Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation and former IRGC commander, was deported from Canada shortly after arriving on Canadian soil. Raha Porbakhsh, a member of the sports editorial board at Iran International, provided additional details.
In an interview with Axios, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a naval blockade of Iran is more effective than bombing and rejected Tehran's proposal to initially open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade as part of negotiations.
Iran's President Pezeshkian stated that Iran is committed to ensuring the freedom of navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz for all countries except those deemed hostile.
IDF announced that Hamas operative Ibrahim Abu Sakkar was killed in an airstrike in Gaza yesterday; Abu Sakkar had been planning an imminent attack on Israeli troops and had led multiple attacks on soldiers during the war, while also serving as a paramedic in Hamas's Military Medical Services.
The Israeli Navy detained approximately 175 activists from a maritime convoy near the Greek island of Crete, which was attempting to challenge Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials intercepted 21 of the 58 vessels in the "Global Solidarity Convoy" and warned the rest to alter their course.
Iran football chief Mehdi Taj was expelled from Canada at the airport due to ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This action follows years of campaigning by Iranians both inside and outside the country to end the regime's involvement in international sports.
U.S. Central Command has requested the deployment of Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles to the Middle East, according to Bloomberg, citing sources, in preparation for potential strikes on Iran.
Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic's government, blamed the United States and Israel for any insecurity in the Persian Gulf and declared that any attempt to impose a maritime blockade would fail. He warned that these nations have adopted a new strategy of pressure involving maritime restrictions on Iran.
The United States Treasury Secretary announces the freezing of personal assets, including bank accounts, pension funds, and luxury properties in Southern France, of IRGC commanders and senior officials as part of the maximum economic pressure strategy against the Islamic Republic's networks. This action targets hidden wealth and aims to close sanctions evasion loopholes and exert financial pressure on the IRGC's power and wealth structure.
Oil prices surged to an unprecedented $126 per barrel on May 29 after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the potential prolongation of the naval blockade of Iran until an agreement is reached. This marks the highest price in global markets since the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In an interview with media outlets affiliated with the Islamic Republic regime, former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei admitted that the regime's military targets have been effectively destroyed following attacks by the United States and Israel, suggesting potential future attacks on southern coasts, areas near Isfahan, western parts, and even in Tehran.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has requested the deployment of the "Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile in the Middle East to target the Islamic Republic regime, whose missile launchers are now beyond the range of conventional precision strike systems. A decision on the deployment has not yet been finalized.
CENTCOM has requested the transfer of the U.S. Army's "Black Eagle" hypersonic missile to the Middle East for potential use against targets in Iran, marking the first deployment of this system if approved. The Islamic Republic has reportedly moved its launchers out of range of the U.S. "Precision Strike" missile, which can target objectives up to 300 miles away.
Brad Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM, announced that the naval blockade of Iran's ports has prevented the sale of approximately 69 million barrels of Iranian oil.
Manoochehr Mottaki, a member of parliament and former foreign minister of the Islamic Republic, stated that during the 12-day war, enemies intended to kill Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but were deterred by potential reactions, while during the 40-day war, they carried out their threats. Mottaki added that Khamenei had rejected security measures and was in his office at the time of the attack.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that five Hezbollah operatives were killed in airstrikes in southern Lebanon's western sector near Israeli forces on Thursday. Hezbollah also launched two explosive-laden drones at Israeli troops, but no injuries were reported.
The United States has imposed a naval blockade on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, reducing ship traffic from approximately 3,000 ships per month before the conflict to just 154 ships in March, severely disrupting global energy markets and supply chains.
President Donald Trump stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran must publicly and officially declare surrender due to the ongoing naval blockade. He emphasized that Tehran has no other option but to capitulate.
On Thursday, April 30, the President of the United States published a map on his social network "Truth Social" labeling the Strait of Hormuz as the "Trump Strait." This is the second time Donald Trump has referred to the strategic waterway by this name, amid tensions over Iran's potential blockade and the ongoing U.S. maritime presence.
On April 27, 2026, the U.S. Navy's MQ-4C Triton drone, serial number 169661, was damaged and made an emergency landing at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, likely due to a surface-to-air missile from Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force using a 3rd Khordad medium-range air defense system. This marks the second loss of a Triton drone in the conflict, each valued at approximately $240 million.
