Yet another powerful person has stepped down after being named in the Epstein files.

Most Read from Fast Company

• JPMorgan warns a ‘parallel banking system’ is emerging—and it could put trillions in deposits at risk

• Zillow revises its home price forecast across over 400 housing markets—see the map

• Andrew Ng says AGI is decades away—and the real AI bubble risk is in the training layer

Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), best known for hosting an annual summit of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, has stepped down after an internal investigation into his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement released Thursday, Brende announced that after eight years in his role, he’d be resigning in the wake of the latest batch of files released from the federal investigation into Epstein.

“I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,” Brende said.

WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink also released a statement on behalf of the Board of Trustees, thanking Brende for his years of service and respecting his choice to step down.

“His dedication and leadership have been instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organization, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos,” they said. They also noted that the WEF’s investigation into Brende found “no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”

Though Brende had previously claimed he “was completely unaware of [Epstein’s] criminal acts and past” in statements to the Norwegian media, the newly released collection of Epstein files tell a different story. Epstein and Brende stayed in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008, with messages between the two continuing through at least mid-2019, just months before Epstein died in jail.

In one text exchange, Epstein appears to have sent Brende a letter by his lawyers that was published in the The New York Times, which included the claim, “The number of young women involved in the investigation has been vastly exaggerated.” Brende replied to the letter with a thumbs-up emoji.

More in World

Western nations warn Israel to end illegal settlement expansion, violence

Al Jazeera

Ex CDC head warns Ebola outbreak will become a ‘very significant pandemic’

The Independent

104

Oil prices fall after Iranian news agency says US and Iran may be 'hours' from announcing deal

Yahoo Finance

2.8K

Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about itplanetcapture.io ·

AdAd

Brende’s resignation comes less than a year after the last shakeup at the WEF. In April 2025, founder Klaus Schwab stepped down as chair of its board, and a month later in May, the board opened an investigation into Schwab after an anonymous letter accused him of misusing funds and making inappropriate comments toward women. Between the two scandals, the WEF’s reputation as a mecca for world leaders has taken a massive hit.

In Brende’s absence, the WEF’s managing director Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO.

Brende is far from the only executive to step down after appearing in the Epstein files. Since the newest batch of files released on January 30, business leaders including Hollywood agent Casey Wasserman and former general counsel for Goldman Sachs Kathryn Ruemmler have resigned from their positions, while political figures including Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, and Peter Mandelson, the country’s ambassador to Washington, have been arrested for their ties to Epstein.

This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com
Subscribe to get the Fast Company newsletter: http://fastcompany.com/newsletters

Lawmakers investigating the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are turning their attention to three men who Epstein’s longtime assistant accused of sexual abuse in closed-door testimony this week, sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

In an interview with the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, former Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen accused the three men of wrongdoing and identified them by name, House Oversight Chair James Comer said.

Sources told CNN that Kellen named Frederic Fekkai, a French celebrity hairstylist; Philip Levine, the former mayor of Miami Beach and cruise industry entrepreneur; and Patrick Demarchelier, a French fashion photographer.

Kellen accused Fekkai and Levine of sexually assaulting her and testified that Demarchelier exposed himself to her, one of the sources familiar with the matter said. Another source said Kellen asserted that Fekkai assaulted her in the early 2000s – before she met Epstein – when the two were alone together in a hotel room while on a trip to Hawaii to meet with modeling agents.

Trending on Yahoo 100

See full list

Epstein case: new names, new allegations

Allegations from Epstein’s former assistant put new high-profile names in the spotlight, sparking renewed scrutiny of the late financier’s circle. Online, the story’s gravity fuels debate and exposes renewed interest in one of the internet’s darkest rabbit holes.

Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to identify stories being covered and generate summaries from articles. This means the info may not always match what's in the article.

Covered by 11 sources

CNN

Epstein’s longtime assistant accused three previously unknown abusers connected to him, Oversight chair says

A media representative for Fekkai disputed that Fekkai had done anything wrong.

“Mr. Fekkai was astonished to read of Ms. Kellen’s testimony. Mr. Fekkai never abused anyone. He never participated in any illegal behavior. He knew nothing about Epstein’s repugnant depravity or trafficking. He did nothing wrong,” the representative, Mark Herr, said in a statement.

Herr also specifically denied the allegation of assault: “That is categorically false. Mr. Fekkai never assaulted anyone.”

Kellen told committee investigators that Levine assaulted her in St. Tropez at a home being rented by Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s, one of the sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

CNN attempted to reach Levine and representatives of Demarchelier, who died in 2022, through phone calls and emails, as well as direct messages on social media. Earlier this year, Levine told WLRN in a statement that he had only met Epstein “a few times” and regretted it.

“As I have stated previously, my only connection to Jeffrey Epstein arose solely through my former friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell. I met Epstein only a few times. I never conducted business with him, never visited his island and never flew on his aircraft. I regret ever meeting him,” he said at the time.

Kellen testified that Demarchelier introduced her to Epstein, who he characterized as a scout for possible Victoria’s Secret models, another source familiar with the matter told CNN.

None of the men have been charged with a crime in connection with Epstein, and Comer said the committee had not previously known of allegations of sexual abuse against them.

More in U.S.

2 Georgia Teachers Arrested After Allegedly Having Sex With Same Student, 1 Admits to Crime

Us Weekly

366

Kavanaugh and Barrett join Democratic appointees in surprise death penalty dismissal

MS NOW

950

AOC Pulls Out Two Jars of Brown Water in Congress and Asks EPA Official: “Neither One of These Things Are Drinkable, Right?”

WHERE IS THE BUZZ

1.2K

【40代必見】「おばさん体型」は歳のせい？いいえ、原因は〇〇！履いて歩いて姿勢美人amepla ·

AdAd

A CNN review of the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice showed that Levine and Fekkai had ties to the late convicted sex offender dating back years. The files, however, do not appear to reveal any direct interaction between Demarchelier and Epstein, according to CNN’s review. There is no indication in the publicly available Epstein files reviewed by CNN that any of the three men had been interviewed by federal investigators.

Kellen is a polarizing figure in Epstein’s orbit whose work with the disgraced financier provided her access to significant information on his activities. In 2007, she was labeled by law enforcement as one of Epstein’s potential co-conspirators. But she has described herself as a victim of Epstein’s abuse, and some observers acknowledge her experience is complicated, even if law enforcement did investigate her for possibly aiding Epstein. Comer said she was not interviewed by law enforcement until 2019; her lawyer declined to comment.

“He groomed me, sexually and psychologically abused me, controlled me, manipulated me, dominated me, and gaslit me until I could no longer tell which thoughts were mine and which were his,” Kellen told lawmakers of Epstein, according to a copy of her opening statement. “It was like living with a permanent virtual reality headset on. I was reminded every day how powerful he was — how influential he was — and that to turn on him or disobey him would mean losing everything: my job, my home, everyone I knew in the world, even my life.”

Comer declined on Thursday to name the individuals and promised his committee would release a transcript of Kellen’s interview as soon as possible.

The accusations that Kellen leveled against the men, Comer said, would provide congressional investigators a new lead to chase down.

“Of all the people that we’ve interviewed thus far, this was by far the most substantive and productive interview that we’ve had,” he told reporters Thursday.

What the Epstein files show about Fekkai

The files reveal that over many years, Epstein spent thousands of dollars at the famed Frederic Fekkai salon for himself and others, according to invoices and credit card statements released by the Justice Department.

But Epstein’s relationship with Fekkai appeared to extend beyond that of a professional hairdresser and a client, according to the DOJ’s Epstein files.

At least four times, Fekkai reportedly asked to use one of Epstein’s apartments, emails from the files show.

In 2010, Fekkai also asked to use Epstein’s room for an appointment with his own masseuse, an email shows. Epstein agreed, but told a person – whose name is redacted in the files – to let Fekkai know that Epstein would be home. That same year, Epstein boasted to a redacted person that he had known Fekkai for 10 years and “helped his company form.”

In 2013, Epstein asked Fekkai for help finding a multi-lingual assistant, and Fekkai responded he would check his rolodex, an email shows. That same year, Fekkai wrote Epstein about a female coming to one of his salons, and a representative of Epstein wrote to invite Fekkai over for cake for Epstein’s birthday.

And Maxwell told acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in an interview last year that Epstein and Fekkai were “friendly, very friendly.”

What the Epstein files show about Levine

Epstein and Levine were in contact through the early 2000s and had plans to talk on the phone, and meet in person, multiple times throughout the years, according to the Justice Department’s files. It is not clear in the files if the meetings actually took place.

In 2003, for example, the files show that Levine had tried to arrange a business meeting for Epstein with the former managing director of the company overseeing Sephora.

In 2010, the year after Epstein was released from jail in Florida after being convicted on state charges related to sex crimes, Levine wrote to Epstein, “I am happy that everything has come to a positive ending for you during these tough times… You are a great guy.”

Levine ran successfully for mayor of Miami Beach in 2013, and unsuccessfully to be governor of the state in 2018. Epstein’s inbox is filled with campaign emails from Levine. In 2013, Epstein responded to a generic campaign email asking how he could donate to the campaign, and someone responded from the “Levine for Mayor” account directing the financier to use their website.

Levine also appeared to have had a relationship with Maxwell, Epstein’s criminal accomplice, emails show.

Levine asked Maxwell in one email to “scout” at a party she was attending in 2001. In 2003, Levine told her that he had a “hot, young thing spending the weekend…call me,” another email shows.

Maxwell told Blanche, then the deputy attorney general, last year that Levine was the one who introduced her to former President Bill Clinton. She referred to herself and Levine as “very good friends.”

Maxwell and Levine seemed to have a relationship where they frequently joked with sexual undertones, emails show. In one email, Maxwell referred to Levine as her boyfriend. In messages from 2001, Maxwell says that she “unceremoniously dumped” Epstein for Levine.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

LA PAZ, May 22 (Reuters) - Bolivia police and armed forces will open "humanitarian ‌corridors" on Saturday in the ‌country's La Paz department in order for supplies ​to move past blockades, the government said on Friday.

Tensions have been high in Bolivia for weeks as protests that began ‌with strikes ⁠in early May have grown into a nationwide movement involving labour ⁠unions, miners, transport workers and rural groups, raising concerns in Washington.

Protesters are ​pressing President ​Rodrigo Paz's centrist ​government to roll ‌back austerity measures and address rising living costs, with some calling for his resignation.

Interior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo told a press conference that the operation would ‌be peaceful, and would ​focus on the ​road that connects ​the city of Oruro ‌with the administrative capital La ​Paz, allowing ​the transit of food, medicine, oxygen and other goods.

The Red Cross ​and Catholic ‌Church are set to participate, he ​added.

(Reporting by Daniel Ramos, Writing by ​Daina Beth Solomon)

Press Association via AP Images

U.K. police investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — the royal formerly known as Prince Andrew — over his links to Jeffrey Epstein are reportedly expanding the scope of their probe to examine potential sex crimes and urging alleged Epstein survivors to come forward.

Detectives in London are looking to speak with a woman who claims she was taken to the former prince’s Windsor residence “for sexual purposes” as part of what officials reportedly believe could become a lengthy and widening inquiry, according to Sky News.

Andrew, the brother of King Charles and second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing but remains under investigation after he was arrested three months ago in a pre-dawn raid at his Norfolk home.

The arrest came on his 66th birthday following the release of Justice Department files tied to Epstein earlier this year. Andrew was initially questioned on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he shared sensitive government and commercial information with Epstein during his time as a U.K. trade envoy.

The reported focus on possible sex offences marks a significant escalation in the investigation surrounding Andrew’s long-scrutinized relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Officers from Thames Valley Police have already interviewed multiple witnesses, according to Sky News. They are assessing allegations that Epstein sent a non-British woman to the U.K. in 2010 for a sexual encounter with Andrew.

Detectives have reportedly not yet interviewed the woman involved.

U.K. investigators are also reportedly seeking access to unredacted Epstein files from the Justice Department, which sources believe could advance the inquiry.

Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his “prince” title by his brother in 2025 and given formal notice to surrender his royal residence, as further disclosures revealed more about his past association with Epstein.

The post JUST IN: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Now Under Police Investigation Over Epstein-Related Sex Crimes first appeared on Mediaite.

Iran is reportedly working to solidify its control over the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. objections by seeking a joint deal to impose fees on ships transiting the strategic waterway with Oman. The move comes amid increasing hopes of a peace deal to end the war that began Feb. 28 and highlights just how difficult it will be to reach such an agreement. Iran’s closure of the Strait has created severe global economic impacts and spurred the Trump administration to stand up Project Freedom, a short-lived effort to provide military protection for ships stuck in the Persian Gulf and trying to get out.

Though U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted the Strait remain open and free of any tolls, Iran is in discussions with Oman, a U.S. ally, to impose financial burdens on vessels passing through the critical chokepoint, The New York Times reported. Together, the countries border both sides of the Gulf of Oman, through which any ship must pass to get into or out of the Strait.

Two people familiar with the discussions over management of the waterway said that “Iran was not planning a toll system, which would charge simply for transit,” according to the Times. Instead, the talks with Oman have “explored a proposal to charge vessels fees for services.”

“Oman had initially rejected a joint partnership with Iran on the strait but is now in discussion over a share of the revenues,” the newspaper stated, citing two Iranian officials familiar with the talks. “The officials said Oman told the Iranians that it was willing to use its influence with neighbors in the Gulf, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and with the United States to push the plan, having realized the potential economic benefits of a fee system.”

Iran and Oman “appear to be emphasizing that the proposed system would involve fees, not tolls, a legally significant distinction,” the Times posited. “A tolling system that simply charges ships to pass through the waterway would be illegal under international law, but charging fees for actual services rendered to vessels, such as waste disposal at a port, is allowed under certain circumstances.”

Breaking News: Iran and Oman are in talks over a payment system for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, despite warnings from the Trump administration. https://t.co/IuBux7BHnV

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 22, 2026

On Wednesday, Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority declared on X that it has “defined the boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz management supervision area” as the “line connecting Kuh Mobarak in Iran and the south of Fujairah in the UAE in the east of the strait to the line connecting the end of Qeshm Island in Iran and Umm al-Qaiwain in the UAE in the west of the strait.”

Iran’s claimed area of control includes the coastal waters of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman in addition to its own.

1/
جمهورى اسلامى ايران محدودهٔ نظارتى مديریت تنگه هرمز را به این شرح تعيین کرده است: «خط اتصال كوه مبارك درايران وجنوب فجيره درامارات در شرق تنگه تاخط اتصال انتهاى جزيره قشم درايران و ام القيوین امارات درغرب تنگه.» pic.twitter.com/3ELSwYx5Bp

— PGSA | نهاد مدیریت آبراه خلیج فارس (@PGSA_IRAN) May 20, 2026

In the face of Iran’s insistence on controlling the Strait, Rubio on Friday reiterated that the Trump administration rejects any form of Iranian tolling on the Strait.

“That’s just not acceptable. It can’t happen,” Rubio said of any Iranian effort to impose payment for the safe passage of vessels. “If that were to happen in the Straits of Hormuz, it will happen in five other places around the world.”

Secretary of State Rubio cited Bahrain-led and co-sponsored UN Security Council resolution as the definitive international answer to Iran's proposed tolling scheme in Strait of Hormuz noting it carries the highest number of co-sponsors in the history of Security Council. pic.twitter.com/RYEiAg5h7M

— Adla Massoud (@Adlamassoud) May 22, 2026

Rubio added that NATO allies are beginning to think through a worst-case scenario if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz.

“We all would love to see an agreement with Iran in which the Straits are open and they abandon their nuclear ambitions and so forth,” he told reporters. “We also have to have a plan B…We have to start thinking about what do we do if, a few weeks from now, Iran decides ‘We don’t care, we’re going to keep the Straits closed. We’re going to sink any ship that doesn’t listen to us or doesn’t pay us.’ Then someone’s going to have to do something about it.”

BREAKING: Secretary Marco Rubio says NATO allies are beginning to think through a worst-case scenario if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz:

"We all would love to see an agreement with Iran in which the Straits are open and they abandon their nuclear ambitions and so… pic.twitter.com/jQvHZd8rLv

— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 22, 2026

Since implementing the blockade on Iranian ports on April 13, “U.S. forces have redirected 97 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since the start of the blockade,” CENTCOM claimed on X.

A U.S. Sailor aboard USS Comstock (LSD 45) observes a commercial vessel while enforcing the U.S. blockade against Iran, May 21. U.S. forces have redirected 97 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since the start of the blockade. pic.twitter.com/1Zgsoykhy4

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 22, 2026

Regardless of the blockade, Japan is anticipating the arrival of the first tanker full of oil that transited the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.

The Idemitsu Maru, a very large crude carrier that passed through the waterway in late April, could dock as soon as Monday, according to the trade ministry. Hauling two million barrels of Saudi crude, the vessel is on track to arrive at Idemitsu Kosan Co.’s Aichi refinery, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a briefing document on Friday, according to Bloomberg News.

The announcement highlights the difficult choices many nations now have as a result of the war. Japan is a key U.S. ally and risks running afoul of Trump, who maintains opposition to Iranian control of the vital waterway, including tolls on shipping levied by Iran, something Trump vehemently opposes. But Japan is also one of the world’s importers of Middle Eastern oil and the inability to get what it needs as a result of the Iranian Strait closure is having dramatic economic effects.

Japan is about to receive the first Persian Gulf oil shipment to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began https://t.co/Inb3yOuGfM

— Bloomberg (@business) May 22, 2026

Most of the ships passing through the Strait under the new Iranian system “were linked to Southeast Asian nations that maintain friendly relations with Iran,” the official state broadcaster IRIB claimed on Friday in a post on X.

Most ships that passed through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran's permission, were linked to Southeast Asian nations that maintain #friendly relations with IRAN. https://t.co/hqPmBBC1Yz

— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) May 22, 2026

There has been a large increase in the number of Iranian-trading tankers at anchor off the country’s main oil export port of Kharg Island in the past week, according to the Windward maritime intelligence firm’s multi-source intelligence (MSI) analysis.

“MSI images show 27 tankers off Kharg Island as of May 21, including 18 assessed as very large crude carriers (VLCC),” Windward reported. “This has expanded from 14 tankers a week ago on May 14, a 93% increase. All were ‘dark’ and not broadcasting their position via AIS.”

Windward “assesses the majority of VLCCs at anchor off Kharg Island are being used for floating storage. About two-thirds of Iranian-trading tankers are now constrained in the Gulf of Oman or Arabian Gulf by the U.S. blockade. The remaining third are either waiting at ports off China or at anchor off the Riau archipelago, in Malaysia’s EEZ.”

The number of Iranian-trading tankers at anchor off Iran's main oil export port of Kharg Island has increased by 93% in the past week, according to Windward's multi-source intelligence analysis.

While numbers observed off Kharg Island are gaining, tankers anchored off the… pic.twitter.com/uYbVQschty

— Windward (@WindwardAI) May 22, 2026

UPDATE: 5:25 PM EDT –

Trump convened a meeting with his senior national security team on the war with Iran on Friday morning, Axios reported Friday evening, citing two U.S. officials.

The president “is seriously considering launching new strikes against Iran barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, sources who have spoken directly with the president say,” the news outlet stated.

More in World

Brothers, 5 and 4, Found 'Screaming and Crying' in Woodland After Their Mom Allegedly Blindfolded and Abandoned Them

People

78

Damning Pentagon Leak Reveals Huge Blow to U.S. Defenses

The Daily Beast

1.1K

Queen Elizabeth II was eager for ex-Prince Andrew to become trade envoy, documents show

Associated Press

150

【ズボラ専用】「ジムやめた。」履いて歩くだけ、買い物しながら0円トレーニングamepla ·

AdAd

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and other officials attended the meeting along with Trump, the sources told Axios.

Hours later, Trump issued his cryptic message on Truth Social about not attending his son’s wedding due to “circumstances pertaining to Government.”

NEW: Trump convened a meeting with his senior national security team on the war with Iran this morning.

He is seriously considering launching new strikes against Iran barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, sources say. https://t.co/dN7UuWUcGe

— Axios (@axios) May 22, 2026

Iran insists it is ready with new tactics, weapons and a threat to extend the conflict beyond the region should a new round of fighting break out.

Iran’s state-run Tasnim News Agency has said that the Iranian Armed Forces is preparing for any possible U.S. attack, adding that a third round of fighting would involve new equipment, targets, tactics, and war strategy, along with additional trans-regional fronts that extend… pic.twitter.com/fsuv7Dfdx6

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 22, 2026

UPDATES

There are growing indications that the U.S. and Iran could be moving closer to a deal to end the war. However, both sides are poised to resume fighting as major sticking points remain over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its control over the Strait of Hormuz and the future of its ballistic missile arsenal as well as U.S. sanctions.

In a sign that progress has been made in talks to reach a deal, Pakistani and Qatari negotiators are now in Tehran.

Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has arrived in Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts and upon arrival he was received and warmly welcomed by Iranian Minister for Interior Eskandar Momeni, per ISPR https://t.co/I6yk6BlpvY pic.twitter.com/DToLp4OJ0J

— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) May 22, 2026

“Field Marshal Asim Munir, is traveling to Tehran on Friday in an effort to reach a deal under which the U.S. and Iran would agree to end the war and launch negotiations for a broader agreement,” Axios reported on Friday, citing a Pakistani security source.

Pakistani field marshal heads to Tehran to try to seal U.S.-Iran deal. My report on @axioshttps://t.co/ZQy6ksvcfz

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 22, 2026

The Qatari negotiating team arrived in ​Tehran on Friday ‌”in coordination with United States to help secure ​a deal to ​end the war with ⁠Iran and resolve ​outstanding issues,” Reuters reported on X, citing a source ​with knowledge of the matter. “Doha, ​which has worked ​as a mediator in the ‌Gaza ⁠war and other areas international tensions, had till now distanced ​itself ​from ⁠playing a mediation role in the ​Iran war after ​it ⁠came under attack from Iranian missiles and ⁠drones ​during the ​latest conflict.”

(Reuters) – A Qatari negotiating team arrived in ​Tehran on Friday ‌in coordination with United States to help secure ​a deal to ​end the war with ⁠Iran and resolve ​outstanding issues, a source ​with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Doha, ​which has worked ​as a…

— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) May 22, 2026

Confirmation of Munir’s trip to Tehran, from several media outlets, came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was “slight progress” in negotiations with Iran.

“I don’t want to exaggerate it, but there’s been a little bit of movement, and that’s good,” Rubio said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden, on Friday.

'There's been some slight progress'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives an update on Iran as he joins NATO foreign ministers for a meeting in Swedenhttps://t.co/fW8ldwmSDk pic.twitter.com/ordtoUwYkG

— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 22, 2026

In a post on X, the Saudi-based Al Arabiya news outlet claimed it has obtained a “final draft of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan” that is “expected to be announced within hours.”

The purported details of the nine-point plan are as follows, according to the publication:

• Immediate, comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire on all fronts, including land, sea, air.

• Mutual commitment not to target military, civilian or economic infrastructure.

• End to military operations and halt media war.

• Commitments to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs.

• Guarantees freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

• Joint mechanism to monitor implementation and resolve disputes

• Negotiations on outstanding issues would begin within seven days.

• Gradual lifting of US sanctions in exchange for Iran’s commitment to the terms of the agreement.

• Draft agreement reaffirms compliance with international law and UN Charter.

BREAKING: The final draft of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, is expected to be announced within hours, according to Al Arabiya sources. Its key terms include the following:

Final draft of possible US-Iran agreement mediated by… pic.twitter.com/Fb0gTmv8nd

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 22, 2026

However, the reported draft agreement does not explicitly mention Trump’s key demands, including the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program and export of its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium, limiting its ballistic missiles and ending its support for Iranian proxies like Hezbollah, the Houthis and several groups in Iraq.

Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran must dismantle its nuclear weapons program, turn over the enriched uranium and reopen the Strait.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran:

"Right now, we're negotiating, and we'll see, but we're going to get it one way or the other. They're not going to have a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/wfjJBoOZVi

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 21, 2026

Given the American leader’s stance on the issues, it seems unlikely that he would agree to such a deal as stated by Al Arabiya. TWZ cannot verify the validity of these details. Asked if they are accurate, the White House gave us the following response:

“Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and while President Trump always prefers a diplomatic solution, he has been clear about the consequences if Iran refuses to make a deal,” a White House official told us. “As the president stated, he will only make a good deal for the American people. He is not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. Due to the successes of Operation Epic Fury, Economic Fury, and the blockade, President Trump holds the cards and has all the time he needs to make the best deal for the United States and the world.”

The White House, however, pushed back on a Reuters report that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told his country’s decision-makers not to agree to any deal to remove enriched uranium out of the country. A White House official told Fox News that the claim is untrue and that as of yet, no decision has been made on the matter by either side.

The White House has told Fox News that recent reports from Reuters on the supreme leader’s edict to Iranian decision-makers not to accede to a deal where enriched uranium is moved out of Iran are untrue and that as of yet, no decision has been made on the matter by both sides. pic.twitter.com/ZF36aCMLit

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 21, 2026

With the status of the peace process uncertain, Trump claimed he decided not to attend the wedding this weekend of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., to socialite Bettina Anderson due to “circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America.”

“I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time,” Trump stated on Truth Social.

President Trump announces his official decision on attending his son's wedding this week — he's not going.

This comes after he said yesterday it was bad timing because of the Iran issue. pic.twitter.com/cha3QO14Uo

— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) May 22, 2026

Amid talk of diplomacy, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) indicated that the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, loitering in the Arabian Sea, “is maintaining peak readiness while enforcing the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports.”

The post messaged that should negotiations break down, the U.S. is ready to resume attacking Iran should Trump so order.

U.S. Navy fighter jets launch from aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is maintaining peak readiness while enforcing the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports. pic.twitter.com/VdgD1S8jrB

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 22, 2026

For its part, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to push the war “beyond the region” if the U.S. or Israel resume attacks, promising “crushing blows … in places you cannot even imagine.”

Iran has warned the United States of far-reaching consequences in the event of any renewed act of aggression, amid President Donald Trump’s repeated military threats and deadlines.https://t.co/i7ppAoGfym

— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) May 21, 2026

Despite a bombing campaign that top U.S. officials say has severely crippled Iran’s ability to produce drones and missiles, Tehran has reportedly used the six-week old ceasefire to rearm far faster than anticipated.

“While the time to restart production of different weapons components varies, some US intelligence estimates indicate Iran could fully reconstitute its drone attack capability in as soon as six months,” CNN reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with those assessments. “The Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC had for reconstitution,” the US official said.

The network claimed that Iran is “rebuilding…military capabilities, including replacing missile sites, launchers and production capacity for key weapons systems destroyed during the current conflict.”

Iran “also still maintains ballistic-missile, drone-attack and anti-air capability despite the serious damage inflicted by US-Israeli strikes,” the network claimed, citing recent US intelligence assessments. That means “the quick rebuilding of military production capacity isn’t starting from scratch.”

These efforts are being aided by China and Russia, CNN added.

While the time to restart production of different weapons components varies, some US intelligence estimates indicate Iran could reconstitute its drone attack capability in as soon as six months, one of the sources said. https://t.co/u9mxm0hB8D

— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) May 21, 2026

The U.S. military “has depleted much of its inventory of advanced missile-defense interceptors after expending far more high-end munitions defending Israel amid hostilities with Iran than Israeli forces used themselves,” The Washington Post reported, citing Defense Department assessments.

“The imbalance, according to three U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters, underscores the extent to which Washington has shouldered the burden of countering Iranian ballistic missile strikes duringOperation Epic Fury, and raises questions about U.S. military readiness and security commitments around the world,” the publication added. “The United States launched more than 200 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors in defense of Israel — roughly half of the Pentagon’s total inventory — along with more than 100 Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6 interceptors fired from naval vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, said the U.S. officials, who, like others in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.”

By contrast, the newspaper noted, “Israel fired fewer than 100 of its Arrow interceptors and around 90 David’s Sling interceptors, some of which were used against less sophisticated projectiles fired by Iran-backed groups in Yemen and Lebanon.”

Report: U.S. fired more interceptors than Israel in latest war with Iran https://t.co/VdlZ0xZce8

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) May 22, 2026

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Thursday testified before the Senate that the U.S. is pausing arms sales to Taiwan because of the war with Iran.

“Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury,” Cao told Sen. Mitch McConnell.

During the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee hearing earlier today, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told senators that arms shipments to Taiwan have been paused, saying “Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic… pic.twitter.com/DIcQCBh5hq

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 21, 2026

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna, however, told Politico Washington Bureau Chief Dasha Burns that the war with Iran has not yet affected U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv. Still, she said American military officials told Ukraine “there’s nothing that could be guaranteed for the future.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. said the war with Iran has not yet affected U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv, but said American military officials told Ukraine “there's nothing that could be guaranteed for the future.”

Listen to my full interview with Olga Stefanishyna on… https://t.co/ZB73BCWCqf

— Dasha Burns (@DashaBurns) May 22, 2026

The war is facing increasing opposition in Washington. House Republicans on Thursday “abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution directing Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or win approval from Congress to continue the war, after it became clear they lacked the votes to defeat the measure,” The New York Times reported. “The retreat was a striking setback that exposed fractures within the G.O.P. over the conflict at a moment when the party has begun pushing back forcefully on Mr. Trump and his agenda.”

Breaking News: House Republicans abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or win approval from Congress to continue the war, after it became clear they lacked the votes to defeat the measure. https://t.co/2YCMl8GIbj

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 21, 2026

In another sticking point to a peace deal, Israel continues to hit Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Friday released video it claims struck a structure in which five Hezbollah fighters “were located north of the forward defense line in southern Lebanon and eliminated.”

אתמול, חיל-האוויר תקף מבנה בו היו חמישה מחבלי חיזבאללה צפונית לקו ההגנה הקדמי בדרום לבנון וחיסל את המחבלים, בהכוונת כוחות צוות הקרב של חטיבה 551 בפיקוד אוגדה 146. pic.twitter.com/S4fGQLK35e

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 22, 2026

Contact the author: howard@TWZ.com