The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has released videos showing rescue operations following US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran. The footage, made public for the first time, depicts volunteers and workers pulling survivors from the rubble of multi-story residential buildings destroyed before the current ceasefire took effect.

According to a social media post by the IRCS, its relief teams rescued more than 7,200 people alive from beneath the debris between February 28 and April 8, during the period of active conflict. The videos highlight the scale of destruction and the humanitarian response amid the attacks.

The IRCS’s disclosure provides a rare glimpse into the aftermath of the strikes and the extent of civilian rescue efforts prior to the ceasefire.

Iran and Oman are continuing discussions on imposing tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, despite warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the waterway should remain free and described it as an international passage, rejecting any toll imposition. The Trump administration has condemned Iran’s potential move to charge for transit through the strait.

In an interview with Bloomberg in Paris, Iran’s ambassador to France, Mohammad Amin-Nejad, said both Iran and Oman must combine their capabilities to ensure maritime security and manage navigation efficiently. He added that providing these services would incur costs, and those benefiting from the traffic should contribute their share. Amin-Nejad emphasized that the proposed system would be transparent and aimed at addressing underlying issues affecting the region.

The discussions highlight ongoing tensions over control and security in one of the world’s most strategic maritime routes, with Iran and Oman seeking a cooperative framework despite U.S. opposition.

A Bloomberg News report, citing unnamed sources, claims that Iran has destroyed more than two dozen US MQ-9 Reaper drones since the start of the current war. The estimated financial loss is around one billion dollars, representing about 20 percent of the Pentagon’s total Reaper drone fleet before the conflict. The report states that many drones were shot down by Iran’s air defense systems, while others were destroyed on the ground in missile attacks on US military installations or lost during operations.

According to a person directly familiar with the information, at least 42 US military aircraft have been damaged or destroyed during the war. A US Congress report cited in the article estimates total American military equipment losses at approximately 2.6 billion dollars.

The report, sourced from Al Jazeera and Bloomberg, highlights the scale of US military losses but does not specify the exact timeline or battlefield locations of the incidents.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that if Iran proceeds with its plan to impose a toll in the Strait of Hormuz, any potential agreement between Washington and Tehran would become virtually impossible. He said that introducing a new toll system in such a vital international waterway could raise concerns for both regional and global trade. Rubio also suggested that such a move would negatively affect the ongoing diplomatic atmosphere between the two nations.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical routes for energy supply, with a large number of oil and gas tankers passing through daily. Analysts believe that any new restrictions or additional costs in this area could impact international markets. However, Iran has not yet issued any detailed official comment regarding the possible toll plan.

Following Rubio’s remarks, discussions have intensified over the future of US-Iran relations, though no immediate diplomatic responses were reported.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered that the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium must not be sent abroad under any circumstances. The directive directly contradicts a key demand from the United States, which had made the removal of enriched uranium a central condition in ongoing peace discussions. Two senior Iranian sources confirmed the order to Reuters.

According to the report, the decision could anger U.S. President Donald Trump and place the process of ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel in serious doubt. Israeli officials told Reuters that Trump had previously assured Israel that Iran’s uranium stockpile would be removed and that this would be a mandatory clause in any peace agreement. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also stated that the war would not be considered over until Iran removes its enriched uranium, halts support for proxy militias, and dismantles its ballistic missile capabilities.

Iranian officials believe that sending the material abroad would leave the country more vulnerable to potential attacks from the United States and Israel. No immediate comment was available from the White House or Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

A recent US intelligence assessment indicates that Iran is rebuilding its military capabilities faster than expected after suffering damage from US and Israeli strikes. According to information shared with CNN, Iran has partially resumed drone production during a six-week ceasefire that began in April 2026. The reconstruction of missile bases, launchers, and weapons infrastructure is reportedly advancing quickly, surpassing earlier intelligence timelines.

The assessment suggests Iran could restore full drone strike capability within six months, raising concerns among US allies in the Middle East. Intelligence sources attribute Iran’s rapid recovery partly to assistance from Russia and China, though Chinese officials have denied supplying missile components. Despite significant losses, much of Iran’s ballistic missile, drone, and air defense capacity remains intact, with about half of its drone fleet still operational.

Contradicting the intelligence findings, US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper told Congress that Operation Epic Fury destroyed 90 percent of Iran’s defense industry. However, CNN reported that intelligence sources believe Iran’s recovery could take months rather than years.

An Iranian military source has stated that Tehran possesses advanced weapons developed with domestic technology, which have not yet been deployed or tested in battle. The statement came as the United States issued new threats of attack against Iran, according to a report by Russian news agency RIA Novosti cited by Al Jazeera.

The Iranian official emphasized that the country is fully prepared for any escalation with the United States and faces no deficiencies in defense capability or military equipment. He added that Iran is not inclined to show restraint this time, signaling a tougher stance in response to potential US actions.

The remarks underscore rising tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran asserting its readiness to defend itself using newly developed weaponry if provoked.

Iran is reviewing the United States’ feedback on the wording of a proposed ceasefire agreement draft, according to a report by Iran’s Nour News Agency. The report stated that Washington and Tehran have exchanged several messages regarding the draft, excluding Pakistan from the direct communication. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that the exchanges were based on Iran’s main 14-point framework and that the U.S. opinions are currently under review.

Baghaei made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was visiting Tehran. The discussions between Washington and Tehran are being facilitated by Islamabad, which is playing a mediating role in the process.

The report did not specify the content of the U.S. feedback or the timeline for Iran’s review, leaving the next steps in the ceasefire negotiations unclear.

Iran’s stock market resumed trading this week after being closed for nearly three months, with authorities implementing a controlled two-day reopening under restrictions. The Tehran Stock Exchange sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday allowed limited liquidity generation, though about 36 percent of listed companies, including major petrochemical and steel firms, remained offline to protect shareholders from the effects of the United States-Israel war. Trading hours were extended by one hour each day, and price movements were capped at three percent to prevent volatility.

Officials said the reopening aimed to stabilize investor confidence, but deep economic challenges persisted. Economist Mehdi Haghbaali noted that security concerns prevented companies from disclosing full damage assessments, while smaller brokerage firms and leveraged traders faced difficulties. Inflation exceeded 70 percent in late April, and a sharp depreciation of the rial has made export-oriented firms appear more attractive. However, trade disruptions and rising prices continue to weigh on real value creation.

Authorities face limited fiscal options amid sanctions and a naval blockade of southern ports. Haghbaali suggested that renewed import restrictions or a potential peace agreement with the United States could reshape Iran’s economic outlook.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on Wednesday that any renewed attacks by the United States or Israel against Iran would cause the ongoing conflict to spread beyond the Middle East. The statement, published on the IRGC’s Sepah News website and reported from Tehran by AFP, declared that further aggression would trigger destructive retaliation capable of crushing the attackers.

The warning followed US President Donald Trump’s threat to strike Iran again within days if no lasting agreement is reached. Both sides have exchanged proposals to end the fighting while simultaneously escalating threats. The war began on February 28, with a ceasefire taking effect on April 8. During the roughly 40-day conflict, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders were killed, prompting Tehran to launch missile and drone strikes across the region.

Trump said on Tuesday that new attacks could begin soon if talks fail, adding that Gulf Arab leaders had previously urged him to hold back from immediate action.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that 26 ships safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours under its supervision. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the vessels included oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial ships, all of which passed through the strait with official permission.

State broadcaster IRIB reported that at least five of the vessels were supertankers. The report added that ships from several countries, including China and South Korea, have requested permission to transit the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key maritime route for global energy shipments, and Iran’s control over transit permissions highlights its continuing influence over regional maritime traffic.

Reports indicate that during the early days of the Iran war, following Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader and senior officials, US President Donald Trump publicly suggested that someone from within Iran should take charge. It has now emerged that both the United States and Israel had considered former hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for that role. According to American officials, Israeli planners even consulted Ahmadinejad about the idea, but the plan quickly collapsed.

Ahmadinejad was injured in an Israeli airstrike on his Tehran home on the war’s first day, an attack reportedly aimed at freeing him from house arrest. After surviving, he became disillusioned with the regime-change plan and has not been seen publicly since. The plan was part of a broader Israeli effort to topple Iran’s religious government through targeted strikes and internal unrest, though most of it failed to materialize.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly declined to comment directly on the plan but said Trump’s “Operation Epic Fury” achieved its military goals, including destroying Iran’s missile and naval capabilities.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that discussions with Iran are continuing over the May 4 attack on the South Korean-operated vessel HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Yonhap News Agency, ministry spokesperson Park Il stated that necessary measures will be taken once the investigation concludes. The incident caused an explosion and fire on the ship, leaving one crew member slightly injured.

A previous government investigation found that two flying objects struck the vessel, and debris from the site is being analyzed to identify the objects and those responsible. Park Il added that Seoul will maintain communication with Tehran and take appropriate steps, including providing explanations to Iran if new information emerges.

South Korean officials have accused Iran of involvement, but Tehran has denied responsibility. The ministry emphasized that ensuring the safety and free navigation of South Korean ships and crew in the region remains its top priority, with diplomatic efforts ongoing to achieve that goal.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the United States and Israel had planned to bring former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad back to power if Iran’s Islamic Republic leadership collapsed following the outbreak of war. The report stated that early in the conflict, then-US President Donald Trump publicly hinted that new leadership could emerge from within Iran if Israeli strikes killed the country’s top leaders.

According to the report, US and Israeli officials specifically considered Ahmadinejad, once known for his hardline stance and anti-US rhetoric, as a potential post-war leader. The plan was reportedly initiated by Israel, which had also made contact with Ahmadinejad. However, after an Israeli strike hit his home in Tehran on the first day of the war, Ahmadinejad became disillusioned with the plan.

US officials cited in the report said that the broader regime-change plan in Iran quickly collapsed and became ineffective before it could be implemented.

Iran has presented a new peace proposal to the United States, according to Iranian state media reports on Tuesday. The proposal includes halting hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon, withdrawing U.S. troops from areas surrounding Iran, and compensating for damages caused by the recent U.S.-Israel conflict. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Tehran also demands the lifting of sanctions, release of frozen Iranian funds, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade.

Iranian officials said the proposal aims to reduce regional tensions and end ongoing conflicts. Analysts noted that the conditions are not significantly different from Iran’s previous positions. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump had rejected an earlier Iranian offer, calling it “garbage.” However, after receiving the new proposal, Trump announced that a planned strike on Iran had been temporarily suspended and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program.

A Pakistani source indicated that Islamabad has been mediating between the two sides and helped deliver Tehran’s new proposal to Washington after hosting a round of peace talks last month.