Iran pins blame for oil spill as Pentagon reveals new cost of war
Iran’s top environmental official said Tuesday that a suspected oil spill in the Gulf near Iran’s Kharg Island was likely from a tanker dumping wastewater, not a leak from oil facilities. Meanwhile, Pentagon officials said the cost of the Iran war has risen to about $29 billion, most of it to repair and replace munitions.
Washington making progress in 'sensitive' diplomatic efforts over Iran war: Vance
Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that Washington was making careful progress in diplomatic efforts over the conflict with Iran, emphasizing a coordinated approach with regional allies.
“Obviously, these negotiations are very sensitive,” Vance said at the inaugural meeting of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Explaining that Washington was “trying to have a productive conversation,” Vance said that he had participated in a call with Jared Kushner and Steve Wycoff, as well as “a number of our friends in the Arab world this morning.”
Vance reiterated that the goal was to prevent a “very dangerous regime having access to the most dangerous weapons in the world.”
“That's the goal that we're focused on. Again, there's a lot of ways to accomplish that goal,” Vance said.
“The president has set us off on the diplomatic pathway for now, and that's what I'm focused on,” he added.
Iran unleashes 342 fast-attack boats in Strait of Hormuz, tightening grip on shipping lane
A swarm of more than 300 Iranian fast-attack boats was identified in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday as diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington continued.
According to maritime intelligence firm Windward AI, 342 boats were deployed across five monitored zones — a “step down from yesterday’s 454, but still elevated compared with the 27 to 230 range observed between May 4 and May 10,” the firm said in a post shared on X.
On May 11, a swarm of about 200 Iranian fast-attack boats brought the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual standstill, the firm said.
Windward also reported a heavy concentration of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small craft inside the northern Hormuz Corridor, using “swarm-style formations” and “escort-like behavior” to disrupt commercial traffic.
“The swarm coincides with a total halt in commercial movement, with all large-hull vessels currently observed as stationary,” Windward said.
Iran also expanded its definition of the Strait of Hormuz into a “vast operational area” far wider than before the conflict, according to reports.
Citing Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political director of the IRGC Navy, the state-affiliated Fars News Agency reported May 12 that the strait is no longer viewed as a narrow stretch around a handful of islands.
Instead, it has been expanded in both scope and military significance, Akbarzadeh said, according to Reuters.
Waltz condemns Iran's 'illegal' mining, tolls in Strait of Hormuz, UN resolution gains support
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz condemned Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, pointing to growing support for a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding that it stop mining the waterway and imposing tolls.
“Iran is ISOLATED in its illegal actions to mine international waters and charge tolls,” Waltz said in a post shared on X.
“See the list of 113 co-sponsors of the U.N. Security Council resolution — including India, Japan, and South Korea — demanding Iran STOP its illegal and unacceptable behavior,” he added.
Iranian opposition camp near Erbil in northern Iraq struck by two drones: report
Two drones struck an Iranian opposition camp north of Iraq’s Erbil on Wednesday, according to reports.
Citing security sources, Reuters reported that an arms and ammunition depot inside the camp had been targeted. There were no reports of fatalities
Two Hamas militants killed, including Oct. 7 attack commander, IDF says
Two Hamas operatives, including a commander involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, were killed Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
“ELIMINATED: Hamza Sharabasi, a commander in Hamas’ Shejaiya Battalion in northern Gaza,” the IDF said in a post shared on X.
The military said Sharabasi had infiltrated Israeli territory on Oct. 7 and took part in the assault on the Nahal Oz outpost, where Israeli soldiers were killed.
"Recently, he was involved in advancing attacks against IDF troops operating near the Yellow Line," the IDF confirmed.
The IDF also said that Azzam al-Hayya who held a leading role in the organization, was killed.
Vatican knighthood given to Iran's ambassador was routine, US Embassy says
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See said Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV did not grant any exclusive honor to Iran’s ambassador to the Vatican.
The statement followed reports claiming that Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari had been named a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of Pius IX.
“Contrary to news reports, Pope Leo has not bestowed a special honor on the Iranian ambassador,” the embassy said in a post shared on X.
“This decoration is routinely given to accredited ambassadors to the Holy See after more than two years of service and has been standard practice for many years.”
The embassy added that the award is a personal recognition and “does not imply support or opposition to any policy or country.”
It also noted that 13 ambassadors recently received the same honor and that previous U.S. ambassadors have received it as well.
“Finally, the decoration was not given in person by the pope,” the statement said.
Iran’s Press TV had described the order as one of the Vatican’s most distinguished knighthoods, typically awarded to ambassadors and prominent figures for strengthening diplomatic ties and promoting dialogue, according to Mehr News Agency.
Iran says its claim over Strait of Hormuz is 'established' and 'the matter is closed'
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Wednesday that Tehran’s claim over the Strait of Hormuz was no longer open to debate.
“Our right to the Strait of Hormuz is established, and the matter is closed,” Aref said, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Al Jazeera reported.
Aref also said that Iran’s previous planning had focused on sanctions and pressure from adversaries, but that policymakers must now concentrate on “the security and well-being of our country and the region.”
This came as diplomatic efforts for a peace deal appeared to have stalled. President Donald Trump said May 11 that Iran's latest peace proposal was "unacceptable."
The U.S. blockade on Iranian ports also continued Wednesday.
Netanyahu’s secret UAE trip during Operation Roaring Lion led to ‘historic breakthrough’: Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and secured what officials call a historic breakthrough in relations between the two countries.
Netanyahu made the covert trip during the height of Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, according to the prime minister’s office.
“This visit led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” the office said.
No further details were immediately provided.
The growing relationship was highlighted publicly for the first time earlier this week when the U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Israel has sent Iron Dome air-defense weapons and personnel to operate them to the UAE.
The UAE diplomatically recognized Israel in 2020. That drew criticism from Iran, long Israel’s main regional enemy. Iran didn’t immediately respond to Huckabee’s remarks, though it has repeatedly suggested over the years that Israel maintained a military and intelligence presence in the Emirates.
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
US forces fire small-arms warning shots to enforce blockade, CENTCOM says
U.S. forces fired small-arms warning shots earlier this week to enforce the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ensure that two commercial vessels trying to leave the waterway turned around, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday.
The command shared the update about the U.S. naval blockade against ships entering and exiting Iran’s ports, which began on April 13, in a post on X.
“As of today, American forces have redirected 67 commercial vessels, allowed 15 supporting humanitarian aid to pass, and disabled 4 to ensure compliance,” CENTCOM said.
The command also highlighted how it enforced the blockade when two commercial vessels tried to leave Iran’s ports earlier this week.
U.S. forces “ensured that 2 commercial vessels turned around to comply with the blockade after communicating via radio and firing warning shots from small arms, clearly demonstrating that U.S. enforcement remains in full effect,” it said.
US stealth fighter jet patrolling waters near Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says
A U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighter jet was patrolling over regional waters near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
The F-35A is a 5th-generation stealth fighter. The aircraft can carry up to 18,000 pounds of ordnance while still flying at supersonic speeds, the command said.
CENTCOM made the announcement in a post on X as Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz is throttling the world’s energy supplies and inflicting economic pain across the globe.
An American naval blockade of the waterway began on April 13, leaving tankers filled with oil unable to get out of the strait.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump faces split among retired US commanders over whether to resume Iran strikes
President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is on "massive life support," as retired U.S. commanders and national security experts are increasingly split whether Washington should resume military operations against Tehran or avoid what critics warn could become another prolonged Middle East conflict.
"I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support," Trump told reporters Monday. "Where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living.’"
Trump also dismissed Iran’s latest response to a proposed agreement as "a piece of garbage," amid reports the White House is reviewing military options should negotiations collapse.
Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, former national security adviser under Trump, said he believes Iran’s leadership is unlikely to make the concessions Trump considers necessary for a deal.
"I think the Iranian leadership and IRGC are unwilling to make the kind of concessions that President Trump thinks are at the minimum," McMaster told Fox News Digital, referring to Iran's hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"President Trump always wants a deal," he added. "But he's not going to sign up for a bad deal."
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Efrat Lachter.
Iran blames foreign tanker for massive oil slick near Kharg Island
Iran said Tuesday a suspected oil spill near its main export hub at Kharg Island was likely caused by a foreign tanker dumping contaminated ballast water, not a leak from its own facilities.
Satellite images from May 6–8 showed a grey-and-white slick stretching across dozens of square kilometers west of the island, a key oil hub in the Gulf.
Vice President and environmental chief Shina Ansari said monitoring found “no oil leaks… from pipelines or oil facilities,” and blamed a “non-Iranian tanker” for the discharge, according to state media.
Iran’s Oil Terminals Company also said inspections found no signs of leaks from storage tanks, pipelines or nearby tankers.
Analysts reviewing the imagery said the slick appears to be oil and could be one of the largest seen since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, Reuters reported.
Iran war price tag nearing $29B, Pentagon comptroller tells Congress
Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst told House lawmakers on Tuesday that the U.S. war against Iran is now estimated to have cost around $29 billion dollars.
"The joint staff team of the comptroller team are constantly looking at that estimate. And so now we think it's closer to 29," Hurst said, noting an increase from an estimate of $25 billion he disclosed in late April.
Pentagon officials told Congress that roughly $24 billion is related to replacing munitions and repairing equipment but also includes operational costs to keep forces deployed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced tough questions during the hearing from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the Trump administration's end game for the Iran war, the conflict's rising cost and its impact on diminishing U.S. weapons stockpiles.
Hegseth said President Donald Trump's 2027 budget request for the Department of War “reflects the urgency of the moment, addressing both the deferred maintenance of long-standing problems as well as positioning our forces for current and future fights.”
Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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