World will be safer place when Iran operation accomplished, Rubio says

Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran was fully prepared to respond to any attacks against its oil and nuclear facilities.

“We know the US is plotting against our oil and nuclear sites in hopes of containing huge inflationary shock,” Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

“Iran is fully prepared. And we, too, have many surprises in store,” he added.

US President Donald Trump said he was “not happy” with Mojtaba Khamenei replacing his father as Iran’s new supreme leader, according to an interview published by the New York Post.

“Not going to tell you,” Trump said when asked about his plans for the younger Khamenei. “Not going to tell you. I’m not happy with him,” he told the newspaper.

Asked about reports the United States could deploy ground troops to Iran, Trump told the newspaper: “We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it.”

Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani said security in the Strait of Hormuz was unlikely while war continues, responding to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about reopening the waterway.

“It is unlikely that any security will be achieved in the Strait of Hormuz amid the fires of war ignited by the United States and Israel in the region, especially if it is designed by parties that were not far from supporting this war and contributing to fueling it,” Larijani said in a post on X.

His remarks came after Macron said France was preparing a defensive mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and would send two frigates to the Red Sea.

US President Donald Trump urged Australia to grant asylum to members of Iran’s national women’s soccer team, saying they would face grave danger if returned to Iran.

“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed,” Trump wrote on X. “Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The US will take them if you won’t.”

His remarks came after the office of Prince Reza Pahlavi confirmed five players — Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi — had left the team’s training camp and sought refuge in Australia. According to the statement, the players said they had joined what was described as Iran’s “Lion and Sun Revolution.”

There has been mounting concern over the team’s safety after several players stood in silence and did not sing Iran’s national anthem before an Asian Cup match in Australia, drawing criticism from Iranian state media.

Global players’ union FIFPRO has said it is “really concerned” about the team’s welfare and has been unable to contact the players. A petition urging Australia to protect the squad has gathered tens of thousands of signatures.

A Greek-operated oil tanker carrying Saudi crude has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz with its destination listed as India, according to ship tracking data from Kpler and Lloyd’s List Intelligence, Reuters reported.

The Shenlong Suezmax tanker, which can carry about 1 million barrels, loaded crude at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port, MarineTraffic data showed.

The vessel last recorded its position inside the strait on March 8 before updating its destination to Mumbai. The tanker’s Athens-based manager, Dynacom, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.