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lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

The Kremlin said yesterday that talks between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv on ending the war in Ukraine were on a “situational pause” following the start of the Iran war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was time to end the pause and said a Ukrainian team was on its way to the United States for talks this weekend. Guy Faulconbridge and Dmitry Antonov report for Reuters."

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Monday IRAN WAR update:

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Friday that sanctions on some Iranian oil will be temporarily lifted to allow the sale of shipments already in transit. Bessent said in a post on social media that the United States is granting authorization for the sale of about 140 million barrels of Iranian oil. Aaron Pellish reports for POLITICO.  

Iranian air strikes on Saturday night injured about 175 people in the Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona. Israeli Defense Secretary Israel Katz said U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran this week would “escalate significantly.” Ashley Ahn reports for the New York Times.  

The Trump administration has begun initial internal discussions on what peace talks with Iran might look like, according to a U.S. official and another source. Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are involved in the discussions around potential negotiations. Officials are still considering who in Iran would be the best point of contact and which country would be the best mediator, ideally Qatar. President Trump said on Friday that he was considering “winding down” the war without resolving the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, though U.S. officials said they expected at least two or three more weeks of fighting. Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report for Axios.  

Trump on Saturday night gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or else the United States will start destroying Iranian power plants in a post on social media. Trump set a Monday deadline of around 7:45 p.m. ET. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said today that Iran will attack Israel’s power plants and plants supplying the U.S. bases in the Gulf if Trump carries out his threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power network. Israel launched new attacks this morning on the Iranian capital, saying it had “begun a wide-scale wave of strikes” on infrastructure targets in Tehran. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Maayan Lubell, Alexander Cromwell, and Idrees Ali report for Reuters; Jon Gambrell and David Rising report for AP News.

Trump said today that he would postpone his deadline for attacking Iranian power plants by five days, adding that the United States and Iran were negotiating “a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.” Iranian state media portrayed Trump’s comments as a sign that he was backing down, saying, “Trump, out of fear of Iran’s response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum.” Aaron Boxerman, Julian Barnes, Isabel Kershner, and Ravi Mattu report for the New York Times.  

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump spoke late last night and “agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market,” Downing Street said in a statement today. Britain is one of 22 countries that have signed a statement saying they are ready to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” through the strait. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said yesterday that he is “absolutely convinced” that the alliance will be able to reopen the strait, while reiterating his support for Trump’s campaign, calling the U.S. operation “crucial” due to the “existential threat from Iran.” Helen Regan reports for CNN; Mitchell McCluskey reports for CNN. 

“The export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorized for the duration of the conflict,” the Swiss government said on Friday. The statement reiterated, “exports of war materiel to the USA cannot currently be authorized.” Nick Cumming-Bruce reports for the New York Times. 

The Trump administration declared a wartime emergency to bypass Congress and push through over $23 billion in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan, the State Department said on Friday. This marks the second recent use of emergency authority to circumvent congressional approval since the war in Iran started. Megan Mineiro and Edward Wong report for the New York Times. "

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

Ukrainian and U.S. delegations concluded a second day of talks in Florida yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that it is clear that the United States is primarily focused on Iran. “There are indications that further [prisoner of war] exchanges may take ​place, which would indeed be very good news and confirmation that diplomacy is working,” Zelenskyy said. Pavel Polityuk reports for Reuters. " 

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Tuesday IRAN WAR update:

Israel yesterday carried out a large wave of air strikes in central Tehran, targeting command centres, the Israeli military said. It said more than 50 additional targets were hit overnight, including ballistic missile storage and launch sites. Iran today launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, damaging a multi-storey apartment building in Tel Aviv. Reuters reports.  

“We’re doing a five-day period,” President Trump told reporters yesterday about his pause on hitting Iranian power plants. “We’ll see how that goes, and if it goes well, we’re going to end up with settling this. Otherwise, we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.” Tyler Pager, David E. Sanger, and Farnaz Fassihi report for the New York Times.

Trump told CNN yesterday that there are 15 points of agreement between the United States and Iran after talks this weekend. Trump added that the renewed talks began soon after he threatened to bomb Iran’s energy infrastructure in retribution for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, yesterday publicly denied that any negotiations with the United States about terms to end the war were underway. In interviews, four Iranian officials said that the messages passed over recent days through intermediaries and in direct messages with U.S. envoys were simply probes on how to de-escalate the conflict. U.S. officials said the contacts were in a very early stage and not substantive. Arab mediators expressed skepticism that an agreement could be reached, noting that the two sides remained far apart. Aditi Sangal reports; Tyler Pager, David E. Sanger, and Farnaz Fassihi report for the New York Times; Summer Said, Alexander Ward, Benoit Faucon, and Laurence Norman report for the Wall Street Journal.  

The Trump administration is considering Iran’s parliament speaker Qalibaf as a potential negotiating partner and future leader of Iran, according to two administration officials. The sources added that the White House is not ready to commit to any one person and is hoping to stress test multiple candidates as they look for someone willing to make a deal. An Israeli official told Axios that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been in touch with Qalibaf in recent days, adding that mediating countries were trying to convene a meeting in Islamabad with Qalibaf and a team of U.S. negotiators. Dasha Burns, Eli Stokols, and Diana Nerozzi report for POLITICO; Barak Ravid reports. 

Senior U.S. military officials are weighing a possible deployment of a combat brigade of about 3,000 soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to support operations in Iran, defense officials said. If the plan goes ahead, these forces could be used to seize Iran’s Kharg Island. Officials are also considering an attack by about 2,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is currently on its way to the region, to seize the island. Greg Jaffe and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.  

Bahrain has put forward a draft U.N. Security Council resolution, backed by Gulf states and the United States, that would authorize countries to use “all necessary means” to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to a text seen by Reuters yesterday. The draft text also demands that Iran “immediately cease all attacks” in the strait. An alternative draft proposal put forward by France avoids naming Iran and instead calls for de-escalation and diplomacy, while encouraging defensive measures such as coordinated escorts in the strait rather than authorizing force. John Irish reports."

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Wednesday IRAN WAR update:

Iran has received a 15-point plan for a ceasefire from the United States through Pakistani intermediaries, officials in Islamabad said today. The Pakistani officials described the plan broadly as touching on sanctions relief, civilian nuclear cooperation, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program, monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency, missile limits, and access for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Mediators are pushing for a possible in-person negotiation in Pakistan later this week. Israeli sources said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has seen the plan and is concerned that Trump might strike a deal that falls short of Israeli objectives. Jon Gambrell, David Rising, Munir Ahmed, and Aamer Madhani report for AP News; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

The United States is preparing to deploy about 2,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two Defense Department officials said yesterday. The Pentagon is also in the process of deploying two Marine units that will add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region. Jon Gambrell, David Rising, Munir Ahmed, and Aamer Madhani report for AP News; Francesca Regalado, Eric Schmitt, Elian Peltier, and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times.

Iranian officials have told Pakistani, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators that U.S. military movements and Trump’s decision to deploy major troop reinforcement have increased their suspicion that his peace proposal is a trick. “Can anyone believe their claims of diplomacy or mediation are credible when they started this war and continue attacking us?” a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry told reporters yesterday. Two regional sources said that Iranian representatives have told the Trump administration that they do not want to re-enter negotiations with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and would prefer to engage with Vice President JD Vance instead. The Iranians have not yet responded to the 15-point plan, and strikes on Israel and Kuwait continued this morning. Marc Caputo and Barak Ravid report for Axios; Todd Symons reports for CNN; Kylie Atwood reports for CNN.

Iran told the U.N. International Maritime Organization that “non-hostile” ships may pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a letter circulated yesterday. Iran’s letter also said “the full restoration of security and sustainable stability in the strait is contingent upon the cessation of military aggression and threats.” Peter Eavis reports for the New York Times.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been privately pushing Trump to continue the war in Iran in recent days, saying that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East by removing Iran’s government, according to sources. Saudi officials rejected the idea that the Crown Prince has pushed to prolong the war. Julian E. Barnes, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt report for the  New York Times."

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

Russian forces yesterday launched more than 550 drones across Ukraine, striking the city center, killing at least six people, and wounding around forty others, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy. The unusual daytime strikes followed a more typical series of overnight attacks in which Russian forces launched 34 missiles and 392 attack drones. Cassandra Vinograd reports for the New York Times.

Russian air defenses downed 389 incoming Ukrainian drones overnight,Russia’s defense ministry said today. This was the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions since the war in Ukraine started. The drones were stopped over 13 Russian regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula. Dasha Litvinova reports for AP News."

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Thursday IRAN WAR update:

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced today that the Israeli military killed Alireza Tangsiri, the Iranian commander of the navy for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, in an airstrike in southern Iran this morning. Katz said Tangsiri was responsible for mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Adam Rasgon reports for the New York Times.  

The Israeli military is striking as many Iranian targets as possible, as Israel is concerned that the war could soon be brought to a halt, according to two senior Israeli officials and two other sources. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered that every effort be made over the next 48 hours to destroy as much of the Iranian arms industry as possible. The order came after Netanyahu obtained a copy of the U.S.-drafted 15-point plan to end the war, the officials said. A Pakistani source told Reuters today that Israel had agreed to take Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf off its hit list following a request from Pakistan that Washington not target them. David M. Halbfinger, Ronen Bergman, Natan Odenheimer, and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times; Ariba Shaid reports.

Iran’s state media yesterday quoted an anonymous official as rejecting the U.S. plan to end the war and responding with a counterproposal. This includes reparations for war damages, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to sanctions, and a wider cease-fire for the region that protects Hezbollah. Iranian officials told the New York Times that Iran does not want a pause in the fighting as they fear that Israel and the United States would take it as an opportunity to strengthen their forces before resuming strikes. Farnaz Fassihi, Shashank Bengali, and Sanam Mahoozi report; Barak Ravid reports for Axios. 

“Messages being conveyed through our friendly countries and us responding by stating our positions or issuing the necessary warning is not called negotiation or dialogue,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said yesterday. He added that Iran was reviewing the U.S. proposal but had no intention of holding talks. A few hours later, Trump said Iranian leaders “are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so bad, but they’re afraid to say it because they will be killed by their own people.” An Iranian embassy official in Islamabad said talks in Islamabad were still on the table and Pakistan was the preferred destination for Tehran, although nothing had been finalized. Parisa Hafezi, Alexander Cornwell, and Kanishka Singh report for Reuters. 

Russia is close to completing a phased shipment of drones, medicine, and food to Iran, according to Western intelligence reports. Two officials said the processing of deliveries began in early March and was expected to be completed by the end of the month. When asked about Moscow sending drones, a Kremlin spokesperson said, “There are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true - we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership.” Jacob Judah, Henry Foy, Max Seddon, and Meri Zilbert report for the Financial Times.  

Iranian strikes on U.S. bases across the Middle East have forced many U.S. troops to relocate to hotels and office spaces throughout the region, according to military personnel and U.S. officials. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has urged people to report these new locations as it plans to target the dispersed troops. Helen Cooper and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.  

“We want to know more about what’s going on, what the options are, and why they’re being considered,” House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL)  said yesterday following a closed-door briefing from Defense officials, adding “we’re just not getting enough answers on those questions.” Several Republicans warned that the continued lack of transparency from the administration could erode congressional support. Connor O’Brien reports for POLITICO. "

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The United States is making its offer of security guarantees for a peace deal in Ukraine conditional on Kyiv ceding all of the eastern region of Donbas to Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Reuters in an interview yesterday. “I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country ‌is part of ⁠our security guarantees,” he said. Zelenskyy had said in January that a security guarantees document was “100%” ready, but following weekend talks in Miami, he said there was still work to be done.  Daniel Flynn and Olena Harmash report. "

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Friday IRAN WAR update:

President Trump yesterday announced that he was once again postponing his deadline for Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating strikes on its power plants, saying he would give Tehran 10 more days. Trump claimed that the additional time was being given “per Iranian Government request,” adding "talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well.” Erica L. Green and Edward Wong report for the New York Times.

The Israeli military said this morning it had conducted a wave of strikes “in the heart of Tehran.” Attacks on Iran have damaged 82,000 civilian buildings, including hospitals, residential units, and the homes of 180,000 people, across 20 of Iran’s 32 provinces, the International Organization for Migration said today. Sam McNeil and Vahid Salemi report for AP News.  

Iranian strikes on Gulf states continued yesterday. The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 11 drones, with debris from one interception killing two people in Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted at least 36 drones aimed at its Eastern Province. Eve Sampson reports for the New York Times.  

Trump said yesterday during a Cabinet meeting that Iran signaled willingness to negotiate by allowing 10 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The White House has not provided further details about the tankers, which Trump said he believed were flying the Pakistani flag. During the Cabinet meeting, administration officials offered few concrete details or endgame plans, highlighting a dual-track strategy of pursuing peace talks while continuing military pressure. Megan Messerly reports for POLITICO.  

“Iran’s [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] has imposed a de facto ‘toll booth’ regime in the Strait of Hormuz,” according to shipping information firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Entities that want their vessels to safely pass must submit their details to “approved intermediaries” of the IRGC, whereupon approved vessels receive a code and are escorted by an IRGC vessel. “While not all ships are paying a direct toll, at least two vessels have and the payment is settled in yuan,” Lloyd’s List said. David McHugh and Jon Gambrell report for AP News. 

The White House and the Pentagon are considering sending at least 10,000 additional combat troops to the Middle East in the coming days, according to a senior U.S. defense official. The official said a decision should be made next week and said the troops will be from different combat units than the ones already sent to the region. Two U.S. officials and two other sources told Axios that the Pentagon is developing military options for a “final blow” in Iran, which could include the use of ground forces. Barak Ravid reports for Axios. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said yesterday that Moscow has “supplied Iran with certain types of military products,” but added “we can’t accept the accusation that we’re helping Iran with intelligence.” Dasha Litvinova reports for AP News.  

The United States has deployed uncrewed drone speedboats for patrols as part of its operations in Iran, the Pentagon said this week. This is the first time Washington has confirmed using such vessels in active conflict. David Jeans reports for Reuters.  

The UAE has told allies that it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to three sources. Two sources added that Abu Dhabi would deploy its own navy. Senior Emirati minister Sultan al-Jaber, who discussed the issue with Vice President JD Vance in Washington this week, said that “Iran holds Hormuz hostage, every nation pays the ransom, at the gas pump, at the grocery store, at the pharmacy”. Simeon Kerr, Abigail Hauslohner, and Andrew England report for the Financial Times.  

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is working with a group of senators to draft legislation for a formal authorization for the use of military force that would force Congress to vote on whether to approve the war in Iran, a spokesperson confirmed yesterday. Murkowski described the move as an act of desperation to try to put some parameters around the operation as the Trump administration refused to provide answers to Congress about its objectives, cost, and timeline. Megan Mineiro and Robert Jimison report for the New York Times."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

The Pentagon is considering whether to divert weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East, according to three sources. This would include air defense interceptor missiles, ordered through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List last year, the sources said. In a statement, a Pentagon spokesperson said the Defense Department would “ensure that U.S. forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win,” but declined to comment otherwise. Noah Robertson and Ellen Francis report for the Washington Post.  

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Sunday Iran war update:

"Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the United States was plotting a ground attack despite publicly engaging in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.

Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia meet in Islamabad, looking to de-escalate the US-Israel war on Iran.

Iran threatens retaliatory attacks on Israeli and US universities in the Middle East as powerful explosions hit Tehran and deaths are reported in Shaft and Bandar Khamir.

Yemen’s Houthis have launched a second missile and drone assault on Israel, saying they will continue until Israel “ceases its attacks and aggression”."

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Monday IRAN WAR update:

An Iranian strike injured 12 U.S. troops in an attack on U.S. Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, two U.S. officials said on Friday. At least two KC-135 aerial refueling planes also suffered significant damage in the attack. Russia took satellite images of the Prince Sultan Air Base three times in the days before Iran attacked the site and wounded U.S. troops, according to a summary of Ukrainian intelligence shared with NBC News by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy added that, based on Ukraine’s experience, Russia’s repeated photographing of installations over several days is an indication of attack planning. Raf Sanchez and Charlene Gubash report; Chris Cameron and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times. 

Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday launched a ballistic missile at Israel. This was the first attack by the Houthis since the ceasefire in Gaza was announced last October. The Israeli military said today that Yemen had launched a second attack, but Israel had intercepted the drones. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Trevor Hunnicutt, Asif Shahzad, Alexander Cornwell, and Sabrina Valle report for Reuters.  

President Trump said yesterday that Iran had agreed to allow 20 more oil cargo ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, casting Tehran’s decision as a “sign of respect” to the United States. It is not clear who the 20 cargo ships belong to or where they are headed. David E. Sanger reports for the New York Times.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey met yesterday in Islamabad for further discussions aimed at ending the war. The United States, Israel, and Iran were not part of the talks, and it was unclear whether any progress was made. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf yesterday accused Trump of engaging in a front of diplomacy while “secretly planning a ground invasion.” Anushka Patil reports for the New York Times.   

Hundreds of U.S. Special Operations forces were said to have arrived in the Middle East yesterday, according to two U.S. military officials. The commandos, including Army Rangers and Navy SEALS, have not yet been assigned specific missions, the officials said. The commandos join 2,500 Marines and another 2,500 sailors, who recently arrived in the region. Altogether, there are more than 50,000 U.S. troops in the Middle East now, roughly 10,000 more than usual. Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper report for the New York Times. 

The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said. Any potential ground operation would fall short of a full-scale invasion and could instead involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, according to the officials. The White House said over the weekend that Trump had not made a decision on any of the Pentagon’s proposals for ground forces. One source said that the objectives under consideration would probably take “weeks, not months” to complete. Another put the potential timeline at “a couple of months.” Dan Lamothe reports for the Washington Post. 

Trump yesterday told the Financial Times that he wants to “take the oil in Iran” and could seize Kharg Island. “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Trump said. He also stressed that indirect talks between the United States and Iran were going well, adding that a deal could be made quickly as the U.S. military only has “about 3,000 targets left” to bomb in Iran. Edward Luce reports.

Israel’s military said today it had launched over 140 air strikes on central and western Iran, including Tehran, over the 24 hours to Sunday evening, hitting ballistic missile launch sites and storage facilities. Trevor Hunnicutt, Asif Shahzad, Alexander Cornwell, and Sabrina Valle report for Reuters.  

An Iranian attack on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait killed an Indian worker, Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water said today. Reuters reports. 

The Pentagon used missiles, previously untested in combat, in an attack that struck a sports hall and an elementary school near a military compound in Iran on Feb. 28, according to visual evidence examined by the New York Times. Local officials cited in Iranian media said this strike and others nearby in the city of Lamerd killed at least 21 people. Christiaan Triebert and John Ismay report.  

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 foreign ministers on Friday that the war with Iran will continue for another two to four weeks, three sources told Axios. Rubio added that the United States is communicating with Iran through mediators, adding that there are two Iranian officials who want to hold direct negotiations, but they need approval from the top leadership. One source said Rubio stressed the United States does not need G7 countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but wants allies to join a maritime task force to police the strait after the war. Barak Ravid reports."

lousubcap

Russia-Ukraine update:

"Rubio on Friday denied Zelenskyy’s assertion that the Trump administration is demanding Kyiv hand over its eastern Donbas region to Russia in exchange for U.S. security guarantees in any ceasefire plan. “I saw him say that. And it’s unfortunate he would say that because he knows that's not true and that’s not what he was told,” Rubio told reporters at Friday’s G7 meeting. David Klepper and Matthew Lee report for AP News."