Trump says 1,000 missiles aimed at Iran over threats to assassinate him

The USS Boxer amphibious assault ship and its embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit were temporarily sidelined during the early weeks of the war with Iran because of an engine-related malfunction, Newsmax reported on Friday, citing three officials familiar with the incident.

The setback came as the US was imposing a maritime blockade around Iranian ports and weighing options including a possible operation against Kharg Island, the report added.

The report said the Boxer’s main circulation pump, which cools the ship’s engine, failed while the vessel was en route to the Middle East after accelerating its deployment by several weeks. The ship remained at the US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean while awaiting replacement parts and repairs, leaving Marine forces aboard unable to join planned operations during a critical period.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday the United States violated the memorandum of understanding between the two countries following new sanctions announced by Washington.

“Iran has so far kept its word, unlike the so-called US Treasury Secretary who is violating Para 9 of the MoU. That violation follows other violations and missteps by the United States. Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance,” Araghchi posted on X.

IRGC General Abdolreza Hajati said on Friday recent remarks by US President Donald Trump pushed Iranians back toward the spirit of the 1979 revolution.

“Trump, through his ignorance, caused people to return to 1979 and take to the streets carrying flags and chanting, Trump must be killed,” Hajati said.

Speaking at a memorial ceremony in Khuzestan province, Hajati added several countries sought to host the funeral procession of Iran's slain leader, but only Iraq was granted permission.

A coalition of conservative foreign policy experts, Iran advocates and digital freedom groups urged Congress to include legislation aimed at helping Iranians bypass internet censorship in the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, The Hill reported.

The coalition sent a letter to Senate leadership and the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee backing the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act and the Feasibility Review of Emerging Equipment for Digital Open Media (FREEDOM) Act.

“Internet shutdowns have become one of the regime’s most powerful tools of repression – facilitating violence, mass arrests, and grave human rights abuses while preventing Iranians from communicating with one another and the outside world,” the letter said.

Ali Khomeini, grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini, said on Friday that any negotiations between Iran and the United States should not be interpreted as a path to peace, saying Iran’s identity was based on refusing compromise with what he called “arrogance.”

“If you see that the Islamic Republic talks about negotiations, it is not about peace negotiations. Can we make peace with criminal America? Our identity is non-compromise with arrogance. Negotiation means war; war has different forms,” Khomeini said.

“Anyone who wants to negotiate in order to reach peace with America is a traitor. Anyone who sends a message of friendship to America, their mouth is impure and unclean,” he added.