Global Conflict Reporting

Author: Scott Jackson

  • U.S. and Iran Trade Fresh Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz, Testing Ceasefire

    U.S. and Iran Trade Fresh Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz, Testing Ceasefire

    Wednesday, May 27, 2026, U.S. forces launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets, primarily in southern Iran. The strikes came after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Iran had launched a ballistic missile toward a U.S. base in Kuwait. The missile was reported as being intercepted by Kuwait forces. Hours earlier, Iran had launched a wave of four one-way attack drones, which were shot down by U.S. forces.

    This exchange continues a pattern of back-and-forth attacks in the past week – from both sides – that has put the fragile April ceasefire to the test as negotiations are currently ongoing. A further 60 day ceasefire is awaiting a signature from U.S. President Donald Trump today.

    Timeline of strikes

    Here’s a timeline of events over the past week to provide clearer context:

    May 25, 2026

    Iran attempted to deploy naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, posing risks to U.S. forces and shipping. U.S. forces responded by sinking IRGC vessels involved in the mine-laying efforts. Iran then fired surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) at U.S. aircraft. These actions set the stage for the clashes that followed.

    [Video Placeholder: Claimed intercepted missile tracking an F-35 or related footage]

    May 26, 2026 (Monday)

    U.S. CENTCOM carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, primarily in the Bandar Abbas area. The targets included Iranian missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to emplace naval mines in or near the Strait of Hormuz.

    The U.S. described the operation as necessary to protect troops and maritime traffic during the ongoing ceasefire. Some Iranian personnel were reported killed. Iranian officials viewed the strikes as a violation of the ceasefire.

    May 27, 2026 (Tuesday)

    U.S. forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were threatening the Strait of Hormuz area. They also struck an Iranian ground control station near Bandar Abbas International Airport to prevent a fifth drone launch.

    May 28, 2026 (Wednesday/Thursday, ongoing)

    The U.S. carried out additional defensive strikes near Bandar Abbas, targeting a military/ground control site linked to drone threats. U.S. forces intercepted Iranian drones. CENTCOM emphasized restraint while defending U.S. forces and interests.

    Video reportedly shows the U.S. attack on Bandar Abbas. A cruise missile can be seen flying through the sky before it strikes a target out of view of the camera.

    In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory ballistic missile (and reportedly a drone) attack toward a U.S. air base. The IRGC claimed it targeted the base responsible for the strikes near Bandar Abbas, which has been widely linked to facilities in Kuwait. Kuwait activated its air defenses and intercepted the incoming missile(s) and drones. No major casualties were reported. The IRGC called the strike a “serious warning” and threatened more decisive action if U.S. aggression continues.

    CENTCOM labeled Iran’s attack an “egregious ceasefire violation.” Iran also reported incidents involving warning shots at ships in the Hormuz area.

    Iranian sources dispute the U.S. claim of conducting purely self-defense strikes, arguing that Iran was only responding to aggressive U.S. actions.

    The White House and Tehran are currently working on a 60-day extension of the ceasefire to allow more time for negotiations.

    Video released from the IRGC shows the shoot down of a US AGM-158B JASSM-ER stealth cruise missile. The video is the view from a thermal detection systems, which is built around passive Infrared signals which can detect stealth aircraft because of the heat they emit. Earlier in the war a U.S. F-35 was struck because it was detected and tracked with this technology.

  • Russia Hits Kyiv with One of the Largest Attacks of the War – Oreshnik IRBM Used

    Russia Hits Kyiv with One of the Largest Attacks of the War – Oreshnik IRBM Used

    Overnight on May 23-24 2026, at least four people were killed and 100 wounded in one of the largest Russian air attacks in years. While strikes were launched across multiple regions, the main target was clear: the capital, Kyiv.

    Video shows moments from the Russian attack on Kyiv.

    The city was hit with multiple Kh-101/Kalibr cruise missiles, Shahed drones, and ballistic missiles. After 1 a.m., explosions rang out across Kyiv following a warning from the United States and Europe that Russia might launch one of its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missiles. This was not only one of the largest recent attacks — it ranks among the largest of the entire war with 90 missiles (including 36 ballistic) and an estimated 600 drones being used in the attack.

    Russian Tupolev TU-95 (NATO: Bear) carrying KH-101 (NATO: AS-23 “Kodiak”) Cruise missile.
    Video of the Oreshnik strike.

    Videos from Bila Tserkva, a city roughly 40 miles (64 km) from Kyiv’s outskirts, captured the Oreshnik strike. It is not yet known what, if anything, was damaged or why that area was targeted in specific. Although the attack looked dramatic, the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was designed primarily as a nuclear delivery system. It is very similar to Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh (NATO: SS-X-31), which was test-fired a handful of times but never fully fielded. Both missiles are equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). These break apart into six individual submunitions during the exo-atmospheric flight phase, allowing them to strike separate targets — a capability ideal for delivering multiple nuclear warheads.

    Some information of the Russian Oreshnik missile.

    In its non-nuclear form – which lacks any conventional warhead and relies solely on kinetic energy – the Oreshnik has so far proved to be more of a threat than a practical battlefield weapon. Nuclear weapons experts have described its accuracy as “good enough to deliver a nuclear weapon, but not enough to deliver conventional weapons effectively.” Last night marked the third known use of the Oreshnik. It was deployed on November 20 2024 to hit Ukraines PA Pivdenmash facility in Dinipro, and again earlier this year on January 6 to hit the city of Lviv.

    The hours-long attack sent Kyiv residents huddling in subway tunnels and other designated bomb shelters as Russia appeared to fire missiles at random. Russian Telegram channels shared a photo of a damaged apartment block and claimed it was the headquarters for the entire Ukrainian Army. One area hit particularly hard was the Lukyanivka district, north of Kyiv’s city center. That district is home to a missile production plant that has been targeted multiple times during the war. Apart from those specifics residential buildings, a market that burned down several schools, and a water supply facility along with damage reported in dozens of other locations across multiple districts.

    “It’s important that this does not remain without consequences for Russia…“Decisions are needed – from the United States, from Europe and others.”

    President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app, urging international action.

    Ukraine’s Western allies have described the use of an IRBM as an escalation. Germany and the UK condemned the attack, while Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, accused Moscow of “a political scare tactic and reckless nuclear brinkmanship.”

    Russia described the attack as retaliation for an attack they claim targeted student dormitories, among other recent Ukranian drone strikes. Ukraine says that they only strike “military and military supporting infrastructure.”

  • U.S. Seizes Iranian Tanker in Indian Ocean

    U.S. Seizes Iranian Tanker in Indian Ocean

    On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, U.S. forces seized an Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Skywave (IMO: 9328716). The story was originally reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing three U.S. officials. Ship-tracking data showed that the Skywave was sailing west of Malaysia on Tuesday after exiting the Malacca Strait. The Wall Street Journal reported that the ship was boarded overnight while it was halfway between Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The U.S. has not yet confirmed the seizure.

    Image shows the ship before its name change to Skywave.

    The ship is currently flagged in Botswana, a known cover for shadow tankers. As a landlocked country, Botswana has no national maritime or ship registry. Other maritime tracking sites list it as flagged in Comoros–another common shadow-fleet jurisdiction–providing probable evidence that the vessel routinely changes its flag. The ship changed its name in 2025 after it was sanctioned by the U.S. At that time, when it was called the Blue Gulf, it was registered in Palau.

    Lloyd’s List Intelligence reports that the ship loaded more than a million barrels of crude oil at Kharg Island in February before heading to Asian waters. It is not publicly known whether the ship was able to offload its cargo in Asian ports.

    Image from MarineTraffic shows a current reported position of Skywave.

    This is the third time the U.S. has seized an Iranian tanker, following the seizures of the Majestic X and Tifani in April, both in the Indian Ocean. These operations form part of a blockade of Iranian shipping into the Persian Gulf as well as a broader crackdown on Iranian shipping worldwide. Iran’s tanker fleet generates revenue for the regime, which is then used to fund its military and proxy forces. The seizures tie into the wider U.S.–Israeli Operation Epic Fury and the effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, among other objectives. Iran has denounced the actions as “armed piracy” and a violation of the fragile ceasefire established in April.

    The Department of Justice and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also announced today that they are sanctioning an additional 19 tankers linked to the Iranian oil trade. The move is part of a campaign the U.S. calls “Economic Fury.”

    The US action is a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Enforcement will occur inside Iran’s territorial seas and in international waters. In addition to this blockade, the Joint Force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific Area of Responsibility under the command of Admiral Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran….This includes Dark Fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. As most of you know, Dark Fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements. More than 10,000 sailors, Marines and Airmen, over a dozen ships and dozens of aircraft are executing this mission.

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine,

    Background

    Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated over Tehran’s nuclear program and its support for proxy militias across the Middle East. Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated U.S.–Israeli campaign launched earlier this year, combines naval interdictions, expanded economic sanctions, and intelligence operations to disrupt Iran’s shadow tanker fleet and starve the regime of the oil revenue that funds its military and destabilizing activities. The fragile ceasefire negotiated in April 2026 offered only a temporary pause in hostilities; both sides continue to accuse each other of violations, keeping the region on edge as the U.S. presses forward with its goal of preventing Iran from achieving nuclear breakout capability.

  • Ceasefire Between Iran and the United States Threatened

    Ceasefire Between Iran and the United States Threatened

    Earlier today, Iranian forces launched an attack on several targets across the Middle East, releasing videos showing the launch of cruise missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles from mobile truck launchers. This appears to have been a response to a U.S. operation carried out this morning, which escorted two merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz and out of the Persian Gulf.

    During the U.S. mission, dubbed “Project Freedom,” several U.S. AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters sank six Iranian boats that the U.S. claimed were threatening commercial shipping. During the operation, it was also reported that Iran had launched new attacks aimed at American warships as well as merchant vessels.

    During a press conference, Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), spoke with the press. Below are some key points.

    “We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the strait, including AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters used just this morning to eliminate six Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping. So we’re backing up commitment with action,” he continued. “We also have A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F/A-18s, F-35s, EA-18 Growlers, RC-135s, KC-46s, and KC-135 fixed-wing aircraft, and numerous U.S. warships, including destroyers, two carrier strike groups, an amphibious readiness group, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit.”

    “The cruise missiles were going after both U.S. Navy ships, but mostly after commercial shipping,” Cooper added when asked about attacks so far. “We defended both ourselves and, consistent with our commitment, we defended all those commercial ships.”

    “The President has also said that if the process [Project Freedom] is interfered with, we will react forcefully. And over the last 12 hours, Iran has interfered. The IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] has launched multiple cruise missiles, drones, and small boats at ships we are protecting. We have defeated each and every one of those threats through the clinical application of defensive munitions.”

    “I can confirm there’s been no U.S. military ship hit, and there’s been no U.S.-flagged ship that has been hit.”

    The UAE Minister of Defence said on social media that UAE air defense systems “engaged 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 4 UAVs launched from Iran, resulting in 3 moderate injuries.” The minister was referring to three Indian nationals moderately injured in a drone strike on the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. The attack appears to have hit the connecting pipes that lead to a terminal used to load oil onto tankers.

    The location of the attack in the UAE

    Tensions remain high as the fragile ceasefire appears increasingly at risk.

  • Mali Update: MoD killed; sporadic clashes ongoing across the country.

    Mali Update: MoD killed; sporadic clashes ongoing across the country.

    Five days ago on April 25th, armed Tuareg militia groups coordinated with Al-Qaeda Sahel affiliate Jihadist group and launched a coordinated attack on strategic positions across Mali, striking government and military sites and  several key cities. These attacks forced the withdrawal of the Russian Africa Corp and Malian armed forces from several of the cities they were defending. 

    Since the initial attack it’s been reported that the countries Minister of Defense–Sadio Camara, was killed by a suicide truck bombing that targeted his residence  in the town of Kati, a suburb of the capital in Bamako. Government spokesman Issa Ousmane Coulibaly read a statement on state tv in the aftermath that said Camera was killed when “a vehicle laden with explosives and driven by a suicide attacker targeted the minister’s residence”.

    Minister of Defense for Mali Junta, Sadio Camara.

    The statement went on to say that Camera had killed several of his attackers in an exchange of gunfire before the explosion. The explosion collapsed Cameras residence and also destroyed a nearby mosque, killing a number of worshippers. Mali state TV also reported three members of Camera’s family also died in the attack. 

    Mali’s current leader is said to be in hiding in the aftermath of the attack, at this time nobody has seen or heard from him, many believe him to have been killed in the attack but that is not confirmed. Regional African sources report he was present in Kati at the time of the attack but was moved by military convoy to Samanko camp, a camp for the special forces men he once commanded before taking power in the coup. Had he been killed it’s very likely the group responsible would have taken credit for it. 

    (Update: Gen Assimi Goita is confirmed to be alive. His office photographed him in a meeting with Russian ambassador, Igor Gromyko.)

    Assimi Goïta, President of Mali

    Attacks were reported in the capital city of Bamako in the south, and Gao and Kidal in the North. While the government claimed a successful defense, videos were released from Gao and Kidal showing Malian and/ Russian forces pulling out while being filmed by the attack militias. 

    Multiple videos and reports from the region indicate that the Tuareg rebels have taken complete control of Kidal. This is a large strategic hub in the north of the country and is also considered a homeland of the Tuareg people.

    Background

    General Goïta led two coups, one in August 2020 which resulted in the ousting elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta amid massive protests over corruption and failure to stop the insurgency and another in May 2021 when he removed the interim civilian president. The Junta and General Goïta promised a quick return to civilian rule and elections but instead, the junta consolidated power. In July 2025, a transitional parliament granted Goïta a renewable five-year presidential term.

    Mali has been in a near-continuous war since a 2012 Tuareg rebellion in the north. This was focused mostly on the Azawad region. This rebellion was hijacked by jihadists, leading to French intervention, a 2015 peace deal, and repeated flare-ups. The country remains deeply divided: the south (Bamako/Kati) is the political/military heartland, while the north and center are contested by separatists and jihadists. Do

    The junta expelled French forces (Operation Barkhane) in August of 2022 and UN peacekeepers (MINUSMA) in June of 2023, citing ineffectiveness. They turned to Russia for security help, Russia sent infamous mercenary company Wagner Group which arrived sometime in 2022 then Wagner was rebranded/replaced by the Russian state-linked Africa Corps after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. Russian forces have fought alongside Malian troops against both jihadists and Tuareg rebels, helping retake some northern areas (Kidal in 2023).Results, however,  have been limited with violence persisting and widespread accusations of civilian abuses. On top of everything, the junta has faced growing isolation from the West and ECOWAS. 

    Footage released by the Russian African Corps showing their fighting in Mali over the last few days.

    The fighting is still ongoing. Looking at reports from all sides we are able to get a sense of where the current hotspots still remain. 

    -Northern Mali. 

    (Kidal, Gao, Sévaré/Mopti areas)

    Clashes continue. Tuareg rebels (FLA) m claim control of Kidal and parts of Gao and other towns. Russia’s Africa Corps confirmed it withdrew from Kidal on April 27 after heavy fighting, alongside Malian troops. Rebels say they are holding positions across the north in areas like Goa and near Timbuktu.

     

    -Bamako and Kati

    Malian authorities say they have largely repelled the main assaults and describe a “fragile calm” in the capital and Kati military base. However, multiple eyewitness and social-media reports from April 27th describe heavy gunfire, several large explosions, and drone sightings near Sénou International Airport (just south of Bamako). Flights have resumed but remain limited.

    Today (April 30th), video footage shows that JNIM fighters have taken the town of Hombori, in the area of central Mali.

    Bamako has seen sporadic fighting in the lead up to this large attack, often supply routes would be attacked. In 2024 JNIM launched an attack that targeted Malian Army and Wagner Group bases, a gendarmerie training center in Faladie, and areas near Modibo Keita International Airport. Until now this was the largest attack on Junta targets since the coup.

    In 2025 JNIM enforced a months-long fuel blockade by attacking tankers and supply routes from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and elsewhere. This created a de facto siege on Bamako and southern Mali, causing severe fuel shortages, blackouts, long lines for fuel and food, and economic hardship. It was designed to pressure the junta without needing to attack the city directly. 

    Pro-government and Junta sources insist that the military beat back the attackers on all fronts however no new footage or other evidence has been released that gives credit to those claims and in fact, the evidence we do have aadds more support to the contrary. 

  • US Navy test powered JDAM variant. 

    US Navy test powered JDAM variant. 

    On April 20th 2026, the U.S. Naval air systems command (NAVAIR) released a video showing the test fire of a new derivative of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision-guided weapon. 

    JDAM-LR shown after being deployed from a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet.

    The video shows a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet firing off what is being called the GBU-76 JDAM-LR (Long Range); it is a rocket-powered version of the weapon that can be used to attack targets on land or sea. With a range of 300 nautical miles, this version gives a significantly longer range then even the unpowered JDAM-ER (Extended Range) series. 

    The weapons were tested in early April, being fired from both an F/A-18E and F/A-18F flying out of China Lake Naval Weapons Station, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 VX-31 “Dust Devils,”. The fighters flew to Point Mugu, on the coast of California. On the first test, Boeing says the weapons demonstrated safe separation, engine start, cruise and guidance through terminal flight and impact in water after a 34-minute flight.Boeing reported that the weapon flew for 200nm and landed within meters of its planned target. The next test was done on April 3rd, and the weapon flew a second planned flight profile, “..successfully incorporating altitude changes and weapon maneuvering during an otherwise similar flight.”

    Video taken during the test was released in a NAVAIR post on social media.

    “First flight is a critical step in capturing the JDAM Long Range franchise program. This weapon brings the cruise missile concept to the JDAM family at a lower cost, enabling large production quantities.”

    Bob Ciesla, Precision Engagement Systems vice president

    This weapon provides the navy with a low-cost, precision standoff weapon with a striking distance of 300nm. A range like this lowers the risk to the platforms launching them and increases their strike options. 

    Some of the things they hope to achieve with this weapon is-

    • Integrate onto any aircraft that already carries traditional JDAMs, both external and in internal weapon bays. That includes U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fighters and bombers, and many global allies ― more than 15 platforms and 3,500 aircraft.
    • Support conventional direct attack, maritime strike and aerial-mining missions, adding key components to the proven JDAM system:
      • TDI-J85 turbine engine from Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), incorporating modular, compact air-breathing propulsion technology into the JDAM family.
      • Wing kits from Ferra Engineering in Brisbane, Australia, as a continuation of the Australian Defence Force’s Global Supply Chain Program.

    Brief History

    The JDAM family of weapons has been used extensively since its inception in 1998. First seeing combat in the NATO intervention in Kosovo in 1999 to great success, being dropped in the first night of operation Allied Force by two B-2 spirit bombers out of Whiteman Air Force Base each dropped 16 JDAM’s (mostly the GBU-31 2,000 lb variant), striking fixed Serb targets. Over the next 76 days the U.S. B-2 bombers dropped more than 600 JDAM’s, achieving high reliability and accuracy against hardened targets in all weather conditions. 

    “The success of JDAM LR is built on decades of the JDAM system and the maturation, investment, and work of the team to make that system robust and available.”

    Ernie Moretti, Joint Direct Attack Munition director

    The JDAM’s massive success during Operation Allied Force led to the weapon being deployed heavily in every conflict since then. The JDAM could deliver GPS/INS precision without laser designation or visual acquisition of the target. 

    The simplicity of the JDAM is what has led to much of its success. It’s fairly cheap to build the components needed to turn a regular gravity bomb into a precision tool. Over the years the system has received several upgrades, like  laser sensors for advanced tracking of moving targets (LJDAM) and an extended-range wing kit (JDAM ER) that expands a standard JDAM’s range to more than 40 nautical miles. Boeing notes in their press release that the JDAM-LR will be able to gain additional functionality over time through modifications for different uses. 

    Diagram of the JDAM-ER

    Sources:

    https://onfirstup.com/boeing/BNN/articles/new-long-range-smart-weapon-flies-hundreds-of-miles-in-first-test-1?bypass_deeplink=true%5D(https://onfirstup.com/boeing/BNN/articles/new-long-range-smart-weapon-flies-hundreds-of-miles-in-first-test-1?bypass_deeplink=true)

    https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sea-air-space-2026/2026/04/u-s-navy-tests-new-long-range-gbu-75-jdam-lr/

    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Documents/2006/September%202006/0906JDAM.pdf

  • Strait of Hormuz Chaos Returns: Iran Fires on Ships as Ceasefire Talks Hang in the Balance”

    Strait of Hormuz Chaos Returns: Iran Fires on Ships as Ceasefire Talks Hang in the Balance”

    April 18th Status of the Strait

    After a brief opening yesterday, Iran has reimposed restrictions on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This has once again caused chaos, as ships attempting to make the trip have been forced to turn around—this time under direct threat of fire. Yesterday, a number of vessels attempted to make the trip before abruptly turning back toward the Gulf. This happened again this morning, with at least two ships reporting to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) that they had been fired upon by small IRGC gunboats. The vessel, whose name has not been released yet, reported to UKMTO that it was 20 nautical miles (nm) off the coast of Oman when the incident took place. The tanker and crew are reported safe at this time. The captain reported receiving no radio contact from the gunboats. Iran has made no official statement of the incident at this time. 

    Yesterday an announcement was made to ships attempting to make the voyage through the strait. It was recorded on the bridge of one of the vessels; this is the bridge of the Bhagya Laxmi but multiple vessels reported hearing the message or one similar.

    Iran Claims U.S. Breaches of Trust

    Iran claims the United States has made repeated “breaches of trust,” with some officials going so far as to accuse the U.S. of “acts of piracy.” The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters—the top operational command-and-control hub for the Armed Forces of Iran—released a televised statement specifically citing “repeated breaches of trust” as the reason for reimposing “strict management and control” over the Strait. They accused the U.S. of continuing a naval blockade of Iranian ports despite previous good-faith agreements. From their perspective, the U.S. should have ceased the ongoing blockade. Whether that was part of an agreement the U.S. made with Iran during the ceasefire put in place last week, we do not know. The current blockade was never mentioned specifically in any reporting I have seen on the terms of the April 7–8 ceasefire. No formal announcement was made on what exactly was agreed upon in the ceasefire. For now, we only know the terms that have been announced publicly by both sides.

    “For this reason [U.S. continued naval blockade], control of the Strait of Hormuz has reverted to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces.”

    “Until the United States restores the complete freedom of navigation for vessels from an Iranian origin to a destination, and from a destination back to Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled and in its previous state.”

    -Statement on Iranian State Media from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

    U.S. and Iran Ceasefire: What We Know

    The April 7–8 ceasefire stopped the wave of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and was supposed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for tankers and other maritime traffic. The specifics of the agreement are not publicly known, but we can review what both sides have stated publicly or through official announcements.

    The main point is that the ceasefire imposed a two-week halt to the fighting. While those two weeks are quickly coming to an end, both sides appear interested in negotiations and, at a minimum, an extension of the ceasefire.

    • The U.S. and Israel would stop all offensive operations against Iran.
    • Iran would cease its “defensive operations” and retaliatory strikes, provided U.S. and Israeli attacks stop.

    The Strait of Hormuz was a major U.S. condition in the agreement:

    • Iran agreed to the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the strait for commercial shipping during the ceasefire period.
    • Passage is coordinated by Iran’s Armed Forces, with “due consideration of technical limitations.”
    • Iran (and Oman) may charge transit fees to fund reconstruction.
    • The U.S. has said it will help manage traffic buildup. Iran has since declared the strait fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire.