Iran has warned that it will consider a U.S. naval blockade and attacks on Iranian shipping as a ceasefire breach, threatening to halt trade across the Gulf, Sea of Oman, and Red Sea with a forceful response.
Activist Masih Alinejad questions Pope Francis about the executions and abuses by Iranian authorities, accusing them of using religion to justify violence against protesters and women. Alinejad asks if these executions can be classified as a massacre and presses the Pope for a response to the ongoing human rights violations in Iran.
On December 15, 2025, the US military intercepted and boarded the M/T Tifani, a sanctioned oil tanker, in the Pacific Ocean.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that "Iran has violated the ceasefire numerous times." No specific locations or casualty numbers were provided in the tweet.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization reported the widespread arrest of at least 3,646 Iranians since the beginning of recent conflicts, starting from late February of the previous year following widespread protests. At least 111 civil and political activists, including human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, are among those detained.
MORE: Iran warns that if the U.S. continues its naval blockade and targets Iranian shipping, it will treat it as a ceasefire breach and move to halt trade across the Gulf, Sea of Oman, and Red Sea, vowing a very forceful response.
