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%.

Lots of indications this morning that a decision has been made in Washington.

Senior defense and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia have arrived in the United States for talks on Iran this week as President Donald J. Trump considers military strikes, four sources with knowledge told Axios.

The Israelis came to Washington to share requested intelligence on possible targets inside Iran, with Israel’s Chief of Military Intelligence, Gen. Shlomi Binder, meeting Tuesday and Wednesday with senior officials at the Pentagon, the CIA and the White House.

The Saudis, meanwhile, are highly concerned about a potential regional war and are trying to help broker a diplomatic solution with Iran. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to hold meetings focusing on Iran at the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House - including with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, while Prince Khalid, the crown prince's younger brother and closest confidant, will be in Washington on Thursday and Friday.

The Mayor of Tehran, Alireza Zakani, has announced that underground parking lots and metro stations across the city will be transformed into “war shelters” in case of resumed hostilities with Israel and the United States.

The European Union has officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as an International Terrorist Organization.

Four KC-46A “Pegasus” Aerial-Refueling Tankers, going by the callsigns GOLD71.72.81.82, departed earlier from Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida heading east across the Atlantic, in addition to a KC-135R Stratotanker, GOLD73, from Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico. Accompanying the KC-46As and KC-135R across the pond are several F-35A Lightning lls with the Vermont Air National Guard and the remaining EA-18G “Growler” Electronic-Warfare Aircraft bound for Morón Air Base, with their final destination likely the Middle East.

Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, held calls today with his counterparts in Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as Iran scrambles to prevent new strikes by the United States.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke about Iran and Venezuela during today’s Cabinet Meeting alongside President Donald J. Trump and other senior members of the Trump Administration:

“Same thing with Iran right now, ensuring that they have all the options to make a deal, that they should not pursue nuclear capabilities. We will be prepared to deliver whatever this President expects of the War Department, just like we did this month.”

An Airbus A321-231 operated by Meraj Airlines and going by the callsign IRAN07, usually reserved for senior members of the Iranian Government, has departed Tehran within the last hour bound for Moscow, Russia.

The First Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, said earlier today during a speech to other government officials that Iran must be prepared for a “state of war,” stating that they are “ready to enter into negotiations,” but only if there are guarantees they will not be attacked during the diplomatic process by the United States.