President Trump said Saturday he is reviewing a new peace proposal submitted by Iran. Iranian state media reported Tehran delivered a 14-point proposal to the U.S. via Pakistani mediators. On the tarmac at Palm Beach, Trump said he had not yet seen the exact wording but was “looking at it up here” and would “let you know about it later.” He later posted on Truth Social that he would review the plan but doubted it would be acceptable because Iran has “not yet paid a big enough price” for its past actions.
Pakistani officials confirmed a revised Iranian response was conveyed to American officials. The proposal reportedly attempts to postpone detailed discussion of nuclear issues, a point President Trump has repeatedly rejected, insisting Iran must agree never to pursue a nuclear weapon.
Diplomacy and negotiation updates
– The White House confirmed Nick Stewart, a former lobbyist who served in the State Department during Trump’s first term, was added as an adviser to Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s team negotiating with Iran. Stewart joined a prior delegation to Islamabad led by Vice President J.D. Vance, Jared Kushner and Witkoff that failed to secure progress.
– Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, affirming Qatar’s support for mediation efforts and urging parties to create conditions for progress while stressing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
– The White House declined to directly confirm receiving Iran’s counter-proposal, saying it does not detail private diplomatic conversations. A White House spokeswoman reiterated that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon.
U.S. posture, legal and military developments
– Trump said the U.S. will “cut way down” its troop presence in Germany, signaling a drawdown larger than an initial Pentagon plan to remove about 5,000 forces. German officials said a drawdown had been expected and urged continued trans-Atlantic security cooperation.
– The Pentagon moved to withdraw roughly 5,000 U.S. forces from Germany, officials said, framing the action as a signal of discontent with European assistance in the U.S.-Iran war.
– The administration announced about $9 billion in weapons sales to Israel and Middle East allies, bypassing traditional congressional review by citing emergency sales. Items include tens of thousands of precision systems and missile-defense equipment for Qatar and Kuwait.
– Reports surfaced that Trump had been briefed on new operational plans for potential strikes on Iran; Iranian commanders warned any new attacks would be met with “sustained, wide-ranging, and painful retaliation.” A senior Iranian officer said renewed fighting with the U.S. was “likely.”
War Powers dispute and congressional tensions
– As the Iran conflict hit the 60-day mark under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Trump told congressional leaders that “hostilities” had “terminated,” arguing the ceasefire paused the 60-day clock. Opponents in Congress, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, rejected that claim and urged action.
– Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other administration officials have argued the ceasefire halts the War Powers clock; some Republicans have called for either winding down operations or seeking formal congressional authorization.
Maritime actions and Strait of Hormuz
– U.S. Central Command said 48 Iranian ships have been forced to turn around by the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz over the prior 20 days, with the blockade remaining in effect until a deal is reached. Trump called the blockade akin to “pirates” but defended it as necessary.
– The U.S. Navy interdicted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska last month; Trump described the seizure in colorful terms, saying the U.S. “took over the ship” and “took over the cargo.”
– The U.S. Treasury warned shippers not to pay Iran a “toll” for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, cautioning that such payments could violate U.S. sanctions regardless of payment method.
– The U.K. Royal Navy warned the “Hormuz stand-off” had reduced shipping traffic by more than 90%, causing severe disruptions to international trade and humanitarian supply chains and putting seafarers at risk.
Lebanon and Israel: strikes, casualties, and damage
– Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least seven people in a Saturday wave of attacks, and Lebanon’s health ministry reported more than 2,600 dead since March 2, with thousands injured. Lebanon said the toll had reached 2,659 in one update.
– Israel issued evacuation warnings for residents of multiple southern villages and said it destroyed more than 40 Hezbollah infrastructure sites in one day. Hezbollah and Israel have repeatedly accused each other of violating a ceasefire brokered in mid-April.
– In the border village of Yaroun, the Israeli military used bulldozers that damaged parts of a Catholic convent, according to Lebanese church officials. The Israeli military said it was destroying Hezbollah infrastructure and did not intentionally strike religious institutions; the Catholic Church denied the compound was used for military purposes.
– The Israeli Defense Forces ordered evacuations across southern Lebanon; more than a million people have been displaced, Lebanese authorities say. Israel says it targets Hezbollah and takes measures to avoid civilian harm.
Humanitarian and global economic impacts
– The U.N. Refugee Agency warned the Iran war was causing “major disruptions to global humanitarian supply chains,” citing higher transport costs, delays, and instability in key maritime routes. UNHCR said some shipment costs have doubled and delivery times increased when rerouting around African capes.
– Gasoline prices in the U.S. rose amid Strait of Hormuz gridlock, with national averages climbing; Brent crude briefly spiked above $126 per barrel before easing.
– Wall Street stocks remained resilient, with gains on strong corporate results and hopes for renewed U.S.-Iran talks.
Other regional developments and incidents
– Iran dismissed the U.S. legal rationale for the war as not constituting “self-defense,” with Foreign Ministry officials arguing the U.S. action was aggression.
– Spain and Brazil accused Israel of “kidnapping” two activists captured from a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters; dozens of activists were intercepted and some disembarked in Crete.
– Dozens of activists from the flotilla were detained and later seen disembarking on Crete; Israel said two high-profile activists were being taken to Israel for questioning.
– The U.S. sanctioned Chinese-linked entities and vessels accused of facilitating Iranian oil exports to China, including a petroleum terminal operator and tanker management firms.
– The United Arab Emirates banned citizens from traveling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, urging those present to return.
– The U.S. Embassy in Beirut urged Lebanon to pursue talks with Israel, saying a direct meeting between leaders, facilitated by the U.S., could secure guarantees on sovereignty, borders, humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
Casualties and local incidents
– Lebanese authorities reported hundreds killed and thousands wounded in recent strikes; Israel reported dozens of casualties on its side from Iranian and Hezbollah attacks since the wider conflict began.
– Reports indicated specific attacks on southern Lebanese villages, orders for evacuations, and ongoing displacement for civilians. Both sides have reported smaller-scale incidents and mutual accusations of ceasefire breaches.
Domestic U.S. political notes
– Trump framed critics who say the U.S. is not winning as “treasonous” in a Florida speech, and asserted the U.S. has “already won” but seeks greater guarantees that Iran will never have nuclear weapons.
– Lawmakers pressed administration officials on the composition of negotiating teams, questioning the absence of on-site nuclear experts and the addition of political and policy advisers.
Outlook
– Negotiations continue amid a fragile ceasefire, maritime blockades, and military posturing. Iran’s revised proposal and U.S. response will shape whether talks resume in earnest or whether military options return to the forefront. Both sides and regional actors signaled cautious engagement even as violence and humanitarian strains persist.