Uber Says AI Is Writing More Code and Slowing Hiring Growth
Uber Technologies, Inc. is expanding its use of AI tools and using some of those efficiency gains to slow the pace of hiring, according to Business Insider.
Speaking on the company’s first quarter earnings call, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said autonomous coding agents now account for about 10% of Uber’s code updates. Engineers still review that output before it is committed to internal repositories, but he said the shift offers an early glimpse of how AI can accelerate software development.
Business Insider writes that Uber has long relied on machine learning for customer facing functions such as setting ride prices and pairing drivers with riders. Now the company is rolling out similar tools across internal teams. “We’re seeing uptake of these tools, whether it’s our legal team or marketing team or developers,” Khosrowshahi said. “We think it’s creating kind of employees with superpowers.”
That broader adoption is influencing hiring plans. CFO Balaji Krishnamurthy said executives did not fully anticipate how quickly AI tools would improve productivity when they mapped out their 2026 budget.
He said on the call, per Goldman: “One last comment on AI. I would say, candidly, when we set up budgets for 2026 in November, we underestimated the amount of impact the AI tools could have,” he said. After a new wave of models arrived in December, Uber “re-upped our investment here,” while also reducing “incremental headcount growth.”
The spending ramp has been significant. Last month, CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga said Uber had already used its entire 2026 budget for Anthropic’s Claude Code, underscoring how quickly demand for AI tools is growing inside the company.
Khosrowshahi said the strategy makes sense if those tools continue improving employee output. “If every person at this company can increase their throughput by 20%, 30%, 50%, 100%, then I think metering headcount growth and leaning in on AI investment is going to be well worth it,” he said.
The California Department of Insurance announced on May 4 it filed an enforcement action against State Farm, alleging the company significantly mishandled claims from survivors of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
“Wildfire survivors came to us for help, and we followed the facts,” Insurance Department Commissioner Ricardo Lara said.
“Our investigation found that State Farm delayed, underpaid, and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives. That is unacceptable, and we are taking decisive action to hold them accountable.”
The Palisades Fire and the nearby Eaton Fire, which ignited in Altadena, California, on Jan. 7, 2025, claimed around 30 lives and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.
The Insurance Department said that State Farm received approximately 11,300 of the nearly 39,000 claims related to the Los Angeles wildfires filed across all insurers, and that Lara launched an investigation into the insurance company in June 2025 after the department heard many complaints.
According to the department, it examined 220 of the claims filed with State Farm and found a total of 398 violations in 114 of those claims.
These violations consisted of “slow and inadequate investigation” through failing to meet deadlines in investigating claims, accepting or denying claims, and providing notice for additional time.
The Insurance Department also alleged that State Farm made unreasonably low settlement offers and underpaid claims.
This enforcement action seeks millions of dollars in penalties, which the department said is the largest amount pursued this century relating to a wildfire disaster.
The department also wants State Farm to speed up payments and settle outstanding claims.
The property lines of homes burned during the Palisades Fire are visible in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
State Farm denied any mishandling or intentional underpaying of wildfire claims and said the violations the Insurance Department identified require only about $40,000 in additional payments beyond the more than $5.7 billion it has paid to those affected by the fires.
“California’s homeowners insurance market is the most dysfunctional in the country … the state is facing an availability and affordability crisis, and the California Department of Insurance should take responsibility for regulatory delays and uncertainty that have contributed to fewer choices and higher costs for consumers,” the company said in its statement.
State Farm said it strongly disagrees with the department’s characterization of the company, and that any prospect or threat to suspend its licensing over “primarily administrative and procedural errors” is a reckless and politically motivated attack.
“Using a thin sample of claims to justify sweeping allegations turns regulatory oversight into a political weapon, creating headlines instead of delivering facts and real consumer protection. [The department’s examination] was based on a sample of 220 files, and most of the issues cited were administrative or process-related,” State Farm said.
The insurance company said every issue identified has already been, or is being addressed through claim reviews, and that it will provide supplemental payments when appropriate.
The same day, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement warning insurance companies they may be subject to state enforcement actions if they unlawfully delay or deny claims from survivors of the Los Angeles fires.
In November 2025, Los Angeles County launched its own investigation into State Farm’s handling of insurance claims.
“The County has heard loud and clear from wildfire survivors that State Farm’s delays are standing in the way of rebuilding. Fair and timely insurance payments aren’t a privilege; they’re a right,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said.
On March 31, President Donald Trump also weighed in on the situation, saying State Farm and other insurers should “get their act together” after meeting with California politicians and hearing about the difficulties the wildfire victims faced in their insurance claims.
“It was brought to my attention that the Insurance Companies, in particular, State Farm, have been absolutely horrible to people that have been paying them large premiums for years, only to find that when tragedy struck, these horrendous Companies were not there to help!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The Trump administration continues its aggressive push to root out waste and abuse in federal entitlement programs, exposing yet another layer of systemic fraud thriving in Gavin Newsom’s California.
A new investigation highlights a single attending physician whose National Provider Identifier was tied to 17 different hospice operations in the Los Angeles area.
These entities filed more than 3,000 claims on behalf of only 900 patients, billing Medicare for $16 million.
🚨 GAVIN NEWSOM JUST GOT CAUGHT ALLOWING EVEN MORE FRAUD
This “hospice” provider PANICKED when the reporter came up and exposed:
“[They] filed more than 3,000 claims for 900 patients, billing Medicare for $16 MILLION DOLLARS.” 🤯
Hospice care expert Ira Byock laid out the red flags clearly: “Anything over 100 patients at a given time that you have responsibility for as a hospice physician should start to raise red flags.”
This case fits the broader pattern of exploitation that federal authorities under the Trump administration have targeted. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, led by Dr. Mehmet Oz, recently delisted around 450 suspected fraudulent hospice providers in Los Angeles County, suspending more than $600 million in questionable claims with no appeals filed.
Oz’s spotlighted billions in hospice fraud connected to foreign mafias and welfare scams that victimized seniors:
These revelations build directly on prior exposures of California’s entrenched fraud networks. As we previously detailed, the Trump administration dismantled elements of a sprawling $146 billion Medi-Cal fraud operation:
California Democrats have responded by attempting to criminalize the very act of exposing such schemes, as independent journalist Nick Shirley confronted them over proposed measures that would silence watchdogs:
The on-the-ground reporting captured providers panicking when approached. Doors closed quickly. Seniors in Visalia described feeling deceived. One couple stated plainly: “The way I see it we were just taken in.”
Neither the physician in question nor the associated hospice operation has faced discipline or charges in this latest instance. Both remain active in the Medicare program. This lack of immediate consequences underscores the inertia that oversight under Trump is now confronting head-on.
State officials have pointed out that Medicare is a federal program and highlighted their own enforcement actions, including a $267 million hospice fraud takedown announced in April. Yet the persistence of these schemes in Los Angeles County—home to far more hospice providers than many entire states—reveals deep vulnerabilities that predated the current federal pressure.
The Trump administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is delivering results by acting decisively, protecting taxpayers and vulnerable Americans from networks that treat end-of-life care as a revenue stream. Newsom’s deflection cannot obscure the reality: California’s entitlement systems have operated with minimal accountability for too long.
Billions have been siphoned while seniors were enrolled without full understanding and providers cycled patients for maximum billing. The sunlight now being shone on these operations marks a decisive shift from previous neglect.
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“After further review and in the best interest of the City of Grand Prairie, the June 1 Eid event at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark has been canceled. No additional comment will be made at this time,” said Eric Alvarez, spokesman for the city of Grand Prairie.
Aminah Knight, the organizer of the event, said she was “deeply disappointed” by the event being canceled and had only been informed by a park manager.
“What began as a private event for the Muslim community to celebrate Eid in a joyful and modest environment became something much bigger than I ever imagined,” she said in a text message to The Epoch Times. “The flyer was originally shared within private community spaces, but it was later circulated more broadly by people who were not interested in attending, but rather in creating division and controversy.”
Knight said she is going to turn what she called a “painful experience” into “something beautiful” and will host an interfaith event called “The Great American Cookout” on July 4. She said the event would be a place “where people from different backgrounds can come together, connect, and truly get to know one another as Americans.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to pull $530,000 in state funding if the city of Grand Prairie allowed the celebration to go on.
The event was to celebrate Eid al-Adha, an annual Islamic celebration, and was promoted as being for only Muslims. While the city of Grand Prairie owns the water park, a private third-party contractor runs it.
“A city-owned water park in Grand Prairie openly advertised a ‘MUSLIMS ONLY’ event—closed to the general public,” Abbott posted on X on Wednesday. “That’s religious discrimination. It’s unconstitutional. I signed HB 4211 into law—banning Muslim only no-go zones in Texas. The City must cancel the event and commit to never allowing something like it again by May 11th, or lose $530,000 in state grants. Let this be a lesson to local officials: Facilities funded by ALL taxpayers are not just for a subset of Texans.”
The city, prior to the cancellation, posted a message on its website.
“The City of Grand Prairie is aware of concerns that have been expressed about an upcoming private event at Epic Waters,” the statement reads. “The City has been in contact with the Epic Waters management team to ensure all policies and procedures have been followed. Epic Waters is owned by the City and managed by a third-party operator. Like other City-owned facilities, it is available for rental by individuals and organizations.”
Alvarez said earlier Wednesday in an email to The Epoch Times that the city reached out to Abbott’s office and was in discussions with the state government regarding the matter.
The third-party contractor did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Knight posted on the event’s website, “So if you are a friend of a different faith who wants to celebrate the Eid holiday with us and adhere to the modest dress code … this event is FOR YOU TOO!”
Knight continued: “DFW Epic Eid is a privately organized and privately funded event held through a standard rental of Epic Waters, just like many other private gatherings hosted at the park. This event was created to celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays in Islam, which commemorates faith, devotion, and gratitude. … In response to feedback, we have updated our materials to clearly reflect that this is a modest dress-only event, centered around a respectful and family-friendly environment.”
Mitch Little, a Republican Texas state representative, said in a video posted on Facebook that he learned the “Muslim-only” event had been held two previous times.
“I think this is a very serious civil rights violation that is going on here,” Little said in the video. “If you are making a public accommodation, whether it is a restaurant or a hotel or an entertainment venue like Epic Waters, you’re not permitted to exclude people on the basis of race, religion, etc. I think people are locally shocked at what is going on here.”
“Existential”: Israel Quadruples Foreign-Influence Budget To Massive $730M
With the ranks of its foreign sympathizers plummeting all around the world and all across the political spectrum, the State of Israel is quadrupling its budget for so-called “public diplomacy,” bringing its 2026 spending on foreign influence campaigns to a massive $730 million.
With the country’s growing unpopularitythreatening US financial, military and diplomatic support, Israel’s foreign minister has said an intensified effort to mold global opinion is an “existential issue.” Both inside and outside of Israel, the country’s public diplomacy effort is also referred to by its Hebrew name: hasbara. Even before the 2026 ramp-up in spending, Israel’s spending on hasbara was already striking.
Recent disclosures about 2025 hasbara spending shed some light on how Israel goes about shaping public opinion. Per the Jerusalem Post, that year’s outlays included a $50 million social media ad campaign carried out on Google, YouTube, X and Outbrain. Another $40 million covered the hosting of foreign delegations. “We flew a lot of delegations to the country – whether it’s pastors, whether it’s politicians, universities,” Israeli Consul General Israel Bachar told the Jerusalem Post. “Everyone who returns from the country understands better and is more supportive. But you have to fly out a lot of people.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly ended the workweek, sending the House into early recess to avoid a vote on releasing more Jeffrey Epstein documents.
— FlyingBeagle “Abu Alya” (@FlyingBeagle_) August 6, 2025
“We must as a country invest much, much more,” Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar argued in December. “It should be like investing in jets, bombs and missile interceptors. In the face of what’s arrayed against us and what’s invested against us, it’s far from enough. This is an existential issue.”
An April Pew Research survey found that 60% of American adults now view Israel unfavorably — that’s up 18 points from 2022. Underscoring the mammoth challenge faced by Israel’s hasbarists, the proportion of Americans who have a very unfavorable view of Israel now stands at 28% — triple what it was in 2022. Most alarming for Israel is the cratering of support among Republicans, with 57% of those under 50 now viewing Israel unfavorably.
The erosion of US support has taken place over a span that has included Israel’s stunningly-destructive rampage across Gaza in response to the Oct 7 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel, and this year’s US-Israeli war on Iran which has caused fuel prices to rocket higher while threatening a global economic catastrophe.
Israel’s weakened position in US politics is manifesting in various ways. Candidates in Democratic primaries are now attacking opponents who’ve taken money from the pro-Israel lobby, which has prompted those forces to effectively “launder” their contributions through intermediary organizations. This week, 30 House Democrats co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding that the US government finally acknowledge the existence of Israel’s nuclear arsenal — ending decades of bipartisan obfuscation. Votes in Congress that follow the Israel lobby’s recommendations used to be enormously lopsided on Israel’s side, but are now decided by just a handful of votes — with the lobby still prevailing for now.
In October, westerners’ wariness of Israeli hasbara was heightened by Responsible Statecraft’srevelation that Israel was paying social-media influencers something like $7,000 per pro-Israel post that they made.
The best ‘conservative’ influencers Israel can buy?
Emily Austin participated in the Epstein binders hoax, and joined Netanyahu’s recent influencers meeting
Xavaier DuRousseau attended the secret Hamptons influencer summit with Bill Ackman, then junketed off to Israel pic.twitter.com/JLoGk3Jzfd
Some hasbara efforts have been carried out in a purposely deceptive fashion. For example, an undercover Al Jazeera documentary captured American Jordan Schachtel, who now publishes The Dossier on Substack, describing his involvement in a social media campaign in which Israeli propagandists ran Facebook pages that ostensibly cover topics far from geopolitics — such as the environment or feminism — for the sole purpose of periodically sprinkling the feed with pro-Israel content. “It’s a secretive thing, because we don’t want people to know that these side projects are associated with The Israel Project,” Schachtel was caught saying on hidden camera.
Imagine what they’ll be cooking up with three-quarters of a billion dollars.
There are still some Trump supporters out there who continue to bill the Trump administration as some kind of great victory for the forces of populism against the “deep state.” A year into the second Trump administration, it is clear this is not a serious position. The populism of the Trump campaign has clearly failed and what we ended up with instead is a continuation and strengthening of the status quo. Over the next three years of this second Trump term, the welfare-warfare state will only get larger. Trump now actively pushes to strengthen the surveillance state, and to massively increase overall defense spending. He points to some miniscule trimming around the edges of the welfare state while overall spending continues to rise and federal deficits are near all-time highs. In turn, these huge deficits will require central-bank intervention to partly monetize the debt, pushing up price inflation.
Far from being some sort of shock to the system in Washington, Trump is governing largely like a business-as-usual Republican. In other words, it should be abundantly obvious by now that there is not going to be anything coming out of this administration that will endanger the governing elites or their institutions which retain a firm grip on Washington institutions and the special interests that drive policy.
This is apparently the best that the “militant” populists could come up with: yet another milquetoast republican administration that will ensure the gravy train continues for politically favored allies. This administration is basically just a Marco Rubio administration with some “mean tweets” thrown in for color.
The populist “victory” of the Trump administration is perhaps the best evidence yet that a strategy of “vote harder” is simply not going to lead to any significant change of any kind. After all, the media, academia, and even the GOP’s old guard fought tooth and nail to keep Trump out of the White House. And in the end, it was much ado about nothing. Now, just imagine if someone ran for the presidency who actually opposed the regime’s power on principle. That person would simply not be allowed to get the nomination, let alone win.
So, there won’t be any viable candidates who will actually tear down the federal state through legal or constitutional means. That will not be permitted via any federal election. The logic of the welfare state, moreover, ensures that no candidate can hope to get elected while also favoring significant cuts to defense spending, old-age pensions, or any of the beloved federal programs that support millions of Americans on the dole, such as pensioners and government contractors.
The only way significant change comes to this tightly constructed system of patrons and clients will be via a significant crisis that disrupts standards of living. This must be severe enough that it shakes the population’s faith in the regime to the point that people actually begin to question the state’s legitimacy. Only when real economic pain is felt will there be any real change. So long as the most of the population feels comfortable enough with an ample supply of Doordash and pornography and reality TV, the system will be deemed to be working “well enough.”
Eventually, however, the ruling elite, through either miscalculation or laziness or complacency, will no longer be able to deliver on its promises to guarantee ease, safety, and “free” goods and services for a growing population on the dole. Once the elites become unable to buy compliance from the population, the regime will turn to brute force. This, however, can only last as long as the ruling elites are able to draw upon loyal personnel in large enough numbers as to be able to force obedience from the general population. This is easier said than done, especially in a period of economic stagnation or decline. The Soviet Union is a key example. In 1989, when the Soviet Government was crumbling, the Soviet Regime still commanded six million personnel in military uniform. But when the regime tried to shore up control, that enormous military proved to be largely AWOL and of little use.
But then what? Once the ruling elite and its regime cease to be seen as legitimate, and once the usual methods of control fail, what is the next step? Unfortunately, the next step is usually to simply replace the outgoing group of governing elites with a new group. This is the usual progression of events. Uprisings turn into civil wars and civil wars turn into contests over who will control the state’s enormous apparatus of coercion. The French revolution is perhaps the quintessential cautionary tale here. The revolutionaries won with lavish promises of freedom and “rule by the people.” Yet, there is no such thing as rule “by the people,” and there never has been. Any polity that is more complex than a tribal village ultimately ends up with the civil government in the hands of a relatively small elite.
What usually happens is this: the state and most of its powers endure, but under new management. As the Italian sociologist Vilfredo Pareto put it: “The revolution at the end of the eighteenth century led merely to the bourgeoisie taking the place of the old elite.” Pareto further notes that in the wake of a revolution, the population discovers “they have merely exchanged yokes.”
This will be the ultimate end game of every scheme hatched by those who imagine themselves to be anti-regime radicals, but who ultimately want nothing more than to keep the state fully in tact and use it to their own ends. And make no mistake, the power will be used to benefit the small new class of governing elites, at the expense of the ordinary taxpayers. Whatever rhetoric may be used about serving “the people” will be nothing more than window dressing designed to trick unsophisticated non-elites into supporting the new regime.
Whether from the Left or the Right, this type of centralist “revolutions” will provide no escape from the endless cycle of replacing one set of elites with another, and which characterizes much of human history which is, Pareto writes, “a graveyard of aristocracies.” Again and again, we find that the “liberators” are doing little more than replacing the people’s current yoke with a slightly different one.
Consequently, the only hope in providing any truly limiting factors on state power will be the dismemberment of the state into smaller and weaker pieces. It will be necessary to check power with power through true decentralization. This is why the Soviet state never re-emerged under a new name with similar prerogatives. Thanks largely to the centrifugal forces of latent nationalism within the various republics of the Soviet Union, the new Russian elite that replaced the old Soviet elite was unable to maintain the “union.” The result has been greatly beneficial to many of the former Soviet republics—especially the Baltic states—and to the old states of the Warsaw Pact which were informally under the boot of the Soviet regime. In other words, the dismemberment of the Soviet State, through a variety of de jure and de facto secession movements, accomplished what would not have been through simply placing a new elite atop the Soviet state.
Similarly, the American revolution, which was primarily a movement to secede from the British state, created a highly decentralized new “state” which possessed few of the powers of the old regime.
We can conclude that any American who actually values human freedom—and its necessary antecedent, the weakening of the central state—will desire a similar dismemberment of the United States. After all, as the French revolution showed us, it is not enough to simply transfer the regime from the hands of one elite to another. Rather, radical decentralization, via secession and other means, will have to take place in order to create new power centers and new elites that can push back against the established elites and power centers of the rump state. Only when power is allowed to check power will there be any meaningful institutional limits on state power.
Yet, for the foreseeable future, we are likely to hear over and over again that the only acceptable “strategy” is to embrace elections and party politics. This is the “vote harder” argument. The usual “reformers” prefer this because voting, from the perspective of the regime, is harmless and quite ineffective in mounting any sort of meaningful opposition to the core powers and institutions of the state and its elites. Moreover, even in the highly unlikely event that elections were able to bring about any significant replacement of the current elite, this would only leave the current centralized state and its institutions intact, with only a change in those who control the means of exploitation.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge.
US Conducts New Iran Strikes Along Hormuz Corridor – Trump Says Warships Came Under Fire By ‘Lunatics’
Summary
US military attacks Iran locations on southern coast, and allegations of UAE involvement; Explosions rock Abu Dhabi. CENTCOM says intercepted Iranian counterattacks.
Iran says US violated ceasefire after Centcom targeted Iranian facilities responsible for attacks; US says ceasefire not violated despite striking Iranian oil tanker and targets in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
The Trump admin mulls restarting operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz with naval and air support as early as this week after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on US access to their bases and airspaces
Iran national security commission ‘red line’: No uranium has left the country; The right to enrich uranium, the complete lifting of sanctions, and the release of the country’s assets are non-negotiable red lines.
French nuclear-powered carrier steams through Suez Canal in support mission as Europe seeks diplomatic influence over Hormuz outcome.
First Chinese tanker reportedly attacked: shipping industry source told Caixin that this was the first time a Chinese tanker was hit in the three-month-long war, calling it “psychologically very hard to accept.”
Trump: US Warships Came ‘Under Fire’ By ‘Lunatics’
Iran says US violated ceasefire as explosions are reported in the UAE (via Newsquawk)
IRAN SAYS US VIOLATED CEASEFIRE
Iran’s Top Joint Military Command says:
The US violated the ceasefire,
The US targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another ship entering the Strait of Hormuz,
Iran will respond “powerfully and without hesitation.”
US SOURCE SAID CEASEFIRE NOT VIOLATED
US officials, according to Axios/Fox reporting, say:
US strikes were carried out in Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas,
The strikes do not mean the war has restarted,
The ceasefire is not over.
ATTACKS
Iranian media and officials also claimed:
Three American destroyers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz,
Iranian missile fire forced enemy units to retreat after suffering damage.
These claims are unverified.
Air defences were activated multiple times around:
Tehran
Bandar Abbas
Qeshm
REGIONAL TARGETS
Iran is accusing the US and “some regional nations” of striking targets in the Strait of Hormuz area.
Iranian media outlets reported explosions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai:
ISNA: explosions heard in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
IRIB/Fars: explosions heard in Abu Dhabi.
There is no confirmation yet on cause, damage, or responsibility.
Oil jumps on the developments:
CENTCOM Forces Intercept Iran Counterstrikes
CENTCOM confirms attack on Iran, and intercept of Iranian retaliation effort: “U.S. forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7.
Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the international sea passage. No U.S. assets were struck.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes. CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”
Confirmation of New US Military Attack
Fox News confirming a nighttime US miliary attack on Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas, however, with US officials seeking to downplay that this marks a restart of the war and bombing campaign. This comes via Fox chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin:
A senior US official tells me that it was a US military strike on Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas moments ago but added this is NOT a restarting of the war or end to the ceasefire.
The strike on one of Iran’s oil ports comes two days after Iran fired 15 ballistic and cruise missiles at UAE Fujairah Port, eliciting anger from Gulf countries after top Pentagon leaders said Tuesday that the Iranian strikes did not rise to the level of breaking the ceasefire, calling it low level attacks that didn’t rise to that level.
There have been allegations of UAE involvement. Since the initial explosions, more follow up blasts have been reported via state media, along with some emerging images:
US CONDUCTED STRIKES THURS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AREA: AXIOS
IRAN CLAIMS IT FIRED MISSILES AT THREE US DESTORYERS: TASNIM
Iranian military statement: “Criminal and aggressive America and its supporting countries should know, Iran will respond decisively to any aggression.”
Explosions, Possible Hostile Action Reported on Coast
During the night hours in Iran, state media has been issuing contradictory reports of mystery explosions along the Hormuz corridor. It’s as yet unclear what’s happening, but reports say a pier was struck near Bandar Abbas, with other southern areas witnessing possible drone activity, and return anti-air fire. There’s little that’s confirmable at this early point. Via DropSite:
Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reports that some Iranian sources are alleging “hostile action” by the UAE at Bahman Qeshm Dock near Bandar Abbas, though no official confirmation has been issued.
Some reports claimed air defenses responded to two drones after multiple explosions were heard in the Bandar Abbas area.
Other sources alleged the UAE, described by Tasnim as acting “as a tool of the Zionist regime,” was behind the incident at the dock.
Tasnim emphasized the claims remain unconfirmed
Iran’s Mehr says air defenses shot down two ‘hostile’ drones over Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
💢BREAKING: Iranian State Media Reports Commercial Pier Struck Near Bandar Abbas
Iranian IRGC-affiliated outlet Fars News Agency reported Thursday that parts of the Bahman Qeshm pier, a commercial and passenger port on the eastern side of Qeshm Island at the entrance to the… pic.twitter.com/nxgmpDvvk4
Iranian forces fired missiles at U.S. military units “that intended to seize an Iranian oil tanker” in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian State TV. https://t.co/UwF4jVUoph
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) May 7, 2026
Trump Reportedly Mulling ‘Project Freedom’ Restart After Gulf States Lift Curbs On Military Access
The S&P 500 fell to session lows as oil spiked after the Wall Street Journal reported that the US is looking to restart Project Freedom as early as this week and that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted curbs on airspace access.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the U.S. military’s use of their bases and airspace imposed after the start of the American operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. and Saudi officials, easing a hurdle that had tripped up President Trump’s effort to move ships through the vital waterway.
The Trump administration is now looking to restart the operation to guide commercial ships with naval and air support that it had paused after 36 hours this week, U.S. officials said.
It isn’t clear when that could happen though Pentagon officials gave a timeline of as early as this week.
The U.S. operation to force open the strait relied on an enormous fleet of aircraft to protect commercial ships from Iranian missiles and drones, making Saudi and Kuwaiti bases and airspace critical to its execution.
The kneejerk reaction was higher oil prices…
…and the odds of a peace deal by the end of next week lower…
Trump had suspended the effort, called Project Freedom, on Tuesday evening, after a phone call with the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in which the de facto Saudi leader conveyed his concerns and advised the president of the decision about base and airspace restrictions, the Saudi officials said. The president tried to get the Gulf leader to back down, they said.
Iran Reiterates Uranium ‘Red Line’ – Pushes Oil Up
While this is nothing ‘new’ – the timing is key, given the US is still awaiting Tehran’s response to the latest peace deal proposal, at a moment reports say the President Trump wants to wrap this up.
Iran Secretary of the National Security Commission of the Parliament told Nour News: No uranium has left the country; The right to enrich uranium, the complete lifting of sanctions, and the release of the country’s assets are non-negotiable red lines. Further he said that “Trump’s claim about the withdrawal of 400 kilograms of uranium from Iran is a “political bluff and a pure lie.” No uranium has left the country.”
The return of such firm rhetoric, and the likelihood that this signals a rejection of current Washington demands, sent oil climbing back up…
Oil Slides on Reports of ‘Breakthrough’ Coming for Stuck Ships
A very optimistic but unconfirmed early Thursday report: Sentiment in early morning trade was lifted after Al Arabiya reported that “the coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait”.
“The American naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is likely to be lifted after Washington and Tehran reportedly reached an agreement in this regard,” the Saudi media report says. “The agreement between both the sides on lifting the naval blockade was reached upon on Thursday (may 7) after US agreed for a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.”
President Donald Trump’s constant belittling of Iranian leaders is alarming some Arab and U.S. officials familiar with the Middle East who worry that such insults could prove a major obstacle to truly ending a war that has strained the world economy. At the core of their concern is whether Trump is willing to show Tehran’s Islamist leaders enough respect to let them claim some level of victory, even if they agree to U.S. demands that leave them militarily weaker.
“He badly wants this to end,” a senior Gulf Arab official familiar with the peace talks said of Trump. “But the Iranians are so far refusing to give him what he needs to save face and leave. And he does not seem to understand that they need to save face, too.”
French Nuclear-Powered Carrier to Enter Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
France and Britain could be poised to very belatedly join the US military in Middle East regional waters, according to movements of warships as well as fresh statements. Egypt and France on Wednesday oversaw the transit of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle through the Suez Canal as part of a southbound convoy, the Suez Canal Authority announced.
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has announced the nuclear-powered carrier is deploying to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as part of a multinational effort to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a fresh statement. So it’s clear the convoy will remain largely in a background support role when compared to the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman region. Paris and London have also made clear their ships would only directly join Persian Gulf operations only once the war ended.
(Reuters) – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met recently with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, state media reported on Thursday, offering a first public account of him meeting Khamenei after the latter suffered severe wounds at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on…
On a technical level, the White House has just this week sought to pronounce that Operation Epic Fury has ended, and Project Freedom has begun. It’s unclear whether the European allies buy this designation, however. Marcon has sought to make clear that France is not a party to the conflict, but Europe is seeking a diplomatic voice at the table after spending the last two months largely on the sidelines.
Two Key Gulf Allies Reportedly Suspended Base, Airspace Access For US
President Trump abruptly halted plans to support commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi Arabia suspended US military access to its bases and airspace for the operation, two US officials told NBC. Kuwait is reported to have imposed similar restrictions in wake of being on the receiving end of Iranian missiles.
According to the officials, Trump caught Gulf allies off guard when he announced Project Freedom on Truth Social, triggering anger in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is said to have responded by informing Washington that US forces would not be permitted to operate aircraft from Prince Sultan Air Base southeast of Riyadh or transit Saudi airspace in support of the mission. Other Gulf allies were also reportedly surprised by the development, with Drop Site News also reporting Kuwait has made a similar move to cut or restrict base access.
But here is how Trump framed the pause at the time in a Truth Social post: “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally”… and he also said it was necessary “to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.“ By the following day it became clear that the two sides were no closer to getting to the negotiating table, much less actually inking an agreement to end the war.
President Trump has laid out a clear choice for Iran: Reach a deal, or the bombing resumes. pic.twitter.com/isThSrLwo9
The White House is meanwhile denying the main content of the NBC report, with one official insisting that “regional allies were briefed in advance.”
First Chinese Tanker Attacked Near Hormuz As Beijing Urges Waterway Reopened
There have certainly been escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz this week amid a wave of Iranian attacks on commercial ships after a U.S. military effort to escort merchant vessels through the maritime chokepoint. By midweek, tensions had simmered, and Iran is still reviewing a 14-point U.S. proposal to end the war, with Tehran expected to send its response to Pakistani mediators later today.
President Trump said talks with Iran have been “very good” and suggested a deal remains possible. Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the U.S. proposal is still under review. But when chaos erupted on the world’s most critical waterway at the beginning of the week, a new report said that a large refined-products tanker owned by a Chinese shipowner was attacked off the UAE’s Al Jeer port on Monday, according to Reuters.
Beijing-based business media outlet Caixin reported that the vessel’s deck erupted in flames after the attack. The outlet noted the vessel was marked “CHINA OWNER & CREW.” A shipping industry source told Caixin that this was the first time a Chinese tanker was hit in the three-month-long war, calling it “psychologically very hard to accept.”
Shortly after the Chinese tanker was attacked, it became clear why, two days later on Wednesday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for the swift reopening of the Hormuz chokepoint. “The international community shares a common concern for the restoration of normal and safe passage of the strait,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, according to an official Chinese statement. “China hopes that the parties concerned will respond to the strong appeal of the international community as soon as possible.”
China’s urgency to resolve the highly disrupted Hormuz chokepoint comes just over a week before President Trump flies to Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping. The big question is whether China will cooperate with the U.S. to end the conflict and reopen the Strait, as much of the tanker flow through this critical waterway is destined for Asia, and the disruption has led to fuel shortages and soaring prices of crude oil and related products in the region.
“China likes to present itself as a great stabilizing force in the world, but imagine if they had a genuine diplomatic achievement, such as brokering the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as proof of that,” Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute, told Bloomberg. He noted that some in Beijing would advocate for using the moment to “squeeze some concessions out of the US” on issues such as Taiwan. The first Chinese tanker attacked in the U.S.-Iran conflict, as well as the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, might be the catalysts for the international community to pressure Iran into a peace deal with the U.S. Meanwhile, a French aircraft carrier is transiting through the southern part of the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea, preparing to restore Hormuz tanker flows.
More Regional Developments
via Newsquawk
Al Arabiya reported that “the coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait”, spurring pressure in the crude complex.
Iran is expected to provide its reply to the US proposal for ending the war to mediators on Thursday, according to CNN, citing a regional source.
US President Trump could turn to military action without an agreement with Iran ahead of the China trip, according to Axios, citing US officials.
Iran is expected to provide its reply to mediators on Thursday, CNN reported citing a regional source.
“Arabic sources: Reaching understandings regarding easing the siege in exchange for the gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz “, Al Arabiya reported; “The coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait”.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “We do not talk about war and instead talk about dialogue and diplomacy. However, if any aggression similar to what we saw last year, we will respond; Pakistan will respond just as it did”, Mallick posted.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said “We have not yet received a response from Iran regarding the US amendments”, Al Jazeera reported.
“Pakistani source to Al Arabiya said Iran may hand over its response to the US proposal to the Pakistani mediator today”, Al Arabiya.
“No arrangements for any direct meetings between the Iranians and the Americans so far.”.
“Contacts with the Iranians are ongoing and there are no obstacles hindering continued”.
“Discussions are ongoing regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and reaching understandings is still possible”.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry said “We expect an urgent agreement between Iran and the United States”, Al Araby reported.
“Israel was informed that Iran has agreed to transfer its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium to a third country that remains unknown”, Sky News Arabia reported citing Israeli Channel 12.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on US-Iran agreement, said “we would expect an agreement sooner rather than later”, Pakistani journalist Mallick posted.
“We will welcome any settlement wherever that takes place, if it takes place in Islamabad, it would be an honour and privilege.”.
The proposed agreement between the US and Iran may limit the IDF’s action in Lebanon, Israeli press reported citing an Israeli official.
US President Trump, on Iran, said it will all work out very quickly.
IDF said it has intercepted suspicious aerial target launched from Lebanon towards Israel following sirens that sounded in Manara, Margaliot and Kiryat Shmona.
Lebanon’s PM Salam said it is not seeking normalisation with Israel and it is too early to discuss any possible meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu.
Iran has issued a message to commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran’s port is fully prepared to provide general maritime services and support to the vessels, IRNA reported.
US President Trump could turn to military action without an Iran agreement ahead of the China trip, Axios reported citing US officials.
US President Trump’s reversal on his plan to help ships go through the Strait of Hormuz came after Saudi Arabia suspended the US’s ability to use its bases and airspace to carry out Project Freedom, NBC reported citing US officials.
IRGC Navy Political Affairs Official said we will impose our control over the Strait of Hormuz, and any attack will be met with a plan beyond the enemy’s calculations, Al Jazeera reported.
For the past century, the agendas of the Democratic Party were predictable. They professed concern for working Americans and supported blue-collar unions.
Unemployment insurance, a 40-hour work week, disability insurance, and Social Security were their trademarks—often rapidly achieved by growing government bureaucracies and continually raising taxes. Still, many Democrats were socially conservative.
By the 1970s, Democrats still deplored antisemitism. Party officials had rejected their own segregationists to champion civil rights.
Presidents like Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy all supported strong defense and military deterrence.
All that is now passé.
The only vestigial Democrat left in Congress is Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, himself roundly despised by Democrat leaders.
Today, supporting Israel and calling for campuses to stop their institutionalized antisemitism is Democratic political suicide.
Forty years ago, any Democrat with a Nazi tattoo was political toast; today, he can become the party’s nominee for the Maine Senate race.
So, the current Democrat Party is no longer truly democratic at all. Its new spirit and methods resemble the radical Jacobin Party of the French Revolution. Today, Democrats claim that if any opponent gives a Roman salute, he is a Nazi—while insisting that one of their own with a Nazi tattoo is not.
Jacobinism rejects Martin Luther King Jr.’s emphasis on the “content of . . . character.” It instead prefers fixating on “the color of . . . skin.”
It aims to divide the nation arbitrarily between the noble oppressed and the toxic oppressors.
So these new Jacobins have institutionalized racially separate college dorms and graduation ceremonies, along with hiring and promoting on the basis of race.
The new Jacobins destroyed the southern border and welcomed in 10–12 million illegal aliens, seen as a future proletariat constituency. Today’s Jacobins would now ridicule Bill Clinton’s 1990s calls for secure borders and an end to illegal immigration as “fascist” and “racist.”
The most recent nihilist developments in American society can be attributed to these Jacobin “Democrats”: biological men competing in women’s sports; critical legal theory that normalizes cashless bail; race-based reparations; violent felons arrested and back on the street hours later; radical abortion on demand until birth; attacks on the concept of the cultural “melting pot”; and opposition to organized Christianity.
These agendas lack broad majority support. So street theater and violence focus on Tesla dealerships, ICE officers, conservative campus speakers, and, at times, any journalists covering the unrest.
Jacobins make excuses for pro-Hamas campus violence, which often targets Jewish students. The often violent and corrupt Black Lives Matter movement was a Jacobin ancillary.
Free speech is labeled “disinformation” and “misinformation”—synonyms for not toeing the Jacobin Party line. Until recent pushbacks, near-religious radical green agendas warred against fossil fuels and cost the working classes billions of dollars for sky-high fuel and electricity costs.
Like the Robespierre brothers of old, the most radical Jacobins are so often to be found among the wealthiest and most privileged Americans. Radical New York mayor Zohran Mamdani grew up as a rich Ugandan. Radical, self-described communist Maine senatorial candidate Graham Platner attended one of the most elite and expensive prep schools in the United States.
When avowed socialists Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders barnstormed the country, they did so via private jets.
Radical “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar cannot decide whether she is worth $30 million or nothing. Hard-left California billionaire, gubernatorial candidate, and radical environmentalist Tom Steyer is a billionaire who jump-started his fortune by investing in coal plants overseas and offshoring profits to avoid taxes.
At least 10 states are drafting laws to tax the net worth, as well as the income, of “billionaires and millionaires,” apparently for their “social” crimes. Mayor Mamdani taps on the window of philanthropist Ken Griffin as a warning to get out of town. The mayor of Seattle scoffs at the rich leaving her state with their billions due to new punitive taxes, offering a sarcastic “bye.”
In the old days, Democrats were embarrassed by their radicals and distanced themselves from the Weather Underground, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Black Panthers. Today, left-wing bomb throwers are the Democrat Party.
Hasan Piker, another multimillionaire, $200,000 Porsche-driving communist, has openly supported “social murder.”
So Piker praised Luigi Mangione’s targeted murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Meanwhile, Jacobins on social media expressed disappointment that all three assassination attempts on Donald Trump failed. The arsonist who burned down Pacific Palisades was a Mangione acolyte and saw his destruction as a revolutionary act, perhaps a form of mass “social murder.”
Jacobin politicians call for Trump to be “eliminated,” label him as a “fascist,” and call for “any means necessary” to end his presidency.
The aim is to lower the social and psychological barrier to violence.
The Jacobin Democrats of today are systematically destroying the legacy of the Democratic Party. And why not?
Their model is not the American Founding, but the radical mandated equality—and violence—of the French Revolution.
For the past century, the agendas of the Democratic Party were predictable. They professed concern for working Americans and supported blue-collar unions.
Unemployment insurance, a 40-hour work week, disability insurance, and Social Security were their trademarks—often rapidly achieved by growing government bureaucracies and continually raising taxes. Still, many Democrats were socially conservative.
By the 1970s, Democrats still deplored antisemitism. Party officials had rejected their own segregationists to champion civil rights.
Presidents like Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy all supported strong defense and military deterrence.
All that is now passé.
The only vestigial Democrat left in Congress is Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, himself roundly despised by Democrat leaders.
Today, supporting Israel and calling for campuses to stop their institutionalized antisemitism is Democratic political suicide.
Forty years ago, any Democrat with a Nazi tattoo was political toast; today, he can become the party’s nominee for the Maine Senate race.
So, the current Democrat Party is no longer truly democratic at all. Its new spirit and methods resemble the radical Jacobin Party of the French Revolution. Today, Democrats claim that if any opponent gives a Roman salute, he is a Nazi—while insisting that one of their own with a Nazi tattoo is not.
Jacobinism rejects Martin Luther King Jr.’s emphasis on the “content of . . . character.” It instead prefers fixating on “the color of . . . skin.”
It aims to divide the nation arbitrarily between the noble oppressed and the toxic oppressors.
So these new Jacobins have institutionalized racially separate college dorms and graduation ceremonies, along with hiring and promoting on the basis of race.
The new Jacobins destroyed the southern border and welcomed in 10–12 million illegal aliens, seen as a future proletariat constituency. Today’s Jacobins would now ridicule Bill Clinton’s 1990s calls for secure borders and an end to illegal immigration as “fascist” and “racist.”
The most recent nihilist developments in American society can be attributed to these Jacobin “Democrats”: biological men competing in women’s sports; critical legal theory that normalizes cashless bail; race-based reparations; violent felons arrested and back on the street hours later; radical abortion on demand until birth; attacks on the concept of the cultural “melting pot”; and opposition to organized Christianity.
These agendas lack broad majority support. So street theater and violence focus on Tesla dealerships, ICE officers, conservative campus speakers, and, at times, any journalists covering the unrest.
Jacobins make excuses for pro-Hamas campus violence, which often targets Jewish students. The often violent and corrupt Black Lives Matter movement was a Jacobin ancillary.
Free speech is labeled “disinformation” and “misinformation”—synonyms for not toeing the Jacobin Party line. Until recent pushbacks, near-religious radical green agendas warred against fossil fuels and cost the working classes billions of dollars for sky-high fuel and electricity costs.
Like the Robespierre brothers of old, the most radical Jacobins are so often to be found among the wealthiest and most privileged Americans. Radical New York mayor Zohran Mamdani grew up as a rich Ugandan. Radical, self-described communist Maine senatorial candidate Graham Platner attended one of the most elite and expensive prep schools in the United States.
When avowed socialists Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders barnstormed the country, they did so via private jets.
Radical “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar cannot decide whether she is worth $30 million or nothing. Hard-left California billionaire, gubernatorial candidate, and radical environmentalist Tom Steyer is a billionaire who jump-started his fortune by investing in coal plants overseas and offshoring profits to avoid taxes.
At least 10 states are drafting laws to tax the net worth, as well as the income, of “billionaires and millionaires,” apparently for their “social” crimes. Mayor Mamdani taps on the window of philanthropist Ken Griffin as a warning to get out of town. The mayor of Seattle scoffs at the rich leaving her state with their billions due to new punitive taxes, offering a sarcastic “bye.”
In the old days, Democrats were embarrassed by their radicals and distanced themselves from the Weather Underground, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Black Panthers. Today, left-wing bomb throwers are the Democrat Party.
Hasan Piker, another multimillionaire, $200,000 Porsche-driving communist, has openly supported “social murder.”
So Piker praised Luigi Mangione’s targeted murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Meanwhile, Jacobins on social media expressed disappointment that all three assassination attempts on Donald Trump failed. The arsonist who burned down Pacific Palisades was a Mangione acolyte and saw his destruction as a revolutionary act, perhaps a form of mass “social murder.”
Jacobin politicians call for Trump to be “eliminated,” label him as a “fascist,” and call for “any means necessary” to end his presidency.
The aim is to lower the social and psychological barrier to violence.
The Jacobin Democrats of today are systematically destroying the legacy of the Democratic Party. And why not?
Their model is not the American Founding, but the radical mandated equality—and violence—of the French Revolution.
Iranian Media Reports Pier Struck Near Bandar Abbas After Mystery Explosions, Drone Activity
Summary
Hostile activity, explosions reported on Iran’s southern coastal area along Hormuz.
The Trump admin mulls restarting operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz with naval and air support as early as this week after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on US access to their bases and airspaces
Iran national security commission ‘red line’: No uranium has left the country; The right to enrich uranium, the complete lifting of sanctions, and the release of the country’s assets are non-negotiable red lines.
Sentiment in early morning trade was lifted after Al Arabiya reported that “the coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait”.
Pakistani sources said Trump has demanded Iran’s “immediate response” to Washington’s peace proposal.
French nuclear-powered carrier steams through Suez Canal in support mission as Europe seeks diplomatic influence over Hormuz outcome.
First Chinese tanker reportedly attacked: shipping industry source told Caixin that this was the first time a Chinese tanker was hit in the three-month-long war, calling it “psychologically very hard to accept.”
Explosions, Possible Hostile Action Reported on Coast
During the night hours in Iran, state media has been issuing contradictory reports of mystery explosions along the Hormuz corridor. It’s as yet unclear what’s happening, but reports say a pier was struck near Bandar Abbas, with other southern areas witnessing possible drone activity, and return anti-air fire. There’s little that’s confirmable at this early point. Via DropSite:
Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reports that some Iranian sources are alleging “hostile action” by the UAE at Bahman Qeshm Dock near Bandar Abbas, though no official confirmation has been issued.
Some reports claimed air defenses responded to two drones after multiple explosions were heard in the Bandar Abbas area.
Other sources alleged the UAE, described by Tasnim as acting “as a tool of the Zionist regime,” was behind the incident at the dock.
Tasnim emphasized the claims remain unconfirmed
Iran’s Mehr says air defenses shot down two ‘hostile’ drones over Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
💢BREAKING: Iranian State Media Reports Commercial Pier Struck Near Bandar Abbas
Iranian IRGC-affiliated outlet Fars News Agency reported Thursday that parts of the Bahman Qeshm pier, a commercial and passenger port on the eastern side of Qeshm Island at the entrance to the… pic.twitter.com/nxgmpDvvk4
Trump Reportedly Mulling ‘Project Freedom’ Restart After Gulf States Lift Curbs On Military Access
The S&P 500 fell to session lows as oil spiked after the Wall Street Journal reported that the US is looking to restart Project Freedom as early as this week and that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted curbs on airspace access.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the U.S. military’s use of their bases and airspace imposed after the start of the American operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. and Saudi officials, easing a hurdle that had tripped up President Trump’s effort to move ships through the vital waterway.
The Trump administration is now looking to restart the operation to guide commercial ships with naval and air support that it had paused after 36 hours this week, U.S. officials said.
It isn’t clear when that could happen though Pentagon officials gave a timeline of as early as this week.
The U.S. operation to force open the strait relied on an enormous fleet of aircraft to protect commercial ships from Iranian missiles and drones, making Saudi and Kuwaiti bases and airspace critical to its execution.
The kneejerk reaction was higher oil prices…
…and the odds of a peace deal by the end of next week lower…
Trump had suspended the effort, called Project Freedom, on Tuesday evening, after a phone call with the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in which the de facto Saudi leader conveyed his concerns and advised the president of the decision about base and airspace restrictions, the Saudi officials said. The president tried to get the Gulf leader to back down, they said.
Iran Reiterates Uranium ‘Red Line’ – Pushes Oil Up
While this is nothing ‘new’ – the timing is key, given the US is still awaiting Tehran’s response to the latest peace deal proposal, at a moment reports say the President Trump wants to wrap this up.
Iran Secretary of the National Security Commission of the Parliament told Nour News: No uranium has left the country; The right to enrich uranium, the complete lifting of sanctions, and the release of the country’s assets are non-negotiable red lines. Further he said that “Trump’s claim about the withdrawal of 400 kilograms of uranium from Iran is a “political bluff and a pure lie.” No uranium has left the country.”
The return of such firm rhetoric, and the likelihood that this signals a rejection of current Washington demands, sent oil climbing back up…
Oil Slides on Reports of ‘Breakthrough’ Coming for Stuck Ships
A very optimistic but unconfirmed early Thursday report: Sentiment in early morning trade was lifted after Al Arabiya reported that “the coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait”.
“The American naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is likely to be lifted after Washington and Tehran reportedly reached an agreement in this regard,” the Saudi media report says. “The agreement between both the sides on lifting the naval blockade was reached upon on Thursday (may 7) after US agreed for a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.”
President Donald Trump’s constant belittling of Iranian leaders is alarming some Arab and U.S. officials familiar with the Middle East who worry that such insults could prove a major obstacle to truly ending a war that has strained the world economy. At the core of their concern is whether Trump is willing to show Tehran’s Islamist leaders enough respect to let them claim some level of victory, even if they agree to U.S. demands that leave them militarily weaker.
“He badly wants this to end,” a senior Gulf Arab official familiar with the peace talks said of Trump. “But the Iranians are so far refusing to give him what he needs to save face and leave. And he does not seem to understand that they need to save face, too.”
French Nuclear-Powered Carrier to Enter Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
France and Britain could be poised to very belatedly join the US military in Middle East regional waters, according to movements of warships as well as fresh statements. Egypt and France on Wednesday oversaw the transit of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle through the Suez Canal as part of a southbound convoy, the Suez Canal Authority announced.
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has announced the nuclear-powered carrier is deploying to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as part of a multinational effort to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a fresh statement. So it’s clear the convoy will remain largely in a background support role when compared to the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman region. Paris and London have also made clear their ships would only directly join Persian Gulf operations only once the war ended.
(Reuters) – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met recently with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, state media reported on Thursday, offering a first public account of him meeting Khamenei after the latter suffered severe wounds at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on…
On a technical level, the White House has just this week sought to pronounce that Operation Epic Fury has ended, and Project Freedom has begun. It’s unclear whether the European allies buy this designation, however. Marcon has sought to make clear that France is not a party to the conflict, but Europe is seeking a diplomatic voice at the table after spending the last two months largely on the sidelines.
Two Key Gulf Allies Reportedly Suspended Base, Airspace Access For US
President Trump abruptly halted plans to support commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi Arabia suspended US military access to its bases and airspace for the operation, two US officials told NBC. Kuwait is reported to have imposed similar restrictions in wake of being on the receiving end of Iranian missiles.
According to the officials, Trump caught Gulf allies off guard when he announced Project Freedom on Truth Social, triggering anger in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is said to have responded by informing Washington that US forces would not be permitted to operate aircraft from Prince Sultan Air Base southeast of Riyadh or transit Saudi airspace in support of the mission. Other Gulf allies were also reportedly surprised by the development, with Drop Site News also reporting Kuwait has made a similar move to cut or restrict base access.
But here is how Trump framed the pause at the time in a Truth Social post: “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally”… and he also said it was necessary “to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.“ By the following day it became clear that the two sides were no closer to getting to the negotiating table, much less actually inking an agreement to end the war.
President Trump has laid out a clear choice for Iran: Reach a deal, or the bombing resumes. pic.twitter.com/isThSrLwo9
The White House is meanwhile denying the main content of the NBC report, with one official insisting that “regional allies were briefed in advance.”
First Chinese Tanker Attacked Near Hormuz As Beijing Urges Waterway Reopened
There have certainly been escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz this week amid a wave of Iranian attacks on commercial ships after a U.S. military effort to escort merchant vessels through the maritime chokepoint. By midweek, tensions had simmered, and Iran is still reviewing a 14-point U.S. proposal to end the war, with Tehran expected to send its response to Pakistani mediators later today.
President Trump said talks with Iran have been “very good” and suggested a deal remains possible. Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the U.S. proposal is still under review. But when chaos erupted on the world’s most critical waterway at the beginning of the week, a new report said that a large refined-products tanker owned by a Chinese shipowner was attacked off the UAE’s Al Jeer port on Monday, according to Reuters.
Beijing-based business media outlet Caixin reported that the vessel’s deck erupted in flames after the attack. The outlet noted the vessel was marked “CHINA OWNER & CREW.” A shipping industry source told Caixin that this was the first time a Chinese tanker was hit in the three-month-long war, calling it “psychologically very hard to accept.”
Shortly after the Chinese tanker was attacked, it became clear why, two days later on Wednesday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for the swift reopening of the Hormuz chokepoint. “The international community shares a common concern for the restoration of normal and safe passage of the strait,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, according to an official Chinese statement. “China hopes that the parties concerned will respond to the strong appeal of the international community as soon as possible.”
China’s urgency to resolve the highly disrupted Hormuz chokepoint comes just over a week before President Trump flies to Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping. The big question is whether China will cooperate with the U.S. to end the conflict and reopen the Strait, as much of the tanker flow through this critical waterway is destined for Asia, and the disruption has led to fuel shortages and soaring prices of crude oil and related products in the region.
“China likes to present itself as a great stabilizing force in the world, but imagine if they had a genuine diplomatic achievement, such as brokering the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as proof of that,” Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute, told Bloomberg. He noted that some in Beijing would advocate for using the moment to “squeeze some concessions out of the US” on issues such as Taiwan. The first Chinese tanker attacked in the U.S.-Iran conflict, as well as the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, might be the catalysts for the international community to pressure Iran into a peace deal with the U.S. Meanwhile, a French aircraft carrier is transiting through the southern part of the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea, preparing to restore Hormuz tanker flows.
More Regional Developments
via Newsquawk
Al Arabiya reported that “the coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait”, spurring pressure in the crude complex.
Iran is expected to provide its reply to the US proposal for ending the war to mediators on Thursday, according to CNN, citing a regional source.
US President Trump could turn to military action without an agreement with Iran ahead of the China trip, according to Axios, citing US officials.
Iran is expected to provide its reply to mediators on Thursday, CNN reported citing a regional source.
“Arabic sources: Reaching understandings regarding easing the siege in exchange for the gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz “, Al Arabiya reported; “The coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait”.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “We do not talk about war and instead talk about dialogue and diplomacy. However, if any aggression similar to what we saw last year, we will respond; Pakistan will respond just as it did”, Mallick posted.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said “We have not yet received a response from Iran regarding the US amendments”, Al Jazeera reported.
“Pakistani source to Al Arabiya said Iran may hand over its response to the US proposal to the Pakistani mediator today”, Al Arabiya.
“No arrangements for any direct meetings between the Iranians and the Americans so far.”.
“Contacts with the Iranians are ongoing and there are no obstacles hindering continued”.
“Discussions are ongoing regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and reaching understandings is still possible”.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry said “We expect an urgent agreement between Iran and the United States”, Al Araby reported.
“Israel was informed that Iran has agreed to transfer its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium to a third country that remains unknown”, Sky News Arabia reported citing Israeli Channel 12.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on US-Iran agreement, said “we would expect an agreement sooner rather than later”, Pakistani journalist Mallick posted.
“We will welcome any settlement wherever that takes place, if it takes place in Islamabad, it would be an honour and privilege.”.
The proposed agreement between the US and Iran may limit the IDF’s action in Lebanon, Israeli press reported citing an Israeli official.
US President Trump, on Iran, said it will all work out very quickly.
IDF said it has intercepted suspicious aerial target launched from Lebanon towards Israel following sirens that sounded in Manara, Margaliot and Kiryat Shmona.
Lebanon’s PM Salam said it is not seeking normalisation with Israel and it is too early to discuss any possible meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu.
Iran has issued a message to commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran’s port is fully prepared to provide general maritime services and support to the vessels, IRNA reported.
US President Trump could turn to military action without an Iran agreement ahead of the China trip, Axios reported citing US officials.
US President Trump’s reversal on his plan to help ships go through the Strait of Hormuz came after Saudi Arabia suspended the US’s ability to use its bases and airspace to carry out Project Freedom, NBC reported citing US officials.
IRGC Navy Political Affairs Official said we will impose our control over the Strait of Hormuz, and any attack will be met with a plan beyond the enemy’s calculations, Al Jazeera reported.
