Iran isolated as of 113 co-sponsors of UN resolution, US envoy says

The Pentagon abruptly canceled the deployment of an armored brigade to Europe, even as some troops and equipment were already en route, in a move marking a further reduction in the US military presence on the continent, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The decision halted the deployment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, which had been preparing for a rotation in Europe, and follows earlier plans to remove 5,000 troops from Germany as part of a broader drawdown strategy under the Trump administration.

According to the report, some US military officials were surprised by the midstream cancellation, which came as the Pentagon shifts its focus toward homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific while encouraging European allies to take greater responsibility for their own security.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said on Wednesday a US court suspended sanctions imposed against her.

'The judge ruled that protecting the freedom of speech is always just the public interest," Albanese said in a post on X.

The US military has allowed 15 merchant vessels carrying “humanitarian aid” to pass through since a blockade on Iranian ports began, according to a US Central Command social media post on X.

CENTCOM said the vessels included ships permitted to dock in Iranian ports as well as those allowed to leave Iranian waters for open seas.

"US forces have redirected 67 commercial vessels and disabled four others to ensure compliance since the blockade began on April 13," CENTCOM said.

Chinese companies discussed sending weapons to Iran via third countries to conceal their origin, US officials told the New York Times on Wednesday.

US officials said the reported plans could include missile systems and other military equipment routed through intermediaries, including in Africa.

US officials said it was unclear whether shipments had been completed and denied evidence of Chinese government approval, but said the discussions likely occurred with Beijing’s awareness, the report said.

The Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan jointly on Wednesday condemned and rejected Iranian claims regarding what Tehran described as “management” or “new legal rules” for the Strait of Hormuz, according to regional statements.

The countries said Iran’s framing of governance or legal arrangements for the strategic waterway was “unacceptable” and rejected any unilateral attempts to alter the status or rules governing international navigation through the strait.