CENTCOM says more than 20 vessels stuck at Chah Bahar under Iran blockade

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi on Tuesday called for continued pressure on Iran’s ruling system, urging efforts to target what he described as the regime’s infrastructure while enabling conditions for public protests.

"I don’t think anyone can breathe easily as long as this regime exists. The regime has been weakened, but not to the point of collapse; there are still parts of the system that remain active and must be addressed and targeted. When the regime is on the verge of collapse, people will be ready to take matters into their own hands," Pahlavi said in an interview with Fox.

"This must be a coordinated campaign. We will do our part as a nation, but we need external support. That support has begun, but it must not stop halfway. The regime has never intended to negotiate and likely never will, because coexistence with the free world is not part of its DNA," he added.

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday, extending a multi-day rally, amid reports that the United States is preparing to prolong its blockade of Iran, raising concerns over continued supply disruptions.

Brent crude for June rose 52 cents to $111.78 a barrel in early trading, marking an eighth straight day of gains, while the more active July contract was also higher, Reuters reported.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also advanced, tracking gains in global benchmarks, the report added.

At a White House state dinner on Tuesday US President Donald Trump said Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, adding that King Charles agreed with his position.

"And we are doing a little work in the Middle East right now, you might know and we are doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent and we never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me even more than I do – will never let that opponent get nuclear weapon and they know that, known it very powerfully," Trump said at the state dinner at the White House, without mentioning name of Iran.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday posted on X he held a “focused and timely” meeting with US State Department official Christopher Yeaw on developments in Iran, nuclear safety at Ukraine’s power plants, and broader non-proliferation issues.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday the department expanded sanctions targeting what it described as Iran’s “shadow” financial and trade networks, including banking channels, cryptocurrency access, oil shipping fleets and procurement operations.

The measures also target intermediary buyers of Iranian crude, including Chinese “teapot” refineries, which he said help sustain Tehran’s oil exports, Bessent posted on X.

"Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, is soon nearing storage capacity, which will force the regime to reduce oil production, resulting in an additional approximately $170 million per day in lost revenue, and causing permanent damage to Iran’s oil infrastructure. Treasury will continue to exert maximum pressure and any person, vessel, or entity facilitating illicit flows to Tehran risks exposure to US sanctions," he added.