Media: Israeli Army Prepares to Strike Iran Again

April 13th — Insiders told the Financial Times the U.K. will not join the U.S. in blockading the Strait of Hormuz. Late last night, Trump said U.S.-Iran peace talks failed to yield a breakthrough, so the U.S. Navy will blockade the critical waterway. The U.S. plans to send more minesweepers to the strait, while NATO “intends to help clear it” — with the U.K. and other nations deploying minesweepers, though the U.K. has clarified it won’t join the U.S. blockade. A U.K. government spokesperson noted: “We remain committed to freedom of navigation and the Strait of Hormuz staying open — that’s key for the global economy and easing domestic cost-of-living pressures. No tolls should be charged for ships navigating the strait. We’re working urgently with France and other partners to build a broad alliance to safeguard freedom of navigation.”

On April 13, Bitget market data shows spot gold dropped to $4,650 per ounce, marking a 2.12% intraday decline.

April 13 – Nabaviyan, Vice Chairman of Iran’s Parliament National Security Committee, who participated in U.S.-Iran negotiations in Islamabad, stated in a social media post that the two sides had three major principled disagreements during the talks: 1. The U.S. sought "equitable sharing of interests" with Iran regarding the benefits and management of the Strait of Hormuz; 2. The U.S. demanded Iran ship all 60% enriched uranium out of the country; 3. The U.S. called for depriving Iran of all uranium enrichment rights for the next 20 years. Nabaviyan emphasized the Iranian delegation firmly defended national interests and rejected the aforementioned unreasonable demands.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Wednesday that it will impose a maritime traffic blockade on all entry and exit points of Iranian ports starting 10 a.m. Eastern Time (10 p.m. Beijing Time) on April 13. The blockade applies to vessels of any nationality entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM forces will not disrupt free passage for ships transiting to and from non-Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Additional official notifications will be issued to commercial mariners ahead of the blockade’s launch. Mariners are advised to monitor "Navigational Warnings" broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces via VHF Channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman or the entrance area of the Strait of Hormuz. (Source: Jinse)

April 13 — U.S. officials and sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that former President Donald Trump and his advisors are weighing resuming limited military strikes against Iran and imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz to break a deadlock in ongoing peace talks. Officials noted Trump may also consider restarting full-scale bombing operations, but the likelihood is low: such moves would further destabilize the region, and Trump himself is reluctant to get drawn into a long-term military conflict. U.S. officials and government insiders added that whichever option Trump chooses carries significant risks. A full-scale war would deplete critical U.S. ammunition reserves and expose Trump to backlash from voters skeptical of Middle East military entanglements. Conversely, scaling back military action — even if the Iranian regime is weakened but remains intact, continues its nuclear program, and maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz — could be