May. 26 at 3:39 PM
A US official denied that the US had resumed escorting ships & renewed “Operation Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz, contrary to a WSJ report
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp says it “downed” a US Reaper drone that entered it airspace
US forces attacked missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran in what a US military spokesman described as “self-defence” strikes
8 Israeli air strikes have hit the southern Lebanese town of Khirbet Selm in Bint Jbeil districts. In a separate incident, a drone strike hit a car in the same town killing one man. Israeli air raids were also reported on the towns of Touline in Marjayoun district, Maarakeh in the Tyre district, and Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, parliament speaker & head of Iran’s negotiating delegation, returned from Qatar to Iran about an hour ago
A senior spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces has warned that any resumption of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran would meet a “heavier” and “stronger” retaliation. “If the region enters another round of war, Iran’s response will extend beyond regional borders and will be much heavier and stronger"
Progress in the 60-day MOU major sticking points that remain:
1) Iran’s highly enriched uranium – what to do w/ the more than 400kg stockpile & the future of its nuclear facilities & enrichment
2) ran’s ballistic programme, sanctions relief, & the potential release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
3) Israel’s invasion of Lebanon – there are questions whether a potential US-Iran deal will include a halt in hostilities in Lebanon, which the Israeli army has attacked w/ renewed intensity in the past few days
$XLE $USO $OIH $BWET $DBA