Overview
- Kane, the Joint Chiefs chair, said Tuesday that Iran has carried out more than 10 attacks on U.S. forces since the April 7 cease-fire and that the threshold to restart large operations has not been met.
- He said Iranian forces also fired on commercial ships nine times and seized two container vessels, and he showed U.S. analysis indicating additional mines were laid in the Strait of Hormuz on April 23.
- The Pentagon said U.S. help for stranded ships will not enter Iranian waters or airspace, and Defense Secretary Hegseth stressed the United States does not seek combat.
- In Rome, Pope Leo XIV rebutted President Trump’s claim about his stance on Iran, saying criticism should be based on truth and noting the Church has long opposed all nuclear weapons.
- Regionally, Japan’s defense minister is pressing new arms exports with a focus on Southeast Asia such as the Philippines, while separate reporting depicts Japan–China ties as stalled with little optimism for a leaders’ meeting this year.