Pentagon sends 10,000 more troops to Middle East as ground operations on Iranian soil enter planning.
Rubio orders U.S. diplomats to push “trade over aid” U.N. declaration rejecting humanitarian assistance as creating dependency.
Treasury Secretary Bessent warns foreign banks of Iran sanctions he calls “financial equivalent” of bombing campaign.
Trump turns on ally Meloni after Italian prime minister defended Pope Leo and suspended Israel’s military partnership, calling her “unacceptable.”
U.S. claims full naval blockade of Iranian ports within 36 hours as Lebanon and Israel hold first direct talks in three decades.
Vance, a Catholic convert who wrote a book about his faith, says Pope Leo should stay out of American political affairs after criticizing the Iran war.
Trump refuses to apologize to Pope Leo and insists his deleted AI self-portrait was “supposed to be me as a doctor,” not a depiction of Jesus.
Trump launches blockade of all Iranian ports on war day 47 and threatens to destroy approaching warships while both sides quietly pursue new peace talks.
Trump orders U.S. Navy to blockade Iranian ports after peace talks fail, prompting all shipping to stop in the Strait of Hormuz, passage for 20% of global oil.
Vance leaves Pakistan after 21-hour face-to-face talks with Iran collapse over Tehran’s refusal to abandon nuclear weapons.
Vance departs for Islamabad peace talks as Iran’s lead negotiator demands Lebanon ceasefire and unfrozen assets before negotiations can begin.
Cuban President Díaz-Canel tells NBC he won’t step down under U.S. pressure as Washington leverages oil embargo in diplomatic talks.
Two-day-old Iran ceasefire falters as Kuwait reports drone attacks, Saudi Arabia reveals major pipeline damage, and Israeli strikes kill 300 in Lebanon.
Trump hosts NATO chief Rutte at White House, says he is “clearly disappointed” allies refused to join Iran war and renews threat to leave alliance.
Day-old Iran ceasefire nears collapse as Israel kills 182 in Lebanon’s deadliest day and both sides dispute Strait of Hormuz status.
Pope Leo XIV calls Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” truly unacceptable and urges citizens worldwide to contact political leaders and demand peace.
Trump phones into a Budapest rally where Vance is campaigning for Hungarian PM Orban five days before an election polls show Orban is set to lose.
Trump suspends threatened strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants after Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire, but Iran keeps firing and Israel says the deal excludes its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump faults Japan, South Korea and Australia for not joining the Iran war despite decades of U.S. military protection commitments.
Trump dismisses war crime concerns, vows to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants by Tuesday night if Hormuz stays closed.
Three Gulf sovereign wealth funds near deal to provide almost a third of the $81 billion backing Paramount’s takeover of CNN parent Warner Bros. Discovery.
Appeals court reinstates $656 million judgment against the PLO and Palestinian Authority over attacks that killed or wounded Americans in Israel.
Congo becomes at least the eighth African nation to accept U.S. deportees under third-country deals that have cost $40 million for roughly 300 migrants.
Trump’s Easter post calls Iranians “crazy bastards,” demands they “open the fuckin’ Strait” by Tuesday or face bombing, signs off “Praise be to Allah.”
Trump vows to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges Tuesday if Strait of Hormuz stays closed, as overnight airstrikes kill dozens across Tehran.
Rubio revokes green cards of slain Iranian commander Soleimani’s niece and grand-niece living in Los Angeles, both now in ICE custody.
U.S. rescues missing crew member from downed F-15E on day 38 as Trump gives Iran 48 hours to reopen Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian drone strike on U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused far more damage than disclosed, hitting the CIA station and burning for half a day.
Iran shoots down two U.S. warplanes, a first in the five-week war, leaving one crew member missing two days after Trump declared Iran “decimated.”
Trump’s sons pitch drone interceptors to Gulf states under Iranian attack, positioning their company to profit from the war their father launched.
Oil surges past $110 a barrel as Austria and Spain close airspace to U.S. military flights on day 36 of the Iran war.
Trump lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez, whom Treasury sanctioned in 2018 for helping Maduro “solidify his authoritarian rule.”
Trump tells nation Iran war objectives are “nearing completion” but offers no exit plan, no Hormuz deadline mention, and threatens two more weeks of bombing.
Iran launches three missile barrages at Israel as 82nd Airborne troops arrive and a third carrier strike group deploys on day 35 of the war.
Trump schedules primetime address on the Iran war after telling reporters U.S. forces will leave in “two or three weeks,” as NBC reports he has repeatedly rejected off-ramps to end the conflict.
Gas tops $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 as Iran war enters day 34, with 348 American troops wounded and a third aircraft carrier deploying to the region.
Trump threatens to destroy Iran’s power grid, oil wells, and water supply unless a deal is reached “shortly,” as Gulf allies push for ground invasion.
Trump reverses Cuba oil blockade, says he has “no problem” with sanctioned Russian tanker delivering 730,000 barrels to the fuel-starved island.
Pakistan will host U.S.-Iran talks as Iran declares homes of American and Israeli officials in the Middle East legitimate military targets.
Houthis launch two missile attacks on Israel on day 30, opening a new front as Iranian strikes wound 15 more U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia.
Trump tells Saudi investment forum the U.S. has Iran “on the run,” warns Cuba is “next,” and says Saudi crown prince “didn’t think he would be kissing my ass.”
Elon Musk joined Trump’s phone call with India’s Modi about the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz, two U.S. officials confirm.
Rubio accuses Zelenskyy of lying about U.S. position on Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas, saying Washington relayed Russia’s demands but isn’t advocating for them.
Iran-linked hackers breach FBI Director Patel’s personal email weeks after he vowed to “hunt” the group and offered $10 million for information on its members.
Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear production plants as Iranian missile attack wounds 10 U.S. troops and damages aircraft at Saudi base one month into war.
Judge weighs allowing Venezuela to pay Maduro’s legal fees after prosecutors argue U.S. sanctions block the funding and suggest a public defender.
Trump again delays threatened strike on Iran’s energy plants, pushing deadline to April 6 after Wall Street posts worst day of the war.
Iran rejects Trump’s 15-point ceasefire plan and issues counterproposal demanding war reparations and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz on day 27.
Trump appoints Australian-born internet provocateur Nick Adams as special presidential envoy for tourism, exceptionalism and American values.
Trump offers Iran a 15-point ceasefire plan through Pakistani intermediaries while deploying 1,000 troops from the Army’s emergency response force to the Middle East.
