Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, has joined the list of Iranian officials making threats of retaliation today directed at Israel and the United States, stating that the Armed Forced of Iran are “prepared - with their fingers on the trigger - to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea.” However, Araghchi does leave open the possibility of negotiations and potential deal with the United States, claiming, “Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL - on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation - which ensures Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS.”

According to U.S. and European officials involved in the ongoing negotiations who spoke to the New York Times, three demands have been given to the Iranians to prevent potential military actions by the United States, these include:

- Permanent end to all enrichment of uranium at sites throughout Iran.
- Limits on the range and number of long-range ballistic missiles maintained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
- End to all support for proxy groups in the Middle East, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis operating in Yemen.

Fighterbomber, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Russian Air Force, has made a post suggesting the loss of an Su-34 “Fullback” Fighter-Bomber/Strike Aircraft.

Ukrainian channels confirm that an Su-34 Fighter-Bomber with the Russian Air Force was downed by Ukraine today over the Black Sea, resulting in the death of both aviators, with the aircraft said to have been shot down off the coast of the Odesa Oblast.

Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has announced the immediate implementation of directives under Presidential Decree No. 13, issued by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, granting Syrian citizenship and rights to Kurds in Northeastern Syria that were previously denied under the Government of Bashar al-Assad.

A U.S. Air Force C-5M “Super Galaxy” Strategic Heavy-Lift Aircraft is currently crossing Saudi Arabia bound for Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, possibly carrying air-defense systems and/or other equipment from Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Interestingly, the C-5M arrived at Ramstein earlier this week from MacDill Air Force Base, which houses the Headquarters for both U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

France has now joined the rest of the European Union in supporting the inclusion of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the EU Terrorist List, opening the door for further sanctions and restrictions on both the IRGC and the Iranian Government.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Iran has already signaled a rejection to some of terms for negotiations set by the United States, which include a complete ban to the enrichment of uranium, limits on long-range ballistic missiles, and an end to support for proxy groups across the Middle East. A senior Iranian official said Tehran would not compromise on its right to continue enrichment for civilian purposes or to maintain its long-range missile arsenal, which it considers necessary for its defense, specifically against Israel.

President Donald J. Trump is weighing a major new round of strikes against Iran after preliminary discussions between Washington and Tehran over limiting the country’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production failed to make progress, people familiar with the matter tell CNN.

Options that President Trump is now considering include military airstrikes aimed at Iranian leaders and the security officials believed to be responsible for the killing of protesters during recent anti-government protests, as well as strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and government institutions, the sources said. Trump has not made a final decision on how to proceed, but he believes his military options have been expanded from earlier this month now that the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and her Carrier Strike Group have arrived in the Middle East.

Heavy gunfire and explosions reported within the last hour around Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger.

Passengers and staff seen taking cover, amid some kind of attack against Diori Hamani International Airport in the Nigerien capital of Niamey.

Flights to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey are being diverted to other airports in West Africa.

The United States is planning to move one or more Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems to the Middle East in the coming days, in order to bolster the several air-defense systems already deployed to the region and to protect U.S. Forces from potential retaliation in response to strikes against Iran, multiple sources have told CNN.

During the Twelve-Day War last June between Israel and Iran, the U.S. Army expended over 150 THAAD Interceptors, 25% of its inventory, defending Israel from ballistic missiles launched by Iran and the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. In 2024 and 2025, the U.S. only procured 23 Interceptors, and are expected to receive around 37 in 2026.

Despite anti-government protests in Iran having been, for the most part, over now for at least two weeks, following a brutal crackdown by security forces which resulted in thousands of deaths, President Donald J. Trump is weighing military options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces and leadership to inspire protesters and create conditions for possible “regime change,” multiple sources have told Reuters.

President Donald J. Trump and Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer moved Wednesday night toward a possible agreement to negotiate new restrictions on federal immigration agents, potentially averting a government shutdown early Saturday, according to two officials knowledgeable about the discussions who spoke to the New York Times.

Under the emerging plan, the Senate would split off legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security from a six-bill package of spending measures needed to keep the military, health programs and other federal agencies funded for the remainder of the fiscal year, which would all be passed by Friday. The bill, considered a stopgap, would allow the White House and lawmakers time to draft a separate homeland security spending bill that would include new restrictions that Democrats have demanded on the tactics of immigration enforcement officers; including a ban on masks, requiring officers to wear body cameras, and a halt to random sweeps and warrantless searches and arrests, following this past weekend’s deadly shooting in Minneapolis.

Despite reports of talks between the White House and Democrats to prevent a full shutdown, traders on Polymarket are continuing to predict that the U.S. Government will once again enter a shutdown on Saturday, with current chances sitting at 69%.