Trump To Press Xi On Iran During Beijing Meeting, US Officials Say
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump is expected to press Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Iran during their upcoming summit in Beijing, with senior US officials highlighting Washington’s concerns about China’s economic and technological ties to Tehran.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on May 13 in the evening and will meet Xi on May 14 and May 15 before departing China, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said during a White House press call previewing the trip.
Speaking on the call, a senior administration official said Trump and Xi had discussed Iran “multiple times” previously and that the issue would again feature prominently during the meetings.
“The [US] president has spoken multiple times with General Secretary Xi Jinping about the topic of Iran,” the official said, adding that Washington remained concerned about “the revenue that China provides” to Tehran, as well as the transfer of dual-use goods, industrial components, and the possibility of weapons-related exports.
The official said recent US sanctions targeting Iran-related activity would likely be part of the discussions in Beijing.
Asked whether Trump would seek additional Chinese pressure on Tehran amid unresolved nuclear negotiations, a senior official said the president had raised the issue before and was expected to do so again during the summit: “I would expect the president to apply pressure.”
The White House also rejected suggestions that tensions surrounding Iran should prevent Trump from traveling to China. “I don’t think he has the luxury to focus on just one sort of issue for weeks and weeks on end,” one senior official said.
The official noted that the administration had postponed the trip roughly six weeks earlier during what was described as a more active phase of the Iran situation, but said circumstances had since changed and the White House was now proceeding with the visit.
“I think the question would be, 'Why wouldn’t he go on this trip at this point?'” the official said.
US Forces Strike Iran In Response to Tehran's Attack On Hormuz Shipping
The US military said it conducted strikes against Iranian sites in response to Tehran's attack on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest threat to the fragile cease-fire agreed to by Washington and Tehran.
"US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against Iran, June 26, as a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz," the military said on social media.
The statement came shortly after US President Donald Trump told reporters "You'll find out" when asked about a potential US response to Iran's reported drone strikes on June 25 against cargo ships in the strait.
In a social media post before the strike was announced, Trump wrote that Iran had fired four drones at commercial shipping in the strait.
"One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship. Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other Drones," Trump wrote.
In a post on X, US Vice President JD Vance said "violence will be met with violence."
"Iran signed a cease-fire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence," he wrote.
Iran and the US are set to resume technical negotiations in Switzerland following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designed to end the war in Iran and throughout the Middle East, including Lebanon. The cease-fire has remained fragile, with all sides accusing the other of violations.
Iranian state media said a projectile struck the area around a pier in Sirik in the south of Iran, a region hit regularly by US forces.
In response, Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said its navy had attacked US military targets in the region, state media reported, although the information could not be independently verified.
The strait had earlier been blocked by Iran but was reopened in recent days while Tehran and Washington attempt to negotiate a last peace deal.
CENTCOM said US warplanes struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar stations after Tehran struck the Singapore-flagged M/V Ever Lovely cargo ship on June 25 with a one-way attack drone.
"The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the cease-fire. Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor," it said.
It said CENTCOM forces "continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait."
A senior US official told RFE/RL that six US aircraft carried out strikes on four targets inside Iran, including radar installations and missile and drone storage facilities in the coastal area of Sirik.
The official said the targets were located along Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz and on Qeshm Island, the official added.
On June 26, the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be ensured without coordination with Tehran.
Freedom of navigation through the strait has become one of the central issues in efforts to secure a lasting agreement between the US and Iran after Tehran effectively closed the waterway following US-Israeli air strikes earlier this year. Some 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies flowed through the strait prewar.
Several previous similar incidents have occurred during the cease-fire period, but the sides vowed to maintain the overall truce.
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Saudi Aramco Resumes Crude Loading At Ras Tanura Terminal
Saudi Aramco on June 26 resumed oil loadings at its Ras Tanura terminal after a halt of nearly four months, according to shipping data, as it joined a rush to move cargo as the industry hangs to hopes of a return to normality.
Saudi-based Aramco is the world's largest oil exporter and one of the most profitable.
The Saudi crude loadings come even as violence returned to the region on June 26 and early June27, with US forces striking several Iranian sites in response to Tehran's reported targeting of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
Global oil prices fell declined more than $1 a barrel on June 26 after edging up on the reports of the attack on the commercial cargo ship.
Two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) controlled by Saudi's shipping arm, Bahri, were seen loading crude at Ras Tanura, the world's biggest oil port. Another VLCC was heading toward the terminal, the data showed. A fourth VLCC was waiting nearby.
Each VLCC has a capacity of 2 million barrels of oil.
Tankers transporting oil from the United Arab Emirates transited the strait on June 26, with two laden VLCCs exiting and one heading to Zirku port, data showed.
With reporting by Reuters
Trump Says Iran Attacked Ships In Strait Of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said Iran fired at least four drones at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the cease-fire agreement between Washington and Tehran.
"One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship. Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other Drones," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on June 26.
Later, when asked by reporters if Iran would face any actions because of the reported attacks on Hormuz shipping, Trump said: "You'll find out," without elaborating.
Taiwanese shipping operator Evergreen Marine said one of its container ships was struck by an "unidentified object" while transiting the strategic waterway on June 25, but that the crew, vessel, and cargo were "unharmed."
It was not immediately clear if Trump's comments referred to that incident.
On June 26, the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be ensured without coordination with Tehran.
Freedom of navigation through the strait has become one of the central issues in efforts to secure a lasting agreement between the United States and Iran after Tehran effectively closed the waterway following US-Israeli air strikes earlier this year.
Tehran, US Open Direct Communication Channel On Hormuz, Says Iranian State Media
Press TV, the English-language broadcaster of Iranian state television, has reported that Iran and the United States have established a "communication line" on the Strait of Hormuz to help prevent incidents that could escalate into military confrontation.
The report published on June 26 came one day after US Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran planned to establish such a channel in Qatar.
Speaking to the website UnHerd, Vance said Iran had agreed to "send somebody from the [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps] to go hang out in Doha with somebody from [US Central Command]" and indicated that this was "how we're going to settle a lot of these disputes."
Citing what it called an informed source, Press TV said the line of communication had been established in order "to prevent incidents in Strait of Hormuz that might lead to military confrontation and to implement the provisions of paragraph 5 of Islamabad MoU."
Article 5 of the Pakistan-mediated framework agreement between Tehran and Washington calls for Iran and Oman to discuss the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in consultation with the other Persian Gulf littoral states.
Tehran claims this requires coordination with Iran before alternative shipping arrangements are introduced.
Earlier on June 26, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz "cannot be guaranteed" without coordination with the Iranian government, warning that designated shipping routes could be suspended if such coordination does not take place.
Iran Warns Hormuz Passage Requires Coordination With Tehran
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has warned that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be ensured without coordination with Tehran, as tensions persist over control of one of the world's most important shipping lanes.
"Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making outside of Iran's considerations as a coastal state," Gharibabadi wrote on X on June 26.
He added that "any credible framework must be based on coordination with Iran and the provisions of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," warning that otherwise "the designated parallel route will be suspended."
Article 5 of the June 17 framework agreement between Tehran and Washington calls for Iran and Oman to discuss the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in consultation with the other Persian Gulf littoral states. Tehran claims this requires coordination with Iran before alternative shipping arrangements are introduced.
Gharibabadi's comments came after Oman announced on June 24 a temporary shipping route through the strait in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN's maritime agency.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on June 25 that safe passage would be possible only through routes approved by Tehran.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Iran Says US-Gulf Council Statement Was 'Provocative' And 'Belligerent'
Iran's Foreign Ministry has criticized a recent joint statement by the United States and member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), saying it contained "interventionist, irresponsible, and provocative positions" and warning against what it called the continuation of "belligerent and interventionist behavior in the region."
In a statement published on June 26, the ministry urged the Arab Gulf states not to align themselves with the US in what it called the "portrayal of Iran's nuclear program as a threat."
The statement also reiterated the Islamic republic's claim that the Strait of Hormuz lies "within the territorial waters" of Iran and Oman, adding that this would remain "the basis for managing shipping in the strait."
A statement published on June 25 after a ministerial meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and GCC foreign ministers in Bahrain stressed that any lasting agreement must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and address what they called the "full spectrum" of Iranian threats, including its ballistic missile and drone programs, as well as support for armed groups across the Middle East.
The statement said future trade and investment with Iran would be "conditional and reversible," depending on Tehran's compliance with the US-Iran memorandum of understanding and any final agreement reached in ongoing negotiations.
The ministers also called for unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting any attempt to impose tolls or fees on shipping in the waterway.
The GCC consists of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. All six countries were targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks during the recent US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Alex Raufoglu, and Reuters
Vessel Hit In Hormuz Strait 'Unharmed,' Says Ship Operator
A container ship operated by Taiwan's Evergreen Marine was struck by an "unidentified object" while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on June 25, but the crew, vessel, and cargo were "unharmed," the company said.
Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) identified the vessel as the Singapore-registered Ever Lovely, saying it sustained minor damage to the bridge area from an unknown projectile while leaving the strait. The authority said the ship had "since completed its transit through the Strait of Hormuz and is proceeding on its voyage."
Evergreen said the vessel was sailing off Oman and following the route recommended by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors shipping security in the region, when it was hit. A preliminary inspection found damage to the bridge superstructure and windows, but the ship remained seaworthy.
The UKMTO had previously reported that a cargo vessel had been struck by a projectile near Oman on June 25, and two US officials told Reuters they believed Iran was responsible for the attack. There was no immediate public comment from Iran on the matter.
The incident prompted the UN's maritime agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to suspend an operation to evacuate thousands of seafarers from the strait as the United States and Iran seek to negotiate a lasting agreement following their recent conflict.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Suspected Iranian Hacker Linked To Revolutionary Guards Arrested In Montenegro
Montenegrin police have arrested a 39-year-old man wanted by the United States over organized hacking attacks, computer fraud, and identity theft, who is alleged to have links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
A statement by Montenegro’s Interior Ministry said that the man, identified as A.B., was arrested after a joint operation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Local media named him as Amir Barati. He is believed by Washington to be responsible for billions of dollars of damage with “hacking attacks on US infrastructure, including 150 universities,” according to a police statement.
It added that stolen data and compromised university profiles were used for the benefit of the IRGC.
The suspect, who also holds Turkish citizenship, now faces extradition to the United States.
In response to an inquiry from RFE/RL’s Balkan Service, the FBI said it would not comment on the case.
The Montenegrin Interior Ministry said it had worked with the FBI to apprehend seven people over the last three years.
“These individuals were wanted by the FBI and the judicial authorities of the United States. All of them were located and arrested…on our territory in a very short period of time, based on precise intelligence-sharing,” the statement said.
IAEA Chief Grossi Calls For 'Very Strong' Verification System For Iran
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi said that a "very strong" verification system is needed in Iran to ensure the country does not develop nuclear weapons and complies with any US-Iran peace accord.
"I think the objective of this agreement is to ensure that there is no development of nuclear weapons in Iran," Grossi said on June 26, referring to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and Iran signed last week.
"The government of Iran has clearly stated that this is not their intention," Grossi told reporters in Japan.
"But of course, intentions are not enough. We need a very strong verification system in place as soon as practicable," he added.
"There is an agreement and to comply with that agreement, the IAEA will have to have access and inspect," Grossi said after Tehran indicated that key sites would remain off-limits until a final deal with Washington is reached and sanctions are lifted.
According to the provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iranian presidents on June 17, Iran reaffirmed that it would not procure or develop nuclear weapons. It also agreed that its stockpiled enriched uranium would be downblended on-site under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran continues to deny any intention of developing nuclear weapons, while insisting on its right to maintain a full civilian nuclear program.