Overview
- White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Thursday the U.S. is optimistic about a deal with Iran, even as key nuclear issues remain unresolved, after Pakistani mediation reported progress on “thorny” points.
- The U.S. is enforcing a unilateral maritime squeeze on Iranian ports, with CENTCOM citing more than 10,000 personnel and over a dozen warships and aircraft, which Washington says strengthens its bargaining leverage.
- Expectations for a Lebanon–Israel truce rose as President Donald Trump touted a leaders’ call set for Thursday, an Israeli minister backed the claim, and senior Lebanese officials said they had no notice of such a call as fighting persisted near Bint Jbeil.
- The first direct U.S.–Hamas meeting since the Gaza cease-fire took place Tuesday in Cairo, where Hamas pressed for fuller Israeli compliance on aid and airstrike pauses while Israel linked next steps to Hamas disarmament.
- Europe moved to boost a more Europe-led posture inside NATO, with reporting pointing to new German support, as regional actors also pursued stability through deals such as the UAE–Jordan $2.3 billion rail project to move minerals to Aqaba.