Iran claims uranium enrichment as 'red line' in talks with Trump as US downs drones over Hormuz

President Donald Trump's administration doubled down on a warning to Oman against imposing a toll for ships to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the U.S. would not support any scheme that involved issuing tolls in the strait. Trump had threatened Oman during comments at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday after reports of a proposal for Iran and Oman to jointly solicit payments.

"The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized," Bessent wrote.

"All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorizing the region and the world are over," he added.

Fox News' Bill Hemmer detailed Iran's claims of oversight in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, highlighting areas under that Tehran claims it has authority over.

Hemmer also noted the location where Kuwaiti forces intercepted an Iranian missile on Wednesday. U.S. Central Command argued that attack constituted an "egregious" violation of the ongoing ceasefire.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered an update on U.S. efforts to destabilize Iran's economy on Thursday.

Bessent says Operation Economic Fury remains in full swing as peace talks between Iran and Washington continue, going on to announce new sanctions relating to the Strait of Hormuz.

"Their troops are not getting paid, the police are not reporting for work, and Kharg Island is shut down. The Iranian economy and currency are in free fall," Bessent wrote in a post on X.

"Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) is a joke, and today Treasury has sanctioned it. We have warned any corporate or state entities against paying tolls or hiding them as aid payments," he continued.

"Forming a Wall of Steel, the U.S. Naval Blockade has ensured a record low amount of Iranian crude on the water. We will also be shutting down both Iranian airlines’ access to landing spots, refueling, and ticket sales," he added.

His statement comes after Iran partially lifted its blackout on internet access this week, a move seen as a concession made in hopes to keep its economy afloat.

Israeli forces launched airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon's capital of Beirut on Thursday as U.S. and Pakistani leaders prepare for peace talks in Washington.

Israel in recent days has widened its attacks on Lebanon, some of the deadliest days since a Washington-brokered ceasefire agreement went into effect on April 17. Thursday's strike was the first attack on Lebanon's capital in weeks.

Before the attacks on Thursday, Israeli military Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued warnings to residents of eight buildings in Tyre, along the Mediterranean, and in surrounding neighborhoods. Many people have fled the area.

The strikes came after the IDF said one of its soldiers was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack in northern Israel.

Lebanese and Israeli military officials are set to hold their first security talks on Friday in the U.S. capital.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pakistani Foreign ⁠Minister Ishaq Dar will meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. on Friday to discuss peace talks with Iran, Pakistan's foreign ministry says.

Islamabad says the Dar will meet Rubio "to review bilateral ⁠relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest," according to a statement.

The meeting comes amid unprecedented strain on the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, with the U.S. shooting down multiple Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

Iran also launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait on Wednesday, which Kuwaiti air defensed successfully intercepted.

Pakistan has been serving as a mediator between Washington and Tehran for weeks, but negotiations have been slow to produce results.

Reuters contributed to this report.

The Pentagon recently informed European allies it plans to reduce some U.S. military capabilities available to NATO during a crisis as part of a broader push to shift more of the alliance’s conventional defense burden onto Europe.

The Trump administration plans to reduce certain available capabilities by roughly one-third to one half, officials confirmed to Fox News Digital, including strategic bomber planes, fighter jets and some naval assets. 

Pentagon official Alexander Velez-Green informed officials of the coming changes at the NATO Defense Policy Directors’ meeting in Brussels Friday, according to two officials familiar with the matter.

The Pentagon declined to confirm details about the changes, but chief spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged the shift in a statement to Fox News Digital, framing it as part of a broader effort to pressure allies to assume greater responsibility for Europe’s defense.

"The Department of War announced changes to U.S. contributions to the NATO Force Model at the Defense Policy Directors’ meeting in Brussels," he said. "These changes represent an opportunity for allies to demonstrate that they have heard President Trump’s call for them to step up and take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense." 

"Spending more on defense is one thing — and our allies must do so as quickly as possible, consistent with their Hague Summit pledge. It is vitally important, however, for our NATO allies to focus increased defense spending on the combat-credible capabilities most required for Europe’s defense. The Department of War’s announcement offers allies an opportunity to do exactly that."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Morgan Phillips.

"Fox News @ Night" panelists discussed the U.S. carrying out more "self-defense" strikes against Iran near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday as well as efforts to secure a peace deal with the regime.

Experts say Iran may attempt to lengthen peace talks to prevent the U.S. from engaging in further military action.

Ret. Gen. Jack Keane told Fox News earlier this weekend that President Donald Trump is showing Iran his "patience" in the ongoing negotiations.

Terrorism analyst Erik Stackelbeck argued that the regime in Tehran is also patient, however, and may be looking far down the line to after Trump is out of office.

An Iranian official asserted Wednesday that Tehran will not back down from its “red lines” in negotiations with the United States.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, wrote in a post on X that Iran’s red lines include the country’s right to enrich uranium, maintain stockpiles of enriched uranium and control the Strait of Hormuz.

He also called for the lifting of all sanctions against Iran.Azizi criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of seeking a deal with Iran “in order to save himself” from what he described as the “strategic deadlock” surrounding U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday that Iran was “negotiating on fumes,” while accusing Tehran of relying on delay tactics to try to “outwait” him on denuclearization talks.

“Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal – so far they haven't gotten there," he said.

Fox News' Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.