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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
IRAN WAR – NEGOTIATIONS
Senior Pakistani mediators yesterday arrived in Tehran for talks aimed at shoring up the ceasefire between the United States and Iran before it expires next week. A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry said that Iran continues to exchange messages through Pakistan, but the two sides have yet to agree to another round of talks. Two U.S. officials said Trump’s negotiating team – Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner – continued exchanging draft proposals with the Iranians and mediators on Tuesday. One official said they were getting closer to a deal. The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt yesterday denied reports that the United States had formally requested a two-week extension of the ceasefire. Aaron Boxerman, Erika Solomon, Tyler Pager, Karoun Demirjian, and Pranav Baskar report for the New York Times; Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report for Axios.
The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days, U.S. officials said, adding that the Trump administration is still considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if the ceasefire does not hold. The forces include about 6,000 troops aboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and its escorting warships and about 4,200 others with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group. Dan Lamothe reports for the Washington Post.
Iran could be willing to allow ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of its proposals it has offered to the United States, a source told Reuters. A Western security source said the proposal had been in the works, although it was not clear if there had been any response from Washington yet. Parisa Hafezi and Jonathan Saul report.
IRAN WAR – STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The U.S. blockade appeared to be working yesterday, with no Iranian-linked ships visibly able to leave the region, according to U.S. authorities and vessel-tracking firms. U.S. Central Command said yesterday that ten vessels had complied with directions to turn around and re-enter an Iranian port or coastal area. Kpler said that satellite data showed that two ships with links to Iran and subject to U.S. sanctions appeared to have made U-turns. Eight additional ships that have historically carried Iranian cargo were stationary in the Gulf of Oman or slowing down. Iran’s Fars News Agency said yesterday that an Iranian supertanker crossed the strait towards Iran’s Imam Khomeini port despite the blockade. Jenny Gross reports for the New York Times; Florence Tan reports for Reuters.
Iranian Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi said yesterday that if the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, “Iran’s powerful armed forces will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea.” It is unclear how much control Iran can exert over shipping. Aaron Boxerman, Erika Solomon, Tyler Pager, Karoun Demirjian, and Pranav Baskar report for the New York Times.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also — the World,” Trump said on social media yesterday. Trump also claimed that China “agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly.” The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment on Trump’s post, saying only that Beijing holds an “objective and impartial” stance on the conflict. Cate Cadell reports for the Washington Post.
IRAN WAR – LEBANON OPERATIONS
Israel’s security cabinet convened yesterday to discuss a possible Lebanon ceasefire, a senior Israeli official said. Another senior Israeli official said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under heavy pressure from Washington to reach a ceasefire. Other officials told the Financial Times that a truce could come into effect this week, after Israeli forces finish taking the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil. Maayan Lubell, Laila Bassam, and Maya Gebeily report for Reuters; Steve Holland and Maayan Lubell report for Reuters; Raya Jalabi, Adam Chamseddine, Neri Zilber, James Shotter, and Amy Mackinnon report.
The Israeli military yesterday killed four Lebanese rescue workers and wounded six others in three consecutive, targeted strikes. The back-to-back Israeli attacks on the southern village of Mayfadoun hit the first group of medics responding to a distress call from wounded civilians, a second group trying to assist their wounded colleagues, and a third group rushing to aid the first two teams that had been targeted. The Lebanese Health Ministry condemned the attacks as a “blatant violation” of international law. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on the strikes beyond saying it was “looking into” what happened. Malak Harb and Isabel Debre report for AP News.
IRAN WAR – OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
For the fourth time since the war in Iran began, Republican senators blocked a War Powers resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s authority to continue military operations in Iran. The move to take up the measure failed on a vote of 52 to 47. The vote fell largely along party lines – Republicans and a single Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), opposed, and Democrats joined by a lone Republican, Sen Rand Paul (R-KY) voted in favor. Robert Jimison and Megan Mieniro report for the New York Times.
36 Democratic senators yesterday voted to take up a measure that would block the sale of 1,000-pound bombs to Israel, while 40 voted in favor of a measure to bar the sale of bulldozers that Israel has used to level entire neighborhoods of Gaza and Lebanon. Roughly a dozen more Democrats voted for those measures than have voted for similar ones in the past. Republicans largely opposed the measures, arguing they would weaken an ally and embolden Iran. Megan Mineiro reports for the New York Times.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russian strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight killed 16 people, officials said today. Anna Voitenko and Anna Pruchnicka report for Reuters.
OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Over 4 million people are set to be newly displaced around the world by the end of the year, the Danish Refugee Council said today. “For families fleeing war with nothing but the clothes on their back, there is little hope: the international safety net that once existed has gaping holes as humanitarian assistance shrinks,” DRC Secretary General Charlotte Slente said. Sudan, where 13.5 million people are already displaced, will see the largest increase with an additional 670,000 people fleeing this year and next. Reuters reports.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
A State Department cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructs U.S. diplomats to pressure countries into supporting a “trade over aid” U.N. declaration, using formal démarches ahead of a planned signing event at the U.N. The cable frames the initiative as advancing “America First” priorities, promoting private-sector-led development over humanitarian aid. It also directs diplomats to argue that foreign assistance has created dependency while encouraging governments to endorse the U.S.-backed statement. Adam Taylor reports for the Washington Post.
U.S CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC OPERATIONS
A U.S. military strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat yesterday killed three people. It was the third such strike in three days. Francesca Regalado reports for the New York Times.
Military planning for a possible Pentagon-led operation in Cuba is quietly ramping up, two sources told USA Today. The Pentagon said it plans for a range of contingencies and remains prepared to execute the president’s orders as directed. USA Today reports.
U.S. IMMIGRATION DEVELOPMENTS
The House of Representatives yesterday advanced legislation that would restore the legal status to thousands of Haitian immigrants in the United States. A handful of Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for the bill from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), who used the discharge petition maneuver to compel a vote on the legislation. The Senate is not expected to pass the bill. Eric Bazail Eimil reports for POLITICO.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Republican leaders yesterday postponed a debate and a procedural vote on FISA, as a bloc of conservatives threatened to tank the bill. Kate Santaliz reports for Axios.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
Trump yesterday threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell if he does not leave his role when his term ends. Trump also declined to direct the Justice Department to stand down from its investigation into the Fed’s $2.5 billion office renovation. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is blocking Trump’s Fed nominee Kevin Warsh until the probe is dropped. Andrew Ackerman reports for the Washington Post; Jordain Carney and Jasper Goodman report for POLITICO.
The Trump administration is asking U.S. manufacturers to increase their roles in military production, according to sources. Senior defense officials have held talks about producing weapons and other military supplies with the top executives of several companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor, the sources said. The Pentagon is interested in enlisting the companies as the wars in Ukraine and Iran deplete stocks. Sharon Terlep and Marcus Weisgerber report for the Wall Street Journal.
The Commission of Fine Arts is scheduled today to consider Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot arch on the other side of the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. Trump’s plan to build the giant arch – more than quadrupling its size from original plans – has alienated early proponents of the project, classical architects, and veterans groups who say it will diminish nearby Arlington Cemetery. Luke Broadwater and Zachary Small report for the New York Times.
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