Overview
- Tehran has told neighboring countries hosting U.S. troops that their bases would be targeted if the United States attacks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.
- Three diplomats said some personnel were advised to leave Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening in what they called a posture change, a characterization a U.S. official also conveyed to the Associated Press.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard aerospace chief said missile stockpiles have increased and forces are at peak defensive readiness.
- Direct contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended as Qatar and Oman work channels to lower tensions.
- Rights monitors report thousands of protester deaths amid an information blackout, and U.S. Central Command has opened a new air and missile defense coordination cell at Al Udeid.