★USA

1. Trump Announces Lifting of Hormuz “Blockade” as Iran Holds Red Lines

President Donald Trump said the  “blockade” on the Strait of Hormuz had been lifted and demanded free, fee-free navigation, while outlining plans to extract and destroy Iranian nuclear materials under international coordination. Iranian sources dismissed parts of his remarks as inaccurate, insisting a political understanding exists, but final details are pending, with Tehran still adhering to its “red lines.”

2. US Ready to Resume Strikes on Iran

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is prepared to resume military strikes on Iran if negotiations fail, stressing that US forces and munitions remain ready. Speaking in Singapore, he said President Donald Trump seeks a deal preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, while negotiators work to extend a temporary truce and reach a lasting agreement.

3. US Seizes $1 Billion in Crypto Linked to Iran

The US Treasury said it has seized about $1 billion in cryptocurrency assets linked to Iran as part of sanctions enforcement and monitoring efforts targeting Tehran’s digital financial networks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the operation is part of a broader campaign to track and disrupt sanctioned crypto flows, without disclosing the currencies involved or the timing of the seizure.

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★IRAN

4. Kazakhstan Offers to Host Iran’s Enriched Uranium Stockpile

Kazakhstan has expressed readiness to receive Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium if Tehran and Washington reach a nuclear agreement, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, cited by the Financial Times. The Central Asian country already hosts a low-enriched uranium bank under IAEA supervision, while discussions continue over a potential US-Iran deal aimed at easing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

5. Iran Says $12 Billion Asset Release Key to US Deal

Iran considers the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets the central condition of any agreement with the United States, according to sources cited by Fars News Agency. Tehran said it will not advance to further negotiations until the funds are transferred, while rejecting claims that the proposed deal includes destroying enriched uranium or charging no fees in the Strait of Hormuz.

6. Iran Prepares State Funeral for Late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran is preparing a major state funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strikes of a US–Israeli attack, though no date has been announced. Officials said a special committee is organizing the ceremony following delays due to the war, with expectations of large public participation once the event is formally confirmed.

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★LEBANON

7. US-Mediated Israel-Lebanon Military Talks Held at Pentagon

Israeli and Lebanese military officials held US-mediated talks at the Pentagon, marking the first direct military-level negotiations aimed at stabilizing the border and preventing wider conflict. The discussions, part of a broader ceasefire process, were described by US officials as productive and are intended to support upcoming diplomatic negotiations, even as fighting continues in southern Lebanon.

8. Israeli Forces Cross Litani River in Expanded Lebanon Offensive

Israeli forces advanced north of Lebanon’s Litani River, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying troops had reached new positions deep in southern Lebanon as operations against Hezbollah escalate. Lebanese sources said forces briefly crossed the river before retreating. The move comes amid ongoing U.S.-mediated security talks between Israel and Lebanon and continued cross-border fighting despite a ceasefire framework.

9. 11 Killed in Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanon, Including Medic

Israeli airstrikes on three areas in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon killed 11 people, including a paramedic and a Syrian national, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Eight others were wounded, including another medic, with authorities condemning the strikes as a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law despite a ceasefire agreement in place since April 17.

10. Hezbollah Rockets Hit Church in Southern Lebanon, IDF Says

Hezbollah rockets struck Saint George’s Orthodox Church in the southern Lebanese village of Marjaayoun, according to the IDF, which released footage of the damage. The military said no Israeli forces were operating nearby and accused Hezbollah of endangering Lebanese civilians. The incident comes amid growing Lebanese support for disarming the group, according to a recent poll.

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★THE GULF

11. Oman, Iran Reaffirm Commitment to Secure Strait of Hormuz

Oman and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during talks between their foreign ministers. The discussions come amid ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations and after President Donald Trump said he would make a final decision on understandings involving the strategic waterway and Iran’s nuclear program.

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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.