The European Union is weighing sanctions against Israeli individuals and entities over allegations they helped Russia bypass sanctions by importing wheat taken from occupied areas of Ukraine.

The issue surfaced after reports that ships carrying suspected stolen grain were allowed to dock in Haifa despite prior warnings from Ukraine.

Source: Haaretz

Trump and his national security team are skeptical of Iran’s latest proposal, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while delaying nuclear negotiations.

During Monday discussions, Trump did not reject the offer outright but questioned whether Iran is acting in good faith or willing to meet his core demand: ending uranium enrichment and committing not to develop nuclear weapons.

Officials say the U.S. will continue talks, with the White House expected to respond and possibly present counterproposals in the coming days.

Source: WSJ

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

GASOLINE SHORTAGES IN IRAN NEXT!

Senate Republicans are increasingly losing confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with some saying he wouldn’t be confirmed today and should “move on,” though the decision rests with Trump.

Concerns center on turmoil at the Pentagon, including the ouster of Army chief Randy George and firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan.

Sen. Thom Tillis said Hegseth is “making some less-than-ideal personnel decisions” and added “there’s no question he’s got a failing grade” on management skills.

Sen. Joni Ernst called George’s removal “a mistake,” while Rep. Tom Cole described it as “a real loss.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was “shocked” by the firing, adding: “We’re in the middle of a war… not good.”

Lawmakers are also uneasy about Hegseth’s clashes with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and policy moves like ending mandatory flu shots.

Source: The Hill

Marco Rubio on Iran:

The level of sanctions on Iran is extraordinary, the level of pressure on Iran is extraordinary, and I think more can be brought to bear.

Marco Rubio on Iran:

Iran cannot be the sole beneficiaries of an illegal, unlawful, and unjustified system of tolling and control in the straits.

Trump:

America’s Elections are Rigged, Stolen, and a Laughingstock all over the World.

Mexican President Sheinbaum is trying to cooperate with Trump, but it’s putting her under pressure at home.

She has made concessions to the U.S. (on border security, trade, and cartel crackdowns) to avoid conflict and protect Mexico’s economy. However, Trump keeps demanding more, including possible U.S. military action against cartels.

A recent incident involving CIA agents in Mexico increased tensions, and her restrained response drew criticism. Meanwhile, her approach is upsetting parts of her political base.

Overall, she is stuck balancing avoiding conflict with the U.S. while maintaining support at home, and her strategy may be weakening her politically without satisfying Trump.

Source: WSJ

Trump is unhappy with Iran’s latest proposal to end the war because it delays talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran wants a ceasefire and the U.S. blockade lifted first, with negotiations happening in stages.

The U.S. insists nuclear issues must be addressed immediately, so both sides remain far apart.

Source: Reuters

Iran is running out of places to store its oil, with only about 12 to 22 days of capacity left.

Because the U.S. naval blockade has cut exports by roughly 70%, shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have nearly stopped, and no tankers are getting through.

If this continues, Iran may be forced to cut production by another 1.5 million barrels per day by mid-May, on top of the large reductions already made.

Even so, the financial impact won’t be immediate, since oil shipments take time to reach buyers and payments are delayed, giving Iran a few months of breathing room despite the growing supply crunch.

Source: Bloomberg

Former Mossad Director Tamir Pardo, after touring settler violence in the West Bank:

My mother is a Holocaust survivor, and what I saw here reminded me of the events of the previous century against the Jews.

China's Foreign Ministry to Japan:

Is the Japanese side trying to repeat history… and once again become the source of disaster in East Asia?

Japan has been making frequent, dangerous, reckless, and provocative moves… defying its dedication to peace.

These remarks sound more like war mobilization and war cries.

The international community will never accept this.

Zelensky to Israel:

Buying stolen goods is a crime, this includes grain stolen by Russia.

This is not and cannot be legitimate business. Israel cannot claim it doesn’t know what enters its ports.

We took all diplomatic steps—yet the ship was not stopped.

We will sanction those transporting and profiting from this.

We expect respect—and no actions that undermine our relations.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

If I were American, I would have voted for Donald Trump.

He was speaking about family values, and people here like that.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

I cannot justify everything, but I am still a friend of Israel.

You cannot say it’s not a violation of international law to attack a sovereign country like Iran.

Greece’s ruling party is clashing with EU prosecutors over a huge farm subsidy corruption scandal involving hundreds of millions of euros.

Several politicians are implicated.

The government is attacking the EU investigation, calling it political interference and even threatening to pull out of cooperation, while the EU prosecutor insists the focus is on systemic corruption, nepotism, and fraud.

Source: Politico

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov:

Nobody in Ukraine would agree to lose even an inch of territory.

Nobody wants to deal with the weak — international law doesn’t work here.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov:

We will never renounce our territories. Never recognize occupation.

This is our land, we cannot trade it.

Ukraine carried out another drone strike on Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery, marking the third major attack this month.

The strike hit remaining fuel storage tanks, causing new explosions and large fires.

The facility was already heavily damaged.

Israelis were surrounded and shouted at by locals in Cusco, Peru, who accuse them of being “murderers”, “baby killers” and “war criminals” and tell them to leave.

Trump is weighing two paths in dealing with Iran: escalating with military strikes or continuing his “maximum pressure” sanctions to force negotiations.

He has at times taken a hard line, telling one adviser, “All [Iran’s leaders] understand is bombs.”

But advisers say he remains cautious about actually launching new attacks. As one described it, he is “frustrated but realistic… He doesn’t want to use force. But he’s not backing down.”

Source: Axios