Tehran weighs escalation as US blockade chokes oil trade - WSJ

Iran’s deputy parliament speaker said the Pakistan talks with the United States began with the direct approval of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, in an apparent response to claims of confusion and infighting inside Tehran’s decision-making structure.

Ali Nikzad said the American side opened the talks by raising demands including a 20-year halt to Iran’s nuclear activities and the handover of enriched uranium.

He said the demands were “firmly rejected” by the Islamic Republic.

The remarks come after President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip to Pakistan by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying there was “tremendous infighting and confusion” within Iran’s leadership and that “nobody knows who is in charge.”

The Pakistan track has also been strained by a basic sequencing dispute: Washington has pushed for nuclear restrictions, including a long halt to enrichment, while Tehran has sought to first end the war, address shipping and the Strait of Hormuz, and only then move to wider issues.

A senior official in the office of the Islamic Republic’s leader dismissed comments about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health as an “enemy tactic” to spread rumors, while confirming that he was wounded in the attack on the first day of war.

Mohsen Qomi, deputy for international communications in the leader’s office, said enemies were trying to force officials into reactions by spreading rumors about Khamenei’s health and then use those reactions to advance their plots.

“Our most important issue now is to help preserve his life, because he is now God’s representative here,” Qomi said.

He said Khamenei had been in a building struck in an attack in which other occupants were killed, but had gone into the courtyard minutes before the strike.

US Central Command chief Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine presented President Donald Trump with new military options for possible action against the Islamic Republic on Thursday, Iran International has learned.

The briefing also covered the latest movements and deployments of US forces in the Middle East.

According to the report, three broad options were discussed.

One involved the possible deployment of US ground forces to small islands around the Strait of Hormuz to reopen the waterway.

Another involved sending special forces into the Isfahan area to remove Iran’s 60%-enriched uranium.

The third option involved rapid but heavy US strikes against the Islamic Republic.

A senior US official said the ceasefire with Iran has “terminated” hostilities for the purposes of a key congressional war powers deadline, potentially allowing the Trump administration to avoid immediate legal constraints on the conflict.

The official said there had been no exchange of fire since the truce began in early April, arguing that the 60-day clock under the War Powers Resolution effectively stopped.

President Donald Trump faced a May 1 deadline to end the war, seek congressional authorization or request an extension, but the administration is expected to let the date pass without changing course.

The interpretation is disputed by Democrats, who argue there is no provision in the law allowing the clock to pause during a ceasefire.

The legal debate comes as the White House weighs next steps.

US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine briefed Trump for 45 minutes on new options for possible military action against Iran, according to two US officials cited by Axios journalist Barak Ravid.

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Iran is accelerating efforts to recover missiles and munitions buried during weeks of US and Israeli strikes, NBC reported, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter, as concerns grow that fighting could resume.

The push to dig out weapons hidden underground or trapped beneath rubble comes during a fragile ceasefire and appears aimed at restoring Iran’s ability to launch attacks across the region if diplomacy fails.

US officials believe Tehran is trying to quickly reconstitute parts of its missile and drone capabilities, even after extensive strikes on launch sites and production facilities.

The developments come as President Donald Trump prepares to review options in the coming days, including potential renewed military action, with a focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and limiting Iran’s nuclear program.

US Central Command is expected to brief Trump and his national security team on the status of the blockade and military scenarios, while the White House weighs next steps amid stalled negotiations.

Iran has maintained it retains the ability to defend itself, and US intelligence assessments indicate that despite heavy losses, Tehran still holds a significant portion of its missile arsenal, as well as parts of its air and naval forces. According to NBC.

US officials have said Iran may have preserved some capabilities by dispersing and concealing weapons before and during the conflict, complicating efforts to fully degrade its military infrastructure.