IRGC States US Options Narrow in Iran War; Israel Advances Arms Deals, Clashes Persist

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps intelligence unit stated that the U.S. faces limited options in the ongoing war, choosing between an impossible military operation or a bad deal with Tehran. The unit noted a narrowed room for U.S. decision-making, citing a deadline for ending the blockade of Iranian ports and shifting tones from China, Russia, and Europe.

This comes as Iran has softened its proposal by potentially dropping a precondition on the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, though gaps remain on uranium enrichment and shipping controls. Paul Musgrave, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, said the U.S. and Iran are far apart on enrichment and transferring highly enriched uranium.

The UN nuclear watchdog reports Iran holds about 440kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent.

Israel approved a plan to buy a new squadron of F-35 jets from Lockheed Martin and a squadron of F-15IA jets from Boeing. The deal, worth billions, is part of a $119 billion plan to strengthen military readiness over the next decade. Defence Ministry Director General Amir Baram said the purchases address regional threats and preserve air superiority, noting the U.S.-Israel relationship's importance reinforced by the war with Iran.

The Israeli military reported killing two Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon who posed an imminent threat. The fighters were identified in structures and eliminated in a strike. Israel issued displacement orders for villages beyond occupied areas, despite a truce with Lebanon.

The military warned of attacks on 11 towns and villages, ordering residents to flee. Rory Challands, reporting from Beirut, said three villages received evacuation orders for the first time, some north of the Litani River, amid an expanding area of operations.

Thienminh Dinh, an emergency physician with Doctors Without Borders in Tyre, described treating civilians, including children with severe injuries from bombings. She stated that the ceasefire is in name only, with civilians, children, paramedics, and journalists still targeted.

The truce, effective mid-April and extended to mid-May, has not halted fighting. In Gaza, Israel established an "Orange Line" expanding military boundaries beyond the previous "Yellow Line" from the October 2025 ceasefire with Hamas. Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Gaza City, said it covers an additional 11 percent of Gaza, restricting aid and creating uncertainty without visible markers.

Residents report repeated gunfire near the lines.

The suspects were released after a court hearing. Under the status quo, non-Muslims can visit but not pray or display religious symbols there. Two activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avilo, are set to appear in an Israeli court in Ashkelon after interception in international waters.

The flotilla aimed to break the blockade and deliver supplies. Iran executed Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, convicted of killing security officer Abbas Fatemiyeh during 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death. The judiciary reported a confession, while rights group HRANA cited an informed source saying it was forced under torture.

Authorities plan to turn the bombed Isfahan University of Technology into a war museum, preserving damage from U.S.-Israeli strikes in March. Zafarollah Kalantari, head of the institution, estimated infrastructure damage at $11 million. Strikes hit over 30 universities across Iran.

The area saw peak piracy in the 2000s, costing the global economy up to $18 billion annually per the World Bank. A 50-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel was shot dead in Shefa-Amr, marking the 100th such killing this year. Of the victims, 90 were shot, with most cases unsolved.

Israeli protesters in Tel Aviv demonstrated against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, demanding an end to wars and accusing it of relying on brute force. OPEC+ members meet to set new oil quotas after the UAE's exit on April 28, unhappy with production limits.

Seven countries are expected to raise daily production by 188,000 barrels. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft said the U.S. has lost strategically, with the blockade's costs exceeding expectations and third countries like Kuwait unable to export oil for a month.

He compared it to Ukraine's impact on Russia, raising questions about U.S. security reliability.