Ships linked to Iran use 'spoofing' tactics in Hormuz amid US blockade - NYT

Israeli authorities charged a woman from the northern city of Nazareth on Wednesday with spying for Iran, police and the Shin Bet security agency said.

Shomua Abu Abed was detained in March and had been passing information to a foreign agent since October in exchange for cryptocurrency, according to a joint statement.

She allegedly carried out multiple missions, including photographing security sites, Israeli military bases and the Haifa oil refinery, and transmitting information about an Israeli citizen described as a former security official.

Two remotely operated improvised explosive devices detonated in Tehran early on Wednesday, slightly injuring three people, including a member of the Basij paramilitary force, Iranian state media reported.

A third improvised explosive device was discovered and defused, the reports said.

Mohammad Balideh, a Revolutionary Guards commander for Tehran region 10, said the situation was under control.

“Nothing extraordinary happened here, just a limited explosion on the street at the hands of traitorous and unpatriotic elements, with no fatalities or serious damages,” he told Hamshahri newspaper.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that Tehran supports constructive dialogue with the US but would not be 'forced into submission.'

“Iran is not seeking war or instability and has always emphasized dialogue and constructive engagement with other countries,” he said during a visit to an emergency services center in Tehran.

“Any attempt to impose will or force the country into submission is doomed to fail,” he added.

China said on Wednesday the urgent task is to prevent a resumption of the war involving Iran and maintain the “hard-won” momentum of a ceasefire.

“The urgent task is to avoid the resumption of the war and maintain the hard-won momentum of a ceasefire,” China’s foreign ministry said.

It added that the war should not have happened and warned of its impact on the global economy, particularly on developing countries.

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said on Wednesday that any agreement between the United States and Iran to end their war must include detailed measures to verify Tehran’s nuclear activities.

“Iran has a very ambitious, wide nuclear program, so all of that will require the presence of IAEA inspectors,” Grossi told reporters.

“Otherwise, you will not have an agreement. You will have an illusion of an agreement,” he added.

Grossi said any deal on Iran’s nuclear program would require “very detailed verification mechanisms.”

His comments come as US President Donald Trump has signaled a possible second round of talks with Iran in the coming days after an initial meeting in Pakistan failed to produce an agreement.