Summary
IRGC seizes a ship it says 'collaborated with US' in provocative move ahead of Pakistan talks; Iran FM preparing written proposal for US side.
President Trump is sending two envoys - Steve Witkoff and Jared Jushner - for talks with Iran in Pakistan, CNN reported, while Tehran sounded a more pessimistic tone on the prospects of further negotiations
US hits Iran 'shadow fleet' with new sanctions, also takes aim at Chinese 'teapot' oil refinery.
Third US aircraft carrier, the George HW Bush, has finally arrived in Mideast regional waters after taking the long way around Africa.
Hegseth in presser renews call, highlighting main issue, for Iran: "All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways..."; Warns Iranians over continued mine-laying.
Tehran again rejects as 'false' the rumors about Iran Parliament speaker being replaced with someone more hardline.
IRGC Seizes Ship, US Sanctions China Refinery & Iran Shadow Fleet
Bloomberg reports just minutes after US market close: IRGC reportedly seizes the ship "EPAMINODES" which is suspected of collaborating with the US; the ship ignored warnings and numerous maritime violations, via Tasnim.
Also developing is the newly unveiled US sanctions on Iran's 'shadow fleet' just ahead of the next planned round of Pakistan talks, which will likely start just indirectly, given the Iranian side is said to be preparing a written response. According to Bloomberg:
- The US sanctioned a Chinese oil refinery and dozens of shipping firms and vessels that transport Iranian oil.
- The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed penalties on Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., one of China's smaller so-called teapot oil refineries.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Treasury will continue to constrict the network of vessels, intermediaries, and buyers Iran relies on to move its oil to global markets.
US Sends Team to Pakistan, CNN Says, as Iran Balks at
Confirming earlier speculation, CNN reported that President Trump is sending tdswo envoys for talks with Iran in Pakistan, even as Tehran sounded a more pessimistic tone on the prospects of further negotiations. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to participate in talks this weekend with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Yet according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported earlier, no talks are slated to take place between the two parties during the foreign minister’s trip. Vice President JD Vance, the lead negotiator for the US, isn’t currently expected to join the delegation, CNN said. According to the latest from the White House Press Secretary on Vance:
Vice President JD Vance will be on “standby” and is “willing to dispatch to Pakistan” for Iran talks if negotiations progress in a way that the White House determines is a “necessary use of his time,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says.
Araghchi earlier said he was headed to Pakistan, but poured cold water on speculation that the US and Iran were close to a second round of negotiations to end the eight-week war, posting on social media that the purpose of his travel is to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.”
Officials in Pakistan familiar with the matter said they expected a second round of peace talks between the US and Iran, while declining to say when the negotiations would happen or at what level.
The announcement came as the US increased pressure on Iran with its naval blockade, seeking to get Tehran to agree to talks, while Israel and Lebanon are set to extend a ceasefire for three weeks. Trump ordered the US Navy to shoot any boat putting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, after the military intercepted two oil supertankers that tried to evade restrictions on traffic to and from Iran’s ports. The move by Trump, who claimed Iran is laying sea mines in the strait, is part of the White House’s attempt to cut off the country’s oil exports, squeezing it economically and forcing it to make concessions that will help end the war.
“I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t — The clock is ticking!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Meanwhile, in case talks prove futile again, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s defense secretary, on Friday said a second aircraft carrier will join the blockade in just a few days.
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