Iran says negotiations on a broader framework agreement and confidence-building measures are continuing, with recent messaging from the United States helping narrow differences between the two sides to some extent. According to ISNA, Tehran maintains that resolving the remaining disputes will depend on Washington abandoning what it described as the “temptation” of war. 

According to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to attend next month’s G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains as a guest participant. Sources indicate that Syria’s involvement in the summit will likely focus on the country’s emerging role as a potential strategic hub for international supply chains. Following the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, several countries have eased sanctions and removed terrorism-related designations tied to Syria, signaling a broader effort to reintegrate the country into the global economy and international geopolitical frameworks.

The Russian MoD published footage allegedly showing the delivery of nuclear warheads to Belarus for drills. The exercises specifically focus on receiving special ammunition for the Iskander-M missile system, loading the warheads onto carrier rockets, and covertly moving to a designated launch area to prepare for strikes.

A significant increase in automatic identification system (AIS) spoofing activity is currently occurring in the Persian Gulf, particularly northwest of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). AIS spoofing involves the transmission of false vessel location, identity, or navigation data, often creating the appearance of ships operating in locations where they are not actually present, such as this grouping of dozens of vessels in the same position. Recent monitoring indicates that spikes in spoofing activity have preceded announcements of military strikes, security incidents, or other regional operations in the past.

The Ministry of Defence has released footage of a confrontation last month involving a Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint operated by the Royal Air Force and Russian fighter jets over international airspace in the Black Sea. According to the RAF, a Sukhoi Su-35 and a Sukhoi Su-27 conducted what it described as a “dangerous” and “reckless” interception, repeatedly flying in front of the RC-135 and approaching within six meters of the aircraft, triggering onboard emergency systems. Despite the encounter, the surveillance aircraft reportedly continued its mission in support of NATO operations along the alliance’s eastern flank.

BLKCAT5, a United States Navy Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone, is returning to Naval Station Mayport following a multi-hour mission conducted off the northwestern and southwestern coasts of Cuba and over the Yucatán Channel.

Russia's Syzran Oil Refinery is ablaze after Ukrainian attack drones hit the facility this morning.

According to an exclusive report by the Financial Times, Beijing is delaying a proposed summer visit by senior United States Department of Defense officials, including Elbridge Colby, as China seeks to pressure U.S. President Donald Trump over a planned advanced weapons package for Taiwan reportedly valued at more than $14 billion.

Overnight on Wednesday, M1A2T Abrams and personnel with the Taiwan Army’s 584th Mechanized Infantry Brigade carried out a snap wartime readiness reconnaissance exercise, testing urban combat and mobility capabilities, throughout the Hsinchu County of Northwestern Taiwan. As part of the exercise, M1A2Ts crossed several key bridges throughout the county, including the Fengshan Stream Bridge and Jiugang Bridge, putting an answer to the highly debated topic of whether Taiwanese bridges could handle the weight of American-produced M1A2T Abrams.

Iran’s newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority has announced a new nominal area of control for the Strait of Hormuz. Per the release, Iran is now claiming that entry and exit points from the Arabian Gulf/Gulf of Oman into the strait are under the jurisdiction of their armed forces. This seemingly includes areas in the sovereign waters of other nations. Iran still maintains that their toll framework for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is in effect and must be adhered to in order for commercial vessels to avoid being targeted.

Qatar has told i24NEWS that it is not conducting a separate mediation effort between Iran and the United States, and is instead supporting Pakistan’s lead role in the negotiations. The statement follows reports of frustration in Islamabad over Tehran’s outreach to other regional channels, including Doha, outside the Pakistani-led track. According to sources, these parallel contacts have contributed to a growing lack of trust between Pakistan and Iran. 

According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Russian occupiers in the Zaporizhzhia region suffered mass alcohol poisoning. Their bodies were not recovered for more than a week. In an intercepted recording released by the HUR of the Ministry of Defense, two Russian soldiers discuss an observation post where their comrades died.

Raul Castro formally indicted for "conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals," announces acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call last night that Israel’s N12 News described as “lengthy and dramatic.” U.S. President Donald J. Trump told the press earlier this week that he would allow 2-3 days for negotiations with Iran to play out. However, both sides continue to struggle to reach agreements on key points of contention.

Following drone strikes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Iraqi territories, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced the strikes on themselves and their Gulf neighbors and called on Iraq to take action against the threat-actors, likely Iranian-backed militias, responsible for the attacks. So far, the UAE has yet to directly call out Iran for backing the groups that are likely responsible for the most recent tranche of drone strikes on Iran’s Gulf neighbors.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) amphibious ready group (ARG) conducted a boarding operation of the Iranian-flagged motor tanker (M/T) Celestial Sea in the Gulf of Oman in support of the U.S. blockade of Iran. Following a search, U.S. forces released the vessel, directing its crew away from Iranian ports. To date, U.S. forces have redirected 91 vessels during the blockade, disabling 4 more.

Trump on Iran: “The only question is, do we go and finish it up? Are they going to be signing a document? Let's see what happens.”

Trump: Venezuela used to be a really great country 20 years ago. Some lunatics would like to take this country way, way left and destroy it. But we are not going to let that happen. We are not letting that happen

Trump’s advice to Coast Guard Academy: Never ever give up. Keep pushing forward. No matter how terrible the storm. Make the adversary quit first. Let them quit. They're going to quit.

The meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing has concluded. Putin will return to Moscow without achieving his main objective: securing the signing of an agreement to build Power of Siberia 2, a massive gas pipeline that could deliver to China nearly the same volume of natural gas that Russia sold to Europe before invading Ukraine. Chinese and Russian officials signed a memorandum of interest, but the start of construction on the multibillion-dollar project has not yet been formally agreed upon by the two countries.