Hazel Oliva

Individuals are seated along the coast while vessels traverse the Strait of Hormuz near Qeshm Island, Iran, on April 28, 2026. Asghar Besharati/Getty Images

The US strategy to “escort” vessels through the Strait of Hormuz raises numerous unanswered questions regarding its implementation just hours before President Donald Trump announced it will be enacted.

US Central Command stated on X that its backing for the operations “will encompass guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft from land and sea, and multi-domain unmanned systems.”

Their role in the ship movement is not specified.

Jennifer Parker, a nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute and a former officer of the Royal Australian Navy, shared with Xenix News on Monday her anticipation that the US military will enhance its presence in and above the strait to reassure commercial ships trying to navigate it.

“This seems to be an operation … that focuses less on offering direct protection to a ship or a few ships, and more on altering the circumstances in the strait” so vessels “sense safety,” Parker stated.

This might involve some US Navy vessels in the strait and various aircraft above that could detect and eliminate any small boats or ships attempting to target commercial ships, she stated.

Access the complete narrative here.

By Xenix News

Iran has stated that “any foreign military presence, particularly the invading American forces … will face attack” if they attempt to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by a senior military official.

Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which is the unified command of Iran’s military, stated on Monday that Iran will safeguard the security of the strait “with full strength” following the US commitment to escort stranded vessels through the critical oil shipping chokepoint.

“Abdollahi stated, “We robustly oversee and safeguard the security of the Strait of Hormuz and advise all commercial vessels and oil tankers to avoid any transit without coordination with the armed forces present in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure their safety isn’t compromised.”

The waterway is managed by Iran’s military, and any “hostile actions by America aiming to disturb the situation will only lead to increased complications and jeopardize the safety of vessels” in the region, Abdollahi stated.

By Xenix News

A bird’s eye view of crude oil storage facilities, in Al Ahmadi, Kuwait, on December 11, 2023. Nicolas Economou/Reuters/Archive

Reports from Iranian media indicate that Kuwaiti crude oil exports dropped from over one million barrels daily to none in April, marking the “first disruption of this kind” since the Gulf War concluded in 1991.

The Gulf country extracted oil during the month, but officials transferred some of the output to storage and designated a share for refined products, as reported Monday by the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), referencing information from the oil monitoring platform TankerTracker.

ISNA reported that refined fuel shipments “remained at low levels while crude oil shipments fell to zero,” indicating a “significant departure from its typical export rate of over one million barrels daily.”

On Sunday, multiple regional countries, including Kuwait, revealed an increase in oil production goals despite the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The oil cartel OPEC announced that Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman would increase production by an additional 188,000 barrels daily. The declaration was made shortly after the UAE revealed intentions to exit the group, impacting its members.

Last month, oil production from the Middle East plummeted as simultaneous blockades set by the US and Iran on non-allied ships in the Strait of Hormuz curtailed exports.

By Xenix News

An Iran expert stated that Iran’s recent offer to the United States includes some non-negotiable demands that President Donald Trump is probably not willing to accept, reflecting the ambitious stance that Washington has adopted during the negotiation process.

“Certain demands are unacceptable,” Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington, DC, informed Xenix News, “reflecting” Trump’s actions during the war and the talks.

Trump has consistently issued demands that Iran has cautioned exceed its “red lines.” He has also aimed to force Iran into total surrender, a condition the Islamic Republic has promised to never accept.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency stated that Tehran has provided a 14-point reply to a U.S. proposal. Trump stated he will examine the new proposal from Iran, but remarked that he “can’t envision it being acceptable.”

Iran’s proposal, relayed via a Pakistani intermediary, requests “the cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon,” according to Tasnim, along with demands for the release of Iranian assets, lifting sanctions, and compensation for war damages.

“The persistence of numerous extensive demands reflects two factors,” Parsi stated. The Iranians are reflecting Trump’s actions, as he persists in making maximalist demands. Furthermore, during discussions, the documented negotiations have not advanced significantly.

Parsi remarked, however, that the requests made by the Iranians are not “non-negotiable,” nor do they believe these demands will be realized. The analyst noted that we have not yet observed what Tehran is proposing in response to these requests, warning that at this point the complete situation remains unclear.

“Only after examining the complete picture can you subsequently determine if this proposal has merit or not.”

By Xenix News

President Donald Trump exits Marine One as he lands at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday. Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

The leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee countered US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s assertion last week that the current ceasefire in the Iran conflict represented a “pause” in the 60-day timeframe during which the president can constitutionally deploy military force overseas without congressional approval.

“The wording of the law does not allow for pauses like in a football match,” Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed stated on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “The president must adhere to the law.

Reed observed that according to the War Powers Act of 1973, the 60-day limit can be prolonged for an extra 30 days if the administration asserts it’s essential for a safe withdrawal; however, Reed stated, “that must be asked for by the president.”

“We must be informed.” No notifications of that sort are received. “The president is disregarding the law,” he stated.

On Friday, Trump delivered a letter to congressional leaders claiming that the conflict in the war had “ended” with the beginning of the ceasefire, reiterating points he and his senior officials have asserted.

Reed stated that although he did not concur with former President George W.

Bush’s decision to invade Iraq was accompanied by his administration presenting the issue to Congress, allowing them to express their opinions and make decisions, which granted him a legitimacy that this president does not possess.

By Xenix News

A bulk carrier navigating close to the Iranian coast has stated it was “attacked by several small boats,” according to a recent report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The event was reported at approximately 11:30 a.m. UTC (7:30 AM) ET) this morning, the UKMTO noted in its advisory, stating that it occurred approximately 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran.

The vessel’s crew was reported safe, and there were no reports of environmental impact from the attack, according to the UKMTO.

The UKMTO did not specify the country of the vessel’s registration.

By Xenix News

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul addresses the media at a press conference in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday. Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP/Getty Images

Germany’s foreign minister stated that he emphasized in a call with his Iranian counterpart that Berlin and Washington have the “same goal.”

In the call, foreign minister Johann Wadephul stated he highlighted that Berlin advocates for a “negotiated solution.”

“Being a close ally of the US, we have a common objective: Iran must entirely and transparently reject nuclear arms and promptly allow access to the Strait of Hormuz,” Wadephul stated in a post on X today.

His statements connect Germany with the US during a period of diplomatic strain between the nations. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that the US intends to pull out “a lot more” than the initial 5,000 troops the Pentagon announced it would take out from Germany in the coming year.

This followed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s criticism of what he termed a deficiency in American strategy to conclude the conflict, asserting that Iran was “humiliating” the US.

By Xenix News

Firefighters, first responders, and volunteers are active at the location of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 8. Bilal Hussein/AP

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported today that at least 2,679 individuals have died due to Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, even with a ceasefire that has lasted over two weeks between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Health Ministry of Lebanon reported that when the ceasefire began at midnight on April 17, Israeli strikes had resulted in 2,294 deaths in the country. According to figures from the Health Ministry, at least 385 individuals have reportedly lost their lives due to Israeli attacks since that time.

Earlier today, the Israeli military issued an immediate evacuation alert for several towns in southern Lebanon, including a number north of the Litani River.

Some context: The river, located only a few kilometers from Israel’s northern border, is an important location in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah had sustained a strong fighter presence south of the river for many years, but under an earlier ceasefire agreement with Israel, consented to withdraw its troops north of the waterway. Throughout the ongoing ceasefire, Israel has maintained its troops stationed in southern Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has persisted in targeting what it claims are Hezbollah sites in Lebanon during the ongoing truce, while Hezbollah argued that it is assaulting Israeli troops in retaliation for the IDF’s ongoing strikes.

Xenix News reports contributed by Eugenia Yosef, Eyad Kourdi, Max Saltman, and Lex Harvey.

In this image file, Narges Mohammadi, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner, poses for a portrait while on a medical leave from prison on February 5, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. Elham Abbasloo/AFP/Getty Images/Archivo

The family and foundation of Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi claim that the human rights advocate has been denied adequate treatment and has not improved since her transfer from prison to a hospital.

Following a suspected heart attack in March, Mohammadi’s family repeatedly urged authorities to permit her to receive treatment as her health deteriorated.

Ultimately, Mohammadi was moved to a cardiac care unit (CCU) in a Zanjan hospital, where she is fulfilling a prison sentence for accusations of endangering national security.

Her sibling, Hamidreza Mohammadi, informed Xenix News that the family has advocated for her to obtain adequate care, but their attempts have been hindered by prosecutors in Zanjan, who claim she must remain in the CCU.

“We are certain they wish her dead, and we are now fighting to save her,” he stated.

On Saturday, Mohammadi’s family and the foundation she founded advocated for her transfer from Zanjan to Tehran in order to obtain improved treatment.

The Narges Foundation reported that the activist has received only the “most basic care” while doctors try to stabilize her blood pressure and heartbeat.

The foundation stated, “She must be promptly transferred to her own doctors in Tehran.” “The authorities bear complete responsibility for the well-being of the world’s sole imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner.” “Anything that occurs to her will be the responsibility of the Islamic Republic.”

“She remains quite stressed and experienced severe nausea,” Hamidreza Mohammadi shared with Xenix News.

“She is not improving in CCU since her underlying issues remain unaddressed, and she needs to be moved to a hospital in Tehran,” he stated.

Mohammadi, a leading human rights advocate in Iran, received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for “her battle against the subjugation of women in Iran and her efforts to advance human rights and liberty for everyone.”

• Mohammadi has frequently been detained and incarcerated due to her activism and denunciation of the Iranian regime. In the most recent case from February, she received a sentence of more than seven additional years in prison.

A high-ranking Iranian military official indicated that renewed tension with the US is “possible” following President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Tehran’s most recent peace proposal. The countries are presently maintaining a truce.

On Friday, Trump stated that the US might be “better off” if an agreement isn’t made.

In the meantime, Iranian official channels reiterated a firm stance on passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Stay updated with the newest news stories:

Strait of Hormuz advisory: The US Treasury Department issued a notice yesterday stating that shipping firms may incur sanctions if they opt to pay tolls for transit through the waterway. The Iranian stranglehold has led to a significant increase in oil prices. Prior to the conflict, roughly 3,000 ships transited during an average month. According to recent data, only 154 vessels were present in March.

Troop pullout: The Pentagon announced on Friday that the US will be pulling back approximately 5,000 troops from Germany in the coming year, a decision the German defense minister remarked was “expected.” Here’s the reason US troops were present in Europe.

GOP reaction: The Republican leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees issued a statement expressing their “significant concern” regarding the Pentagon’s choice to pull out troops.

Air traffic news: The United Arab Emirates has removed “all precautionary measures” concerning air traffic amid Iranian assaults on the nation, according to a statement from the General Civil Aviation Authority.

Xenix News Kit Maher, Natasha Bertrand, Dalia Abdelwahab, Tim Lister, and Mostafa Salem provided reporting.