President Trump called off a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and told reporters he had instructed U.S. forces to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. He described recent contacts as “very good and productive conversations,” said the two sides would speak “today,” and left open the possibility of a face-to-face meeting soon. The White House said messages had been passed to Tehran “through mediators.” Iranian officials told CBS News those messages were under review, while Iran’s government also repeatedly denied direct talks with U.S. representatives and said the contacts came via “friendly countries.”
Markets reacted quickly to the pause. Global oil prices, which rose sharply after the war began, fell after the announcement though they remain above pre-conflict levels. U.S. and international stock indexes rebounded: the Dow at one point climbed more than 1,000 points, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also posting gains.
Military and security developments
– U.S. Central Command reported striking more than 9,000 Iranian targets and flying roughly 9,000 combat flights since the war began, including assaults on naval vessels, missile sites, drone and missile manufacturing facilities, and intelligence installations.
– U.S. intelligence officials say roughly a dozen Iranian mines are believed to be deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, continuing to threaten commercial shipping.
– Iran’s National Defense Council warned it would lay naval mines across Persian Gulf access routes if attacked, saying the only safe passage would be through “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 forces and elements of the 82nd Airborne are being positioned in the region, though no changes to official deployment plans were 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 toward Israel, with some projectiles reportedly breaching or testing Israeli air defenses. Israeli authorities released images of damaged buildings in northern Israel and said civilians were wounded in earlier strikes.
– Israeli strikes hit an apartment building near Beirut, killing at least two people and wounding five, according to Lebanese health authorities. Israel also struck multiple sites in southern Lebanon, including fuel stations it said were supporting Hezbollah.
– Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported airstrikes on two energy sites in Isfahan and damage to a gas pipeline serving the Khorramshahr power plant; neither the U.S. nor Israel publicly accepted responsibility for those attacks.
Regional and international response
– Tehran reiterated that messages from Washington came through third countries, said it would respond in line with its established positions, and warned that strikes on critical infrastructure would bring severe consequences.
– Pakistan has been active as a potential intermediary, with senior officials contacting Iranian leaders to help broker communication and offering itself as a possible venue for talks.
– Britain is deploying short-range air-defense systems to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, has increased its military presence and air-defense support across the Gulf, and sent the HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus.
– China urged the U.S. and Israel to halt operations and warned against a spiraling “vicious cycle” that could plunge the region into chaos. NATO and other Western leaders have been in contact with Washington 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 could have irreversible consequences, including heightened risks to nuclear facilities.
– Iran’s security services said they had 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 during the conflict.
Energy markets and outlook
– The head of the International Energy Agency warned the conflict poses a “major, major threat” to the global economy, with effects on oil and gas markets that could outstrip past shocks. Much of the world’s crude and LNG transits the Strait of Hormuz; disruptions have pushed some countries to burn more polluting fuels like coal in the short term and may accelerate long-term investment in domestic renewables.
– Qatar said it is cutting LNG export capacity after Iranian attacks and warned that force majeure could be declared on some long-term LNG contracts.
Other notable developments
– The USS Gerald R. Ford arrived at a U.S. naval base in Crete for repairs after a recent onboard fire; the carrier had been operating in the Red Sea.
– The UAE reported intercepting multiple ballistic missiles and drones in recent attack waves and said hundreds of incoming weapons have been intercepted since the start of the conflict.
– The U.S. State Department arranged bus services to help Americans travel overland from Israel to Amman amid flight restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport.
Outlook
President Trump tied the five-day pause to ongoing “conversations,” saying a diplomatic deal remained possible but warning that military pressure would resume if talks failed. Iran has insisted it will not accept conditions imposed by Washington and has again warned of severe retaliation if its energy infrastructure is struck. Diplomatic activity by regional and global powers is intensifying as leaders try to prevent further escalation while managing mounting economic and humanitarian risks.