Middle East

NPR 

Trump told reporters yesterday that it might take several days to decide whether to launch another strike on Iran, but he didn't commit to a specific timeline. The president also said the U.S. is now negotiating with impressive Iranian negotiators. Iran said it's prepared for either outcome: peace or continued conflict. Israel has pushed for the war to resume, while several Gulf Arab countries oppose it.

Gulf Arab states were not consulted before the war began, and received little to no warning to prepare defenses, NPR's Aya Batrawy says. Yet they've faced the brunt of Iran's counterattacks. This week, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a tense and contentious call. A person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that Netanyahu railed against a proposed deal to end the war. Trump told the prime minister that he would persist in seeking a deal to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, but Iran must demonstrate flexibility. Iran says that it favors diplomacy, but its military commanders are threatening to escalate the conflict if Iran is attacked again. Batrawy says Iran's continued control of the Strait of Hormuz is its most important leverage now.