OSINTdefender

As the Defender Media Team and our communities on various social media sites continue to grow, we are happy to announce the launch of OSINTdefender on TikTok, featuring updates on conflicts, geopolitic situations and other newsworthy events around the world, now via TikTok!

According to a release from U.S. Central Command, the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has now directed 51 vessels to turn back to Iran or turn away from entering the strait.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump reiterated past comments that Iran still wants to make a deal. However, he voiced his frustration with the duplicitous nature of Iranian signaling, saying that Iran’s public comments consistently contradict the nature of closed door talks and phone callers with U.S. negotiators and decision-makers.

In a notable statement U.S. President Donald J. Trump said that as of a few weeks ago Iran had fired 111 missiles at one of the aircraft carriers deployed to the Middle East. Per the president, none of them struck home.

According to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense, their air defenses are now engaging Iranian missile and drone threats. It has been just under 24 hours since the last Iranian strikes on the Gulf nation.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be giving a press briefing at the White House at 3 p.m. EST in place of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who is on maternity leave.

According to Iranian news outlet Fars, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official has reiterated Iranian demands that all vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz must first gain permission from the Iranian Armed forces.

Missed the Department of War presser? Here’s a thread covering key points from the team @sentdefender.

According to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Iran has attacked U.S. forces 6 times since the beginning of the nominal ceasefire, and noted that all these attacks, presumably including strikes against their Gulf neighbors, are "below the threshold" of resuming combat operations against Iran.

The Department of War presser has now concluded.

In response to a question regarding Israel’s role in influencing the decision to resume combat operations against Iran, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made clear that U.S. decision-making, as it relates to the aforementioned possibility, remains in the hands of U.S. President Donald J. Trump. He added that they are still thankful for the Israeli coordination, intelligence, and capabilities that they have been able to provide since the beginning of the conflict.

According to CNN, Israel continues to coordinate with the U.S. on a potential resumption of combat operations against Iran.

🇺🇸🇦🇷 U.S.-Argentina partnership in action: The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Gridley (DDG 101) conducted a maritime engagement with @Armada_Arg ships in the Atlantic Ocean April 29, 2026. The Nimitz Carrier Strike group conducted bilateral engagements with Argentine forces April 28 - May 1 as part of the #SouthernSeas2026 deployment. @USNavy @DeptofWar @WHAAsstSecty @EmbajadaEEUUarg @USFleetForces @NAVSOUS4THFLT

When asked about the involvement of Indo-Pacific nations, particularly South Korea, following the Iranian strike on a South Korean vessel, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the “we hope” that Indo-Pacific partners, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia would be interested in getting involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has said that negotiations and efforts to continue them are still going on “in real time,” adding that Project Freedom allows the time for them to seriously come to the negotiating table.

During an ongoing presser at the Department of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine chose to highlight the 82nd Airborne Division. “They are out their coordinating, integrating, and synchronizing land, air, space, sea, and cyber forces, using Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2).”

It has now been just under 20 hours since the last reported Iranian strikes against the United Arab Emirates.

Department of War presser begins in 10 minutes.

Per the release, 2 narco-terrorists were killed in the strike.

According to a release from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), at the direction of SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a strike on a vessel operated by a designated terrorist organization traveling in known trafficking routes.

Following renewed Iranian attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a significant automatic identification system (AIS) spoofing operation began shortly after 1500UTC yesterday.