At least six Chinese-linked tankers transit Strait of Hormuz amid low traffic

Former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Tuesday reports that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at its airfields while acting as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, if confirmed, would be “not surprising.”

"Working simultaneously with and against the US has been a pattern of Pakistani policies for the last 40 years," Khalilzad posted on X. "Examples include: making commitments to the US not to acquire nuclear weapons while in fact energetically doing just that, helping USA in Afghanistan after 9/11 while also helping those fighting against us and let’s not forget, hosting Bin Laden until we finally located him right next to one of their military facilities, and our Special Forces went in and eliminate him."

Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park on its airfields while presenting itself as a diplomatic mediator between Tehran and Washington, potentially shielding them from US strikes, US officials told CBS News. The officials said the aircraft were moved to Pakistan, including Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi, days after a ceasefire announcement between the United States and Iran earlier this year.

Among the aircraft was an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, according to the officials. CBS also reported that Iranian civilian aircraft were flown to Afghanistan, though it was unclear whether any military aircraft were involved. A Pakistani official rejected suggestions that the aircraft were being hidden, while the foreign ministry said the planes arrived during the ceasefire period for diplomatic and logistical purposes, the report added.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon on Tuesday welcomed the Dominican Republic’s decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.

"I welcome the Dominican Republic’s decision to designate Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organizations. This is an important decision that aligns with dozens of countries that have already done the right thing. The world increasingly understands that the terror led by Iran is not only a threat to Israel - it is a global threat," Danon posted on X.

An Iranian US citizen has pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to alien smuggling and receiving child sexual abuse material, the US Department of Justice said on Tuesday.

The defendant, Sharon Gohari, admitted to facilitating the illegal entry of foreign nationals into the United States in exchange for payment, according to the Justice Department.

Prosecutors said he helped migrants enter the US through Mexico as part of a wider smuggling network involving associates in Iran and other countries.

Authorities said at least one individual he assisted had links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization.

During the investigation, federal agents also found child sexual abuse material on his devices, as well as images showing the covert recording and stalking of women in New York City, according to the department.

Gohari faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for the child exploitation charge, along with additional penalties for alien smuggling.

Australia will join a “strictly defensive” France and UK-led mission aimed at securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday.

Australia will contribute an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft already deployed in the region, according to Marles, who said the mission followed a meeting of 40 countries, CBS reported.

Marles said Australia stood ready to support the multinational mission once established, describing it as a commitment to the security of international trade.

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Iran said on Tuesday a suspected oil spill near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf was likely caused by a tanker discharging contaminated ballast water, rejecting claims it came from its oil facilities, Reuters reported.

Vice-President Shina Ansari said monitoring pointed to a non-Iranian tanker as the source, while Iran’s Oil Terminals Company said inspections found no evidence of leaks from pipelines, storage tanks or loading infrastructure, the report added.

Satellite images showed a grey and white slick spreading across dozens of square kilometers near Iran’s main oil export hub.

Maritime tracking group Tanker Trackers said the explanation “seems very plausible,” adding that the vessel in question had previously been seized by Iran.