Khamenei's envoy warns regional states over attacks on Iran

US Vice-President JD Vance said reports about a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran’s nuclear weapons program contained “a lot of fake information,” insisting Tehran would receive no cash simply for signing an agreement or attending talks.

In a post on X, Vance said no Iranian funds were being released upfront and that any economic benefits would depend on the Islamic Republic meeting its obligations under the deal.

He said the agreement was structured to prioritize the concerns of the United States and its allies, while offering economic benefits to Iran and the wider region only if Tehran complies.

“This deal has the potential to remake the region and lead to lasting peace,” Vance wrote.

He criticized those attacking the possible agreement based on unconfirmed reports, as well as people who distrust the IRGC but appear willing to believe anonymously sourced claims on social media.

Vance said President Donald Trump would secure “a good outcome, one way or the other.”

Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, criticized the idea of a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran under any potential deal, saying such support would be “tone deaf” while the Islamic Republic remains in power.

In a post on X, Graham said he was “very glad” to hear from President Donald Trump that Iranian media reports about the terms of a possible deal were false, calling the agreement described by Tehran “awful.”

He praised Trump and the US military for weakening Iran through military strikes and a blockade, but warned that any agreement must be “vastly different” from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Graham said providing reconstruction money to Iran would be like offering a Marshall Plan to Germany “with the Nazis still in charge,” adding that any fund benefiting the Iranian government “wouldn’t be a good idea now.”

He also said Trump’s red line of no uranium enrichment must hold, arguing that allowing Iran to enrich under the JCPOA was one of the deal’s major flaws.

Graham added that any agreement with Iran must be submitted to Congress for scrutiny and approval.

Israel’s defense minister said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military to prepare to preserve Israel’s ability to act independently against Iran’s nuclear program.

Israel Katz said the United States was pursuing an agreement with Iran based on American interests, including the shared US-Israeli goal of preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He said Israel expected Washington to uphold that principle, along with restrictions on Iran’s missile program and regional proxies.

He added that joint US-Israeli action had dealt Iran “severe blows” and set back its capabilities by years.

US President Donald Trump says "the terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing."

"What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth. Very dishonorable people to deal with," he said on Truth Social.

"With them, there is no such thing as dealing in good faith. AMAZING!"

US Central Command said US Navy warships and air assets continue to patrol regional waters to enforce the blockade against Iran, adding that American forces have redirected 136 commercial vessels and disabled nine others.

"As of today, US forces have redirected 136 commercial vessels and disabled 9 to ensure compliance," CENTCOM said in a post on X accompanying images of the operations.

The latest figures indicate an expansion of US maritime enforcement measures targeting traffic linked to Iran.