APTOPIX Lebanon Israel Iran War

U.S. President Donald Trump says he has ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines to choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s post on social media Thursday came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil. That ratcheted up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes. The Defense Department released video footage of U.S. forces on the deck of the oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean. Trump also announced that a ceasefire in Lebanon would be extended by three weeks.

U.S. President Donald Trump is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday to continue talks with Iran. The White House said Friday the pair will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Vice President JD Vance would not be traveling. The trip to Pakistan comes as officials there have been trying to get the United States and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations. The Trump administration also announced it is placing economic sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil

President Donald Trump is sending his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to meet with Iran’s foreign minister as officials in the South Asian nation push to revive ceasefire talks. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that the two would meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday. Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late Friday. Leavitt says the White House hopes the talks will “move the ball forward to a deal.” She says Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president’s national security team will fly to Pakistan “if necessary.”