Following reports of smoke rising from the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Area, the Fujairah Media Office has said that the smoke is due to ongoing maintenance of a pipeline.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre, an incident occurred 38nm northeast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates where a vessel was boarded and taken to Iranian waters. This is likely another seizure of a vessel by the IRGC-N.
More to come.

Following the bilateral U.S.-China talks in Beijing, China earlier today, the White House has released a statement saying that the two delegations discussed issues such as market access into China, Chinese investment in U.S. industries, drugs, specifically fentanyl, the “free flow” of trade through the Strait of Hormuz, and other key issues.

Speaking to NBC News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that current U.S. policy on Taiwan remains “unchanged.” Despite Chinese claims that a stern warning on the potential for escalation over Taiwan was delivered to the U.S. delegation during talks, Secretary Rubio said that arms sales and other issues centered on Taiwan were not discussed at length and the White House release on the meeting was devoid of any mention of Taiwan.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), will testify on force posture within his area of responsibility at a Senate posture hearing at 10am today.

In remarks to the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning, the commanding officer of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, stated that in the 30 months before the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Iranian linked groups were responsible for more than 350 attacks injuring 200 Americans and killing 4.

During talks between the U.S. and China earlier today, both sides seemingly agreed on key issues on Iran. Most notably, that Iran cannot be allowed to charge tolls for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to BBC, the vessel that the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said was taken to Iranian waters earlier today was a floating armory used by Chinese private military contractors in the local region who protect vessels from piracy. The vessel in question is the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan.

Following a U.S. government plane seen leaving Havana, Cuba, CBS has learned that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Cuba to meet with his Cuban counterpart in the Ministry of the Interior. Topics of discussion included Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism (SST) and recent comments by top U.S. officials that Cuba poses a national security threat.

According to Barak Ravid, citing a CIA official, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban Minister of Interior Lazaro Alvarez Casas and the head of Cuban intelligence, and discussed economic and security issues. However, per the report from Ravid, such cooperation will only be possible if Cuba makes a serious effort to deter U.S. adversaries from using Cuba as a springboard for U.S. adversaries, such as Russia and China.

President Donald J. Trump has concluded the summit in Beijing and is on the way back to the United States.

Merchant vessel traffic in the area of the Strait of Hormuz continues to be largely absent. Over the last 24 hours, less than 5 vessels were visible transiting inbound or outbound and all were using the Iranian traffic separation scheme. A normal 24 hour period before the war with Iran saw approximately 130 ships transit per day moving 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today that he spoke with U.S. President Donald J. Trump while he was on the way back from his summit in China with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Per the statement from Chancellor Merz, the two spoke on the Iran situation, again agreeing that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. However, the E3 nations, that being Germany, the UK, and France, have approached the Iranian nuclear issue differently than the current administration.
The two leaders also spoke on NATO and the ongoing war in Ukraine, per the statement.

According to Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Chinese President Xi Jinping will participate in a state visit to the U.S. this fall. This comes following the invitation by U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the state dinner during his visit to Beijing, China.

Citing protests and the ongoing severe fuel shortages in Cuba, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised “all but essential travel” to Cuba.

President Donald J. Trump has posted to Truth Social announcing the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second in command of the Islamic State of the Levant (ISIS/ISIL) during an operation in the African country of Nigeria.

Following up on the statement on the Nigerian operation by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) also released a statement announcing the joint U.S.-Nigerian operation that killed ISIS leader Abu-Bilal-al-Minuki and other Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) decision-makers. Per the release, “Al-Minuki provided strategic guidance to the ISIS global network on media and financial operations as well as the development and manufacturing of weapons, explosives, and drones.”

U.S.Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has arrived in Norfolk, Virginia for the arrival of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78).