Overview
- Washington and Tehran acknowledge an active back channel, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirming talks with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
- President Trump imposes a 25% tariff on any country that trades with Iran, escalating economic pressure as protests continue under a harsh crackdown.
- Defense officials have briefed the White House on military, cyber and covert options, but reporting now points to a delay rather than an imminent strike.
- The U.S. is pulling some personnel from regional bases as a precaution, and Iran has warned neighbors it would hit U.S. facilities in any retaliation.
- Analysts cite constrained logistics—including no nearby carrier strike group—and Gulf-state pressure as key factors tempering U.S. timelines, while NGOs report at least 648 confirmed protester deaths with some estimates far higher.