According to a source close to the Trump administration speaking to Israel Hayom, President Donald J. Trump remains firm on four key objectives ahead of this week’s talks with Iran: • Full abandonment of Iran’s nuclear program • An end to the long-range ballistic missile program • Termination of funding for proxy groups across the Middle East • Respectful and lawful treatment of demonstrators involved in the early January anti-regime protests

Saudi Arabia and Turkey released a joint statement in which they: • Rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland • Reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity • Opposed any attempt to divide Yemen • Rejected the UAE-backed RSF’s self-declared government in Sudan • Called for Israel’s immediate withdrawal from Syria

Israel has asked the United States for “operational freedom” to carry out unilateral military action against Iran, according to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, as President Donald J. Trump appears to favor diplomacy over direct strikes on the Islamic Republic. In my view, there is little to no chance that President Trump would grant Israel a green light to strike Iran while genuinely pursuing a diplomatic path. Even if the U.S. did not participate directly in any attack, American military assets would almost certainly be needed to help defend Israel in the aftermath.

The House narrowly passed a $1.2 trillion funding bill by a 217–214 vote, ending the partial government shutdown and sending the measure to President Trump, who has said he will sign it into law. View quoted note →

🚨 U.S. House has passed the government funding bill, sending it to U.S. President Donald Trump's desk.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says talks with Iran are still scheduled, adds that U.S. President Donald Trump has range of options on the table.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier on Fox News that a U.S. Navy aircraft shot down an Iranian drone that was “acting aggressively” toward the USS *Abraham Lincoln* (CVN-72) over the Arabian Sea today. She stressed that President Trump remains committed to diplomacy with Iran and noted that talks between Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian officials are still expected to take place later this week, despite Tehran’s demands for changes to the format and location of the discussions.

Under a newly implemented integration agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), security units from Syria’s Ministries of Defense and Interior have entered the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria, near the Turkish border.

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a key procedural vote to move forward with ending the partial government shutdown, approving the measure 217–215. All Democrats voted against it, with Rep. Thomas Massie casting the lone dissenting vote among Republicans.

Brit Hume says President Trump is “in a predicament” over negotiations with Iran, arguing that while Trump feels pressure to act, pursuing nuclear talks with a country that has repeatedly proven untrustworthy risks making it appear he fell short.

German authorities are probing a major suspected sabotage plot involving the German Navy’s new corvette Emden, uncovered earlier this year in Hamburg. The attempt was detected in early January 2025 during a routine pre-delivery inspection at the Blohm+Voss shipyard, part of the NVL Group. Inspectors discovered dozens of kilograms of metal shavings intentionally poured into the vessel’s propulsion and gearbox systems, including critical diesel engine components. Investigators say the abrasive material would likely have caused catastrophic engine failure had the ship gone to sea, potentially crippling the corvette, delaying its commissioning for months or even years, and resulting in millions of euros in repair costs. The sabotage was uncovered just days before scheduled sea trials and the ship’s maiden voyage.

Key takeaways from Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem’s speech today: • Claimed Israel is targeting all of Lebanon, not just Hezbollah, and urged the entire country to confront it. • Said Hezbollah is capable of inflicting pain on Israel in return, stressing that “everything has its time.” • Rejected surrender, declaring: “Between the sword and humiliation, we choose martyrdom.” • Criticized the Lebanese government over efforts to disarm Hezbollah, accusing it of aligning with Israel. • Softened earlier rhetoric about joining a potential U.S. strike on Iran, stopping short of committing to intervention. • Framed the conflict as resistance to U.S. global dominance, describing Iran as the “crown jewel” capable of defeating both the United States and Israel.

U.S. 🇺🇸 / Mexico 🇲🇽: The Financial Times published a report alleging that Hugo Chávez sent funds to Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s 2006 presidential campaign—claims denied by both men. The issue emerges amid U.S. investigations into alleged links between Venezuela and Mexican drug cartels.

Israel is expected to press the United States to ensure that any deal with Iran requires Tehran to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile and fully dismantle its ballistic missile program, an Israeli official told CNN.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the government has reasserted its authority over decisions of war and peace, stressing a major shift in control in southern Lebanon. “For the first time since 1969, the Lebanese state — through the army and the armed forces — has full operational control over the south of the country,” Salam said. Addressing comments by Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem about supporting Iran, Salam was unequivocal: “That will not be allowed at all. We will not permit anyone to drag Lebanon into a new adventure. We have had enough.” He added that Lebanon had already paid a devastating price for past conflicts. “We entered what was called the ‘Gaza support war,’ and the cost to Lebanon was not just high — it was extremely, extremely high. No one is prepared to expose the country to that kind of adventure again.” View quoted note →

Lebanon’s prime minister issued a stark warning to Hezbollah leader Qassem, cautioning him against pulling the country into another conflict if the United States strikes Iran. “No one is allowed to drag Lebanon into a new adventure,” the prime minister said. “We have had enough of adventures. We entered one called the ‘war in support of Gaza,’ and the price Lebanon paid was extremely heavy. No one is willing to see the country dragged into that kind of adventure again.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Asharq Al-Awsat that Turkey is prepared to help advance peace in Gaza, including potential military involvement if conditions allow. “Turkey is ready to contribute to the peace process in Gaza, including military participation if necessary, once the appropriate conditions are in place,” Erdoğan said. “The solution lies in establishing a peace plan built on the right conditions, authority, and objectives.” He added that Turkey’s role would be to support a genuine resolution that secures a lasting ceasefire, ensures the full delivery of humanitarian aid, facilitates reconstruction, and leads to a fair political settlement. Erdoğan also warned that the main barrier to progressing to the next phase of the process is the “fragility of the ceasefire.”

Reminder — President Trump, Jan. 13: President Trump urged Iranians to continue protesting, encouraging them to take control of their institutions if possible and to document the identities of those responsible for abuse and violence. He said Iranians were being “very badly abused” and noted conflicting reports about the number of deaths, adding that even one death was too many. Trump stated that those responsible would “pay a very big price” and announced he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops. He also highlighted new tariffs on anyone doing business with Iran, saying they had gone into effect that day. He concluded by saying “help is on its way,” calling on Iranians to “make Iran great again,” describing the country as great before being taken over by what he called “monsters.” Trump added that similar instability could have happened in the United States if he had not won the election.

Hamas accused Israeli forces of committing what it described as serious abuses against Palestinians returning to Gaza via the Rafah Border Crossing, calling the actions “fascist crimes” intended to intimidate people and deter them from returning home. In a statement, Hamas alleged that Palestinians—particularly women and children—have faced mistreatment, abuse, and deliberate extortion by Israeli forces, characterizing the conduct as collective punishment and organized intimidation. The group cited what it called firsthand accounts describing degrading treatment, including the temporary detention of women, blindfolding, prolonged interrogations over unrelated matters, threats involving their children, and attempts to coerce cooperation. Hamas said these actions go beyond routine border procedures and amount to systematic violations aimed at spreading fear. The group called on international human rights organizations to document the alleged abuses and pursue legal action in international and national courts to hold Israeli officials accountable. Hamas also urged ceasefire mediators and guarantor states to intervene immediately, halt what it described as unlawful practices, and ensure the Rafah crossing is fully opened without restrictions, with safe and free passage for travelers in line with the ceasefire agreement’s provisions.

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to meet in Istanbul on Friday to discuss a potential nuclear deal aimed at averting an imminent U.S. military strike, according to two regional officials involved in the effort who spoke to The Washington Post. The talks are also expected to include the foreign ministers of Turkey, Qatar and Egypt, along with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Pakistan. Two regional officials said Washington’s Arab and Turkish partners are pushing to keep the negotiations narrowly focused on Iran’s nuclear program in an effort to secure Tehran’s agreement. “If the talks happen, they will remain centered on Iran’s nuclear program,” one official said. “After that, we’ll look for creative ways to address Washington’s non-nuclear demands.”