U.S. foreign policy

U.S. officials told NBC that Gulf states were surprised by President Donald Trump’s social-media announcement about an operation in the Strait of Hormuz and that the move wasn’t coordinated with them in advance. Report: These are the "red lines" the United States set for Iran.

The United States is working to rally countries behind a new international initiative designed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The coalition, called "Maritime Freedom Framework," is expected to focus on intelligence sharing, diplomatic coordination, and helping enforce international sanctions.

Ahead of a cease-fire deadline, President Donald Trump escalates his warning on Truth Social, telling Tehran that refusing a U.S. proposal will trigger a major escalation: “No more ‘Mr. Nice Guy’—it’s time to end the killing machine.”

In a surprise Truth Social post, the U.S. president declared Israel is barred from striking inside Lebanon and said he will invite Lebanon’s Joseph Aoun and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington. Netanyahu signaled a temporary cease-fire, while Hezbollah blasted the move and warned of consequences.