CNN: The US military intercepted multiple ballistic missiles fired by Iran in an attempted “surprise attack” on US forces in the Middle East, US Central Command said this evening. The attack came roughly a day after President Donald Trump said the US had halted strikes on Iran.
Diplomatic activity: Trump met earlier today with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The Israeli leader described the meeting as “one of the best conversations” they’ve had, citing close coordination on Iran and other security issues…
Behind Closed Doors, Trump Huddles With Netanyahu and Zelensky
The visits by the leaders of Israel and Ukraine underscored just how deeply President Trump was enmeshed in conflicts he had promised — and failed — to end quickly…
Netanyahu Finds Diminished Welcome From Trump as Iran War Drags On
Facing mounting criticism at home ahead of upcoming elections, Netanyahu had sought for months to get a meeting with Trump. He arrived in Washington with significantly less clout and influence than he had on past visits, officials said, and came highly attuned to what the president would want to discuss—or what would set him off. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s recent death was also a major blow to the Israeli leader, as the South Carolina Republican had long served as an intermediary between Netanyahu and Trump…
Iran Considered Retaliatory Strike on Ukrainian Seaport
Iran considered attacking a seaport in Ukraine in response to a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian ship, but a flurry of diplomacy has calmed the situation for now, according to Iranian and Western officials…
Houthis Claim Strike on Another Saudi Oil Tanker
It was at least the fourth oil tanker to be attacked since the militia announced that it would blockade shipping to and from Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. A monitoring group run by the British navy said, hours after the Houthi claim, that a tanker heard an explosion while transiting the Red Sea and all crew members were safe…
Regime change? Inside Reza Pahlavi’s faltering bid to lead Iran
The son of Iran’s last shah says the Islamic Republic is on the brink of collapse and he is the bridge to a democratic future. But he’s contending with violence by some supporters, discontent among donors and rejection by the Trump administration…
China in touch with Yemen’s Houthis to allow ships to sail through Red Sea, sources say
Beijing has asked the Houthis directly to promise safe passage for its tankers, according to the sources, who included a senior Iranian official.
China was among the first countries to contact the Houthis directly about transits through Bab el-Mandeb, the strait at the southern end of the Red Sea with Yemen on its eastern bank, said the sources, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter…
Oman presents Iran with Gulf-backed plan for voluntary fees to use Hormuz
Oman has presented Iran with a plan backed by Gulf states to manage the Strait of Hormuz, including collecting voluntary fees for using it, a Gulf source and a Western diplomat told Reuters on Tuesday.
…But a U.S. official on Tuesday again rejected the idea of tolls or fees for ships transiting the strait, reiterating that it is an international waterway that should be free of Iranian control or restrictions. The official told Reuters that the deal under discussion would not include any tolls or fees…
It has quietly rebuilt economic and diplomatic ties while also deepening defence links to Israel and the US…
Iran Publicly Hangs 2 Protesters, Rights Groups Say
Human rights activists say the Iranian government has been rapidly escalating executions. The latest prompted public protest, videos appear to show…