The briefing for Friday, March 27.

Iran is cementing its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz by establishing what shipping experts call a 'toll booth' regime for vessels transiting the world's most critical oil waterway. Ships must now enter Iranian territorial waters, submit to vetting by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and in some cases pay fees in Chinese yuan to pass safely. Traffic through the strait has plummeted 90% since the war began, with only about 150 vessels transiting since March 1 compared to normal daily volumes before the conflict.

The system appears increasingly formalized. Iran submitted a letter to the UN's International Maritime Organization claiming it had 'implemented precautionary measures aimed at preserving maritime safety and security' within international law principles. Iranian parliament is reportedly working on legislation to codify fees for certain ships. Vessels must now route north around Larak Island into Iranian waters rather than using the traditional two-lane channel, placing them closer to the Iranian coastline and under IRGC control.

Iran's own oil exports remain largely intact at 1.6 million barrels loaded in March, similar to prewar levels, according to Kpler data. Most customers are small Chinese refineries unconcerned about U.S. sanctions. Meanwhile, Iran-affiliated ships now account for roughly 90% of recent transits through the strait. At least 18 ships have been attacked and seven crew members killed since the war began, though the UN has not specified which nation was responsible. About half of transiting vessels turn off identification systems before passage, reflecting the dangers involved.

Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Iran early Friday targeting locations 'in the heart of Tehran,' intensifying attacks ahead of a planned UN Security Council meeting to discuss strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure. The attacks come as diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran remain deadlocked, with no signs of breakthrough as the Middle East war approaches its one-month mark. Air raid sirens also sounded in Israel as the military intercepted incoming Iranian missiles, while smoke rose over Beirut.

The U.S. has pushed Iran to negotiate on a 15-point ceasefire proposal that includes restrictions on Iran's nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran rejected the offer and countered with its own five-point plan demanding reparations and recognition of sovereignty over the strait. Meanwhile, Washington has deployed thousands more troops to the region, including at least 2,500 Marines aboard ships and 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne, potentially preparing for military action to break Iran's control of the waterway.

The conflict has taken a mounting toll. More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran according to the Health Ministry, while 18 have died in Israel and at least 13 American troops have been killed. In Lebanon, authorities report more than 1,100 deaths, and in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias have joined the fighting, 80 security force members have died. Markets are reacting with alarm: Asian shares fell Friday and oil prices rose to $107 per barrel for Brent crude, up more than 45% since the war began.

The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday that women's Olympic competition will be limited to biological females starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Eligibility will be determined through a 'once-in-a-lifetime' genetic test screening for the SRY gene on the Y chromosome, which triggers male physical development. The policy will prevent transgender women and most athletes with differences in sexual development who went through male puberty from competing in women's events.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the policy was 'led by medical experts' and necessary because 'even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat' at the Olympics. The decision represents a major shift from the IOC's previous approach of leaving sex eligibility rules to individual sports federations. While some sports like athletics, swimming, cycling and rowing had already implemented bans, others allowed transgender women to compete if they lowered testosterone levels.

The policy includes one narrow exception for athletes with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, a rare DSD condition where individuals have not gone through male puberty despite having XY chromosomes. Athletes who test positive for the SRY gene can still compete in male categories, mixed categories, or open categories. The Guardian previously reported that between 50 and 60 athletes who went through male puberty had been finalists in women's categories at global track and field championships since 2000. The new rules come after controversy at the Paris 2024 Games involving boxer Imane Khelif, who won gold after being disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for reportedly failing a gender eligibility test.

The European Parliament voted 417 to 154 Thursday to approve implementation of the EU-US trade deal negotiated last July, but added significant safeguards to protect European interests. The agreement would reduce tariffs to 15% on most EU goods in exchange for European investment in the U.S. and removal of EU import duties on American industrial goods. However, lawmakers included provisions to suspend the deal if Washington imposes additional tariffs, introduces new duties, or threatens EU member states' territorial sovereignty.

The protective amendments emerged from months of tension, particularly over President Trump's threats to annex Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory. The legislation includes a 'sunrise clause' requiring the U.S. to actually lower tariffs before EU reductions take effect, and a 'sunset clause' ending the agreement by March 31, 2028. MEPs also demanded that hundreds of European goods containing steel and aluminum be excluded from the U.S.'s 50% tariff on those materials, insisting on zero tariffs for American goods only if this condition is met.

The deal still requires approval from all 27 EU member states, with a final vote expected in April or May. European Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU has received reassurances that the U.S. intends to honor the agreement but warned Brussels 'will not turn a blind eye to any risks to our interests.' The U.S. and EU are each other's largest trading partners, exchanging more than $1.9 trillion in goods and services in 2024, representing nearly a third of global trade.

The Education Department will move out of its Washington headquarters to a smaller office in August as part of the Trump administration's effort to dismantle the agency. Officials said the building is now 70% vacant following mass layoffs since Trump took office. The Energy Department will assume the lease on the current Education Department headquarters, while education officials relocate to another Washington office space.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the move a milestone in efforts to close the department, which Trump ordered toward shutdown a year ago this month. The administration says the relocation will save taxpayer money by eliminating wasted space and avoiding maintenance costs on Energy's current building. However, only Congress has authority to formally close the department. The Trump administration has instead transferred many Education Department programs to other agencies through 'interagency agreements.'

Most recently, management of defaulted student loans moved to the Treasury Department, with responsibility for the rest of the $1.7 trillion federal student loan portfolio scheduled to follow at an unspecified date. Over the past year, programs overseeing family engagement, funding for low-income schools, and teacher training have shifted to agencies like Health and Human Services and Labor. The union representing department workers condemned the move, with AFGE Local 252 President Rachel Gittleman saying 'the message is clear—education is next on the chopping block.'

President Trump said Thursday he will sign an order instructing the Homeland Security secretary to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents using money from his 2025 tax bill, as senators worked through the night seeking to end a 42-day funding impasse. The announcement came as airport chaos intensified nationwide, with more than 11% of TSA employees missing scheduled shifts Wednesday and callout rates exceeding 40% at multiple airports. Nearly 500 of the agency's 50,000 officers have quit during the shutdown.

The extraordinary move avoids the legally fraught step of declaring a national emergency to pay workers. Meanwhile, senators negotiated a package to fund other parts of the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA and the Coast Guard. Democrats have demanded restraints on immigration enforcement officers before agreeing to fund those operations, particularly after two Americans died protesting enforcement actions in Minneapolis. They want federal agents to wear identification, remove face masks, refrain from raids near schools and churches, and end administrative warrants in favor of judge-signed warrants.

Multiple airports have experienced massive security delays, with passengers at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport reporting waits exceeding 2.5 hours. TSA acting administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill warned Wednesday that the agency may have to close smaller airports if staffing doesn't improve, with union officials saying a list of about 75 airports has been created. Senate Majority Leader John Thune delivered what he called a 'last and final' offer to Democrats, though negotiations stalled as lawmakers debated the specific guardrails on enforcement activities.