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Strait of Hormuz developments

US Navy has no plans to escort commercial ships via Strait of Hormuz — WSJ

According to a source cited by the newspaper, Project Freedom will be a coordination mechanism for countries, insurance companies, and shipping organizations to move traffic through the Strait

NEW YORK, May 4. /TASS/. Operation Project Freedom, announced by US President Donald Trump earlier in the day, does not include escort of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz by US Navy ships, The Wall Street Journal wrote citing a high-ranking US administration official.

The source said that Project Freedom will be a coordination mechanism for countries, insurance companies, and shipping organizations to move traffic through the Strait.

"It doesn’t currently involve the US Navy warships escorting vessels through the strait," the newspaper quoted the source as saying.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that his country would launch Operation Project Freedom on Monday to help ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the US-Iranian conflict to leave its waters. Trump emphasized that any interference will be dealt with forcefully.

Strait of Hormuz developments

Trump’s Project Freedom to inform seafarers about safe lanes, no escort planned — Axios

Correspondent Barak Ravid says, citing an official, that US Navy ships will be ‘in the vicinity’ to prevent a possible Iranian attack on commercial ships moving through the strait

US fighter jet downed over Iran likely conducted strikes on ground targets — media

According to CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean, the pilots of the downed fighter had sidearms

De Gaulle's grandson says would like to move to Russia with wife

Pierre de Gaulle emphasized that Russia and France are bound by ties in many areas, including culture

Over 50 Ukrainian drones shot down over Russian regions in four hours

On-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 52 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Smolensk, Tula and Moscow regions

Kremlin closely following developments after US airstrikes in Syria

Earlier on February 26, the US carried out airstrikes near the Syrian-Iraqi border

US president threatens strikes on Iran’s energy, civilian infrastructure

Donald Trump called on Iranian leaders to open the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that otherwise the country "will be living in hell

Trump could discuss arms control with Russia after building new missile defense — adviser

"You can't start that discussion today with America in such a weak position," Brian Hughes said

Kiev troops shell DPR 14 times in past day, two killed

Four people were wounded

Netanyahu urges civilians to leave Gaza immediately

According to Israeli Prime Minister, the Israeli army will operate "with full force" to destroy all facilities of the Hamas radical group in the Gaza strip

Russia to view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as threat in nuclear sphere — Lavrov

"During combat operations, our military will not be clearing out whether or not each particular jet of this class is equipped to carry nuclear weapons," the minister added

Plane with Spanish premier on board makes emergency landing in Ankara — TV

According to TRT Haber, a technical malfunction was the cause of the incident

Putin, Trump express similar assessments of Kiev regime’s behavior in phone call — Kremlin

Their assessments were similar. Basically, it’s hard to imagine different assessments of the Kiev regime’s behavior, he said

Tehran’s proposals do not include 15-year enrichment pause — news agency

The proposals also do not include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz before the sides reach the final peace deal

Trump’s Project Freedom to inform seafarers about safe lanes, no escort planned — Axios

Correspondent Barak Ravid says, citing an official, that US Navy ships will be ‘in the vicinity’ to prevent a possible Iranian attack on commercial ships moving through the strait

Iran may begin mothballing its oil wells next week — US treasury secretary

Oil prices will be lower after the US-Israeli war against Iran is over than they were at the beginning of the year, including due to the United Arab Emirates’ decision to withdraw from OPEC, Scott Bessent said

Iran capable of sending US warship, forces to ‘graveyard’ — supreme leader’s adviser

Mohsen Rezaei has called the United States "the only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers"

Deep freeze breaks 1893 record in St. Petersburg as temperature drops to 21 below zero

According to Leading Expert at the Fobos weather center Mikhail Leus, the city has broken cold weather records twice in the 21st century

Former New York mayor, Trump's ex-lawyer Giuliani hospitalized in critical condition

Spokesperson Ted Goodman said Giuliani's condition was "critical but stable"

Bolivarian Alliance condemns US threats of use of force against Cuba

ALBA appealed to the US government to engage in dialogue without threats and conditions

Another strike hits area near Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran

One of the facility’s security guards was killed, Iran’s AEOI said

Ukrainian forces started counteroffensive, have a lot of personnel, weapons — Prigozhin

Yevgeny Prigozhin said that in the past 24 hours, Wagner PMC forces advanced 230 meters in Artyomovsk

Two US nuclear submarines ‘closer to Russia,’ Trump says

"We always want to be ready", US president added

Israel to channel $119 bln to develop its own weapons production in 10 years — PM

Simultaneously, Israel will develop groundbreaking Israeli-made aircraft, Benjamin Netanyahu said

Israel, US attack amusement park in central Iran

No information on casualties or damage has been reported yet

State Department imposes US citizenship on diplomats’ children for pressure — diplomat

Maria Zakharova said that coercive actions against the personnel of Russian diplomatic missions contradict the norms of international law and bilateral agreements, which guarantee immunity from the jurisdiction of the host country

Russian senators highlight growing risks of AI election interference

"The commission believes that apart from the subversive tools used in every election process in Russia, the use of artificial intelligence in the upcoming elections poses a special danger and growing risk," the document states

Ukraine loses about 1,235 troops in special military operation zone in past day

In particular, Ukraine lost over 175 troops in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North, up to 210 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup West, up to 160 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup South, up to 320 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup Center

Ukraine’s economics ministry expects 2014 inflation at 19%

Air strikes delivered against militant groups in south Syria — TV

According to sources cited by Al Ekhbariya, an ammunition and drug depot in the Shahba settlement was hit

Several Russians removed from US sanction list ahead of Nuland’s visit — diplomat

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Nuland’s visit to Moscow was requested by the US side

Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

The Turkish leader reiterated that "both Russia and Ukraine are Turkey’s neighbors"

IRGC calls for US Air Force chief to resign after aircraft downed in Iran

The IRGC Navy also congratulated the air defense forces of the Islamic republic’s army on intercepting an US F-15E fighter jet and an A-10 attack aircraft in the skies over Iran

US interested in calling on Arab nations to help pay for cost of Iran operation — official

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Iran divides countries into three categories based on use of Strait of Hormuz — TV

According to the TV channel, all states are divided into three categories — "hostile," "neutral," and "friendly"

Ukrainian drone attacks industrial facility in Bryansk Region, worker wounded

The worker was admitted to hospital

Six civilians injured after Ukraine’s drone attacks on Belgorod Region

A truck driver received shrapnel wounds and was taken to a hospital in the village of Oktyabrsky, the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said

Trump not planning to postpone his visit to China — treasury secretary

US President Donald Trump’s visit to China was initially scheduled for late March but the US leader postponed it to mid-May amid the war against Iran

Russia may come up with new initiatives on WMD-free zone in Middle East

Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov says that Israel rejects the idea of joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but demands that other countries of the region fully comply with it

General HQ of Iranian army warns of potentially larger strikes on Tel Aviv

The Iranian military also advised "host countries of US military bases to force the Americans to leave their territory, if they want to avoid damage"

Iran to view US interference in Strait of Hormuz navigation as ceasefire violation

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, says that the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf management will not be based on "delusional posts" of the US president

Russia set record volume of LNG supplies to Europe in January 2026

EU imports of Russian LNG amounted to 2.276 billion cubic meters, according to TASS calculations based on data from the European analytical center Bruegel

Upper house speaker slams US-Israeli operation against Iran as geopolitical mistake

Valentina Matviyenko emphasized that this intervention has destabilized the Middle East, triggering an energy crisis, yet it ultimately changes nothing

Telegram fined for refusing to delete channel with sabotage instructions

A fine of 7 mln rubles was set

US still in talks with Iran — Witkoff

US president’s special envoy commented on the state of negotiations

Hungary rethinking role in NATO, PM says

Viktor Orban underlined that Budapest had no plans to participate in NATO’s actions that could drag member states into the conflict in Ukraine and lead to a direct confrontation with Russia

Israeli army storms Palestinian town of Tubas in West Bank

Earlier, the IDF press service reported the completion of a 60-hour raid in the city of Jenin

No signals from US about delays in Patriot systems supplies — Polish defense minister

According to Wladysіaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, delays are possible for other types of weapons

World’s largest nuclear-powered sub takes part in Russia’s Northern Fleet drills

Its notional enemies were small missile ships Onega and Naryan-Mar

Тajikistan’s new Prime Minister is Kokhir Rasulzoda

Akil Akilov was dismissed

US to drop plans to deploy long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany — newspaper

Christian Moelling, director of the Berlin-based think-tank Edina, told The Financial Times that rotating out American troops stationed in Germany was "less of a problem" than the cancellation of the plan to deploy a long-range strike capability

Putin says West seeking to weaken and destroy Russia

The West "has been overtly stating that it managed to break up the Soviet Union back in 1991 and that now it’s high time Russia was divided into regions that would conduct hostilities against one another," the president said

UAE withdraws from Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries

OAPEC thanked the UAE for the role it played during its membership

Pezeshkian asks global community to judge which side, Iran or US, actually favors dialogue

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorism

Relations between EU, US reach point of no return after troops pullout — Vucic

The Serbian president says that the standoff between Germans and Americans will evolve progressively

US to start operation to evacuate ships locked up in Hormuz on Monday — Trump

The US president called the operation a "humanitarian gesture," pledged any interference "to be dealt with forcefully"

Russian MP warns of nuclear proliferation risk if Israel uses nukes against Iran

Alexey Pushkov noted that the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use nuclear weapons in Iran has been actively discussed on American television in recent days

Trump says Iran’s new peace proposal is unacceptable

According to the US leader, the campaign against Iran is proceeding very well

Debris of An-26 plane gone missing in Kamchatka found, airline CEO says

According to the preliminary information, there are no survivors in the crash

Putin sends New Year, Christmas greetings to several world leaders — Kremlin

Among European leaders, he sent greetings only to Viktor Orban and Aleksandar Vucic

Russia would prefer to achieve goals in Ukraine through peace agreement — Kremlin

Trump said in his latest phone call with Putin on April 29 that a deal on resolving the Ukraine conflict was close

Iran to hit more targets if US attacks Kharg Island — ambassador

Tehran’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Amir Hossein Hosseini also expressed hope that the conflict would be resolved diplomatically

Navigation in Strait of Hormuz stops after Trump’s remarks about conflict settlement

Thus, whereas nine ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in both directions on Saturday, on Sunday, according to Bloomberg, only two Iranian commercial vessels did this

Denmark uses Bornholm to threaten Russia’s security, including Kaliningrad — ambassador

Vladimir Barbin stressed that Denmark's activity in Russia does not go unnoticed

Putin to deliver important address at VIctory Day parade on May 9 — Kremlin spokesman

We expect that the president's address at the parade will be an important one, as always, he said

Moscow rejects US citizenship imposed on Russian diplomats’ children — spokeswoman

Maria Zakharova says Russia will demand from Washington "confirmation in each specific case that the newborn is not subject to US jurisdiction"

Further phases of BRICS expansion will follow, says South African president

It is noted that the membership will take effect from January 1, 2024

6.9-magnitude earthquake rocks Morocco

There was no information about casualties or damage

Nuclear powers continue to modernize their arsenals — report

In January 2024, there were some 12,121 nuclear warheads in the world, of which 9,585 were on alert

Two more drones taken down en route to Moscow — Mayor

First responders are working at the crash site

Persian Gulf countries running out of interceptor missiles - Bloomberg

Iran has fired almost 1,200 ballistic missiles and 4,000 Shahed drones at the Gulf states since the start of the war

Navigation in Bosporus Strait resumed after bulk carrier failure

The Zaltron bulk carrier has been tugged to the Ahirtepe anchorage

US troop buildup near Iran not sign of any new decisions — White House

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

US military aircraft struck by Iran makes it to Kuwait — TV

Iran also fired at two US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conducting a search and rescue operation

Some 15,000 US servicemen to take part in Operation Project Freedom — CENTCOM

The US Central Command says that over 100 land and sea-based aircraft will also be used

Kiev loses around 8,010 troops in special op zone over past week

Forces of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed 14 unmanned Ukrainian Navy boats over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Iran calls on Saudi Arabia to ‘eject’ US troops from region

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation

Trump says threatened Thailand and Cambodia with new duties

US President said he was sure that the duties is an important tool in the foreign policy for his administration

Expert sees link between US move to pull troops from Germany and Russia’s list of targets

According to Russia’s top brass, the European branches of Ukrainian drone-production companies are located across eight European countries

Deportation of draft-age men from Europe unlikely to help Ukraine — Russian official

It won’t save the day for the Ukrainian armed forces, Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo said

European Political Community summit to address Strait of Hormuz closure

Other subjects to be raised at the summit will be the conflict in Ukraine, including the deployment of UK and French peacekeepers to Ukraine when the conflict there is resolved

Tanker with Iranian oil change course, heading to China — PTI

The change in the destination of Pin Shun appears to be payment-related, Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst at Kpler, noted

Oil, gas transit via Ukraine is in Slovakia’s interests — PM

We should raise this topic each time we meet with the Ukrainian political leadership, Robert Fico said

Roscosmos invites NASA chief to Russia

The US Senate unanimously voted to appoint Nelson to the post of NASA chief in late April

EU aid to Ukraine frozen — Borrell

The ex-chief of EU diplomacy said the situation is similar with the approval of new sanctions against Russia

Nationalists carried out provocation on Chernobyl NPP power lines — Defense Ministry

According to Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Nikolay Pankov, currently, the Ukrainian side avoids organizing any repairs

US-Israeli strike on humanitarian aid aircraft in western Iran reported

The Civil Aviation Organization of the Islamic Republic called on all international bodies to take appropriate measures in response to this incident

Russia expects $2.667 bln in budgetary revenues amid oil prices rise — minister

The Finance Minister noted that "the levels of revenue and under-revenue over the past two months are the same"

La France Insoumise founder Melenchon announces his presidential bid

According to the official, his key rival will be a candidate from the National Rally far-right party

Tanker comes under attack off UAE coast — UKMTO

According to the authority, all crew was reported safe, no environmental impact has been reported

UK to launch negotiations on taking part in 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine

The office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also promised that new sanctions against Russian companies would be announced later this week

India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft lands on Moon

According to an ISRO live broadcast, the spacecraft has successfully completed a soft landing on the Moon’s surface

United Airlines plane hits light pole during landing in US — FAA

According to the authority, the plane landed safely

Critics label Elon Musk US 'shadow president' — media

The report says that "Musk’s rapid-fire messages - which included numerous false claims about the contents of the spending bill - ricocheted" across Washington

EU preparing for possible energy supply crisis due to conflict in Iran — Spanish newspaper

The EC assures that there is currently no risk to supplies, though markets are feeling the impact of rising Brent crude oil prices, which has led to higher gas and oil prices in Europe

EU ambassadors agree 11th package of anti-Russian sanctions — Swedish presidency

The previous package was adopted on February 25 of this year

Hungary views China as pillar of multipolar world — Orban

Hungarian prime minister recalled that Hungary has always adhered to the ‘one China’ principle

Putin: Russia stands for demilitarization of Ukraine

Russian President said he wished the Donbass problem could be settled through talks and the implementation of the Minsk agreements, but "regrettably, this is no longer relevant"

Ukraine loses over 360 troops in Kursk area in past day — Russian Defense Ministry

Five soldiers were surrendered, the Russian Defense Ministry said

North Macedonia starts purchasing Azerbaijani gas on regular basis — Russian envoy

North Macedonia received gas from Azerbaijan "through the Trans-Anatolian and the Trans Adriatic pipelines, then from Greece via Bulgaria", Moscow’s Ambassador to the Balkan nation Dmitry Zykov said

King Charles III diagnosed with cancer — Buckingham Palace

According to the statement, the King "has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties"

NATO forces intercept missile presumably launched from Iran — Turkish Defense Ministry

According to the ministry, "all necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at Turkey's territory and airspace"