President Trump convened a White House Situation Room meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the renewed crisis around the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations with Iran, according to two U.S. officials.
Why it matters: The situation with Iran is at a critical point, with the ceasefire expected to expire in three days, and no final date set for a new meeting between U.S. and Iranian negotiators.
Iran said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is again closed to traffic following threats of such action if the U.S. continued its blockade of the shipping channel.
Why it matters: The closure could be a setback to efforts toward a new round of negotiations on a deal to end the war and will add pressure to an already tense situation between Iran and the U.S.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wreaking havoc on Israel's standing with Americans as the Iran war supercharges a deterioration in relations with the U.S.
Why it matters: Israel's polling collapse among younger Americans is hitting Congress, too. Lawmakers who started out staunchly pro-Israel are becoming increasingly vocal critics.
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia met Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey to discuss the efforts to reach a deal to end the war between the U.S. and Iran.
Why it matters: This was the third such "quad" meeting since the beginning of the war. While Pakistan has been the main mediator and hosted last weekend's peace talks, Egypt and Turkey have helped push the negotiations forward behind the scenes.
U.S. State Department officials met in Havana with Cuban apparatchiks —including the grandson of aging strongman Raul Castro— to urge democratic and economic freedoms and warn of the risks of not heeding their advice, Axios has learned.
The U.S. delegation also offered to help restore internet services by setting up Starlink satellite services.
Why it matters: The meeting last Friday itself marks a diplomatic breakthrough because it's the first time a U.S. government plane has touched down since President Obama visited a decade ago in an effort for rapprochement.
Israel asked the White House for clarifications about President Trump's post that Israel was "prohibited" from conducting airstrikes in Lebanon, a U.S. source and another source familiar tell Axios.
Why it matters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers were shocked by Trump's post, which contradicted the text of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that the State Department published on Thursday.
President Trump told Axios that U.S. and Iranian negotiators will probably meet this weekend, and he expects them to hammer out a final deal to end the war.
Reality check: Multiple U.S. officials and other sources briefed on the negotiations have told Axios that while significant progress has been made and the U.S. and Iran are now closing in on a three-page peace plan, gaps still remain on critical issues.
The blockage to energy supplies through the Persian Gulf appears to have ended. If it holds, it takes a massive weight off the world economy.
Why it matters: The possibility of a prolonged disruption to the supply of crude oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities looks to be off the table.
Oil prices dropped over 10% Friday after President Trump and Iran's foreign minister claimed the Strait of Hormuz — the world's most critical energy shipping lane — is open for transit.
Why it matters: The steep selloff signals traders see a real sign that the unprecedented throttling of oil and petroleum product flows could significantly ease.
The U.S. and Iran are negotiating over a three-page plan to end the war, with one element under discussion being that the U.S. would release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Iran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium, according to two U.S. officials and two additional sources briefed on the talks.
Why it matters: There has been steady progress in the talks this week, though significant gaps remain. A deal on these terms would bring the war to a close, while potentially generating backlash from Iran hawks.
Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Todd Lyons submitted his resignation on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed.
Why it matters: Lyons has defended ICE's conduct in Congress and the courtroom as the agency faces scrutiny over President Trump's mass deportation drive.
