The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is considering ordering a military operation with U.S. troops on the ground in Iran with the aim of extracting around 450 kilos of uranium from that country, as reported on Monday by the The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Furthermore, in an interview with the Financial Times, the Republican acknowledged his preference for "taking control of Iran's oil" and left open the possibility of seizing the island of Jark, Iran's main export terminal. The leader stated that he does not believe they have "any defense. We could take it very easily."
At the same time, the Israeli military launched a new wave of attacks against Iran and claimed to be hitting "military infrastructure" throughout Tehran. Iranian media also reported that one of the Tabriz Petrochemical facilities was hit in a northern province of the country.
Electricity supply restored in Tehran
The electricity supply has been restored in Tehran and the neighboring province of Alborz, as reported by the Iranian Ministry of Energy following blackouts recorded the previous day due to attacks on electrical infrastructure.
"The entire national electricity grid of Iran is stable; the issues have also been resolved in Tehran and Alborz," stated Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi, deputy minister, on state television, as reported by Afp.
Israel says it intercepted two drones from Yemen
The Israeli military stated on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles against Israel, and there was also an attack from Yemen for the second time since the start of the war between the United States and Israel. It was indicated that two drones from Yemen were intercepted early Monday, without providing further details. The Houthi militia from Yemen, backed by Iran, entered the war on Saturday by launching missiles against Israel, escalating a conflict that already affects the entire Middle East. Reuters reports.
Netanyahu backtracks, grants Latin patriarch "full and immediate" access to the Holy Sepulchre
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, revoked the ban on the entry to the Holy Sepulchre to the top Catholic authority in the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and stated that he can "conduct religious services as he wishes."
"I have instructed the relevant authorities to grant Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch, full and immediate access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem," said Netanyahu in a new statement last night, after justifying his veto at the basilica for "security reasons."
Pizzaballa wanted to officiate a blessing and private mass on Palm Sunday, with only three other people, at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. The Israeli police prevented it, despite complying with security restrictions limiting the capacity to 50 people due to the war with Iran.
International consternation was immediate, with European leaders in Italy, France, Hungary, Spain, or Portugal condemning the measure taken by the Israeli government, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who pointed out that Israeli authorities were not equally restrictive with Jewish prayers. Efe reports.
Trump considers operation to extract 450 kilos of uranium from Iran, according to WSJ
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is considering ordering a military operation with U.S. troops on the ground in Iran with the aim of extracting nearly 1,000 pounds (about 450 kilos) of uranium from that country, as reported on Monday by the The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The operation, on which Trump has not yet made a decision, could prolong the war beyond what the White House had planned and would directly expose U.S. military to likely Iranian reprisals, as indicated by the newspaper, citing U.S. official sources. "They are going to hand us the nuclear dust," Trump said in statements to journalists on Sunday, without mentioning the possible operation to acquire the uranium.
The Iranian government has confirmed that it possesses about 440 kilos of enriched nuclear material at 60%, a level of purity considered close to the 90% needed for the production of nuclear weapons, an objective that Iran claims not to pursue but is feared by both the United States and Israel.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) denounces that since 2019, access to Iran's facilities has been denied, although it believes that uranium reserves may still be in two of the three sites that the United States and Israel attacked last June: a tunnel complex in Isfahan and a depot in Natanz.
To access those places and extract the uranium, U.S. special forces would first have to fly to those points, likely under fire from Iranian surface-to-air missiles and drones, as indicated by the New York newspaper. Once there, "combat troops would have to secure the perimeter so that engineers, equipped with excavation machinery, could search through the rubble and check for mines or explosive traps," the newspaper adds, as reported by Efe.
Pakistan assures it will host peace talks between the United States and Iran
Pakistan announced on Sunday that it will host peace talks between the United States and Iran "in the coming days," even as thousands of U.S. Marines arrive in the region and the President of the Iranian Parliament describes the negotiations as a cover for a ground invasion.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, appeared on television to ensure that his country is prepared to "facilitate constructive dialogue" leading to a "comprehensive and lasting solution." The announcement came after a meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, a quartet seeking to reactivate a political path while the military escalation continues.
Trump considers "taking the oil" from Iran and does not rule out occupying the island of Jark
Furthermore, in an interview with the Financial Times, Donald Trump stated that his preference in the conflict with Iran would be to "take control of the country's oil" and left open the possibility of seizing the island of Jark, Iran's main export terminal.
The U.S. President stated that Washington has "many military and economic options" against Tehran, including the potential takeover of that strategic infrastructure, although he acknowledged that such an operation would involve a prolonged presence on the ground. Jark Island concentrates most of Iran's crude oil exports, so its control would have a significant impact on both the Iranian economy and the global energy market, as reported by Efe.
Trump claims Iran will allow 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Sunday that Iran will allow the passage of 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential plane, the president noted that Iran agreed to allow the passage of the vessels on Monday as a "gift" and a "sign of respect" to the U.S. Efe reports.
Indonesian peacekeeper dies in explosion in southern Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced on Monday the death of one of its peacekeepers after a projectile hit one of its positions in the south of the country. The peacekeeper died "tragically" on Sunday night when a projectile exploded at a UNIFIL position near Adchit Al Qusayr, where clashes between Israel and the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah are taking place, as stated in a statement.
"Another was seriously injured. No one should lose their life in the service of the cause of peace," UNIFIL added. The targeted position is a base under the responsibility of Indonesia's peacekeeping mission.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in X that the deceased is a member of the country's armed forces. The town of Adchit Al Qusair is located near the Lebanon-Israel border, where Israeli forces have been engaged in clashes with Hezbollah for almost a month. Afp reports.