Israel clears purchase of new F-35, F-15 squadrons
Israel gave final approval on Sunday for a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, its defense ministry said.
The deal, worth tens of billions of shekels, includes acquiring advanced fighter jets to boost Israel’s air capabilities.
Iran executed political prisoner Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, who had been arrested during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, at Urmia prison on Sunday morning, the judiciary’s Mizan News said.
Iran also executed two more men on Saturday after the Supreme Court upheld their death sentences for spying for Israel and cooperating with the Mossad intelligence service.
The hangings come as authorities continue to carry out daily executions, taking place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire following the conflict that erupted on February 28.
Abdollahzadeh was transferred to solitary confinement after a verbal dispute with an officer in the visitation hall of Urmia prison, Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported on April 28.
Tehran’s five main dams remain below 20% capacity despite recent rainfall, a provincial water official warned on Sunday.
Behnam Bakhshi, spokesman for Tehran province’s water and wastewater company, said the dams held 345 million cubic meters of water, equal to 18% of capacity.
He said reserves were 90 million cubic meters lower than last year and 364 million cubic meters below the long-term average.
Bakhshi said recent rains had not overcome years of drought, adding that Tehran should already be planning for autumn and winter.
A National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) carrying more than 1.9 million barrels of crude oil has reached waters in the Far East after reportedly evading tracking systems and US naval surveillance, according to maritime monitoring reports.
The vessel, identified as HUGE (IMO: 9357183), is estimated to be carrying oil worth nearly $220 million.
It was last sighted off Sri Lanka over a week ago and is now reported to be transiting the Lombok Strait in Indonesia toward the Riau Archipelago.
US President Donald Trump said the ongoing naval blockade involving Iran is “very friendly,” adding that it faces no resistance.
Responding to a question about his letter to Congress stating that hostilities in Iran had concluded, Trump said: “Well, it’s a very friendly blockade. Nobody at all is challenging it.”
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday the United States plans to significantly reduce its troop presence in Germany, beyond previously discussed figures.
When asked why US forces were being withdrawn, Trump said: “We’re going to cut way down and we’re cutting a lot further than 5000."
