Iran reverses course on opening Strait of Hormuz as hardliners take front seat in Tehran

Hezbollah said it detonated explosives that destroyed Israeli tanks in an attack in southern Lebanon.

The terror group said in a statement that bombs it planted exploded, destroying four tanks in a convoy of eight tanks that was passing the village of Deir Siryan.

This was Hezbollah's first claim of an attack since a 10-day ceasefire went into effect on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Drivers are getting a bit of relief at the pump as gas prices tick lower nationwide.

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline fell 7 cents to $4.09, according to AAA, marking a small but welcome break after recent volatility.

While the decline is modest, it comes as drivers head into the busier spring and summer travel season, when demand for gasoline typically begins to rise.

Gas prices continue to vary widely across the country. The most expensive markets are concentrated on the West Coast and in non-contiguous states, led by California ($5.84), Hawaii ($5.67), Washington ($5.38), and Alaska ($4.66).

In contrast, the lowest prices are mainly in the Midwest and South, with Oklahoma ($3.43), Kansas ($3.50), and Iowa ($3.57) among the least expensive markets.

For now, drivers are benefiting from a short-term drop in prices, but the broader outlook will depend on how geopolitical developments unfold in the weeks ahead.

The conflict in the Middle East is pushing up global energy prices, raising costs for both beef and the propane used to fuel backyard grills.

“The impact of ongoing challenges in the Middle East on energy prices impacts nearly every facet of the U.S. economy and beef-cattle are not immune,” said Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University.

Ranchers rely on energy at nearly every step, and those higher costs are often passed on to consumers. Propane prices are also rising, with U.S. benchmark prices up nearly 19% since the conflict began.

Supply constraints are adding to the pressure. The U.S. cattle herd is at its smallest size in 75 years, keeping beef prices elevated.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, beef prices climbed from about $8.70 per pound in March 2025 to $10.08 a year later—an increase of roughly 16%.

For shoppers, that means prices may remain high—or climb further—as forces far beyond Americans’ backyards shape the cost of firing up the grill this summer.

This is an excerpt from a story.

The Israeli military said it has verified a video circulating on social media that appears to show an Israeli soldier from the northern command using a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon.

The military said the soldier's actions are completely "inconsistent with the values expected of its troops."

The incident remains under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The U.S. military announced it attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it said had attempted to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to U.S. Central Command.

"U.S. Marines depart amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transit over the Arabian Sea to board and seize M/V Touska," CENTCOM said on X.

"The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 20, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from U.S. forces over a six-hour period," the post added.

Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond after the first interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Tehran called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation, according to state media.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the United States is working to deter further attacks by Iran and stabilize global energy markets amid the Iran conflict.

Bessent’s remarks came after a meeting with finance officials in Qatar.

“On Friday, I met His Excellency Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, @mof_qatar, to discuss ongoing cooperation between the United States and Qatar, especially during Iran’s attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council nations,” Bessent said in a post shared on X.

“I emphasized that the United States seeks to deter future attacks by Iran and to ensure that energy and broader markets are not further impacted,” he added.

Bessent also said that he welcomed Qatar’s continued investment in the United States, specifically in relation to strengthening energy security.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has labeled U.S. threats surrounding the blockade and measures in the Strait of Hormuz as "proof of America's lack of seriousness in diplomacy," according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Sunday.

"The threats to Iranian ports, coasts, and vessels, threatening rhetoric, unreasonable demands, and constant contradictions are clear signs of America's ill will," Araghchi said.

The foreign minister’s remarks were made during a phone conversation with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The outlet also said Araghchi had warned that the regime will "use all its capabilities to protect Iran's interests and national security."

Iran warned the U.S. it would retaliate Sunday after the Navy confirmed it fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also denounced the incident as “armed piracy," according to reports.

The standoff Sunday came as the Iranian-flagged cargo ship sailed toward Iran’s Bandar Abbas port in breach of the U.S. blockade.

"We have full custody of their ship, and are seeing what's on board!" President Trump also said Sunday.

Reuters reported that Iran’s military said the ship had been traveling from China.

"We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the U.S. military," a military spokesperson said, according to state media.

Iranian state media also reported that Tehran had rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade, threatening rhetoric, and Washington’s shifting positions and "excessive demands."

"One cannot restrict Iran's oil exports while expecting free security for others. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone," Iran’s First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref also wrote on X.

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said Sunday that tensions will continue with the U.S. as long as the naval blockade is in place, warning that underlying divisions are unresolved.

“You cannot keep violating international law, double down on your blockade, threaten Iran with further war crimes, insist on unreasonable demands, pace out with rhetoric and pretend to be pursuing 'Diplomacy',” Reza Amiri Moghadam said on X.

He added that the situation will not stabilize while the blockade is still in place. “As long as the naval blockade remains, fault lines remain," he warned.

A vessel that came under fire on April 18 in the Strait of Hormuz has been confirmed as part of a French fleet, Reuters said Sunday.

French shipping giant CMA CGM said that one of its ships was involved in the incident, describing the gunfire as “warning shots” and confirming that all crew members are safe.

The development comes amid rising tensions in the region. President Donald Trump also said Iran had violated a ceasefire agreement, writing on social media that Tehran had “decided to fire bullets” in the strategic waterway and that both French and British vessels were among those targeted.

On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping following the U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ports.

Iranian forces reportedly fired on several vessels, including Indian-flagged tankers, bringing traffic in the vital shipping lane to a halt.

The U.S. Navy is continuing to enforce the blockade targeting Iranian ports and coastal areas, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday.

“Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) stand watch in the Arabian Sea as U.S. forces enforce the blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas,” the command said in a post shared on X.

The blockade, which took effect April 13, covers Iranian ports and extends through the Strait of Hormuz.

The effort is aimed at stopping commercial maritime traffic, halting oil exports and preventing goods from entering the country.

The threat level for the Strait of Hormuz was raised to “critical” on Sunday, according to an update by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

UKMTO also said in the advisory that the Strait of Hormuz faced risks including navigation interference, blockade enforcement, mine reports and residual kinetic threats, with a risk of attack or miscalculation.

It added that for the Arabian Gulf/Strait of Hormuz, the region remains a “high-risk operating environment. The ceasefire remains fragile, and blockade enforcement continues by naval forces,” it said.

“Rapid, short-notice hostile action remains possible near Iranian waters, anchorages, and predictable routes. Mine risk is noted in the vicinity of the traffic separation scheme,” the advisory said.

Federal authorities arrested an Iranian woman at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, alleging she brokered deals to sell Iranian-made drones, bombs, bomb fuses, assault weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan in violation of U.S. sanctions laws, according to a newly unsealed criminal complaint.

"Last night, Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran," First Assisant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote Sunday on X.

"She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan.

"If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Mafi is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016. She is expected to make her initial appearance on Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown L.A. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court."

Prosecutors say Mafi, granted permanent U.S. residency in California under former President Barack Obama, worked with others on behalf of Iran and was preparing to board an LAX flight to Turkey when she was taken into custody, according to a redacted member of the Iran Counterintelligence Squad of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Eric Mack.

Iran has rejected taking part in a second round of peace talks with the U.S., Iranian state media reported Sunday.

IRNA News Agency says Iranian officials rejected the talks due to "unrealistic expectations" on the U.S. side.

"Iran rejected taking part in the second round of the talks with the United States," IRNA said in a statement.

"Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire," the agency added.

Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff were expected to participate in peace talks in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Israeli Defense Forces say they have eliminated over 250 Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon since the conflict began.

"To date, IDF troops from the 162nd Division have eliminated more than 250 terrorists, dismantled over 405 terrorist infrastructures, and located more than 1,000 weapons and munitions items in the Forward Defense Area. During one of the operations, body cameras belonging to Hezbollah terrorist organization operatives were found, containing recordings used for the organization’s propaganda," the IDF said in a statement.

"The IDF will continue to operate with determination to remove threats, maintain the security of the civilians of the State of Israel, and strengthen the forward defense posture," the statement added.

Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy predicted that jet fuel prices will drop below where they were before the war in Iran after the conflict ends.

Duffy made the statement during an appearance on "The Sunday Briefing," saying travel will be cheaper for Americans "in the long run."

"But if you if you look in the out years, we think once this conflict is over, we're going to see jet fuel go lower than it was before the Iran conflict," Duffy said.

"So yes, a small disruption, hopefully for a short period of time. But in the long run, it becomes cheaper for Americans to travel because of decreased jet fuel prices," he said.

Iranian officials claimed to have the "upper hand" in the Strait of Hormuz this weekend, leading to mixed messages coming out of Tehran.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz says Iran's Foreign Ministry is in conflict with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"The foreign minister says it's open. The IRGC says it closed. Regardless, it's the U.S. Navy and President Trump as the commander-in-chief that decides what ultimately comes in and comes out. And I think the bigger picture here is that the Iranian regime cannot hold the entire world's economy hostage. They cannot met out collective punishment because of a dispute over its nuclear program," Walz said in a Sunday interview on "Meet the Press."

CNN's Michael Smerconish urged Congress to formally authorize President Donald Trump’s ongoing war with Iran during his show Saturday, arguing lawmakers must stop delaying a clear vote as the statutory deadline under the War Powers Resolution approaches.

"The core question is simple: do you believe it’s essential that Iran not acquire a nuclear weapon?" Smerconish said at the top of the segment.

Congress faces an April 28 deadline when the War Powers Resolution requires both chambers to authorize or block the use of force.

Smerconish made his remarks more than 40 days after U.S. military action against Iran began following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that escalated the conflict.

"If that answer is yes, and I believe the answer is obviously yes, then authorize the military action necessary to achieve that specific objective," the CNN host said.

Smerconish argued that a narrowly tailored authorization would clarify both legal authority and political accountability as the conflict continues.

"An authorization scoped to Iran’s nuclear program gives the president the legal authority that he needs, gives Congress the accountability it owes to the American people, and gives Iran no clock to run out," he said.

He dismissed ongoing procedural maneuvering in Congress, calling on lawmakers, particularly Democrats, to take a definitive stance.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' CJ Womack.