The White House said President Trump warned he would ‘unleash hell’ on Iran if Tehran refuses a proposed deal to end the war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. U.S. officials described talks with Iran as continuing and ‘productive,’ even as Iranian state media and military spokespeople publicly rejected U.S. terms and mocked claims of meaningful negotiations.
Diplomatic and military developments
Iran rejected a 15-point U.S. plan delivered through an intermediary and offered a five-point counterproposal that reportedly called for an end to killings of Iranian officials, guarantees against further attacks, reparations, cessation of hostilities and formal recognition of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz—conditions U.S. officials say are unlikely to be accepted. Iranian state media labeled the U.S. terms ‘excessive and disconnected from reality.’
U.S. and allied leaders, including CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper, said the campaign is ‘on plan or ahead of plan,’ asserting that thousands of targets have been struck and that Iran’s naval and missile production capabilities have been severely degraded. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the campaign as pressure tied to negotiations, saying, ‘we negotiate with bombs.’ Reports say U.S. forces struck Iran’s Underwater Research Center, which Israel called Iran’s only submarine-making facility, and Israeli strikes targeted naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have fired missiles at Israel and at bases hosting U.S. forces in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. Lebanese authorities said fragments from a missile that exploded north of Beirut resembled an Iranian-made Qadr 110 that may have been headed toward Cyprus. Hezbollah rejected truce overtures, saying negotiating under fire would be ‘surrender,’ while Israel said it was expanding a buffer zone in Lebanon and reported intercepting rockets aimed at central Israel. Border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported no damage at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant after a projectile struck its premises; Iran said the plant and staff were unharmed. The UAE said it intercepted nine Iranian drones and that its air defenses have engaged hundreds of incoming missiles and drones since the conflict began.
U.S. politics and oversight
President Trump has sought to avoid the word ‘war’—citing the constitutional requirement for congressional authorization—preferring to call the campaign a ‘military operation,’ though he has at times described the fighting as a war and claimed it ‘has been won.’ Senate Democrats have held votes aiming to end U.S. offensive operations absent congressional authorization, but those measures have failed to pass.
Lawmakers have expressed frustration over access to information. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said members are not getting enough answers from the Pentagon after classified briefings. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) accused House Republicans of acting as a ‘rubber stamp’ for the administration after unsuccessful attempts to compel senior officials to testify. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the operation is ‘wrapping up’ and that objectives have been met, while denying plans for a large ground invasion even as additional U.S. troops are deployed.
Troops, casualties and regional reactions
CENTCOM reported nearly 300 U.S. service members wounded since the fighting began; most have returned to duty, though some remain seriously injured. The Pentagon plans to deploy elements of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East—including a command element and fewer than 1,500 ground forces. The death of Army Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, one of six U.S. soldiers killed in a strike in Kuwait, highlighted U.S. casualties tied to the conflict. Iraq condemned an airstrike it said hit a military clinic near Habbaniyah, killing and wounding service members and calling the attack a violation of international law.
International institutions and markets
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged an immediate end to the war, warning of widespread civilian harm, regional destabilization and global economic impacts, including disruptions to oil, gas and fertilizer supplies during a key planting season. Markets reacted to presidential statements about talks: oil futures fell more than 5% and major world indices rose on hopes of de-escalation, even as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed to most shipping.
Regional actors and militia activity
Hezbollah claimed dozens of attacks on Israeli forces and rockets fired at central Israel, with Israeli media reporting interceptions. Hezbollah’s leadership rejected negotiating under fire and called for national unity. Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned against testing Iranian resolve as U.S. troop movements continue; Iranian military voices derided U.S. negotiation claims as evidence of a failing strategy. Lebanon’s president proposed direct negotiations with Israel to end fighting; Israel rebuffed the initiative. Lebanon’s government faces pressure amid cross-border strikes and mounting instability.
Defense industry and logistics
The Pentagon announced framework agreements with major defense contractors—Honeywell, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems—to surge production of munitions, missile interceptors and critical components and to ‘put the defense industrial base on a wartime footing.’ Details on costs and funding mechanisms were not disclosed.
Information and scrutiny
Market regulators and analysts noted unusual trading activity in oil futures minutes before a market-moving presidential post about talks, prompting scrutiny and questions about potential insider trading. Iranian state and military media continued to portray U.S. actions as strategic failure and insisted Iran will shape any settlement on its own terms.
Outlook
U.S. officials say they are pressing Iran to accept terms to end hostilities while maintaining military pressure that they say has degraded Iranian capabilities. Tehran publicly rejects U.S. proposals and insists any settlement must meet its conditions. International leaders and the U.N. have appealed for restraint as fighting continues on multiple fronts and the risk of wider regional escalation persists.