKRAINE, & IRAN
Russia Says Iran and Others Have Legal Right to Develop Their Own Nuclear Energy Programs | Reuters
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Iran and other countries that do not possess nuclear weapons have a legitimate right to develop their own civil nuclear energy programs.
EUROPE & IRAN
UK Arrests Spur Calls from MPs to Blacklist Iran’s Revolutionary Guards | Iran International
The arrest of five Iranian nationals on terror charges across the UK has led to renewed calls by lawmakers to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
Iran’s Ambassador to London to Be Summoned over UK Terror Arrests | Financial Times
Iran’s ambassador to the UK will be summoned after counterterrorism police arrested two groups of Iranians in separate operations last weekend, security minister Dan Jarvis said on Tuesday.
Iran Says ‘Disturbed’ by UK Arrest of Iranians in Terrorism Probe | Reuters
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday he was “disturbed” to learn Iranian citizens have been arrested by British authorities, according to a post on X. He said Iran was ready to assist in investigations if “credible allegations of misconduct are established.”
[British] Home Office minister Dan Jarvis has urged MPs “not to speculate” on the location targeted by a suspected terror plot as he gave a statement on two separate counter-terrorism investigations that both involved Iranian nationals.
MISCELLANEOUS
Iran-Born Engineer Denied Bail Ahead of US Trial Tied to Drone Strike | Reuters
A U.S. judge declined on Tuesday to allow an Iranian-born engineer to be released on bail while he awaits trial on charges related to a deadly drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan carried out by Iran-backed militants last year. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled that the risk that Mahdi Sadeghi might flee was too great to allow him to be released on bond while he awaited trial on charges that he engaged in a scheme to violate U.S. export control and sanctions laws.