Here's what's happening on the 19th day of the conflict, as of early Wednesday.
In a significant development on Tuesday, Iranian state media confirmed that Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was killed in a strike at his daughter's home in Pardis.
On the political front, President Donald Trump criticized NATO for hesitating to join the conflict, calling it a "foolish mistake" and claiming the U.S. doesn't need their assistance. Meanwhile, Joe Kent resigned as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stating that Iran had posed “no imminent threat” to the U.S.
U.S. Hits Iranian Missile Sites Near Hormuz
U.S. Central Command said it carried out recent strikes on heavily fortified Iranian missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz. They used 5,000-pound bunker-busting munitions, stating the targeted anti-ship cruise missiles posed a threat to international shipping. Think of it as the military equivalent of using a sledgehammer on a fortified door.
Iraq Oil Exports Via Ceyhan Port To Resume
In a bit of news for the oil markets, Iraq's Oil Minister announced that oil exports from the Turkish port of Ceyhan would resume on Wednesday. This comes after ongoing maintenance to restore the Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline, according to reports from Al Jazeera. It's a small step toward normalcy for a critical energy corridor.
Estonia Responds To Trump’s Call For Support
Responding to the broader diplomatic situation, Estonia said it is open to discussing support if the U.S. raises it within NATO. Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna warned that tensions in the Strait of Hormuz remain high with no signs of de-escalation, as reported by ERR News.
Iran Executes Man Over Israel Spying
In a grim development, Iran's judiciary said a man identified as Kourosh Keyvani was executed after being accused of spying for Israel. Authorities alleged he passed images and sensitive information to Mossad. They stated the execution was carried out after all legal procedures were completed and the sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Hormuz Sees Slight Rise In Ship Flow
There's a small but noticeable shift in the Strait of Hormuz. Tracking data shows nearly double the recent traffic of commercial ships passing through. Analyst Michelle Wiese Bockmann at Windward suggests Iran is allowing selective, permission-based transits mainly for friendly nations like China and India, while Western-linked vessels continue to avoid Iranian waters. It's a traffic light system, but one controlled entirely by Tehran.
Qatar, Lebanon Discuss Mass Displacement
The human cost of the conflict continues to mount. Qatari Minister for International Cooperation, Maryam Al-Misned, and Lebanese Social Affairs Minister, Haneen Sayed, discussed Lebanon's worsening humanitarian situation amid Israeli attacks. The focus was on the large-scale displacement of civilians. Authorities in Lebanon report over 1 million people—nearly a fifth of the population—have been displaced since early March.
