President Donald Trump gathered his top security advisers Tuesday at the White House, as the U.S. military increased firepower in the Middle East amid ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran. “He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment,” Vice President JD Vance said in a post Tuesday on X. A U.S. attack on Iran could have major consequences for Trump’s presidency and the region. Trump left the Group of Seven summit in Canada a day early to decide whether to join Israel in an effort to destroy Iran’s key underground nuclear facilities — or go in a different direction by engaging in last-minute diplomacy with Tehran in a bid to impair its ability to build a nuclear weapon, U.S. officials said. Trump told reporters on Air Force One early Tuesday morning that he was “looking for better than ceasefire” and wants “a real end” to Iran’s nuclear program….
…
- President Donald Trump said early Tuesday that he wants a “real end” to the Israel-Iran crisis rather than a ceasefire, after he departed early from the Group of Seven summit in Canada to be in Washington. Israel and Iran traded fire for a fifth-consecutive day, with Israeli authorities reporting injuries in central Israel and Iranian media reporting explosions and heavy air-defense fire in Tehran.
- U.S. officials told The Washington Post late Monday that the Pentagon is expanding its military presence in the Middle East to increase the options available to commanders, should U.S. assets in the region face a direct threat.
- Iran fired about 30 missiles toward central Israel on Tuesday morning, injuring at least 12 people, according to Israel’s military and emergency services. Tehran claimed it inflicted strategic damage. Nadav Shoshani, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, told The Washington Post that Iran’s overnight attacks were the “least impactful night … since the beginning of this operation.”
- Iranian media reported explosions and heavy air defense fire in Tehran and explosions in the northwestern city of Tabriz. On Tuesday afternoon, Iran’s military announced attacks against Israel involving hundreds of drones and “new and advanced weapons” that it said will “intensify in the coming hours,” according to statements published by state media.
- President Donald Trump departed the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday night — a day earlier than planned — “because of what’s going on in the Middle East,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, without providing further details. Trump signed a joint statement with other G-7 leaders calling for a resolution to the Israel-Iran crisis that would involve “a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.”
…
Iran wants to talk , but wants attacks to stop….
THAT is unlikely to occur…..
A Look at the Middle East, in the whole…..
Iranian officials have told mediators they are open to resuming nuclear talks with the United States, but they first want Israel to stop its attacks, two officials briefed on the matter said Monday, as fighting between the regional archrivals continued for a fourth day.
Tehran’s position, one official said, was that, “we never left the negotiating table, but no negotiations while we are under fire.” Oman and Qatar were leading efforts to begin ceasefire talks, the second official said — part of a frantic drive by Persian Gulf states to tamp down the intensifying conflict on their doorstep that began Friday, when Israel began striking Iran. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
The escalating conflict has fed a growing dread in the Persian Gulf, fueled by the region’s proximity to the conflict, memories of terrible wars past and confusion over how far Israel, Iran and the Trump administration are willing to escalate. President Donald Trump on Monday indicated he had received messages that Iran was seeking to halt the fighting, but did not say whether he had asked Israel to stop or divulge whether the United States intended to intervene militarily on Israel’s behalf….
…
Now, gulf states have been left to wonder what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government intends, as Israel broadens its target list and offers shifting accounts of its war aims: from degrading Iran’s nuclear program to welcoming, if not pushing for, regime change…
…
Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political scientist in the United Arab Emirates, said the crisis had presented the gulf with “challenges and opportunities.”
A weakened Iran was “good for the region,” he said, citing Tehran’s funding of regional proxies and decades of “expansion.” But Israel was emerging “more emboldened” militarily, to the detriment of the region, including the Palestinians, whose plight “won’t be solved anytime soon,” he said.
The idea that Iran’s government would collapse was “wishful thinking in Tel Aviv and many quarters of the region,” he said. When the hostilities end, it is likely that Iran “is going to look inward” rather than try to project its power regionally, he said.
“Everyone is talking to everyone” to end the fighting, he said. “The phones are burning.”
Those who assumed people in the gulf were happy with the strikes against Iran “should think twice,” Saif said. “This is such an intertwined, interconnected region.”
Gulf states are also bracing to see how Iran’s response will evolve, especially if it feels the government’s survival is at stake. The worries are for the days ahead — if Tehran lashes out at targets beyond Israel — and for the aftermath, amid fears that Iran, acutely aware of its insecurity, might double down on its nuclear program….
…
US Military buildup in the region….
The Pentagon is expanding its military presence in the Middle East and Europe in response to worsening hostilities between Israel and Iran, U.S. officials said Monday, sending refueling planes and an additional aircraft carrier among the resources dispatched.
More than two dozen tanker planes were deployed from the United States to Europe on Sunday and Monday, a movement that U.S. officials linked to commanders’ desire for options should American facilities near the warring countries face a direct threat. Flight-tracking data shows the refueling aircraft along with some heavy transport jets took off from points across the U.S. and landed hours later at air bases in Spain, Greece, Germany, Italy and Scotland. Among them were KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46 Pegasuses….
…
The Navy, meanwhile, has canceled a port stop in Vietnam for the USS Nimitz, sending that aircraft carrier and other warships escorting it to the Middle East more quickly than had been expected, defense officials said. The Nimitz, carrying about 5,000 sailors and dozens of fighter jets, on Monday was making its way west through the Strait of Malacca and is expected to head across the Indian Ocean to join U.S. warships already in the Middle East….
…
President Trump disregards his own National Intelligence Director on Iran Nukes….
President Trump on Tuesday said Iran was “very close” to having a nuclear weapon, despite March testimony from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that Tehran was not building one….
…
When pressed on Gabbard’s assessment by reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump replied, “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having” a nuclear weapon.
- Trump has repeatedly stressed the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. Israel wants the administration’s help by joining the war against Iran to destroy its nuclear program.
- Gabbard, during her opening remarks at a House Intelligence Committee hearing in late March, said that “[t]he IC continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme leader Khomeini has not authorized the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003.”
- She added, “We continue to monitor closely if Tehran decides to reauthorize its nuclear weapons program.”
What they’re saying: A senior intelligence official told Axios’ Marc Caputo that Trump’s statement does not conflict with Gabbard’s testimony because he said the Iranians are “very close” to getting a nuclear weapon and she had said that Iran doesn’t yet have one….
Update….
Bipartisan lawmakers to introduce resolution to prohibit US involvement in Iran
A bipartisan group of House members on Tuesday introduced a war powers resolution to prohibit U.S. involvement in Iran as its conflict with Israel intensifies, signaling they may force a vote on the matter.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who is one of the most outspoken libertarian-leaning Republicans advocating against U.S. military intervention abroad, posted on the social media site X on Monday that he would introduce such a resolution on Tuesday…..
Note….
Donald Trump has NEVERE had much use or respect for the US Intelligence Community…
Even if it’s his…..
He’s a ‘by his gut feelings’ guy ….
image…Smoke rises after a reported Israeli strike Monday on a building in Tehran used by an Iranian state broadcaster…Getty
A few thoughts……
The US HAS to have/is assisted Israel up to now militarily……
The attack’s in Western Iran would require aerial refueling that the US Air Force does….
Specific intelligence in real time would require IS satellite access….
Munitions after a day or two would require replacement….
My feeling IS that OF COURSE Netanyahu wants America to join his actions….
More muscle…..
Less Israeli stuff needed….
But?
I’m sure some old timer sitting in the National Security meeting IS gonna mention how Jimmy Carter got screwed when Iran took hostages….
Trump can’t do what Israel is doing and shuffle the hostages to the side….
This one is gonna be Trump’s Hardest decision….
And he’s NOT GOOD at making decisions
We don’t have an Embassy in Iran and have not since 1979. Iran is not going to be taking American hostages. “American hostages” are not part of any consideration. If Iran were to somehow take an American hostage, that would not turn out very well for Iran.
Interesting reality you inhabit.
Ok ur right……
Only a virtual one …….
But?
There HAS TO BE Americans living IN Iran
The State Department actually told them to leave that country
So?
Of course there could develop a Iran held American situation
Any Americans still in Iran ?
Are damn fools and deserve what they get.
Get the Hell out!Now!
As in Israel, Iran and even Russia…..
Shooting conflicts DO cut off means of escape
Per PoliticalWire the GOP hawks are winning over Trump.
Makes sense.
Middle East Forever War is the GOP factory setting.
Post later on how Hegseth is out of the loop on this…..
Trump ain’t listening to HIS Intelligence Community either….
Continues to ‘Feelance’ running his government