1 hr 13 min ago
Key developments
• Seized ship: Iran’s Foreign Ministry called for the release of the Iranian cargo vessel seized by the US Navy on Sunday, as well as “its sailors, crew and their families.” Iran has vowed to retaliate for the seizure.
• Looming deadline: US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran ends “Wednesday evening Washington time,” adding it’s “highly unlikely” he would extend it if a deal is not reached before then.
• Status of negotiations: Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to depart Tuesday for Pakistan ahead of a potential second round of talks, according to sources. Trump projected confidence Tehran would come to the table although Iran’s Foreign Ministry earlier insisted there were no negotiations.
• Lebanon-Israel talks: A second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled for Thursday, according to Israeli and US officials.
1 hr 12 min ago
Iran calls for immediate release of cargo ship seized by US
By Lex Harvey
This screen capture from a video released on April 19 shows Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska from the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer USS Spruance in the north Arabian Sea. CENTCOM/Handout/Reuters
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the seizure of Iranian cargo ship Touska by US forces and called for the “immediate release of the Iranian vessel, its sailors, crew and their families” in a statement published Tuesday.
The US Navy fired on and seized the Iranian-flagged ship Sunday after it tried to get past the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, according to President Donald Trump. Footage released by the military showed a guided-missile destroyer firing on the vessel and Marines rappelling from helicopters onto its deck.
Iran previously vowed to retaliate for the seizure of the ship, which the Foreign Ministry called “extremely dangerous” and “criminal” in its Tuesday statement. It said the cargo was worth “millions,” without specifying what the cargo was.
“There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran will use all its capacities to defend Iran’s national interests and security and to safeguard the rights and dignity of its citizens,” the statement said.
“It is also clear that full responsibility for any further escalation in the region lies with the United States.”
It is not clear how many people were aboard the ship and whether they are Iranian. CNN has reached out to US Central Command for comment on the nationality of the crew and the status of the cargo ship.
CNN’s Brad Lendon and Teele Rebane contributed reporting.
2 hr 52 min ago
US Air Force extending life of A-10 "Warthog" ground-attack jets
By Brad Lendon
Maryland Air National Guard A-10 Warthogs perform in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States, on July 24, 2025. Brett Johnsen/NurPhoto/AP
The US Air Force is extending the life of its A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack jet until at least 2030, the office of the secretary of the Air Force said on social media Monday.
The service had planned to completely retire the iconic jets, nicknamed the “Warthog,” later this year, though Congress later mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act that the Air Force keep 103 of the twin-engine jets in its fleet, with 2029 projected as its final year of service.
The jets have proven useful in the war in Iran, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine praised the jets and their pilots for the role in spearheading the rescue of two air crew who ejected from their F-15E fighter after it was hit by a missile over Iranian territory.
A-10s played a key role in suppressing Iranian forces trying to get to the downed American flight crew and other US rescue forces that landed in Iran, Caine said.
One A-10 was hit during the rescue and its pilot later ejected after flying the aircraft back over friendly territory, Caine said.
The first A-10 was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in October 1975, according to the Air Force fact sheet, and has seen action in several conflicts since. Its 30mm gatling gun nose cannon produces a “BRRRPPPP” sound and can destroy tanks and decimate infantry firing up to 3,900 rounds a minute, according to an Air Force.
“We will EXTEND the A-10 ‘Warthog’ platform to 2030. This preserves combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase combat aircraft production,” the post from the Air Force secretary’s office said.
One note: The final class of A-10 pilots graduated earlier this month from training at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
5 hr 48 min ago
Trump insists Iran is “going to negotiate” ahead of potential talks
By Alejandra JaramilloPresident Donald Trump insisted Monday that Iran is “going to negotiate” ahead of anticipated talks in Pakistan.
Speaking in a short phone interview on “The John Fredericks Show,” a conservative radio program, Trump projected confidence that Tehran would come to the table, while warning of consequences if it does not.
“Well, they’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before,” the president said.
“Hopefully they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up,” Trump continued, adding that when they do so, “they will not have a nuclear weapon.”
Before ending the call, Trump returned to his justification for military action. “And I have to say we had no choice in Iran,” he said. “It wasn’t like we had a choice. We had to do it.”
“We’ve done a great job, and we’ll get it closed out, and everybody’s going to be happy,” he added before hanging up.
6 hr 6 min ago
Night footage shows US Marines boarding Iranian-flagged ship
CNN staffCNN’s Brian Todd breaks down night footage of US Marines boarding and seizing an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to bypass the US naval blockade on Sunday.
Night footage shows US Marines boarding an Iranian-flagged vessel
02:37
The boarding of the disabled Iranian ship was captured in a “carefully edited video released by the US military,” Todd says, and showed US Marines dropping down to the deck of the “Touska” from helicopters.
The ship is now in US custody.
6 hr 38 min ago
What Iranian officials are saying as second round of talks with US remains uncertain
By Elise HammondTop US officials are expected to head to Pakistan tomorrow ahead of a second round of peace talks with Iran — but the Iranian Foreign Ministry has said its country does not have plans to reengage the US “for now.”
It comes after US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the two countries ends on Wednesday, and that he’s not likely to extend it.
Late Monday, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the most hawkish lawmakers on the war, was seen arriving at the West Wing entrance of the White House ahead of the potential talks.
No comments:
Post a Comment