[US-Israel, Iran War Day #151] US Officials Say Sanctions May Hurt Iran More Than Bombs

In Brief…

• US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Tuesday. The war in Iran, negotiations with Lebanon and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords are on the agenda, CNN reported.
• Iran’s joint military command said on Tuesday that vessels from countries and companies using frozen Iranian assets would be barred from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran executed two protesters early on Tuesday amid a heavy security deployment around Isfahan’s Ali Khani Square, where witnesses said authorities had erected a scaffold and clashed with people who gathered overnight fearing further executions.
• Iran lost 230 million cubic metres of natural gas production capacity in strikes during its war with the United States, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday.
• Iran’s joint military command said the US naval blockade of Iran amounted to an expansion of the war in the region.
• Global oil prices fell sharply Monday after a pause in fighting between the United States and Iran, marking their biggest decline since April 8.
• President Trump said Monday “very friendly negotiations” with Iran were now underway, adding that Tehran could not be bribed and “you got to beat them.”

This is a developing story that HO1 will continue to monitor.
Check back for updates.

[UPDATE] Iranians must not be used as pawns in negotiations, exiled prince says