State Department tells Americans worldwide to 'exercise increased caution'

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified to Congress that the U.S. has a less clear picture on the intentions and positions of Iranian leadership now in power, telling members of Congress that the intelligence community believes Iran’s new supreme leader is more hardline than his father, who was assassinated by Israel.

Gabbard testified that the intelligence community assesses that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is so hardline, some of Iran's leaders thought he was too aggressive. He was also involved in ordering the killing of Iranian protesters in recent waves of protest across the country, Gabbard said.

Asked if the U.S. is "less certain" of the positions of Iranian leadership now than it was 60 days ago, Gabbard said "yes."

Gabbard also said it was “unknown at this time” whether Mojtaba would uphold or lift a fatwa issued by his father in 2003 which barred Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons.

Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have issued a joint statement condemning Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as the war continues.

"We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping," the countries said.

Adding, "We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning."

A fourth woman has died due to the impact of an interceptor missile in the town of Beit Awwa in Hebron, in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Aseel Samir Masalma, 32, was 6 months pregnant and evacuated to hospital critically injured on Wednesday, the ministry said.

The missile struck a women’s salon made of metal adjacent to a residential house, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries, according to officials.

Asked about Israel potentially pursuing objectives that diverge from U.S. interests in Iran, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the U.S. "holds the cards."

"The United States military controls the fate of that country," he said. "Iran has the ability to make the right choices. It should not going, forward target, Arab allies, Arab countries."