- President Donald Trump met with top advisers on Friday to decide whether to intensify the military assault against Iran, according to four people briefed on the discussion.
- Trump refused to answer whether attacks he has threatened on civilian infrastructure could be considered war crimes under international law.
- Iran rejected the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal, and both sides traded attacks for the 13th night in a row with no sign of willingness to negotiate.
- Trump told Axios he did not expect Israel to join a potentially massive attack because Israel might face retaliatory bombardment from Iran.
- U.S. forces targeted Iranian military assets, including drone storage sites; Iran launched drone attacks against U.S. targets in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.
- The fighting sent oil prices above $100 for the first time since May, and a threat by Iranian-allied Houthi militants to target Saudi ships injected uncertainty into global energy markets.
- Trump took the stage at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner after the April 25 assassination attempt, marking his first appearance at the event since the postponement.
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the speech as "unifying yet vicious" and "serious yet hilarious", promising it would be "entertaining".
- Trump indicated he would tone down his remarks, saying he was "all set to really rip it" but would instead be "probably very nice" and "very boring".
- Trump joked on Truth Social that he might give the "same rather nasty statements" originally planned for April.
- Trump made his second appearance at the dinner, attending as part of a birthday celebration.
- Melania Trump, who attended the April event, was not with the president as he walked onstage Friday evening.
President Trump is navigating a complex geopolitical landscape as he confirmed ongoing talks with Iran while considering military escalation.1245781112
Trump met with top advisers to discuss intensifying strikes against Iran, following a series of attacks that have heightened tensions.
The discussions come just days before a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has advocated for a joint offensive against Iran.6
Iran has rejected U.S. ceasefire proposals, leading to continued hostilities, with both sides exchanging attacks for over a week.
U.S. forces have targeted Iranian military assets, while Iran has retaliated with drone strikes against U.S. bases in the region.
The resurgence in fighting has pushed oil prices above $100 for the first time since May, raising concerns about global energy markets.
In a separate event, Trump delivered a speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, his first since an assassination attempt led to the postponement of the original event.
He joked about his speech's tone, indicating a shift from his initial plans to be more aggressive towards the press.
U.S. intelligence agencies have expressed concerns over Iran's ambitions to develop advanced nuclear weaponry under its new leadership, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
“Oil prices topped $100 as U.S. and Iranian forces traded attacks for a 13th consecutive night; separately, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Trump's WHCD speech 'unifying yet vicious' and 'serious yet hilarious,' while Trump joked on Truth Social about using the 'same rather nasty statements' originally planned.”
