Hormuz shipping must remain toll-free, Britain says

Witnesses reported explosions and military activity in several Iranian cities early Thursday, including Karaj, Ahvaz and Shiraz.

In Alborz province, west of Tehran, residents in Karaj said three projectiles were seen over the Azimiyeh district before an explosion was heard at dawn. Additional blasts were reported in Mehrshahr at 2:28 a.m. and later in the Mehrshahr and Mohammadshahr areas around 3:45 a.m.

In Ahvaz, the main city in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan, two relatively strong explosions were heard at 3:11 a.m. and 3:13 a.m., according to witness accounts.

In Mahabad, in West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, residents reported the sound of an aircraft or fighter jet passing overhead at around 4:30 a.m.

In Shiraz, the capital of Fars province in southern Iran, witnesses said several consecutive explosions were heard at around 4:40 a.m.

US President Donald Trump said American ships, aircraft and military personnel would remain in and around Iran until Tehran fully complied with a deal.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would keep additional ammunition and weapons in place while compliance with the deal was monitored.

“All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with,” he said.

The US president warned that if the agreement were not honored, military action would resume on a larger scale.

“It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest,” Trump said.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused The New York Times and CNN of reporting what he called a “totally fake” 10-point plan related to Iran negotiations on Truth Social.

“The Failing New York Times and Fake News CNN each reported a totally FAKE TEN POINT PLAN on the Iran negotiations which was meant to discredit the people involved in the peace process. All ten points were a made up HOAX - EVIL LOSERS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he said.

The The New York Times reported that the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed on Wednesday, nearly 24 hours after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with no oil or gas tankers passing through the vital waterway.

Citing data from ship-tracking firm Kpler, the report said only a handful of bulk cargo vessels crossed the strait, while tanker traffic remained halted.

The report said uncertainty over safety conditions, including the presence of sea mines and conflicting guidance from Iranian authorities, has contributed to the near standstill in maritime traffic. "Iran said vessels must coordinate with its military and follow designated routes, while lingering concerns among shipping companies and insurers have further slowed movement," the report said.

US Senator John Fetterman said on Wednesday that “every single thing Iran has done is a war crime,” as he voiced strong support for US military action.

In an interview with Fox News, Fetterman described the United States as a “force of good” globally and said he would vote against a new War Powers resolution aimed at limiting the president’s authority in the conflict.