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Representatives from Ukraine and the U.S. are reportedly set to meet ahead of high-stakes trilateral talks in Geneva that will include Russian envoys. The report about the meeting comes just after the Russia-Ukraine war entered its fifth year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters about the Thursday U.S.-Ukraine meeting, The Associated Press reported. The Ukrainian leader reportedly said that Thursday's meeting would focus on the possibility of post-war recovery for Ukraine as well as preparations for an upcoming trilateral meeting with Russia, according to the AP.

The meeting is expected to involve Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to the AP, which cited Zelenskyy. Additionally, Umerov’s press secretary Diana Davytian told the AP that the meeting would take place in Geneva. The outlet noted that the Swiss city is also expected to be the site of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations on the same day as the trilateral talks.

RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE ENTERS FIFTH YEAR AS EXPERTS OUTLINE 3 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

Zelenskyy said that he had tasked Umerov with discussing a possible prisoner exchange, the AP reported. He added that Ukraine would like the talks with Russia to take place next week.

The Trump administration's push to end the years-long war has brought Russian and Ukrainian envoys to the table in both Abu Dhabi and Geneva, though the meetings have yet to produce a breakthrough for peace.

PUTIN PUTS ‘NUCLEAR TRIAD’ ON FAST TRACK, ZELENSKYY CLAIMS ‘WORLD WAR 3’ UNDERWAY

Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that he had met with Zelenskyy and discussed "Ukraine's security and deepening defense and economic partnerships."

"President Trump wants a solution that ends the bloodshed once and for all," Rubio wrote.

Additionally, last week, Zelenskyy said that he spoke with Witkoff and Kushner ahead of the trilateral meetings in Geneva, which he said the Ukrainian government expects to be "truly productive."

"We also discussed some developments following the meetings in Abu Dhabi. Not everything can be shared over the phone, and our negotiating team will present Ukraine’s position next week. I also spoke about our meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We greatly appreciate that America consistently maintains a constructive approach and is ready to assist in protecting lives," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "I thank President Trump, his team, and the people of the United States for their support."

On Tuesday, which was the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy stood firm, saying that Putin had not defeated Ukraine nor broken the country's spirit. The statement came as Ukrainian forces made the biggest gains since 2024, according to the AP, which cited the Institute for the Study of War. The institute noted that Ukranian forces have pushed back on Russia's army at points along the front line in eastern areas of the country.

The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland has been hospitalized, just two weeks after he was charged with aggravated corruption following disclosures in files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Jagland, 75, was hospitalized "due to the strain arising in the wake of this case," attorney Anders Brosveet at Elden Law Firm told Bloomberg in a statement Monday.

Jagland, who also served as the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, is currently a focus of the high-profile Epstein probe.

Reports on the Epstein file disclosures suggest Jagland may have stayed at Epstein's properties in Paris, New York, and Palm Beach while leading the Council of Europe. Jagland has denied any criminal wrongdoing and maintains that he never visited Epstein's private island.

FORMER UK AMBASSADOR TO US ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE

The Council of Europe recently lifted Jagland's immunity for his 10-year tenure at the organization’s request, opening up the corruption charge investigation.

Norway's economic crime authority has already conducted searches of Jagland's private residences. Norwegian diplomats Terje Rød-Larsen and his wife, Mona Juul, are also under investigation by police, according to Bloomberg.

Jagland is one of several prominent global figures named in the recently disclosed documents. His legal team insists he is cooperating with authorities but argues there are no grounds for prosecution.

Jagland "takes this matter very seriously, but wishes to emphasize that he believes there are no circumstances that constitute criminal liability," Brosveet said in a Feb. 11 statement.

RO KHANNA'S STATE OF THE UNION GUEST RECRUITED OVER 20 UNDERAGE GIRLS FOR EPSTEIN: 'LIKE HEIDI FLEISS'

Jagland was the central figure behind the decision to award the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat. At the time, Jagland was the newly appointed chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and the choice was a controversial one at the time.

Jagland was the primary Nobel Prize advocate for Obama within the five-member committee. While some members were initially skeptical — given that Obama had been in office for less than nine months and the nomination deadline was just 12 days after his inauguration — Jagland reportedly used his influence to secure a unanimous vote.

He argued the prize should not just reward past deeds but should be used to "strengthen" a leader's ongoing efforts toward global diplomacy.

President Donald Trump rebuked Obama's Nobel Peace Prize from 2009 as he pitched his own candidacy for the prize last fall.

"He got it for doing nothing," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Oct. 9. "Obama got a prize — he didn't even know what [for] — he got elected, and they gave it to Obama for doing absolutely nothing but destroying our country."

Iran lashed out after President Donald Trump put the regime on notice in his State of the Union address, delivering a forceful warning about Tehran’s ambitions while world leaders largely stayed silent in the immediate aftermath of the speech.

Speaking amid the largest deployment of U.S. aircraft and warships to the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War buildup, Trump said he wanted to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy while accusing Tehran of expanding its missile capabilities.

"They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas," he said. "And they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America."

IRAN’S TOP DIPLOMAT SAYS NATION’S POWER LIES IN DEFYING PRESSURE: ‘NO TO THE GREAT POWERS’

"My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy," Trump added. "They want to make a deal. But we haven’t heard those secret words: we will never have a nuclear weapon."

"But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror… to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen."

Trump argued that previous U.S. action, including the "Operation Midnight Hammer" strike in June, had severely degraded Iran’s capabilities but warned the threat had not disappeared.

"We wiped it out and they want to start all over again and are at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions," he said.

TRUMP GIVES IRAN 10-DAY ULTIMATUM, BUT EXPERTS SIGNAL TALKS MAY BE BUYING TIME FOR STRIKE

Tehran sharply rejected Trump’s claims about its missile and nuclear programs. According to the Associated Press, Iranian officials characterized U.S. statements as propaganda while stopping short of closing the door on diplomacy ahead of the Geneva talks.

The Times of India reported that Iranian officials warned any U.S. military strike, even a "limited" one, would be treated as aggression and met with a decisive response.

The exchange underscored the widening gap between public rhetoric and ongoing diplomatic efforts as Washington and Tehran prepared for another round of nuclear talks in Geneva.

WITKOFF WARNS IRAN IS ‘A WEEK AWAY’ FROM 'BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL' AS TRUMP WEIGHS ACTION

Trump also linked his foreign policy agenda to broader regional security efforts, pointing to recent operations in the Western Hemisphere and the U.S. campaign against drug cartels.

"We’re also restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere, acting to secure our national interests and defend our country from violence, drugs, terrorism, and foreign interference," he said. "Large swaths of territory in our region, including large parts of Mexico… have been controlled by murderous drug cartels. That’s why I designated these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations… We’ve also taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins of all. You saw that yesterday," he said, referring to the operation that killed Mexican drug lord El Menco.

European coverage portrayed the speech as assertive and confrontational, with analysts watching closely for implications for NATO coordination, Ukraine policy and trade relations. Reporting emphasized Trump’s linkage between diplomacy and military readiness, as well as the administration’s broader posture toward alliances and deterrence.

VANCE WARNS IRAN THAT 'ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE' IF NUCLEAR DEAL NOT REACHED

"NATO countries… have just agreed, at my very strong request, to pay 5% of GDP for military defense rather than the 2%," Trump said during the address, presenting the move as evidence of shifting burden-sharing within the alliance.

Across global media, one theme emerged clearly: the address appeared primarily geared toward domestic political messaging while still carrying international signaling effects.

Trump repeatedly tied American military power to deterrence, telling lawmakers the United States would "never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must," while emphasizing a broader strategy of "peace through strength," according to Reuters coverage of the speech.

Foreign policy analysts cited in international reporting described the address as reinforcing a transactional approach to global security, with diplomacy presented as conditional and backed by force.

For Tehran, the message was unmistakable. Trump framed the nuclear issue as non-negotiable in outcome, as the next round of negotiations is set to start in Geneva on Thursday.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

MEXICO CITY: Firsthand accounts are emerging from Americans trapped by this week's cartel-related violence in Mexico following the death of cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho."

As news spread of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) cartel boss's murder, reports described armed clashes between rival criminal organizations and Mexican security forces, as well as coordinated vehicle burnings and temporary highway blockades. Mexican authorities say that such operations are often linked to internal cartel disputes or targeted law enforcement actions.

With the situation improving, Americans in the tourist area of Puerto Vallarta and beyond shared their experiences of the violent scenes they were caught up in.

CRUZ WARNED MEXICO OFFICIALS 'PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS GOING TO' ACT IF THEY DIDN'T FIGHT CARTELS

"My group was seven people, and we were on our way to the main port in Puerto Vallarta with a local shuttle driver when we saw a bus stopped horizontally across the road in front of us. At first, we thought it was an accident, but then we saw people running full speed away from the bus," Colorado resident Scott Posilkin told Fox News Digital.

"As we were trying to register what was happening, we saw a man with a gun come around the far side of the bus. He waved it at us and gave us a hand signal to turn around, which we immediately did. We tried to head in the opposite direction, but we encountered another burning car, which left us essentially trapped between the two."

He continued, "We went down to the only beach we could access. One of the locals advised us that the safest place for us would be out on the water. We took a tender boat out to the snorkeling boat we were supposed to be on and stayed there for a few hours. From the water, we could see what looked like much of the town burning."

Posilkin said, "Getting a boat back to shore took a long time, and at one point we even considered swimming because there was no one on the beach to come get us. The captain said he had never seen the beach empty like that in his life, and he grew up there. We eventually flagged down a passing tender that brought us to shore. There were cartel members on a motorcycle who yelled "Viva Mexico" at us, but we did not feel that they were threatening us in any way. Both our shuttle driver and the locals assured us that the cartel was not interested in harming Americans and that it was still safest for us to get home that way."

Posilkin gave credit to the locals for their help and support. "I want to emphasize how above and beyond the locals went to help us during an incredibly stressful situation. Everyone we interacted with — from our boat captain to our shuttle driver — had grown up here, and none of them had ever seen anything like this before… More than anything, I feel bad for the locals. Tourism is their livelihood, and I worry about the impact this will have on them. This experience hasn’t changed my love for travel or for Mexico, though it was a serious ordeal."

TROOPS REINFORCE PUERTO VALLARTA AS UNREST SHOWS SIGNS OF EASING FOLLOWING EL MENCHO’S DEATH

Rodolfo Flores, an American citizen and executive in the energy sector talked to Fox News Digital: "Although it wasn't one of the worst-affected areas, on Sunday I saw a convenience store in Querétaro that had been burned down with a Molotov bomb."

He said, "On the way to Mexico City, we saw cars and trucks that had been set on fire. This is just one example of how vulnerable we are, and it's astonishing how these criminal organizations can terrorize the population. The authorities are to blame for allowing them to grow and expand with highly effective criminal cells."

Security analysts note that cartel violence often intensifies following high-profile arrests, internal leadership disputes, or shifts in territorial control. Public displays of force — such as coordinated blockades or attacks on infrastructure — can serve as demonstrations of operational capacity.

Another American, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, told Fox News Digital, "I left Coalcoman Michoacan on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. when the chaos began. As I left town, I saw them burning cars and trucks, pulling people out of their vehicles, and setting them on fire. Luckily, I managed to escape and cross the mountains; it's a mountainous region. All along the way, I kept seeing burning cars and armed people. I was fortunate that they didn't stop me," he said.

"I made it all the way to Colima and then to Guadalajara. Later, things got worse in my town. I heard they started burning gas stations and set fire to a supermarket. They closed off the town so people couldn't get in or out."

On Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. embassy in Mexico posted an update stating that "U.S. citizens are no longer urged to shelter in place." 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has handed his teenage daughter a leadership role in the regime’s powerful "Missile Administration," the body that oversees Pyongyang’s nuclear forces, South Korean media reported Monday.

The girl, Ju Ae, who is believed to be 13 or 14 years old, was assessed by South Korean intelligence received on Sunday to be acting as a "missile general director" while authorities monitor developments at the ongoing Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, the reports said.

The Chosun Daily, citing high-level government sources familiar with the matter, said intelligence agencies obtained reports that Kim’s daughter has been elevated to the position.

While Jang Chang-ha is officially listed as director of the administration, intelligence suggested Kim’s daughter is receiving briefings from generals and issuing directives.

TRUMP SAYS HE'S 'OPEN' TO MEETING WITH KIM JONG UN DURING ASIA TRIP, NORTH KOREA IS 'SORT OF A NUCLEAR POWER'

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service recently told lawmakers that her public profile signals she is also in the "stage of being designated as a successor," adding that circumstances have been seen where she provides opinions on policy, The Associated Press reported.

The teen has appeared alongside her father at high-profile military events, including intercontinental ballistic missile launches and weapons inspections.

North Korean state media first confirmed her existence in November 2022, and described her only as a "beloved child" when she accompanied Kim at the launch of the Hwasong-17 ICBM. 

Her name has never been officially disclosed by Pyongyang.

NORTH KOREA TEST-LAUNCHES HYPERSONIC MISSILE SYSTEM IN FRONT OF KIM, NATION SAYS

Her reported role comes as Kim continues to showcase advances in the country’s weapons programs.

On Feb. 18, Kim was photographed taking the wheel of a nuclear-capable 600mm multiple rocket launcher in Pyongyang, touting it as among the most powerful of its kind.

State media showed rows of launch vehicles and said the rockets, which Kim claimed rival short-range ballistic missiles and use artificial intelligence in their guidance systems, have "completely changed" modern artillery warfare, Reuters reported.

As previously reported by Fox News Digital, Kim was re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea on Feb.22, a decision announced by state-run media following the party’s Ninth Congress.

North Korea has suspended all meaningful diplomacy with the United States and South Korea since the collapse of a 2019 summit between Kim and President Donald Trump.

This came over disagreements about sanctions relief in exchange for steps to wind down Kim’s nuclear and missile program.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., on Tuesday urged spring breakers with plans to visit Mexico to cancel their trips due to violent clashes in the country triggered by the Mexican army's killing of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," earlier this week.

Mullin made the comments during an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," in which he said his chiropractor was still planning to visit a popular tourist destination in Mexico.

"Anybody that’s planning on going to Mexico for spring break … I mean, my chiropractor called me yesterday and said he’s still planning on going to Cancún, I said, 'Are you crazy?'" Mullin said.

"No one should be going down there right now, it is very volatile and the United States is laser-focused on watching what’s taking place," he continued.

WHO IS EL MENCHO? INSIDE THE RISE OF CJNG’S FALLEN KINGPIN AND THE CARTEL HE BUILT

The senator's comments come after Mexican troops conducted operations on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting El Mencho, a former police officer who became the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, which U.S. authorities have identified as a major supplier of fentanyl to the United States.

El Mencho carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and rose to power following the arrest of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Over roughly the past 15 years, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación has expanded from a regional criminal group into a global trafficking organization operating from its stronghold in Jalisco.

The Mexican Defense Department said the operation was conducted as part of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the U.S., and that U.S. authorities provided complementary intelligence that contributed to El Mencho's killing.

After El Mencho's death, cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in several Mexican states. Violent clashes were also reported in parts of western Mexico.

Mexican authorities later said that the security situation had been "stabilized."

"The security situation has now stabilized following targeted operations in Jalisco," the Mexican Embassy in the U.S. said on Tuesday.

"Federal and State authorities are proceeding to reopen transit corridors and restore public services smoothly," the embassy continued. "Airline operations are normal, and international carriers are resuming flights today. Puerto Vallarta International Airport has reopened to domestic traffic."

The embassy added: "If traveling through Jalisco, some local security measures remain in place, while authorities are restoring airport operations to full capacity. We are working with international partners to ensure safety and stability at all transit hubs and tourist destinations."

But the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico remains in effect. The U.S. government earlier issued a shelter-in-place order for Americans in Mexico, but that order has since been lifted.

STATE DEPT SLAMMED WITH HUNDREDS OF CALLS FROM AMERICANS TRAPPED IN MEXICO

The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación is considered the most powerful cartel in Mexico with an estimated 19,000 members and operations across 21 of the country's 32 states.

The Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

Mullin said on Tuesday that cartels splitting after Mexico's operation is a "great opportunity for us, and Mexico, to take them all out."

"Now, are we going to eliminate all the drug trafficking in the world? Absolutely not. But can we get a handle on it again? Absolutely," he added.

A tanker allegedly carrying Russian fuel en route to Cuba is using deceptive "dark fleet" tactics, including signal manipulation and offshore ship-to-ship transfers, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.

According to MarineTraffic, the vessel, called Sea Horse, was located Tuesday on the U.S. East Coast with its signal, noted as "roaming." 

The move comes as the U.S. pressured Cuba’s fuel supplies, disrupting deliveries and targeting third-party countries that provide oil, following new sanctions and the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

On Jan. 29, President Donald Trump also signed an executive order declaring a national emergency with respect to Cuba and authorizing tariffs on imports from countries that sell or supply oil there.

Windward reported that the Russian oil tanker initially broadcast Havana as its destination on Feb. 7, and was "Hong Kong-flagged" before quietly changing tack. Windward said the tanker had an expected arrival in Cuba in early March.

US FORCES INTERDICT ANOTHER FUGITIVE TANKER SHIP IN INDIAN OCEAN

The vessel altered its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal to show it would arrive in the "Caribbean Sea" within two weeks — a vague designation the firm said is often used to hide a ship’s final port of call.

The destination was later switched again to Gibraltar for orders, even after the tanker had already transited the strait, a move Windward described as inconsistent with standard commercial routing.

Windward’s analysis also suggests the vessel loaded its cargo through a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer conducted offshore near Cyprus.

RUSSIAN OIL TANKER ‘THE GRINCH’ INTERCEPTED AS US, ALLIES ESCALATE SANCTIONS CRACKDOWN

During the loading process, the tanker’s AIS signal was temporarily switched off — "a tactic of deceptive maritime operations designed to avoid regulatory scrutiny," Windward said.

Windward data also shows the vessel’s draft increased on Feb. 8, several days after leaving an area used for floating storage and transshipment of Russian middle distillate cargoes originating from Black Sea ports.

The tanker had loitered in that zone for roughly two weeks before departing, Windward said.

"Ship-to-ship transfers outside territorial waters, where port-state oversight is limited, have become a common practice in oil trade to circumvent sanctions and regulatory scrutiny," Windward noted.

'IRREGULAR' ARMED GUARDS ABOARD RUSSIAN SHADOW TANKERS ALARM NORDIC-BALTIC GOVERNMENTS

The company added that AIS manipulation, offshore transfers and ambiguous destination reporting are now standard features of shadow-fleet activity sustaining Russian oil exports despite any U.S. sanctions.

Cuba is also facing an energy crisis that has worsened in recent weeks after oil shipments from Venezuela, its primary supplier, were halted following U.S. action in early January.

Mexico, another major supplier, also suspended oil shipments, according to The Associated Press.

The Mexican government said the security situation in the western state of Jalisco has "stabilized" after an explosion of cartel-linked violence following the death of kingpin Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho."

The Embassy of Mexico in the United States said federal and state authorities were working to normalize conditions after the unrest, reopening transit corridors and restoring public services following targeted operations.

The update comes as the State Department's travel advisory for Mexico remains in effect at a heightened level of caution, while flight cancellations and transportation disruptions stranded some travelers in popular destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Hundreds of Americans remain stranded in Mexico following the violence.

"The security situation has now stabilized following targeted operations in Jalisco," the embassy said in a post on X. "Federal and state authorities are proceeding to reopen transit corridors and restore public services smoothly."

NARCOTICS EXPERT REVEALS SLAIN DRUG KINGPIN EL MENCHO'S DEADLY IMPACT ON AMERICANS

The embassy said airline operations were returning to normal and that international carriers were resuming flights. Puerto Vallarta International Airport has reopened to domestic traffic, according to the statement.

"If traveling through Jalisco, some local security measures remain in place, while authorities are restoring airport operations to full capacity," the embassy added.

Officials said they were coordinating with international partners "to ensure safety and stability at all transit hubs and tourist destinations."

DEATH TOLL RISES AFTER MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL LEADER KILLED IN US-BACKED OPERATION

The statement described the operation as part of "a broader national effort that has produced a sustained decrease in violence across Mexico in recent months."

According to the State Department’s official website, Mexico is currently under a Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" travel advisory due to risks including crime and kidnapping. The advisory notes that violent crime and organized criminal activity remain concerns for U.S. citizens traveling in the country.

Watch: Leavitt warns Mexican drug cartels, tells them not to lay a finger on Americans

Certain Mexican states carry higher risk levels, with some areas classified as Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" or Level 4 "Do Not Travel," depending on local conditions. Jalisco — where the recent violence occurred — has previously been listed among states with elevated advisory levels, though the State Department notes that risk can vary by region.

The advisory urges U.S. citizens to take precautions similar to those required of U.S. government employees, including avoiding intercity travel at night, using regulated transportation services and remaining aware that emergency services may be limited in some areas.

The State Department said it had received hundreds of calls on its 24/7 crisis hotline as Americans sought assistance following the violence.

Mexican authorities said Oseguera Cervantes was killed Sunday during an operation aided by U.S. intelligence. 

The cartel responded by setting vehicles on fire and erecting roadblocks throughout Guadalajara, the state capital. The city’s international airport operated at limited capacity as violence gripped the area.

The U.S. State Department had previously offered up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction, describing him as "one of the most wanted fugitives in Mexico."

The CIA on Tuesday published a Persian-language video on its X account calling on Iranian dissidents to make secure contact with the agency amid renewed anti-government protests inside the country.

The post came as CIA Director John Ratcliffe joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a classified "Gang of Eight" briefing on Iran on Capitol Hill, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital.

Written in Farsi, the CIA message says the agency "can hear your voice and wants to help you," and provides operational guidance for those considering reaching out.

The agency urges activists not to use office computers or personal phone lines and instead, if possible, to rely on a disposable "burner" device. It advises ensuring no one can view their screen or monitor their activity.

The video walks viewers through digital security precautions designed to protect their identities. 

IRAN TO HOLD LIVE-FIRE DRILLS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ WITH US ARMADA IN MIDDLE EAST

It recommends using updated browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox in Private Browsing or Incognito mode and clearing device and browser histories after making contact.

The video says the CIA also strongly encourages the use of encryption and anonymity tools such as Tor or a VPN, warning that without such protections, visiting the CIA website could be visible to Iranian security services.

The agency provides instructions for accessing its secure contact portal through Tor and other anti-filtering services.

TED CRUZ URGES US TO ARM IRANIAN PROTESTERS AS MILITIAS THREATEN ‘TOTAL WAR’ AGAINST AMERICA

The post comes as Iran entered its fourth day of escalating university protests and as U.S. negotiators are set to meet Iranian counterparts in Geneva Thursday for a second round of talks.

Tehran announced it would be building on "understandings forged in the previous round" and expressed determination to reach a "fair and equitable deal" swiftly.

In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran reiterated that it would "under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon," while insisting it would not relinquish its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Calling the moment a "historic opportunity," Tehran said a deal was within reach if diplomacy is prioritized, while affirming it would defend its sovereignty "with courage" at home and at the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported Tuesday that the Revolutionary Guard conducted military drills involving missile launches, drone flights and live-fire exercises along the country’s coast, according to Ynet.

Fox News Digital reached out to the CIA for comment, who had nothing further to add.

Mexico’s Navy and armed forces have reinforced security across Jalisco following the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," in an operation that triggered retaliatory violence and raised concerns for the safety of the many American and foreign tourists who are staying in the area.

In a Feb. 24 press release, Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy said 103 Marines and tactical vehicles arrived in the main tourist area of Puerto Vallarta aboard the naval vessel ARM "Usumacinta" (A-412) to reinforce surveillance and security operations after attacks targeting businesses and property in several neighborhoods. 

Naval authorities said additional personnel supported by boats, aircraft and ground vehicles were deployed to conduct maritime, aerial and land patrols to help restore order.

KINGPINS FALL, PRICES DON’T: HOW CARTELS DEFY THE RULES OF ECONOMICS

The naval reinforcement came as federal authorities sent roughly 2,000 additional soldiers to Jalisco following the cartel leader’s death, Reuters reported.

The operation targeting El Mencho, long considered one of Mexico’s most powerful drug traffickers and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, sparked immediate retaliation from cartel members, including roadblocks, vehicle burnings and clashes across multiple states, AP reported.

Mexican officials have framed the killing as a major blow to organized crime. But analysts caution that removing a cartel leader does not necessarily translate into lasting stability.

David Mora, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, stated that "federal authorities announced that they are reinforcing troop deployments to contain the cartel’s backlash, which may be protracted."

SOCCER MATCHES POSTPONED AFTER MEXICO KILLS CARTEL LEADER ‘EL MENCHO’ NEAR WORLD CUP HOST

Mora added that "El Mencho left no clear heir, and the remaining leaders could dispute control," and warned that the cartel’s ongoing turf wars with smaller groups, especially in Guanajuato and Michoacán, could intensify as rivals seek advantage.

While the killing delivered President Claudia Sheinbaum "a win with Washington," Mora said, "it is far from clear the killing will aid the president’s ultimate goal of pacifying Mexico."

Duncan Wood, a visiting fellow for North America at the Wilson Center, described the operation as a demonstration of state authority but warned the aftermath may hinge on the cartel’s structure.

TRUMP’S ‘TOTAL ELIMINATION’ STRATEGY PAVED WAY FOR FALL OF CARTEL KINGPIN ‘EL MENCHO’

"The removal of El Mencho represents a meaningful assertion of Mexican state authority against one of the country’s most violent criminal organizations. The chaos that followed was real, but temporary," Wood said.

"In the medium term, the focus shifts to the resilience of the CJNG’s decentralized cells and the Mexican government's capacity to sustain a comprehensive security strategy."

In a statement posted Feb. 24 on X, the Embassy of Mexico in the United States said transit corridors were reopening and public services were being restored, airline operations were returning to normal and Puerto Vallarta International Airport had reopened to domestic traffic.

The embassy said some local security measures remain in place and that authorities are working with international partners to ensure safety at transit hubs and tourist destinations.

Whether the surge of troops and naval forces will prevent a broader escalation remains uncertain as authorities brace for potential power struggles within the cartel and continued clashes with rival groups.

Armando Regil Velasco and Reuters contributed to this report

A new report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) raises concerns about Iran's opaque chemical weapons program, which argues policymakers have paid little attention to compared with Iran's more scrutinized nuclear weapons program. 

The FDD report outlines how the Iranian regime may have resorted to the unconventional use of chemical weapons while it faced an unprecedented uprising beginning in December 2025, a wave of unrest Tehran has not seen since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Any use of chemical weapons by Iran would be in defiance of their obligations under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.

"The United States, its allies and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) should investigate credible claims that Iran’s regime used chemical weapons against its own people," Andrea Stricker, deputy director of FDD's nonproliferation program and author of the report, told Fox News Digital.

IRAN NEARS CHINA ANTI-SHIP SUPERSONIC MISSILE DEAL AS US CARRIERS MASS IN REGION: REPORT

Iran’s illicit chemical weapons program is under renewed scrutiny as the Trump administration appears closer to taking military action against Iran and its nuclear weapons program.

While the U.S. has been engaged in indirect talks with Iranian officials mediated by Oman in Geneva, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf, sending the USS Gerald R. Ford to join dozens of other warships to the region.

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on X that "Iran will resume talks with the U.S. in Geneva with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal—in the shortest possible time."

The foreign minister claimed that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons under any circumstances but emphasized that Iran will not forgo its right to harness peaceful nuclear technology.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY WARN IRAN'S BALLISTIC MISSILES COULD TRIGGER SOLO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TEHRAN

"A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority," he added.

Despite the optimism and push for continued talks, there remain fears that Iran will not make any meaningful concessions on their nuclear program, which could lead to U.S. military strikes on the nation.

A broader regime change campaign to topple the Islamic republic’s government, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is also not off the table, according to some reports.

"If Washington launches strikes against Iran, it should give serious consideration to targeting the regime’s chemical weapons research and production facilities. Such action would help halt further development and potential use of these weapons while sending a clear message that the regime cannot commit atrocities with impunity," Stricker said.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which Iran is party to, upholds the norms against state-held chemical weapons, specifically, banning states’ development, stockpiling, production and use of chemical weapons, even for retaliatory reasons, as well as their receipt from or transfer to anyone.

US ASSETS IN MIDDLE EAST POSITIONED FOR ‘HIGHLY KINETIC’ WAR, EX-PENTAGON OFFICIAL WARNS

Israel’s deputy ambassador to the Netherlands, Yaron Wax, said in July 2025 before a special meeting of the OPCW that "over the past two decades Iran has been developing a chemical weapons program based on weaponized pharmaceutical agents."

These agents, Wax said, impact the central nervous system and can be fatal even in small doses. 

The ambassador said at the Shahid Meisami Research Complex, destroyed by Israel in June 2025, Iran’s Shahid Meisami Group (SMG) was working on fentanyl opioid-derived tactical munitions for military use. Israel believes the pharmaceutical-based agents were transferred to Syria’s longtime and now deposed dictator, Bashar al-Assad, and Iraqi Shia militias as well.

Iran began developing its chemical weapons program in 1983 during its war with Iraq in response to chemical attacks from the regime of Saddam Hussein, according to the U.S. Intelligence Community.

As recently as 2024, the U.S. has repeatedly found Iran in noncompliance with its obligations under the CWC.

In a post on X in November 2024, the Iranian mission to the United Nations pushed back on the charges against it. "A victim of Western-donated chemical weapons employed by the Saddam regime, Iran stands as a responsible member of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Over the past several decades, not a single instance of Iranian violation has been recorded. The current unfounded reports are merely an outgrowth of psychological warfare propagated by the Zionist regime in the wake of its recent defeat on the Lebanese front."

TRUMP WARNS IRAN, DELAYS STRIKES AS RED LINE DEBATE ECHOES OBAMA’S SYRIA MOMENT

Stricker says the U.S. and international community have failed to hold Iran accountable for its illegal chemical weapons program, and meaningful action must be taken to prevent Iran from transporting banned substances to Iran’s nefarious proxy actors in the Middle East.

The report notes that the U.S. and OPCW should launch a pressure campaign against Iran, calling out the regime and publicizing any violations. The Trump administration, the report recommends, should demand a formal ultimatum to demonstrate compliance with the convention and accept monitoring and verification mechanisms.

FDD also suggests Israel should ratify the CWC and work within the OPCW, which would give Israel more credibility in combating Iranian violations.

The report says that, as a last resort, the U.S. should consider launching strikes targeting regime chemical weapons facilities, or support Israeli efforts, if actionable intelligence indicates movement on Iran’s chemical weapons efforts or a renewed push by the regime to use such illegal weapons to crack down on anti-government protests.

"The only solution to Iran’s persistent WMD threat is for the United States and Israel to undermine the regime’s grip on power. Until then, the two nations will periodically be forced to play whack-a-mole with Tehran’s capabilities whenever they endanger regional peace," Stricker said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin after 17 men who the government said were "lured" to Russian front lines in its war against Ukraine began returning home.

In a statement Tuesday, Ramaphosa’s office said the South African government, working closely with Russian authorities, secured the repatriation of the men after receiving distress calls requesting assistance. 

The group, ranging in age from 20 to 39, was allegedly recruited into "mercenary activities."

The circumstances surrounding their recruitment remain under investigation.

US SPECIAL ENVOY WITKOFF ANNOUNCES US, UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN DELEGATIONS AGREED TO PRISONER SWAP

Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to Putin for responding positively to his request for help during a Feb. 10 phone call between the two leaders.

Four of the men have already returned to South Africa, while 11 are expected to arrive soon. 

Two remain in Russia — one receiving treatment at a hospital in Moscow and another being processed before finalizing travel arrangements.

KENYA DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM RUSSIA OVER RECRUITMENT OF CITIZENS TO FIGHT IN UKRAINE WAR

South Africa’s embassy in Moscow is continuing to monitor the hospitalized individual until he is cleared to travel, according to Ramaphosa's office.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said in November that Kyiv estimates at least 1,436 foreign nationals from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia, warning the true number may be higher.

AMERICANS WARNED OF AL QAEDA-LINKED TERRORIST PRESENCE IN POPULAR VACATION GETAWAY

Sybiha said Russia uses a range of tactics to recruit foreigners, including financial incentives, deception and coercion.

"Signing a contract is equivalent to signing a death sentence," he wrote on X. "Foreign citizens in the Russian army have a sad fate. Most of them are immediately sent to the so-called ‘meat assaults,’ where they are quickly killed."

The director of the Louvre Museum in Paris has stepped down, months after thieves stole $102 million in crown jewels in a lightning-fast weekend robbery.

Laurence des Cars presented French President Emmanuel Macron with her resignation, which Macron accepted, according to a statement from the presidential office.

It said Macron praised her decision as "an act of responsibility at a time when the world’s largest museum needs calm and a strong new impetus to carry out major projects involving security upgrades, modernization" and other projects.

Macron thanked des Cars for "her work and commitment," and said he wanted to give her a new mission focused on cooperation among major museums, the statement said, without saying if she had accepted.

FOUR MORE ARRESTED IN LOUVRE JEWEL HEIST, AUTHORITIES SAY

Des Cars has remained under fire in the wake of the heist, which many critics have labeled a stunning embarrassment.

Thieves took less than eight minutes in October to steal priceless crown jewels at the world’s most visited museum in broad daylight.

WORLD'S MOS FAMOUS MUSEUM SLAMS DOORS TO VISITORS AS EMPLOYEE REVOLT CONTINUES

The thieves left behind Eugénie’s emerald-encrusted crown, which is set with over 1,300 diamonds, along their escape route outside the museum. The crown was damaged but deemed recoverable.

Authorities have arrested several suspects in that case, but the seven other priceless treasures, including Eugenie’s diamond-studded tiara, necklaces, earrings and brooches, remain missing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Iran's deputy foreign minister insisted Tuesday that his country will do "whatever it takes" to reach a deal with the U.S. over its nuclear program. 

The vow from Majid Takht-Ravanchi comes as U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to meet with an Iranian delegation in Geneva on Thursday, according to Reuters. 

"We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible. We will do whatever it takes to make this happen. We will enter the negotiating room in Geneva with complete honesty and good faith," Takht-Ravanchi reportedly said. 

"If there is an attack or aggression against Iran, we will respond according to our defense plans... A U.S. attack on Iran is a real gamble," he reportedly added. 

LEAVITT SAYS TRUMP CHOOSES DIPLOMACY FIRST FOR IRAN, BUT REMAINS ‘WILLING TO USE’ LETHAL FORCE IF NECESSARY

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday morning that President Donald Trump’s first option for Iran is "always diplomacy," but that he is "willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary." 

Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday that "it will be a very bad day" for Iran if the country can’t strike a deal over its nuclear program. 

WITKOFF WARNS IRAN IS ‘A WEEK AWAY’ FROM ‘BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS ACTION

In a series of posts on X, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that, "Pillared on the understandings forged in the previous round, Iran will resume talks with the U.S. in Geneva with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal — in the shortest possible time." 

"Our fundamental convictions are crystal clear: Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon; neither will we Iranians ever forgo our right to harness the dividends of peaceful nuclear technology for our people," Araghchi added. 

"We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests. A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority," he also said. "We have proven that we will stop at nothing to guard our sovereignty with courage. We bring the same courage to the negotiating table, where we will pursue a peaceful resolution to any differences." 

An unidentified assailant detonated an explosive device next to a patrol vehicle in Moscow on Tuesday, killing himself and a police officer in an apparent suicide bombing, according to The Associated Press. 

The outlet noted that, according to officials, the explosion also left two other officers injured.

The attack happened just after midnight on Tuesday near the Savyolovsky railway station in downtown Moscow, according to the AP, which cited Moscow’s branch of the Interior Ministry. 

The AP also reported that Russia's top investigative agency said the assailant was a 22-year-old man from Russia’s Udmurt Republic and that there was an ongoing probe regarding the motive behind the attack.

RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE ENTERS FIFTH YEAR AS EXPERTS OUTLINE 3 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

The attacker reportedly approached traffic police officers who were sitting in a patrol vehicle, The Moscow Times reported. The outlet noted, citing Russian state media agency TASS, that the targeted patrol car was heavily damaged but did not catch fire as a result of the attack.

PUTIN PUTS ‘NUCLEAR TRIAD’ ON FAST TRACK, ZELENSKYY CLAIMS ‘WORLD WAR 3’ UNDERWAY

Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly said at a meeting with top officials from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) that the young man was recruited online and was unknowingly given an explosive device that was then detonated remotely, according to the AP.

The attack came just as Russia marked the fourth anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine. While the Trump administration has worked to broker a peace deal between the two sides, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have yet to reach an agreement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The U.K. Parliament is set to deliberate calls for the release of confidential files regarding former Prince Andrew following the arrest of the Jeffrey Epstein-tied disgraced royal. The files in question are related to former Prince Andrew's appointment as Britain's special envoy for international trade in 2001.

Deliberating the release of the documents is outside the norm for the House of Commons, where the rules have historically prohibited members from criticizing the royal family, according to The Associated Press. However, the AP noted that Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats and the lawmaker who introduced the motion, is looking to change the rules.

"One thing the Liberal Democrats stand for is to hold the powerful to account," Davey told the BBC, according to the AP. "And I think we’ve seen too often in the past that people, because of their title or their friend or whatever, have not been properly held to account."

EX-PRINCE ANDREW RELEASED FROM POLICE CUSTODY HOURS AFTER ARREST

Parliament's deliberation comes after the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) released millions of files related to the Epstein case, some of which included the former prince. The AP reported that the U.K. has seen significant fallout from the release of the Epstein files, as the scandal raises questions about the aristocracy, senior politicians and influential businessmen.

The former prince, who is the younger brother of King Charles III, was stripped of his princely title last year due to his relationship with Epstein. Since then, the former prince has gone by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Previously, in 2019, Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on the day of his arrest, was forced by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to give up his royal duties and end his charity work after he tried to explain his ties to Epstein in a BBC interview.

FORMER PRINCE ANDREW ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE: A LOOK BACK AT HIS LIFE IN PHOTOS

The British government is already mulling the idea of removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Despite losing his princely title in October, Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne. Removing him from the line would require new legislation. 

The last time a royal was removed from the line of succession was after the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936. The law was changed to remove him and any descendants from the list.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct while in public office amid allegations that he shared confidential files with Epstein while serving as Britain's special envoy for international trade. Thames Valley Police, which covers areas west of London, said at the time that Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested after a "thorough assessment," with an investigation now opened.

"Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office," Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright noted. "It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offense. We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time."

The king expressed his "deepest concern" about the news of his brother's arrest and said "the law must take its course." King Charles said authorities have Buckingham Palace's "full and wholehearted support and co-operation."

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg, Stephanie Nolasco and Lori A. Bashian and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Iran is nearing a deal with China to acquire supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, a move that could significantly raise the stakes in the Middle East as U.S. carrier strike groups assemble within striking distance of the Islamic Republic.

Reuters reported Tuesday that Tehran is close to finalizing an agreement for Chinese-made CM-302 missiles, citing six people with knowledge of the negotiations.

The supersonic weapons, which can travel roughly 180 miles and fly low to evade ship defenses, would enhance Iran’s ability to target U.S. naval forces operating in the region.

The deal is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. It is unclear how many missiles are involved, how much Iran has agreed to pay, or whether China will ultimately proceed given heightened regional tensions.

IRAN LAUNCHES WAR DRILLS IN HORMUZ STRAIT AS US CARRIER IS FLYING MISSIONS 24/7 BEFORE GENEVA TALKS

Reuters reported that negotiations accelerated after last year’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which left Tehran’s military infrastructure strained and heightened regional tensions.

The reported deal comes as President Donald Trump warns Tehran of consequences if it fails to curb its nuclear program, while the Pentagon has deployed multiple carrier strike groups to the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford. The buildup marks one of the largest U.S. naval deployments in the region in recent years.

Trump said on Feb. 19 he was giving Iran 10 days to reach an agreement over its nuclear program or face potential military action.

WITKOFF WARNS IRAN IS ‘A WEEK AWAY’ FROM 'BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL' AS TRUMP WEIGHS ACTION

A White House official told Fox News Digital that the president remains firm that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons or enrich uranium.

"The President would like to see a deal negotiated, but he has been clear that ‘either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,’" the official said when asked for comment on the reported approaching Iran-China deal.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week appeared to threaten U.S. warships directly.

"More dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea," Khamenei wrote on Feb. 17 on X.

Military analysts say a Chinese transfer of supersonic anti-ship missiles could complicate U.S. naval operations in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

"It’s a complete game-changer if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area," Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told Reuters. "These missiles are very difficult to intercept."

IRAN ANNOUNCES TEST OF NEW NAVAL AIR DEFENSE MISSILE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS US MILITARY BUILDUP CONTINUES

Still, U.S. forces maintain layered defenses against Iranian threats, including Patriot missile batteries, Navy destroyers equipped with Standard Missile interceptors and F-35 stealth fighters, Fox News Digital reported.

Last year, Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles using SM-3 interceptors, while Marine Corps F-35Cs operating from the USS Abraham Lincoln shot down Iranian drones that approached U.S. assets, according to U.S. Central Command.

Iran has also relied on swarming fast boats, ballistic missiles and drones in past confrontations with U.S. forces.

The White House did not directly address the reported missile negotiations when asked by Reuters. China’s foreign ministry told the outlet it was not aware of the talks.

The potential transfer would mark one of the most advanced Chinese weapons systems supplied to Iran in decades and could test U.S. sanctions authorities if finalized.

As U.S. forces fan out across the region, defense officials have stressed that the buildup is designed to deter Iranian aggression — but warned they are prepared for combat if diplomacy fails.

Reuters contributed to this report.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s first option for Iran is "always diplomacy," but that he is "willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary." 

The remarks come after Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday that "it will be a very bad day" for Iran if the country can’t strike a deal over its nuclear program. 

"President Trump's first option is always diplomacy. But as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary. So the president is always the final decision-maker around here," Leavitt said Tuesday. 

"And I've seen a lot of sensationalist reporting over the past day that is just completely untrue. And anyone speculating to the media hiding behind an anonymous source, pretending to know what President Trump is thinking, or a decision he will make with respect to action against Iran has no idea what they're talking about," she added. 

IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS SPARK LARGEST US MILITARY BUILDUP IN MIDDLE EAST SINCE IRAQ WAR

The president told reporters last week that he is "considering" a limited military strike on Iran to pressure its leaders into reaching a deal over its nuclear program. 

US ASSETS IN MIDDLE EAST POSITIONED FOR ‘HIGHLY KINETIC’ WAR, FORMER PENTAGON OFFICIAL SAYS

The U.S. has recently been increasing its military assets in the Middle East, sending the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group toward the region. 

The USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers already are in the area. 

"Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so. I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. 

American forces operating in the Indian Ocean intercepted another fugitive tanker ship, the Department of War announced Tuesday. 

The development comes after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela in mid-December, as Washington increased its naval presence in the Caribbean to put pressure on now-former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. 

The ship involved in Tuesday’s interdiction — the Bertha — was flagged by The New York Times as leaving Venezuela’s main oil port in early January following the U.S. military operation to capture Maduro. 

"Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Bertha without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility," the Department of War said on X. "The vessel was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade." 

US FORCES BOARD SANCTIONED OIL TANKER AFTER VESSEL TRIED TO EVADE TRUMP QUARANTINE

"From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it. No other nation has the global reach, endurance, or will to enforce sanctions at this distance," it added. 

The Department of War said three boats that tried to flee the scene were captured. 

"International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned actors. By land, air, or sea, our forces will find you and deliver justice," it also said. "The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain."

US KILLS 3 SUSPECTED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS IN CARIBBEAN, PENTAGON SAYS

U.S. forces previously intercepted the Veronica III oil tanker on Feb. 15 in the Indo-Pacific. 

According to OpenSanctions, the Veronica III is listed on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals sanctions list.

That tanker, a large crude oil carrier built in 2006 and flagged in Panama, has been linked to the transport of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of sanctioned Iranian oil and is affiliated with a Chinese ship-management company that has also been sanctioned. 

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report. 

Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war is grinding into a fifth year with no clear end in sight, despite renewed diplomatic efforts and a fresh push for a negotiated settlement.

Peace talks have accelerated since President Donald Trump returned to office, reviving direct and indirect channels between Moscow and Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that the United States is pushing for a peace agreement by June, with the Trump administration expected to apply pressure on both sides as U.S.-mediated talks continue following temporary pauses in energy infrastructure strikes and a series of recent prisoner exchanges.

But despite those steps, fighting has not slowed.

UKRAINE RACES TO BOLSTER AIR DEFENSES AS PUTIN’S STRIKE PAUSE NEARS END

On the battlefield, Russian forces continue incremental, costly advances in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the contested Donetsk region. 

The pace is far removed from the rapid territorial gains seen in the war’s early weeks, with progress now measured in foot-by-foot advances, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a non-partisan, public policy research organization that tracks the front lines.

At the same time, Ukraine has mounted counteroffensive operations on a tactical scale in the northeastern Kupyansk direction, reclaiming territory even as the Kremlin continues to portray steady forward momentum.

RUSSIA LOSING 'MASSIVE' 25,000 TROOPS MONTHLY IN UKRAINE AS WAR GRINDS ON, NATO CHIEF SAYS

Christina Harward, Russia deputy team lead at the ISW, said in an interview with Fox News Digital that Moscow's public posture suggests little willingness to compromise, as officials continue to reiterate the same core demands outlined before the war began.

"What the Kremlin has been doing really consistently is delaying, stalling, and blaming anyone but Russia for this delaying and this stalling. We see them trying to dangle different carrots and also using sticks in order to try to influence President Trump and his administration to give in to the Russian demands," she said.

Harward noted that Russia continues to press for control over the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of Donetsk, including the heavily fortified "fortress belt" cities that Kyiv has been building up since 2014.

Preparations for a potential spring or summer offensive, she explained, suggest Moscow is positioning for a prolonged war rather than moving toward an imminent peace.

TRUMP MEETS WITH ZELENSKYY; TALKS COULD UNLOCK FIRST ZELENSKYY-PUTIN CALL IN FIVE YEARS: SOURCE

Beyond territorial disputes, negotiations remain entangled in broader security questions. Russia has rejected the prospect of Western security guarantees for postwar Ukraine and warned that foreign troops would be considered legitimate targets.

Kyiv and its European partners, meanwhile, contend that without meaningful guarantees, any ceasefire could simply provide Russia time to regroup and rearm.

Ret. Army Maj. Gen. Matt Smith told Fox News Digital he does not believe the latest round of diplomacy has brought the sides meaningfully closer to a deal, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin faces intense internal pressure that limits his ability to compromise.

TRUMP, ZELENSKYY SAY UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSE BUT 'THORNY ISSUES' REMAIN AFTER FLORIDA TALKS

"The stakes are potentially much higher for him personally, in terms of life and limb in the most dramatic sense, but also in terms of his internal political power," Smith said. "If he's to compromise in any way, he has nothing to show for an extraordinary expense in lives, time, economics. You know, he's paid a tremendous price."

Russian forces have suffered approximately 1.2 million casualties (as many as 325,000 killed, with the rest being injured or missing) since February 2022, according to a January analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The report estimates that combined Russian and Ukrainian casualties could reach nearly 2 million by the spring of 2026 if current rates persist.

CSIS found that Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 15 and 70 meters per day, roughly 16 to 77 yards, in their most prominent offensives, slower than almost any major offensive campaign in any war in the last century.

Gen. Smith likened the situation to the final years of the Vietnam War, saying the outcome on the battlefield may already be clearer than the politics surrounding it. 

"The war’s already over," he told Fox News Digital. "People just haven’t stopped dying yet. He [Putin’s] already lost. The question is, how do you get him to admit it?"