U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent on Iran: “We engineered a dollar shortage inside the country, and it had rapid effects. The tipping point came in December, when one of Iran’s largest banks collapsed following a bank run, forcing the central bank to print money. The Iranian currency then went into a free fall, inflation surged, and as a result, we’ve seen the Iranian people take to the streets.”

A man from Los Angeles has been arrested for allegedly sending text messages to the daughter and son-in-law of Nancy Guthrie asking about transferring Bitcoin, Fox News correspondent Matt Finn reports. The suspect, identified as Derrick Callella, told investigators he was simply testing whether the family would respond. According to a criminal complaint, the messages are not connected to the February 2 ransom demand.

President Donald J. Trump said he declined an offer to rest upon arrival, explaining that he didn’t need sleep after being on a plane. He added that he doesn’t like sleeping on aircraft, joking that he prefers looking out the window, “watching for missiles and enemies.”

During remarks at the 74th Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington this morning, President Donald J. Trump joked about Iran, Venezuela, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Raizin” Caine. Trump quipped that Caine was “brutal,” adding, “Just ask Venezuela. Ask Iran. They’re negotiating now — and they don’t want us to hit them. We’ve got a big fleet heading toward Iran.” He then joked about meeting Caine at the bottom of an aircraft staircase, recounting a playful exchange about his name: “What’s your name? Raizin. What’s your last name? Caine. So let me get this straight — your name is Raizin Caine, right?”

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias described Greece’s planned missile defense system, known as the Achilles Shield, as a far more comprehensive concept than existing systems like Iron Dome or the Golden Dome. He said the system is designed to address every type of threat — from space and cyberspace to the sea, undersea, air, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles — offering a fully integrated, multi-domain defense approach. Dendias emphasized that Greece is working closely with Israel on the project, but not through the traditional model of simply buying weapons platforms. Instead, Greece plans to domestically produce at least 50 percent of the systems while acquiring the underlying know-how. “Our goal is for Israel’s highly efficient and successful innovation ecosystem to work hand in hand with our own,” he said, stressing technology transfer and long-term capability building rather than off-the-shelf procurement.

Trump announced that on May 17, 2026, Americans from across the country will be invited to gather on the National Mall to pray, give thanks, and rededicate the nation as “One Nation Under God.”

Trump: “Iran is negotiating… they don't wanna… haha"

New footage shows a U.S.-led coalition convoy departing the Al-Shaddadi base in northeastern Syria, reportedly en route to Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following the withdrawal.

Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, about 20 kilometers from Kramatorsk, now lies in ruins, with burned-out high-rise buildings. The video shows a neighborhood that was still largely intact just a few months ago.

Unbelievable.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva met the Palestinian ambassador and donned the keffiyeh himself after taking it from him.

Tony Cuomo: “Hey buddy, just letting you know whatever I read in the papers about you doesn’t bother me. I am your friend for life and true or not, my friendship is yours.” Epstein: “Thanks, me too.” Cuomo: “I’m going to have to figure out a way to get to your island.”

U.S. President Donald Trump on tackling crime: “We’re closely evaluating five cities, but we want to be invited. We could make Chicago a safe city, just like Washington, D.C., and just like other places where we’ve stepped in. We’ll be announcing them very soon.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: "If Ukraine does not stop Putin, he will invade Europe. I don’t want to scare anyone, but the range of their missiles is unlimited; they will strike everywhere."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance: "If the Iranians get a nuclear weapon, you know who gets a nuclear weapon like the next day? The Saudi Arabians."

🚨The U.S.–Iran talks scheduled for Friday have been canceled. Iranian officials said Tuesday they wanted to relocate the talks to Oman and conduct them in a strictly bilateral format. While U.S. officials considered the venue change, they ultimately rejected the proposal on Wednesday. “We told them it was this or nothing, and they said, ‘Okay, then nothing,’” a senior U.S. official told Axios.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “If the Iranians want to meet, we’re prepared. I don’t know if a deal with them is possible, but we’re willing to find out. This president always prefers a peaceful resolution to any conflict or challenge.”

A fuel train derailed in Russia’s Tambov Oblast earlier today, triggering a powerful explosion.

Iran has requested changes to both the venue and format of Friday’s planned negotiations with the United States, raising concerns the talks could be derailed, according to two sources familiar with the matter cited by Axios. The sources say Tehran wants to shift the talks from Istanbul to Muscat, Oman, and prefers a strictly bilateral format with the United States, rather than a broader meeting involving multiple Arab and Muslim states. However, Iranian officials told Al-Monitor that reports suggesting the talks are close to collapse are inaccurate. They said both sides are jointly considering the most suitable format and location, with Oman and Turkey among the options still under discussion.

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