TOP STORIES
US Sanctions on China Refiners over Iran Oil Disrupt Operations, Sources Say | Reuters
Recent U.S. sanctions on two small Chinese refiners for buying Iranian oil have created difficulties receiving crude and led them to sell product under other names, sources familiar with the matter said, evidence of the disruption that Washington's stepped-up pressure is inflicting on Tehran's biggest oil buyer. The targeting of independent refiners, known as teapots, marked an escalation in Washington's efforts to cut off Tehran's export revenue as President Donald Trump seeks to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear programme.
US Sanctions Third ‘Teapot’ Refinery in China Over Iranian Oil | Bloomberg
The US Treasury Department sanctioned an oil refinery in China—along with port terminal operators, vessels, companies and individuals—it accuses of facilitating the Iranian crude trade, which it said funds Tehran’s military and violates existing US sanctions. Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Ltd., a so-called teapot refinery in Hebei Province, was the main target of Thursday’s action.
IRGC Says It Will Open the ‘Gates of Hell’ If the US, Israel Attack | Jerusalem Post
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Hossein Salami said that Iran would seriously retaliate against Israel and the US if the two countries struck Iran. “I’m issuing a serious warning: if you make one wrong move, we will open up the gates of hell on you,” he said.
UANI IN THE NEWS
Video Shows Iran’s New Underground Military Drone Facility | Newsweek
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has unveiled a new underground military drone hangar, marking another step in the country's efforts to project its military capabilities. The reveal was accompanied by a video showing the facility's layout and weaponry.
The announcement coincided with sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers. House Speaker Mike Johnson and senior Republicans condemned Iran's role in global conflicts during a Capitol Hill event at which a captured Iranian-made drone was displayed as a symbol of Tehran's reach from Ukraine to the Middle East. . . . On Thursday, an Iranian-made Shahed 136 drone, captured in Ukraine, was displayed inside Congress during an event organized by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The exhibition highlighted growing concerns in Washington over Iran's global footprint, with UANI CEO and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mark Wallace calling the drone “the most ubiquitous terror weapon of mass destruction in the world today.”
Group Brings Iranian Drone to Capitol Hill as Sign of Tehran's Threat | Washington Times
The ominous-looking aircraft on display Thursday inside a congressional caucus room on Capitol Hill wasn’t there just to spark conversations by tourists or others passing by. The Shahed-136, an Iranian-designed and manufactured kamikaze drone, was a tangible symbol of Tehran’s threat against the West, said officials from the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran. “This is the face of the Iranian regime,” said former U.N. Ambassador Mark Wallace, the group’s CEO.
Cruz: Iran Doesn’t Need a Civilian Nuclear Energy Program | Jewish Insider
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) argued on Thursday that Iran does not need a civilian nuclear energy program—a stance that would support a more stringent position on the ongoing nuclear negotiations than members of the Trump administration have outlined. . . . The comments came at an event on Capitol Hill organized by United Against Nuclear Iran, where lawmakers stood next to an Iranian Shahed-136 drone captured in Ukraine and brought to the United States via Poland. The weapon has been used by Iran and its allies in conflicts around the world, from Ukraine to the Middle East.
‘True Face of Iranian Regime’: Shahed Drone Displayed Inside US Congress | Kyiv Post
The US House Speaker Mike Johnson and leading Republican lawmakers strongly condemned Iran for its contribution to conflicts around the world on Thursday – from Ukraine to the Middle East—as they stood next to a Shahed 136 drone captured in Ukraine and brought to the United States via Poland. The weapon was displayed during an event inside the US Congress’s Cannon Office Building organized by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a nonprofit organization that focuses on countering threats posed by the Islamic regime, including its nuclear program and military actions. . . . Mark Wallace, former US Ambassador to the UN, currently UANI’s CEO, called the Shahed 136 “the most ubiquitous terror weapon of mass destruction in the world today.”
In Capitol, Shot Down Shahed Drone in Ukraine as Proof of Iran’s Aggressive Influence | Militarnyi
In the US, the House of Representatives is displaying a Shahed drone shot down by the Ukrainian Armed Forces as proof of Iran’s aggressive influence. A photo from the event was posted on his page by Jason Brodsky, director of the non-partisan organization UANI, which specializes in countering threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran. . . . In addition to Michael Johnson, Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, also spoke at the drone event.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) delivers remarks at a press conference at the Capitol on May 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. The press conference, organized by the NGO United Against Nuclear Iran, came as the United States and Iran continue bilateral negotiations, amid growing international concerns about Iran's production and proliferation of drones.
The Iranian-Russian Shahed-136 drone shot down by Ukraine and brought to the US with the help of the Polish government was presented on Thursday in the Capitol complex in Washington. The presentation was attended by, among others, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson and Charge d’Affaires at the Polish Embassy Bogdan Klich, who drew attention to the threat from the “axis of evil.” During a presentation organized by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), Klich said that Iran, along with Russia, China and North Korea, poses a “strategic threat” to America and Europe, and the Iranian-Russian drone is a symbol of how important that threat is to Poland.
Iranian Drone on Capitol Hill. Poland Had a Hand in It | O2.pl (translated from Polish)
The Iranian-Russian Shahed-136 drone, shot down over Ukraine, was presented in Washington. The machine appeared there thanks to Poland’s support. The event was organized by the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).
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.”
According to US monitoring group United Against Nuclear Iran, Xinhai imported more than 3.3m barrels of Iranian oil since 2023. The Shandong refinery is the third teapot sanctioned by the US since “maximum pressure” was reintroduced by the Trump administration.
NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
Satellite Images Reveal Alleged Secret Iranian Nuclear Weapons Facility | Fox News
Fox News has exclusively obtained satellite imagery revealing what an opposition group says is a previously undisclosed Iranian nuclear weapons facility—raising fresh concerns amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the Trump administration. . . . Code-named the "Rainbow Site" by Iranian officials, the facility has reportedly been in operation for more than a decade, masked as a chemical production company known as Diba Energy Siba.
Iran Says It Completed Refueling at Bushehr Nuclear Plant, Eyes Expansion | Iran International
Iran announced the completion of major maintenance and refueling at its Bushehr nuclear power plant this week, preparing the country’s only operational nuclear facility to meet peak summer electricity demand. The announcement comes as Tehran accelerates work on two new reactor units at the site and reiterates its long-term commitment to nuclear energy amid stalling US nuclear talks.
Inside Iran’s Bizarre Attempt to Sweet-Talk Trump into a Bad Deal | Jewish News Syndicate
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s 180-degree turn regarding the Trump administration was executed by Iran’s ayatollahs with acrobatic finesse and managed to raise some eyebrows. Its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had stated that Iran will not be negotiating with “bullies,” alluding to President Donald Trump’s public commitment to stop Iran’s nuclear pursuit. Yet, less than a month later, Iranian representatives came to the table.
Enrichment and Changing US Demands Vex Talks, Iranian Sources Say | Iran International
Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are faltering over whether Iran will be permitted to enrich [u]ranium and fluctuating US demands, two diplomatic sources in Tehran told Iran International.
President Donald Trump has a decision to make: Should he negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran or subject Iran to “bombing the likes of which they’ve never seen”? The answer is: It depends on the nuclear deal. Trump says he will accept nothing less than “total dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear program. He’s right to take that stand. So, what does “total dismantlement” look like?
President Trump, Do Not Empower Our Mutual Enemy, Iran | Jerusalem Post Editorial
As the US sits across the table from the Iranians, it should remember who is responsible for the instability in the Middle East, and which regime helped Hamas to murder 46 Americans on October 7, taking seven US citizens hostage. This is not just “a very important time for Iran,” as the president states. On these talks could rest the future of peace in the region, and the diminishing of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. It’s a very important time for us all, and the US should remember that when it’s making its deals.
ENERGY
Iran Issues First Caspian Sea Drilling Order in Three Decades | Iran International
Iran has issued its first drilling order in the Caspian Sea in nearly 30 years, aiming to revive long-stalled exploration in the region, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said on Friday. Paknejad said the new operations could unlock substantial reserves. “There is potential to extract over 600 million barrels of crude oil in place from this area,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the 29th International Oil Exhibition in Tehran. . . . Iran’s own efforts have faced repeated setbacks, including equipment failures, limited foreign investment, and deepwater technical constraints.
Despite previous announcements, including seismic surveys and attempted drillings using the Amir Kabir rig, Iran’s Caspian offshore activity has yielded no commercial output to date.
PROTESTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Iranian Press Review: Tehran Uses Phone Tracking for Hijab Crackdown | Middle East Eye
The Iranian establishment has increased pressure on women by sending warning text messages to women in Tehran, Shiraz, Rasht and Isfahan, urging them to follow the mandatory Islamic hijab rules. The move has sparked concerns about the violation of personal privacy. . . . In the past, similar messages were sent only to women not wearing the hijab in their cars, using their licence plate numbers for identification. But now, authorities reportedly use street cameras and mobile phone tracking to identify women in public places.
Husband Kills Wife in Northern Iran Park Shooting | IranWire
Mobina Kandabi, 28, was killed by her husband in a park in northern Golestan Province on Wednesday. The mother of two, from Bagho village in the Bandar Gaz district, was shot with a hunting rifle. Hyrcani Human Rights Media reported that the husband shot Kandabi after seeing her with another man. The male companion was also shot and remains hospitalized.
MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS & PROXY WARS
Satellite Image Shows U.S. Bombers Massing as Iran Tensions Rise | Newsweek
new satellite image showed the U.S. has sent two additional U.S. B-52 bombers to its Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean, underscoring Washington’s growing long-range strike capability near Iran as tensions persist despite another round of nuclear talks.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Eleven Workers Still Missing Ten Days After Iran Port Explosion | IranWire
Eleven workers remain missing ten days after an explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Bandar Abbas. Government officials said rescue operations have ended, but families continue to wait for news about their loved ones.
‘They Had Dreams’: The Invisible Workers at Iran’s Port | IranWire
They sneak in at dawn and vanish by night. They carry heavy loads with their bare hands. They have no contracts, no insurance, and no protective gear—and when disaster strikes, not even the dignity of being counted among the dead. When a massive explosion tore through Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, the “zir-fansi-ha” or “under-the-fence” workers were engulfed in flames and smoke. Now, two weeks later, their families wait in agonizing limbo, searching for loved ones who officially never existed. At the bottom of Iran’s labor hierarchy, these workers were unregistered, undocumented, and ultimately invisible.
Uneven Tehran Blackouts Spark Debate on Social Equity in Energy Access | Iran International
Iran’s capital is grappling with renewed electricity outages but growing evidence suggests the burden of power cuts is falling unevenly across the city, raising concerns over social equity and institutional bias in blackout management. According to reports from Iranian media and residents, working-class neighborhoods in southern and western Tehran are experiencing up to four hours of daily blackouts, while more affluent districts in the north remain largely unaffected.
CONGRESS & IRAN
GOP Senators: Congress Should Vote on Trump’s Potential Iran Nuclear Deal | Fox News
A pair of hawkish, Trump-supporting Senate Republicans say that any “lasting” Iran nuclear deal would need to be approved by Congress, ideally through a two-thirds majority treaty vote. But scoring a two-thirds majority in the Senate for treaty ratification would require Iran to fulfill a series of steep demands. In addition to getting rid of all of its enriched uranium and centrifuges, GOP lawmakers say it would need to dismantle its ballistic missile program and cease all support for terrorist groups across the Middle East.
Hawley Insists on Iranian Nuclear Dismantlement, Vows to Push to Revive AAA | Jewish Insider
Speaking at an Orthodox Union luncheon on Capitol Hill, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said that Iran must be fully stripped of any nuclear capacity. . . . “We need what the president said the other day—and I was glad to hear him say it with such clarity — the total, total dismemberment of Iran’s nuclear program,” Hawley said. “We need to strip them of their nuclear capacity, we need to isolate them, we need to put them in a box so firm, in a cage with bars so strong, that they cannot get out.”
ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON, & IRAN
Trump Had “Private Meeting” with Netanyahu Adviser Ahead of Mid-East Trip | Axios
President Trump met Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday and discussed the nuclear talks with Iran and the war in Gaza, according to two sources briefed on the meeting.
GULF STATES & IRAN
Iran’s Top Diplomat to Visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar Tomorrow
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar tomorrow and will participate in the Iran-Arab World Dialogue summit in Doha, a ministry spokesperson says, ahead of possible US-Iran talks on Sunday.
CANADA & IRAN
Iran Roads Director Brought Before Canada’s Refugee Board for Deportation Hearing | Global News
A former director general in Iran’s roads ministry appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Board on Thursday as Canadian officials continued efforts to expel top-ranking regime members from the country. Afshin Pirnoon is one of 20 alleged senior Iranian officials caught living in Canada since Ottawa launched a crackdown against them in 2022 due to their involvement in a regime that flouts human rights and supports terrorism.
IRANIAN DIASPORA
Haunted by History, Persian Jews Wary of Trump’s Iran Approach | Jewish Insider
To Jews whose families fled Iran out of concern for their lives, the prospect of Trump now negotiating with the rogue regime that wanted them dead is confounding, particularly since he took such a tough approach to Iran in his first term.
MISCELLANEOUS
Iranian Student in Alabama to Self-Deport Despite Withdrawal of Initial Charge | Associated Press
An Iranian mechanical engineering student at the University of Alabama has decided to self-deport after six weeks in a Louisiana detention center despite the government dropping a charge behind his initial arrest, his lawyer and fiancee said. Alireza Doroudi was detained by immigration officials in March as part of President Donald Trump’s widespread immigration crackdown and has been held at a facility in Jena, Louisiana, over 300 miles (480 kilometers) from where he lived with his fiancee in Alabama.