President Trump delayed a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and announced he had instructed the U.S. military to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, citing “very good and productive conversations.” He said the U.S. and Iran would speak “today” and that a face-to-face meeting could follow soon. The White House said points had been conveyed to Tehran “through mediators,” and a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official told CBS News the messages were under review. Iran’s government, however, has repeatedly denied direct talks with U.S. officials and said messages were received from “friendly countries.”
The decision to hold off on attacks eased immediate market fears. Global oil prices, which had surged after the war began, fell sharply after Trump’s announcement, though they remain well above pre-war levels. U.S. and global stock indices rallied: the Dow jumped over 1,000 points at one session after the delay, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also posted notable gains.
Military and security developments
– The U.S. Central Command reported it has struck more than 9,000 Iranian targets and flown roughly 9,000 combat flights since the war began, including attacks on naval vessels, missile sites, drone and missile manufacturing facilities, and intelligence sites.
– U.S. officials say current intelligence indicates at least about a dozen Iranian mines are deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, posing continued hazards to shipping.
– Iran’s National Defense Council warned it would deploy naval mines across access routes in the Persian Gulf if attacked and said the only safe passage would be “coordination” with Tehran. The council also threatened decisive retaliation against energy infrastructure across the region if Iran’s facilities are struck.
– U.S. troop movements continue: additional Marine Expeditionary units and elements of the 82nd Airborne are being positioned in the region, with no change in deployment plans announced.
Attacks, strikes, and casualties
– Iran launched repeated missile and drone barrages at Israel and Gulf states. Iranian state media reported fresh waves of missiles aimed at Israel; some projectiles reportedly passed through Israeli air defenses. Israeli authorities showed images of damaged buildings in northern Israel and reported wounded civilians in earlier strikes.
– Israeli strikes struck an apartment building near Beirut, killing at least two people and wounding five, according to Lebanese health authorities. Israel also targeted multiple sites in southern Lebanon, including fuel stations it says support Hezbollah.
– Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported airstrikes hit two energy sites in Isfahan and a gas pipeline serving Khorramshahr power plant, though neither the U.S. nor Israel publicly claimed responsibility for those strikes.
Regional and international response
– Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said messages from Washington seeking negotiations were delivered through third countries; Tehran reiterated it would respond consistent with its positions and warned of severe consequences for attacks on critical infrastructure.
– Pakistan has been active as a potential intermediary, with senior Pakistani officials contacting Iranian leaders to broker communication between Tehran and Washington. Islamabad has also proposed itself as a possible venue for talks.
– Britain is deploying short-range air defense systems to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia and has increased military presence and air defense support across the Gulf. The U.K. also sent the HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean to protect Cyprus.
– China called on the U.S. and Israel to halt operations and warned against a spiraling “vicious cycle” that could plunge the region into chaos.
– NATO leaders and other Western officials have been in contact with the U.S. as allies coordinate responses.
Humanitarian and infrastructure concerns
– The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that attacks on essential civilian infrastructure—energy, water, healthcare—amount to attacks on civilians and cautioned of irreversible consequences, including risks to nuclear facilities.
– Iran’s security services said they arrested dozens of people they described as operatives linked to opposition groups and alleged espionage networks, accused of monitoring and transmitting footage of sites struck in the conflict.
Energy markets and outlook
– The International Energy Agency head warned the conflict poses a “major, major threat” to the global economy, with effects on oil and gas markets surpassing past shocks. Much of the world’s crude and LNG transits the Strait of Hormuz; disruptions have pushed countries to burn more polluting fuels like coal in the short term, even as analysts say the crisis could accelerate long-term investment in domestic renewables.
– Qatar said it is slashing LNG export capacity after Iranian attacks and warned of the possibility of force majeure on some long-term LNG contracts.
Other notable items
– The USS Gerald R. Ford arrived at a U.S. naval base in Crete for repairs after a fire onboard earlier this month; the carrier had been operating in the Red Sea.
– The UAE reported it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and drones in recent waves of attacks, and said hundreds of incoming weapons have been intercepted since the start of the conflict.
– The U.S. State Department arranged bus services for Americans to travel overland from Israel to Amman amid flight restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport.
Outlook
Trump set a five-day window tied to the ongoing “conversations,” saying a deal remained possible but warning that if talks fail, military pressure would continue. Iran has insisted it will not accept conditions imposed by Washington and has warned of severe retaliation for strikes on its energy infrastructure. Diplomatic activity by regional and global powers is intensifying as leaders seek to prevent further escalation while managing severe economic and humanitarian risks.