Overview
- President Donald Trump said he was “an hour away” from ordering strikes before Gulf Arab leaders persuaded him on Tuesday to delay for a few days to let negotiators try to reach a deal.
- U.S. maritime pressure has forced the rerouting of many commercial ships and CENTCOM says forces have redirected 89 vessels and disabled four while shipping data shows two Chinese supertankers recently transited the Strait of Hormuz.
- Pakistan and Gulf states are mediating indirect talks but Iran’s publicly reported demands for sanctions relief, frozen assets and an end to the U.S. naval blockade remain at odds with core U.S. objectives.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that renewed attacks would expand the conflict “beyond the region” and Iranian leaders threatened heavy retaliation if the U.S. and Israel resume strikes.
- The U.S. Senate moved to constrain presidential war powers as rising fuel costs and voter pressure increase political limits on Washington’s military options.