US seizes Iranian ship after opening fire; Pakistan talks in doubt

Iranian Foreign Minister Aragchi has told his Russian counterpart that Iran will monitor U.S. behavior and take the appropriate decision to protect its interests and national security, according to reports.

Citing Iranian state media, Reuters also reported that in a phone call with Sergey Lavrov, Araghchi said that the United States’ “illegal behaviors” and the “contradictory positions” of its leaders were “incompatible with the claim of diplomacy.”

Aragchi’s remarks came as the two-week ceasefire set by the U.S. was set to end Wednesday.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also said that "no decision has been made" on whether to hold new talks.

The U.S. Navy is continuing operations in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday.

“U.S. Navy sailors were flying and handling aircraft on the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea as part of a larger naval group working in the Middle East region,” the command said in a post shared on X.

The carrier and its accompanying ships are operating in the region amid ongoing tensions with Iran in the region.

An Iranian-flagged cargo ship recently seized by U.S. forces had recently traveled through Chinese ports, spotlighting a supply route now under scrutiny as officials probe suspected dual-use cargo aboard the vessel.

The vessel, Touska, remains in U.S. custody as American forces continue inspecting what maritime security sources told Reuters is likely "dual-use" cargo — materials that can serve both civilian and military purposes — following a voyage from Asia.

Shipping data shows the Touska made multiple recent stops in Zhuhai, a major port in southern China, before transiting through Southeast Asia and heading toward Iran — part of a pathway analysts say has helped Iran sustain trade flows despite U.S. pressure.

The seizure comes as part of a broader U.S. effort to enforce a naval blockade on Iran aimed at pressuring Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.

The ship had last docked in Port Klang, Malaysia, April 12 and was en route to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas when it was intercepted, a U.S. official told Fox News.

The Touska was seized in the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, as it was approaching Iranian waters Sunday.

Analysts say attempting to transit amid an active U.S. naval presence suggests the cargo may have been a priority.

"It tried to run the blockade, which seems like a particularly foolish thing to do … which would seem to indicate that there was something aboard that ship that they really perhaps needed in Iran," said Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency initiative.

Powell said the vessel’s route through Malaysia is notable, describing waters near the Singapore Strait as "infamous for ship-to-ship transfers" due to relatively weak enforcement — a tactic that can make cargo movements harder to trace. He added that the ship’s stops in China raise questions about the origin of its cargo, though what was on board remains unknown.

This is an excerpt from a report by Morgan Phillips.

Russian authorities detained around 40 Israelis as they arrival at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport over alleged involvement in the Iran war, according to reports.

The group, arriving from Tel Aviv, included some dual Israel-Russia nationals and was held for hours without access to food, water, or bathrooms, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Officials demanded passengers unlock their phones; when they refused, authorities required all devices be turned off.

Some detainees were called in for "conversations" and told that Iran is Russia’s ally and that Iran’s enemy is Russia’s enemy.

They were also told their visit was "not welcome" and that they had "come for nothing." After questioning, they were asked to sign warnings about breaking the law before being released.

Officials were "very politely and carefully" handling the paperwork, a source said.

An Israeli source also told Ynet the number involved was "lower, but not by much, than what was stated."

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post that "As soon as the incident became known, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar directed ministry staff to act, along with the Russian Foreign Ministry and Israel's Embassy in Moscow."

"Following this intervention, the incident was resolved, and the Israelis' entry was approved," the spokesperson said.

"It was made clear to the Russians that this conduct was completely unacceptable and Israel views the incident very seriously," they added

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) is planning to offer limited internet access to some business sectors, a lawmaker said Monday.

Iran International reported the plan had been approved and would help to maintain economic activity across Iran.

Reza Alizadeh, chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s Industries and Mines Committee, gave details of a resolution that introduces a system referred to as “Internet Pro.”

Alizadeh said the rollout would be done in stages, with first access given to commercial cardholders through the Chamber of Commerce.

The second phase will provide international internet access to organizations and agencies related to production, industry and trade.

Authentication for smaller production units is currently underway to grant them access to Internet Pro gradually, Alizadeh said.

He also said that any decision surrounding the scope or restriction of global internet access lies with security agencies and the Supreme National Security Council.

Russian aviation authorities on Monday lifted airspace restrictions on routes to the United Arab Emirates following the reopening of Iranian airspace, allowing flights and ticket sales to resume in both directions.

In a statement, the Russian Federal Aviation Agency confirmed that “restrictions on flights by Russian airlines through Iranian airspace” have been removed, clearing the way for carriers to restore suspended routes.

Artur Muradyan, a board member of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, said key regional hubs are “steadily restoring full operations and resuming previously suspended flights and routes,” according to reports.

The restrictions had been imposed after the outbreak of the war between the US, Israel and Iran.

The Russian Federal Aviation Agency also said the updated framework will allow airlines to resume services while maintaining safety oversight.

As President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to decide whether to extend a two-week ceasefire between the countries approaches, attention is increasingly turning not to Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, but to a shadowy Revolutionary Guard commander with a long record of terror, repression and hardline ideology.

Ahmad Vahidi, recently elevated to the top of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite paramilitary force within Iran’s military, is emerging as one of the most powerful men in Iran and, according to analysts, one of the key figures likely deciding whether Tehran resumes fighting or continues talks.

"By any standard, Vahidi is considered a radical even within the regime’s hardline elite, and his rise is a warning that Tehran’s war machine now calls the shots," Lisa Daftari, foreign policy analyst and journalist, told Fox News Digital.

"Putting someone with such a bloody and murderous record at the top of the Revolutionary Guard Corps confirms that the regime is not moderating under pressure. On the contrary," Daftari added, "it is doubling down on men whose careers are built on hostage‑taking, assassinations, and domestic repression. By any standard, Vahidi is considered a radical even within the regime’s hardline elite, and his rise is a warning that Tehran’s war machine now calls the shots."

Why it matters: Analysts say Vahidi’s rise could shape whether Iran moves toward peace or deeper conflict. For the U.S., that means heightened risks to troops, allies and global stability if a hardline figure with a history tied to terror networks is now helping call the shots in Iran.

Vahidi’s rise comes at a moment when Iran’s formal political institutions appear weaker than ever.

Experts describe the Islamic Republic today as a system in which informal networks and personal relationships matter more than official titles.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described Iran as "a system of men, not laws, but one whose success rested on institutionalizing their power," where decisions increasingly flow through Revolutionary Guard figures rather than the civilian government.

This is an excerpt from a report by Efrat Lachter

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States is winning decisively in the conflict with Iran, arguing that military pressure and the naval blockade have left the Iranian government weakened and disoriented.

“I’m winning a war, by a lot. Things are going very well, our military has been amazing and, if you read the fake news, like the failing New York Times, the absolutely horrendous and disgusting Wall Street Journal, or the now almost defunct, fortunately, Washington Post, you would actually think we are losing the war,” Trump said in a post shared to Truth Social.

“The enemy is confused, because they get these same media ‘reports,’ and yet they realize their navy has been completely wiped out, their air force has gone onto darker runways, they have no anti-missile or anti-airplane equipment, their former leaders are mostly gone (this has been, in addition to everything else, regime change!),” he added.

“Perhaps most important of all, THE BLOCKADE, which we will not take off until there is a ‘DEAL,’ is absolutely destroying Iran.”

Trump also said Iran was losing “$500 million a day, an unsustainable number, even in the short run.”

“The anti-America fake news media is rooting for Iran to win, but it’s not going to happen, because I’m in charge! Just like these unpatriotic people used every ounce of their limited strength to fight me in the election, they continue to do so with Iran. The result will be the same — it already is!” Trump added.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Monday it carried out two attacks in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing what it described as an “imminent threat."

According to an IDF statement, the strikes were launched in response to alleged violations of the 10-day ceasefire.

In one incident, the IDF said it identified "terrorists" in the Bint Jbeil area who it believes violated the ceasefire by "operating within the Forward Defense Area" and approaching Israeli soldiers. The individuals were struck and killed, the IDF said.

IDF soldiers also targeted and eliminated other individuals they said posed an imminent threat.

“IDF troops eliminated terrorists who violated the cease-fire understandings in southern Lebanon and approached the troops, posing an imminent threat,” the statement said.

The IDF said both incidents involved individuals in the Bint Jbeil area who it claims violated cease-fire understandings by operating within the Forward Defense Area and approaching troops.

“Following the identification, the Israeli Air Force, acting on the direction of the ground soldiers, subsequently struck and eliminated the terrorists in order to remove the threat,” the statement said.

Another incident also happened in the Litani area, where the IDF said additional ceasefire violations took place.

“Following the identification, the Israeli Air Force, acting on the direction of the ground soldiers, subsequently struck the terrorists and eliminated them,” the statement said.

President Donald trump accused Democrats of "doing everything possible" to undermine the U.S. position against Iran on Monday.

"The Democrats are doing everything possible to hurt the very strong position we are in with respect to Iran. Despite World War I lasting 4 years, 3 months, and 14 days, World War II lasting 6 years and 1 day, the Korean War lasting 3 years, 1 month, and 2 days, the Vietnam War lasting 19 years, 5 months, and 29 days, and Iraq lasting 8 years, 8 months, and 28 days, they like to say that I promised 6 weeks to defeat Iran, and actually, from the Military standpoint, it was far faster than that, but I’m not going to let them rush the United States into making a Deal that is not as good as it could have been," Trump wrote.

"I read the Fake News saying that I am under 'pressure' to make a Deal. THIS IS NOT TRUE! I am under no pressure whatsoever, although, it will all happen, relatively quickly! Time is not my adversary, the only thing that matters is that we finally, after 47 years, straighten out the MESS that other Presidents let happen because they didn’t have the Courage or Foresight to do what had to be done with respect to Iran. We’re in it, and it will be done RIGHT, and we won’t let the Weak and Pathetic Democrats, TRAITORS ALL, who for years have been talking about the Dangers of Iran, and that something has to be done, but now, since I’m the one doing it, belittle the accomplishments of our Military and the Trump Administration," Trump continued.

"This is being perfectly executed, on the scale of Venezuela, just a bigger, more complex operation. The result will be the same. In my First Term, I built the Greatest Military our Country has ever seen, including adding Space Force. In my Second Term, I am properly and judiciously using our Military to solve problems left to us by others of far less understanding or competence," he added.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. is making a deal with Iran that is "far better" than the nuclear deal agreed to during former President Barack Obama's administration.

Trump made the statement in a post on Truth Social on Monday, blasting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as one of the "worst deals ever."

"The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as 'The Iran Nuclear Deal,' penned by Barack Hussein Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the Worst Deals ever made having to do with the Security of our Country. It was a guaranteed Road to a Nuclear Weapon, which will not, and cannot, happen with the Deal we’re working on. They actually gave $1.7 Billion Dollars in 'GREEN' Cash, loaded into a Boeing 757, and flown to Iran for Iranian leadership to spend anyway they saw fit. He emptied out all of the Cash from Banks in D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. Those Bankers said they’ve never seen anything like it before," Trump wrote.

"In addition, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars was paid to Iran. If I did not terminate that 'Deal,' Nuclear Weapons would have been used on Israel, and all over the Middle East, including our cherished U.S. Military Bases. The Fake News, like Lightweight Washington Post 'Journalist' David Ignatius, loves to talk about the JCPOA, knowing that it was DANGEROUS, and a Complete Embarrassment to our Country. If a Deal happens under 'TRUMP,' it will guarantee Peace, Security, and Safety, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but for Europe, America, and everywhere else. It will be something that the entire World will be proud of, instead of the years of Embarrassment and Humiliation that we have been forced to suffer due to incompetent and cowardly leadership!" he added.

President Donald Trump rejected the notion that Israel convinced him to launch the war against Iran, asserting in a Monday Truth Social post that the outcome "will be amazing."

The president said the heinous Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against Israel bolstered his view that Iran must be blocked from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did," the president declared in the Truth Social post.

"I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged. Just like the results in Venezuela, which the media doesn’t like talking about, the results in Iran will be amazing - And if Iran’s new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!" he added.

The commander in chief launched the U.S. into the war against Iran in conjunction with Israel earlier this year, prosecuting a punishing air campaign against the Islamic Republic for more than a month.

While Trump announced a ceasefire earlier this month, tensions have remained high, and the president warned on Sunday that if Iran fails to accept the deal offered by the U.S., the American military will destroy Iran's bridges and power plants.

"Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it?" Trump said in a Sunday Truth Social post.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Alex Nitzberg.

President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. has no plans to extend its ceasefire with Iran on Monday.

Trump made the statement during an interview with PBS News after he was asked what will happen if the deadline is reached Tuesday evening without a peace deal.

"Then lots of bombs start going off," Trump said.

On the status of peace talks in Pakistan, Trump said simply, "I don't know."

"I mean, they're supposed to be there. We agreed to be there, although they say we didn't. But no, it was set up. And we'll see whether or not it's there. If they're not there, that's fine too," he said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called U.S. peace offers "unconstructive and contradictory" on Monday.

Pezeshkian said in a statement on X that Iran has a "deep historical mistrust" of the U.S. that has colored negotiations.

"Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward U.S. gov conduct remains, while unconstructive & contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message; they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force," Pezeshkian wrote.

The U.S. Navy has denied reports of food shortages aboard vessels operating in the Middle East on Sunday.

The office of the Chief of Naval Operations addressed the claims in a post on X, saying U.S. sailors remain well fed and well stocked.

"Statement on Claims of Food Shortages aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli: Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality aboard our deployed ships are false," the office wrote.

"Both USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli have sufficient food onboard to serve their crews with healthy options. The health and wellbeing of our Sailors and Marines are my top priority, and every crew member continues to receive fully portioned, nutritionally balanced meals," the statement continued.

Andrew Weber, a national security expert, revealed on Sunday that removing Iran's highly enriched uranium would likely take thousands of U.S. troops and experts to evacuate the material from the country.

Weber served as the assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs under former President Barack Obama and played a role in removing enriched uranium from Kazakhstan that was left behind by the Soviet Union.

CBS News' Cecilia Vega asked Weber during a "60 Minutes" interview if the same sort of mission would be possible in Iran.

"In Iran, we couldn't send a team in to do this unilaterally without great risk," he said. "You would need to set up in the middle of the country a secure perimeter. It would probably take thousands of U.S. troops to secure the facility while our experts excavated the HEU that's located inside deep tunnels at a place called Isfahan."

Matthew Bunn, a nuclear policy analyst and former White House adviser, said forces in the U.S. have been training for something like this.

"It's not like Iran hasn't thought about the possibility that we might do this. But U.S. Special Forces have been training for deep underground facilities of one kind or another for a long, long, long time," Bunn told CBS.

Vega also asked about President Donald Trump, after the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facility in 2025, saying that Iran's program had been completely obliterated.

"Yeah, that statement is just not true," Bunn said. "You can't say that a program that still has enough nuclear material for a bunch of nuclear bombs is obliterated. Unfortunately. There's no doubt that the combination of the strikes in June of last year, and the ongoing war, have seriously set back Iran's capabilities. But the remaining capabilities are substantial. You can't bomb away their knowledge."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Hanna Panreck.

A U.S. delegation plans to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Monday, a source familiar with the plans told Fox News Digital.

The White House said this weekend that Vice President JD Vance will lead the delegation, joined by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

The news comes amid mixed messages surrounding Iran's plans to participate in Talks. Pakistani officials said Iran had expressed willingness to attend, but Iran's foreign ministry on Monday said they had no plans to participate due to certain demands by the U.S. side.

Vance held talks with Iran last week, but they ultimately collapsed without making progress.

Fox News' Pat Ward contributed to this report.

U.S. Central Command released audio of a U.S. Navy destroyer broadcasting warnings to an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea on Monday.

President Donald Trump ordered the blockade last week amid a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

"Since the commencement of the blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, U.S. forces have directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port," CENTCOM wrote in a post on X.

President Donald Trump lashed out at media pundits and polls over their commentary around the war in Iran.

Trump made the statement in a post to his Truth Social account, urging Iran's leaders to accept a peace deal with the U.S.

"Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did. I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged. Just like the results in Venezuela, which the media doesn’t like talking about, the results in Iran will be amazing - And if Iran’s new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!" Trump wrote.

The command of Iran's military, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, offered an explanation for why Iranian forces did not fight back as U.S. forces boarded and seized an Iran-flagged vessel on Sunday.

“Due to the presence of some family members of the ship’s crew, they faced constraints in order to protect their lives and ensure their safety, as they were in danger at every moment,” Khatam al-Anbiya said.

The U.S. ultimately disabled the engines of the M/V Trouska and seized the vessel without incident.

Israel and Lebanon are set to begin a second round of peace talks later this week, Israeli media reported Monday.

The talks are reportedly expected to begin on Thursday. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted peace talks between the two nation's last week, but they are not expected to play a role in this week's talks.

Lebanon and Israel agreed to a 10-day ceasefire after their U.S.-mediated talks in Washington.

The U.S. military released footage of Marines boarding and seizing an Iran-flagged vessel in the Arabian Sea on Monday.

The footage shows Marines from a U.S. destroyer rappelling down from a helicopter onto the deck of the M/V Touska tanker. This operation came after a 6-hour standoff with the Iranian vessel, which saw the U.S. destroyer open fire to destroy the Touska's engines.

No U.S. Marines were injured in the operation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday and called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened for trade.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning gave a readout of the call in a statement on X.

"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership. Taking it as an opportunity, China stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia to continuously increase the scope and depth of our bilateral relations, and set a fine example for the relations between China and Arab states," Ning wrote.

"On the current situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, China calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, supports all efforts conducive to restoring peace, and stands for resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means," she continued.

"The Strait of Hormuz should maintain normal passage, as this serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community. China supports regional countries in building a common home of good-neighborliness, development, security, and cooperation, holding their future in their own hands, and promoting lasting peace and security in the region," she added.

Hundreds of commercial tankers are stranded on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran shut the critical chokepoint on April 18, halting traffic and leaving crews trapped amid reports of gunfire and "traumatic experiences" on board.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered an international waterway under international law, through which ships have the right of transit passage, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Iranian gunboats opened fire on a tanker the same day, while a projectile struck a container vessel, damaging cargo.

Audio released by maritime monitoring group TankerTrackers appears to capture the moment a vessel and its crew came under fire while approaching the strait, including a distress call from a crew member.

"Sepah Navy! Motor tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave me clearance to go… you are firing now. Let me turn back!" the crew member can be heard saying in the recording, according to TankerTrackers.

Iranian state media confirmed that shots were fired near vessels to force them to turn back, while the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India said the foreign secretary was deeply concerned.

Hapag-Lloyd, the world’s fifth-largest container shipping line, told Fox News Digital that it had activated a crisis team as its crews remain stuck on board vessels in the region.

"We have been working from Friday afternoon until today with the entire crisis team to bring the vessels out — in vain, unfortunately," said Nils Haupt, senior director of group communications at Hapag-Lloyd AG.

"These events can easily lead to traumatic experiences. There is also a significant risk from sea mines, which has made insuring vessels for passage through the Strait nearly impossible."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Emma Bussey.

Iranian officials have no plans to participate in peace talks with the U.S. in Pakistan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday.

"If the U.S. sends a team to Islamabad, that is a matter that concerns them," Baqaei said in a press conference.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any deadlines or ultimatums to safeguard its national interests. We have clearly stated our red lines from the beginning, and we will not change our principled positions,” Baqaei said.

“In none of the stages of current or previous negotiations was the issue of transferring Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles to the U.S. or any other country raised, and fundamentally this option is not on the agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added.

Iranian officials vowed retaliation after the U.S. fired upon and seized an Iranian vessel in the Arabian Sea on Sunday.

Officials condemned the move as "armed piracy."

“We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond to and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military," read a statement from Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the actions of an IDF soldier pictured destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in Lebanon on Monday.

Netanyahu wrote in a post on X that Israel "cherishes" the values of "tolerance and mutual respect" between religions.

"Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest terms," Netanyahu wrote.

"Military authorities are conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender. While Christians are being slaughtered in Syria and Lebanon by Muslims, the Christian population in Israel thrives unlike elsewhere in the Middle East. Israel is the only country in the region that the Christian population and standard of living is growing. Israel is the only place in the Middle East that adheres to freedom of worship for all," Netanyahu continued.

"We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world," he added.

The IDF says it completed an investigation into the incident on Sunday which determined the photograph was authentic. The image showed a soldier striking a statue of Jesus on the cross with a sledge hammer.

"The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops," The IDF said in a statement on X.

Iranian state media says Tehran has rejected taking part in peace talks with the U.S. in Pakistan, initially scheduled for Tuesday.

Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Pakistan on Monday envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The White House has not responded to reports of the Iranian withdrawal.

CENTCOM confirmed Sunday that the U.S. Navy fired into the engine room of an Iranian-flagged vessel after it allegedly violated a maritime blockade. The command also highlighted a six-hour standoff with the tanker in the Arabian Sea.

In a post shared on X, the command said the action followed repeated warnings.

“U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19,” CENTCOM said.

The command described how a guided-missile destroyer, USS Spruance (DDG-111), intercepted the vessel, M/V Touska, as it transited the North Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran.

“American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade,” CENTCOM said.

After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, the command explained how Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room.

“Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room,” CENTCOM said before adding that U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit “later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.”

“American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance,” it said.

Since the blockade’s commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port, CENTCOM added.

Fox News' Emma Bussey contributed to this report.