The fifth round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran in Rome ended Friday with "some but not conclusive progress," according to Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating between the parties.
Why it matters: In recent days the negotiations have hit a roadblock over the fact that Iran says it will only sign a deal that permits a domestic enrichment capability, and the U.S. has said enrichment is its red line.
Israel has been making preparations to swiftly strike Iran's nuclear sites if U.S.-Iran nuclear talks break down in the coming weeks.
One source told Axios that Israel believes its operational window for a successful strike could close soon.
Driving the news: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian media after Fridays' talks that the discussions are very complicated and further negotiations are needed. He said al-Busaidi had presented several ideas to try to bridge the gaps between the sides.
Driving the news: The negotiations between Araghchi and White House envoy Steve Witkoff lasted three hours and were "very productive," according to a source with knowledge of the talks.
Shortly before they began, Witkoff met in Rome with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, according to a U.S. source.
The Israeli government is very skeptical of the talks and is preparing for a military option, despite the massive risks of attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.
What's next: "We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honorable agreement," said al-Busaidi, the Omani mediator.
Iran threatened on Thursday to move its nuclear material to undeclared sites to protect it from a potential Israeli military strike.
Why it matters: The threat, made in an official letter from Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to the UN secretary-general and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general, signal the risk of an unprecedented escalation in the Iranian nuclear crisis.
The IAEA is currently able to access and monitor Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles, which are stored in declared sites.
If that material is moved, it will be much harder to know whether Iran is building a nuclear weapon or not.
Driving the news: The threat comes after CNN and Axios reported that Israel has been making preparations to swiftly strike Iran's nuclear sites if U.S.-Iran nuclear talks break down in the coming weeks.
One source told Axios that Israel believes its operational window for a successful strike could close soon.
What they are saying: "Under conditions wherein threats made by the Zionist fanatics persist, the Islamic Republic of Iran shall be left with no recourse but to implement special measures for the protection of its nuclear facilities and materials, the relevant particulars of which shall thereafter be communicated to the IAEA," Araghchi wrote.
Driving the news: Araghchi and White House envoy Steve Witkoff will hold a fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome on Friday, with Oman's foreign minister mediating.
The negotiations have hit a roadblock over the fact that Iran says it will only sign a deal that allows a domestic enrichment capability, and the U.S. has said enrichment is its red line.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency David Barnea will meet Witkoff in Rome on Friday on the sidelines of the nuclear talks, two Israeli officials said.
The officials said Dermer and Barnea are traveling to Rome to coordinate positions with Witkoff and be briefed immediataely after the talks.
State of play: The Israeli intelligence community has shifted just in the past few days from believing a nuclear deal was close to thinking talks could soon break down, Israeli sources say.
Hence the urgency behind Israel's preparations to strike fast if President Trump gives a green light.
A U.S. official told Axios the Trump administration is concerned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might make his move even without approval from Trump.
Trump spoke to Netanyahu on Thursday and they "agreed on the need to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons," per the Israeli readout.
The other side: Araghchi wrote in his letter that Iran "will take all necessary measures to protect and defend its citizens, interests, and facilities against any terrorist or sabotage actions."
"Iran strongly warns against any adventurism by the Israeli Zionist regime and will respond decisively to any threats or unlawful actions by this regime. We also believe that if any attack is carried out against the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Israeli regime, the U.S. government will be complicit and bear legal responsibility," the Iranian foreign minister wrote.
Two Israeli Embassy staff were fatally shot at close range while leaving an event Wednesday night at the Capital Jewish Museum in D.C., the embassy's spokesperson in Washington, Tal Naim Cohen, told Axios.
The big picture: The suspect, who was apprehended by a museum security guard minutes after the shooting, chanted "free Palestine" as he was arrested, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a press briefing.
The victims were identified by the Israel Foreign Ministry on Thursday morning as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim.
Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter called them a "beautiful couple" and said Lischinsky had "purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem."
Police identified the suspect as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois and said they believe he acted alone.
The latest: Attorney General Pam Bondi visited the shooting scene Thursday and told reporters that the suspect "will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
"No parents should have to be called and told that their children were violently murdered leaving a religious event at the Jewish Museum. That should never happen in this world and not in our country," she said.
Bondi did not offer any updates on the case and would not confirm if the Justice Department would seek the death penalty.
What they're saying: President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday, the prime minister's office said in a statement.
Trump expressed "deep sorrow over the shocking murder in Washington of two Israeli embassy staff members," and Netanyahu thanked Trump for his efforts to combat antisemitism in the U.S., the statement said.
Trump had previously offered condolences to the victims' families in a Truth Social post, saying "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA," he said.
Netanyahu has ordered the strengthening of security at Israeli missions around the world and for state representatives in response to the shooting.
Details: Smith said police were alerted just after 9pm ET Wednesday about a shooting in the area around the museum in downtown D.C., which is near government buildings including the FBI's Washington Field Office and tourist attractions.
"Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum," Smith said.
Rodriquez was not previously known to the police, Smith said at the briefing.
A LinkedIn page shows Rodriquez is an employee of American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA). The company wrote in a statement that they are "shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime."
Zoom in: The FBI assisted on the scene and its deputy director Dan Bongino said on X early Thursday that the suspect was being interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Department with the Bureau's Joint Terrorism Task Force team while he, the U.S. Attorney's office and other officials were "reviewing the evidence to determine additional actions."
He added, "Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence."
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at the briefing, "We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we're going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism."
Zoom out: The American Jewish Committee was hosting at the museum the annual Young Diplomats Reception, which "brings together Jewish young professionals ... and the D.C. diplomatic community for an evening dedicated to fostering unity and celebrating Jewish heritage," per a post by the Jewish advocacy group advertising the event.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
Israel is making preparations to swiftly strike Iran's nuclear facilities if negotiations between the U.S. and Iran collapse, two Israeli sources with knowledge of the discussions tell Axios.
Why it matters: The Israeli intelligence community has shifted just in the past few days from believing a nuclear deal was close to thinking talks could soon break down, the sources say.
One source said the Israeli military thinks its operational window to conduct a successful strike could close soon, so Israel will have to move fast if talks fail. The source declined to say why the military believes a strike would be less effective later.
Both sources confirmed a CNN report that the Israel Defense Forces have been conducting exercises and other preparations for a possible strike in Iran. "There was a lot of training and the U.S. military sees everything and understands Israel is preparing," one said.
"Bibi is waiting for the nuclear talks to collapse and for the moment Trump will be disappointed about the negotiations and open to giving him the go ahead," an Israeli source added, using a nickname for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Friction point: A U.S. official told Axios the Trump administration is concerned Netanyahu might make his move even without a green light from President Trump.
Behind the scenes: Netanyahu held a highly sensitive meeting earlier this week with a group of top ministers and security and intelligence officials regarding the status of the nuclear talks, an Israeli official said.
Split screen: The fifth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks are scheduled to take place Friday in Rome.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff gave his Iranian counterpart a written proposal for a deal during the last round ten days ago. Confidence that an agreement could be reached seemed to be growing.
But the negotiations hit a roadblock over the question of whether Iran would be able to have any domestic enrichment capability.
"We have one very clear red line, and that is enrichment. We cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability," Witkoff told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. Iran's leaders have repeatedly said they won't sign a deal that doesn't permit enrichment.
What to watch: The two Israeli sources said any Israeli strike on Iran will not be a one-off, but a military campaign lasting at least a week.
Such an operation would be highly complicated and perilous for Israel and for the region.
Countries in the region fear an Israeli strike could cause widespread radioactive fallout, not to mention a war.
What they're saying: Netanyahu said in his first press conference in six months on Monday that Israel and the U.S. are fully in sync on Iran.
"We respect their interests and they respect our interests and they overlap almost completely.
Netanyahu said he'd respect any deal that prevents Iran from enriching Uranium and blocks it from getting a nuclear weapon.
"But in any case, Israel maintains the right to defend itself from a regime that is threatening to annihilate it."
President Trump has been frustrated by the ongoing war in Gaza and upset by images of suffering of Palestinian children, and has told his aides to tell Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he wants him to wrap it up, two White House officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: U.S. and Israeli officials deny that Trump is prepared to "abandon" Israel, or that he is applying intense pressure on Netanyahu. But they admit there are growing policy differences between a president who wants to end the war and a prime minister who is massively expanding it.
"The president is frustrated about what is happening in Gaza. He wants the war to end, he wants the hostages to come home, he wants aid to go in and he wants to start rebuilding Gaza," one White House official said.
Driving the news: In the days since Trump's trip to the region, the U.S. has been pressing both Israel and Hamas to accept a new proposal presented by White House envoy Steve Witkoff for a hostage and ceasefire deal.
Witkoff has been speaking directly with Netanyahu and his top adviser Ron Dermer, and to Hamas leadership through a backchannel facilitated by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah.
The negotiations have shown little progress. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces are proceeding with an operation to displace all 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to a "humanitarian zone" and flatten most of the enclave.
The logjam in the talks and the situation on the ground convinced Vice President Vance to scrap plans for a visit to Israel this week. His decision sheds light on how the U.S. feels about the current Israeli policy in Gaza.
The other side: An Israeli official told Axios that at the moment, Netanyahu doesn't feel strong pressure from Trump. "If the president wants a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza he needs to put much more pressure on both sides," the official said.
Other leaders are attempting to apply pressure. The leaders of the U.K., France and Canada issued a statement on Monday threatening to take steps against Israel over the war in Gaza.
"We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response" they said.
Netanyahu rejected their call and accused "the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris" of "offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities."
The latest: The British government announced on Monday that it is suspending free trade deal negotiations with Israel, imposed new sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and summoned the Israeli ambassador to the Foreign Office in London.
State of play: One area where Trump has put pressure on Netanyahu over the last two weeks is Israel's total freeze on humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
A White House official told Axios the president was upset by pictures of suffering children and babies in Gaza and pressed the Israelis to reopen the gates.
On Sunday, the Israeli cabinet approved the resumption of aid deliveries to Gaza and on Monday a dozen trucks with baby food and other supplies entered the enclave. The White House official said more needs to be done.
The UN has warned that thousands of children are at risk of starvation if aid does not significantly increase. More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
Behind the scenes: While Trump felt his Middle East trip was a success, he believes the war in Gaza is holding back his plans for the region, a senior White House official said.
"The President sees a real chance for peace and prosperity in the region, but the war in Gaza is the last hot spot and he wants it to end," the White House official said.
The second White House official described the war as a distraction from other things Trump wants to do. "There is a lot of frustration by this crisis getting dragged on."
The official said Trump's decision to move unilaterally to secure the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, rather than waiting for Israel to agree to a broader dael, was a result of this frustration.
What they are saying: "The President may be saying, 'Hey, listen, let's try to end the war,' he might speak strongly⦠But his support is ironclad," Trump hostage response envoy Adan Boehler told Fox News on Monday. He stressed that a Washington Post report claiming the administration threatened to "abandon" Israel was "fake."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that Trump had "made it very clear to Hamas that he wanted to see all hostages released" and "made it very clear he wants to see this conflict in the region end."
Ukrainian President Zelensky and five other European leaders joined a conference call with President Trump immediately after his call with Vladimir Putin on Monday hoping to hear that Putin had agreed to a ceasefire β or the U.S. would impose penalties on him for refusing to do so.
Instead, Trump said Putin had agreed to negotiate, stressed the U.S. wouldn't be involved in those negotiations, and pushed back against the idea of imposing sanctions on Putin at the current time, two sources who were on the call and a third source briefed on the call told Axios.
Why it matters: Trump gave the impression he was getting closer to withdrawing from the issue altogether.Some leaders on the call seemed "surprised" or "shocked," the sources said.
"I think something's going to happen. And if it doesn't, I just back away and they're going to have to keep going. Again, this was a European situation, and should have remained a European situation," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office several hours after his calls.
How it happened: Trump and Zelensky had a brief call Monday morning, and Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart what he should tell Putin, the sources said.
Zelensky was happy Trump called him to consult. He requested that Trump demand an immediate ceasefire, threaten new sanctions against Russia, and offer no concessions to Putin without consulting Ukraine, the sources say.
Behind the scenes: When the call with Putin ended, Trump called Zelensky again. This time the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Finland and the European Commission were also on the line.
"The second call was longer and of a different character than the first one," Zelensky said later.
While a European source on the call told Axios it was "constructive," another source said Zelensky felt it was "bad."
Trump told the leaders that Putin agreed to start direct negotiations on a ceasefire immediately. A source on the call said there were a few seconds of puzzled silence.
Zelensky then pointed out that Putin had previously agreed to negotiate, and the first round of ceasefire talks took place on Friday in Istanbul. Trump didn't directly respond, the sources said.
The sources said Zelensky and several other leaders on the call told Trump it had been his idea to start the peace talks with an immediate 30-day ceasefire.
A White House official told Axios Trump "never agreed" that a ceasefire should be a prerequisite for negotiations and never said Zelensky can decide what the conditions for negotiations will be.
Friction point: Other European leaders on the call asked about the possibility of U.S. sanctions against Russia, but Trump said he didn't think was a good idea and stressed that he thought Putin wanted a deal.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni jumped in to ask why there couldn't be a ceasefire for at least two weeks heading into the talks, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked what concessions Russia was willing to make, the sources said.
Trump told the group Putin would present a "peace memo" with his terms for a ceasefire and for ending the war. A source on the call said Trump told Zelensky and the European leaders he asked Putin to present "something people can agree to" and not a proposal that will be rejected immediately.
Zelensky said previous rounds of negotiations with Putin, including last week, didn't produce anything and stressed that if Trump doesn't push, Putin won't move, the sources said.
The White House official said that for months Russia had refused to present a document with its vision of how to end the war and the fact Putin agreed to do it was a significant step forward.
Between the lines: Leaders on the call seemed surprised that Trump seemed relatively content with what he heard from Putin, and presented it as a new development, even though the Russian leader did not seem to have changed his position at all, the sources said.
What to watch: Trump told the group that Russia and Ukraine should conduct bilateral direct negotiations without any third party mediators because the parties best understand all the details of the conflict.
Meloni and Merz said the U.S. and European countries need to be involved in the negotiations. "Someone needs to be a judge," Meloni said. Merz proposed holding a meeting with all the parties present.
Where it stands: On the call, Finland President Alexander Stubb asked Trump what the next steps were. "I don't know. Someone has to come out and say whether the negotiations are going well or badly, and then we'll decide what to do," Trump said.
This story was updated with comments from a White House official.
President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for around two hours on Monday, after which Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire" and an end to the war.
Why it matters: Trump previously argued his personal involvement would be crucial to achieving any deal, but walked back from any mediator role on Monday and said the talks would be only between the two countries. He added that Pope Leo XIV "would be very interested in hosting" talks in the Vatican.
A first round of ceasefire talks already took place on Friday in Istanbul, with no major breakthroughs. Putin initially proposed a leader-level summit, then declined to attend.
Trump's statement that the U.S. won't play a role in talks going forward reflects the Russian position that the U.S. should not mediate the dispute. The Russians refused to allow State Department official Michael Anton to attend Friday's talks.
Friction point: Ukraine, NATO allies and Trump himself have demanded that Russia agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Trump's statement suggests Putin convinced him of the need for negotiations over the terms of any ceasefire.
Between the lines: Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on any party that obstructs a deal, but has not imposed any penalties on Russia thus far for opposing a swift ceasefire.
On Friday, he said in an interview with Fox News that he will use his leverage on Putin if he thinks it's needed.
On Sunday, Trump held a conference call with the leaders of U.K., France, Germany and Italy who urged him to sanction Russia if Putin doesn't agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during their call.
Trump spoke to a those four European leaders plus the leaders of Finland and the European Commission on a conference call Monday immediately after his call with Putin.
While Putin did not agree to a ceasefire, Trump described the tone of the call as "excellent."
What they're saying: The Kremlin said the call was "meaningful, frank and very useful" and that Russia was "ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum on a future peace treaty, which may also include a ceasefire and principles for resolving the conflict."
Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Trump and Putin didn't discuss timetable for a ceasefire but said Trump stressed he want it to happen "quickly."
Trump told Putin the U.S. Senate is preparing possible sanctions against Russia but stressed he prefers to reach an agreement and not use sanctions, Ushakov claimed.
Trump called Zelensky ahead of the call with Putin and spoke to him for a few minutes, according to a source familiar.
Zelensky wrote on X ahead of the call that Ukraine insists on the need for a "full and unconditional ceasefire" in order to establish the necessary foundation for diplomacy.
"Such a ceasefire must be long enough and include the possibility of extension. Our proposal is 30 days. We are also prepared for a meeting at the level of leaders to solve the key issues. Ukraine is not afraid of direct talks with Russia, and it is important that the Russian leadership not prolong the war," Zelensky wrote.
The intrigue: Hosting negotiations would be a very high profile first act of international diplomacy for the American-born Pope Leo XIV.
What to watch: Vice President Vance reiterated ahead of the call that the U.S. was "more than open to walking away" from the peace process if it didn't show results.
Vance admitted the talks between Russia and Ukraine are at "a bit of an impasse" and stressed that "one open question is whether Vladimir Putin is serious about negotiating peace."
Vice President JD Vance considered traveling to Israel on Tuesday but decided against it due to the expansion of Israel's military operation in Gaza, a senior U.S. official told Axios.
Why it matters: The U.S. official said Vance made the decision because he didn't want his trip to suggest the Trump administration endorsed the Israeli decision to launch a massive operation at a time when the U.S. is pushing for a ceasefire and hostage deal.
Between the lines: This isn't about publicly pressuring Israel. Vance officially cited "logistical" reasons for passing on the visit.
But his decision sheds light on how the U.S. feels about the current Israeli policy in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to sign any agreement that would end the war, and has show little flexibility in negotiations despite the urgent efforts of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to make a deal and stave off the Israeli operation.
Driving the news: On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces began mobilizing troops for operation "Gideon's Chariots," which calls for Israel to displace all 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to a "humanitarian zone" and flatten most of the enclave.
On Sunday, the IDF announced the ground operation was underway in multiple areas of the Gaza Strip.
Behind the scenes: On Saturday, the Trump administration informed the Israeli government that Vance was considering stopping in Israel after attending the pope's inauguration, Israeli officials say.
Additional discussions took place on Sunday between U.S. and Israeli officials to prepare for Vance's visit. Reports soon popped up in the Israeli press that Vance might arrive on Tuesday.
Several hours later, a White House official denied the reports in a statement to reporters traveling with the VP. "While the Secret Service has engaged in contingency planning for the addition of several potential countries, no additional visits were at any point decided upon, and logistical constraints have precluded an extension of his travel beyond Rome. He will return to Washington on Monday."
The VP's office declined to comment for this story beyond that statement.
The intrigue: A U.S. official with knowledge of what actually happened during those several hours told Axios logistics weren't the issue.
While Vance was deliberating, concerns were raised that a trip to Israel at this time would be perceived by Israel and countries in the region as validation for Israel's expanded operation.
At that point, Vance decided not to go.
A senior Israeli official told Axios that as of Saturday, Vance and his team thought a hostage and ceasefire deal was imminent and thus the timing would be good for a visit, but when it became clear the next day a deal was unlikely they decided not to travel to Israel.
Update: In a briefing with reporters on Monday, Vance insisted the reason he didn't travel to Israel was "logistics" and said he would visit Israel "sometime in the future."
State of play: The Trump administration is trying to cut a deal to halt the operation, release more hostages, and allow aid in to prevent starvation and a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.
Under pressure from the Trump administration and European allies, the Israeli Security Cabinet decided Sunday to immediately resume the transfer of aid to Gaza through existing channels until a new humanitarian mechanism is operational.
Witkoff gave Israel and Hamas an updated proposal last week for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and is pressing the parties to accept it, Axios reported on Sunday.
This story was updated with new comments from Vance and from a senior Israeli official.
The Israeli Security Cabinet decided on Sunday to immediately resume the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza through existing channels until a new humanitarian aid mechanism starts working, according to two senior Israeli officials.
Why it matters: After the Gaza ceasefire's collapse in early March, Israel halted humanitarian aid into Gaza, resulting in a significant deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
President Trump said several times over the past week that Palestinian civilians in Gaza are starving.
Driving the news: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which developed the new aid mechanism, announced a few days ago that Israel had agreed to renew the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza using the existing mechanisms until the new arrangements are in place.
Resuming aid delivery was the key condition of the GHF β established with backing from the U.S. and Israel β forΒ the launch of a new aid delivery mechanism in Gaza, which Israel says will allow aid to be delivered without being controlled by Hamas.
Senior Israeli officials denied last week that there is a plan to resume aid, asserting that aid would not be allowed into Gaza via the existing mechanisms, but only through the new mechanism.
However, in recent days, international pressure increased, particularly from the Trump administration and many European countries, demanding that Israel immediately resume humanitarian aid to Gaza.
What they're saying: GHF executive director Jake Wood in a statement thanked the Trump administration for its support as he welcomed the Israeli Security Cabinet approving the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza "consistent with the commitment made to us to serve as a bridging mechanism until" the foundation is fully operational.
"Today's announcement marks an important interim step. We expect GHF's new aid mechanism β including the establishment of four initial Secure Distribution Sites β to be up and running before the end of the month," Wood said.
He said the GHF had secured, and will continue to mobilize, funding from the international community to support its operations and was coordinating with international partners and humanitarian organizations.
"Now is the time for all participants in the aid community to step forward and collaborate on this effort," Wood said. "We cannot allow fragmentation or hesitation to delay life-saving assistance.
"Through the GHF, we are building a secure, transparent system to deliver aid directly and effectively β without diversion or delay and in strict adherence to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. ... The people of Gaza are counting on us, and we must not let them down."
Behind the scenes: During the Cabinet meeting, representatives from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the IDF said that the food supplies from the United Nations and other aid organizations had been depleted, and therefore there was an urgent need to immediately bring in humanitarian aid, according to an Israeli official.
The IDF and COGAT's recommendation contradicted statements made just the day before by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who claimed there was no immediate need to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
A senior Israeli official said that Cabinet ministers were informed that the new aid mechanism for Gaza β operated through GHF and American private contractors β would begin functioning at the earliest on May 24, and therefore, a bridging period was necessary.
The official added that the Cabinet decided the aid to be transferred would include food, such as flour for bakeries operated by international organizations or by the UAE, as well as medicine for hospitals in the enclave.
The aid will be delivered via the UN World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, and other aid organizations. The senior official emphasized that the aid will be monitored by the international organizations.
Although the Cabinet did not hold a vote on the decision, it was effectively approved. Far-right Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich voiced opposition to the renewal of humanitarian aid during the meeting.
What they are saying: The Israeli Prime Minister's office said in a statement that the decision was based on the IDF's recommendation, "and due to the operational need to enable the expansion of the high-intensity fighting to defeat Hamas."
"Israel will allow the entry of a basic amount of food for the population in order to prevent the development of a famine crisis in the Gaza Strip," the statement said.
The statement added that a humanitarian crisis would endanger Israel's 'Gideon's Chariots' operation and prevent them from defeating Hamas.
"Israel will act to deny Hamas the ability to take control of the distribution of humanitarian aid, in order to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas terrorists," the Prime Minister's office said.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from GHF executive director Jake Wood andadditional information throughout.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff has given Israel and Hamas an updated proposal for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and is pressing the parties to accept it, an Israeli official and a source with direct knowledge told Axios.
Why it matters: The Trump administration is trying to stave off a massive Israeli operation in Gaza, release more hostages, and allow aid in to prevent starvation and a humanitarian catastrophe.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that ground forces began operating in multiple areas in the northern and southern Gaza Strip as part of an operation called "Gideon's Chariots."
IDF officials said five infantry and armored divisions are participating in the operation, which includes reoccupying the entire Gaza Strip and flattening it.
Behind the scenes: While Israel and Hamas both have negotiation teams in Doha, the real talks about Witkoff's proposal are occurring through other channels at the moment, the sources said.
The White House envoy has been talking directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his confidant Ron Dermer, as well as with Hamas leadership in Doha through a backchannel facilitated by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah.
This backchannel was crucial in securing the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander last week.
Witkoff's updated offer is similar to previous ones and includes the release of 10 hostages in return for 45-60 days of ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to an Israeli official and a source with direct knowledge of the proposal.
But it differs from previous proposals with new language that makes clear the new ceasefire and hostage deal will be the beginning of a broader move that could end the war.
The new language is aimed at giving guarantees to Hamas that Netanyahu won't be able to unilaterally decide the ceasefire is over and resume the war, as he did in March.
What they're saying: "The new offer tries to give Hamas confidence that it's worth moving forward with a partial deal now, because it could lead to the end of the war later on," a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.
The sources said Netanyahu has given a positive response, but with many conditions and reservations. Hamas still hasn't given a positive answer, and sources said the group wants to get a clear guarantee that a temporary ceasefire could lead to a permanent one.
"The talks in Doha in recent days are a facade. This is not where the real negotiations are taking place at the moment. If Hamas and Israel agree to the principles of the Witkoff proposal, the negotiations will move to Doha to discuss the details," an Israeli official said.
Between the lines: Hamas officials were disappointed that Alexander's release hasn't led to a more favorable U.S. position towards them, a source with knowledge of the issue said.
The Israeli strike that targeted Mohammed Sinwar, the leader of Hamas' military wing, created even more frustration inside Hamas' leadership regarding negotiations with the Trump administration.
Sinwar is believed to have been killed, along with several other Hamas senior commanders, Israeli officials say.
State of play: The Trump administration is also pressing the Israeli government to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza immediately, sources say.
Witkoff told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that Trump is concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
"The Israelis have indicated that they're going to begin to allow a lot more of these trucks to get in," Witkoff said, before adding that the situation is "logistically complicated. And the conditions on the ground are dangerous."
But, Witkoff continued: "We do not want to see a humanitarian crisis, and we will not allow it to occur on President Trump's watch."
President Trump said on Saturday that he is going to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on Monday to try and reach an agreement on a ceasefire.
Why it matters: Trump believes his personal involvement could break the logjam in the diplomatic efforts and has even said that no breakthrough can be achieved without a meeting between him and Putin.
Trump is pushing hard for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and has threatened that he will impose sanctions on any party that obstructs a deal.
While Putin has been opposing an unconditional ceasefire Trump hasn't moved forward with sanctions against Russia. On Friday, he said in an interview with Fox that he will use his leverage on Putin if he thinks it is needed.
What he's saying: In an all-caps post on Truth Social, Trump wrote he will speak to Putin on Monday at 10am ET and right after, with Zelensky and other leaders.
"THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE 'BLOODBATH' THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE," he wrote.
Trump stressed that he hopes this would lead to a ceasefire.
Driving the news: Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss a possible ceasefire in the war, the first such discussions since the early days of Moscow's invasion.
The meeting came after months of diplomatic pressure by the Trump administration to open talks on ending the war. No ceasefire was agreed in the initial round of talks, but the sides did agree to swap 1,000 prisoners from each side.
State of play: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.
Bruce said Rubio delivered to Lavrov a "strong message" from President Trump and emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence.
Rubio told Lavrov that "the comprehensive peace plan proposed by the U.S. outlines the best way forward," Bruce said.
The other side: "Lavrov noted the positive role of the U.S., which contributed to Kyiv ultimately accepting President Putin's proposal to resume the Istanbul negotiations. He confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue working together with American colleagues in this context," the Russian foreign ministry said.
Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss a possible ceasefire in the war, the first such discussions since the early days of Moscow's invasion.
Why it matters: The meeting comes after months of diplomatic pressure by the Trump administration to open talks on ending the war. No ceasefire was agreed in the initial round of talks, but the sides did agree to swap 1,000 prisoners from each side.
The latest: The meeting lasted for a little over an hour and didn't produce significant progress aside from the prisoner swap, according to a Ukrainian diplomatic source.
The Russian delegation demanded that the Ukrainian army withdraw from several areas inside Ukraine in return for a ceasefire, the source said.
"Russian demands are detached from reality and go far beyond anything that was previously discussed," the source said.
Driving the news: Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Ukraine stressed in the meeting the need for a ceasefire and proposed a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin, who initially called for a summit but then declined to travel to Turkey.
The Russian delegation said after the meeting that it was satisfied with the talks and that negotiations will continue with each side presenting its detailed vision for a ceasefire.
After the talks in Istanbul ended, Zelensky and the leaders of France, the U.K., Germany and Poland had a conference call with President Trump, Zelensky's spokesperson said.
Zelensky wrote on X after the call with Trump that "Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace" but "if the Russians reject a full and unconditional ceasefire tough sanctions must follow."
Between the lines: Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of penalties on Russia for slow-walking the ceasefire process, but has yet to follow through.
Catch up quick: Putincalled for the meeting, skipped it, and instead sent a delegation led by his adviser Vladimir Medinsky.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent a lower-level delegation headed by his deputy foreign minister.
Zelensky had been preparing to meet Putin in Turkey.
Behind the scenes: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Istanbul and met with the national security advisers of the U.K., France and Germany.
His senior adviser Michael Anton was supposed to join the meeting between Russia and Ukraine, but the Russians blocked his participation, a Ukrainian diplomatic official told Axios.
"What do they have to hide from the Americans?" This may show that the Russians are not ready for serious peace steps and wishing simply to stall the process," the Ukrainian source said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin did attend.
What they're saying: Before the meeting between the Russians and the Ukrainians, Rubio met with the Ukrainian and Turkish delegations for final coordination.
"The three delegations discussed the importance of seeking a peaceful end to the Russia-Ukraine war," said Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesperson. "The Secretary noted today's direct talks between Russia and Ukraine while reiterating the U.S. position that the killing needs to stop."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Thursday in Antalya, Turkey with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, the State Department said. It's the first such meeting in 15 years.
Why it matters: It's another step in normalizing relations between the countries after President Trump met President Ahmed al-Sharaa and made the shocking pronouncement that the U.S. would lift its crippling sanctions on the country.
The last meeting between top diplomats from the two countries took place in 2010, when then-Secretary Hillary Clinton met her Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in New York.
The Syrian civil war began the next year, and the U.S. shunned the Assad regime.
Driving the news: Rubio met his Syrian counterpart bilaterally and also held a trilateral meeting with Al-Shaibani and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Rubio told his Syrian counterpart the Trump administration would start the process of sanctions relief to stabilize Syria, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.
Bruce said Rubio told his Syrian counterpart that he welcomes "the Syrian government's calls for peace with Israel, efforts to end Iran's influence in Syria, commitment to ascertaining the fate of U.S. citizens missing or killed in Syria, and elimination of all chemical weapons."
Rubio stressed the Syrian government must protect the human rights of all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religion.
State of play: The Treasury Department said on Thursday that it's working with the State Department and National Security Council to execute Trump's direction to lift sanctions.
"We look forward to implementing the necessary authorizations that would be critical to bringing new investment into Syria," Treasury said.
Rubio said Thursday that Trump is expected to issue presidential waivers removing some of the U.S. sanctions against Syria.
Other sanctions on Syria would have to be repealed by Congress, which is likely to take longer.
Between the lines: Ahead of the meeting in Antalya, Rubio spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and briefed him on Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia.
The Trump administration didn't notify Israel in advance of Trump's decision to hold that meeting and lift sanctions on Syria, a source with knowledge said.
During his meeting with Trump last month, Netanyahu specifically asked the president not to lift the sanctions and expressed concern about the role Turkey β which wanted the sanctions lifted β plays in Syria, Israeli officials say.
Trump disregarded Netanyahu's concerns. He said Tuesday that his decision to lift sanctions was in response to requests by several leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who joined the meeting with al-Sharaa, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoΔan, who participated remotely.
The Trump administration gave Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal during the fourth round of negotiations on Sunday, a U.S. official and two other sources with direct knowledge tell Axios.
Why it matters: It was the first time since the nuclear talks started in early April that White House envoy Steve Witkoff presented a written proposal to the Iranians.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took the proposal back to Tehran for consultations with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian and other top officials.
President Trump said Tuesday in Saudi Arabia that he'd presented "an olive branch" to the Iranians but stressed "this is not an offer that will last forever. The time is right now for them to choose."
Behind the scenes: During the first round of talks, Araghchi gave Witkoff a written document with several Iranian proposals. Witkoff told Araghchi it was too soon for that and he wanted to build rapport first, a source with knowledge of that meeting said.
During the third round of talks in late April, Araghchi gave Witkoff an updated document with Iranian ideas for a nuclear deal. This time, Witkoff took the document.
A U.S. team of experts studied it and sent the Iranians a list of questions and requests for clarification. The Iranians replied and added questions of their own, two sources said.
Meanwhile, Witkoff and his team prepared a U.S. proposal laying out the Trump administration's parameters for an Iranian civilian nuclear program and requirements for monitoring and verification, the sources said.
Between the lines: Witkoff and other officials have given contrasting answers as to whether and to what extent Iran would be able to enrich uranium under a deal, so it's significant that his team laid out the U.S. position in writing.
A senior adviser to Khamenei told NBC News Wednesday that Iran is prepared to sign a deal that allows it to enrich only to the lower levels needed for civilian uses and requires it to give up its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium β with inspectors verifying compliance β in exchange for lifting all sanctions.
Behind the scenes: Witkoff briefed the UN Security Council last Wednesday and described the U.S. proposal as "elegant" and "very big" but stressed more progress was needed in the negotiations, according to minutes of the meeting shared with Axios and confirmed by another source with knowledge.
Witkoff gave the proposal to Araghchi on Sunday in Oman, the sources said. A State Department official declined to comment.
State of play: Witkoff was encouraged by the results of the fourth round of talks, which took place a day before Trump set off on his Middle East trip. A fifth round hasn't been scheduled yet.
"I hope you can help me with the Iran situation. It'sΒ a perilous situation, and we want to do the right thing," Trump told Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani when they met Wednesday.
Trump stressed he wants to avoid a war, "because things like that get started and they get out of control. I've seen it over and over again... we're not going to let that happen."
The latest: In a briefing with reporters on Thursday Trump said the U.S. is close to a deal with Iran and stressed the talks that are taking place "are very serious".
"They agreed to the terms...they are not going to make nuclear dust," he said.
What's next: Senior diplomats from Iran and the E3 (France, U.K., Germany) are expected to meet in Istanbul of Friday for the first such meeting in two months.
The three European powers have decided to trigger "snapback" sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal if no new deal is reached by August, European diplomats say.
The Israeli government has agreed to resume humanitarian aid delivery to Palestinians in Gaza, the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said in a statement on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Israel has frozen all supplies of food, water and medicine to Gaza for two months, and the UN has warned food supplies will run out within days. The foundation said Israel had agreed to resume aid imminently though the Israeli government has not confirmed that.
Resuming aid delivery was the key condition of the GHF β established with backing from the U.S. and Israel β forΒ it launching a new aid delivery mechanism in Gaza, which Israel says will allow aid to be delivered without being controlled by Hamas.
Israeli officials did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment on the claim they had agreed to immediately unfreeze aid.
What they're saying: "The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) today announced that it will launch operations in the Gaza Strip before the end of the month. This follows discussions with Israeli officials to allow the flow of transitional aid into Gaza under existing mechanisms while construction of GHF's Secure Distribution Sites (SDS) is completed," the foundation said in a statement.
"There is no time to wait for ideal conditions. We have a responsibility to act and to do it without compromising our values. Today we are one step closer to doing just that," GHF executive director Jake Wood said.
State of play: GHF said in its statement that it is in the final stages of procuring large volumes of food aid to supplement existing pledges from humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza. Collectively, the total commitment for the initial 90-day period will exceed 300 million meals.
In a letter sent on May 14 by the GHF to the Israeli government and obtained by Axios, the foundation requested that Israel facilitate the flow of enough humanitarian aid using existing modalities to Gaza until GHF's distribution infrastructure is fully operational.
Behind the scenes: The Israeli decision, if confirmed, is the result of negotiations between the GHF and the Israeli government in recent days.
The GHF had asked, and Israel agreed, to expand the number of secure aid delivery center around the Gaza Strip in order to serve the entire population of Gaza and find solutions for the distribution of aid to civilians who are unable to reach a distribution location.
The GHF asked in the letter that Israel identify locations for aid distribution centers in Northern Gaza strip within 30 days.
The foundation stressed in the letter that if displacement of Palestinian civilians "is deemed necessary due to imminent or active military operations, it should be temporary, voluntary, and solely for the protection of the civilian population."
Between the lines: Israel's military plans, to commence as soon as Friday, include the mass displacement of 2 million Palestinians to a "humanitarian area" in the southern Gaza Strip.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to skip the summit with Ukraine he called for and send a lower level delegation for the direct talks planned to take place in Istanbul on Thursday.
The latest: PresidentTrump responded to the decision on Thursday, telling reporters: "I don't believe anything is gonna happen, whether you like it or not, before Putin and I get together."
Why it matters: If direct negotiations take place, it will be the first such talks between Russia and Ukraine since March 2022.
But Putin's decision means there won't be a trilateral leader summit involving him, Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who traveled to Turkey and was prepared to meet Putin.
Catch up quick: Last week, Trump called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine and threatened sanctions if this was "not respected."
On Saturday, Zelensky and the leaders of several NATO countries spoke with Trump over the phone and stressed they're ready for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, starting Monday.
During the 15-minute call, Zelensky and the NATO leaders told Trump that if a ceasefire is agreed upon, Ukraine is ready to begin direct peace talks with Russia.
Putin responded to the terms later that evening. And though he didn't accept the ceasefire proposal, he said he is ready to begin direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul.
A day later Zelensky said he would travel to Turkey to meet with Putin and discuss a "necessary basis for diplomacy" to end the war.
During his flight to Saudi Arabia on Monday and again on Wednesday morning, Trump suggested he might go himself to Turkey to for a summit with Zelensky and Putin if the Russian leader agreed to attend.
Driving the news: On Wednesday night, after several days of silence, Putin announced he will send a delegation headed by his adviser Vladimir Medinsky to the talks with Istanbul.
The delegation will also include Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
What to watch: Trump said on Tuesday that he will send Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg for the talks in Istanbul. But it is unclear if the lower-level Russian delegation will change this plan.
Zelensky is expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoΔan in Ankara on Thursday. But it was not immediately clear who the Ukrainians were going to send to the talks in Istanbul.
President Trump met Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and urged him to sign a peace deal with Israel, the White House said in a statement.
Why it matters: The extraordinary meeting in Riyadh between Trump and al-Sharaa β who remains on the U.S. terrorist list due to his past ties with al-Qaeda β marks the first meeting between a U.S. and Syrian president in 25 years.
Driving the news: On Tuesday in a speech at an economic conference in Riyadh, Trump shocked the world when he announced he'd lift U.S. sanctions imposed on the Assad regime β which al-Sharaa and his fighters toppled last December β in order to "give a chance" to the new Syrian government.
Trump's announcement was a dramatic shift in U.S. policy towards the new Syrian government.
The sanctions crippled the Syrian economy and brought the country to the verge of bankruptcy, and would have made a serious rebuilding effort very difficult.
The Biden administration eased some restrictions on Syria to ease the delivery of humanitarian aid after Assad's fall, but declined to lift sanctions.
Behind the scenes: The meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa lasted 33 minutes, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also attending. Turkish President Erdogan joined the meeting remotely over the phone.
The White House said Trump told al-Sharaa "he has a tremendous opportunity to do something historic in his country" after U.S. sanctions are lifted.
Trump urged al-Sharaa to deport "foreign terrorists and Palestinian terrorists" from Syria, help the U.S. to prevent the resurgence of ISIS in the region and assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Northeast Syria, the White House said.
"President al-Sharaa thanked President Trump... and recognized the significant opportunity presented by the Iranians leaving Syria, as well as shared U.S.-Syrian interests in countering terrorism and eliminating chemical weapons," the White House said.
Zoom in: According to the White House, al-Sharaa also affirmed his commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel.
After the collapse of the Assad regime, Israel violated the agreement and occupied the buffer zone between the countries and other areas in Syrian territory. Israel claimed it did so for security reasons.
Al-Sharaa told Trump he wants Syria to serve as a trade link "between east and west" and invited U.S. companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas, the White House said.
What they're saying: Trump told reporters on Air Force One during his flight from Riyadh to Doha on Wednesday that the meeting with al-Sharaa was "great."
"He is a young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter," Trump said of the Syrian president, who took part in the insurgency against U.S. troops as a member of al-Qaeda in Iraq, was imprisoned by the U.S. for five years, and later emerged as a key figure in the Syrian Civil War.
Trump said he told al-Sharaa that after Syria gets "straightened out" it should join the Abraham Accords. "He said, 'Yes.' But they have a lot of work to do", Trump added.
Reality check: A Syrian-Israeli peace deal will be difficult thing to achieve considering decades of failed peace talks, the instability in Syria, the war in Gaza, and the Israeli occupation of parts of Syria.
Between the lines: Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa and his decision to lift the sanctions took place against Israeli requests, Israeli officials say.
Trump said his team had been in touch with Israel about this decision. "We told them we're doing it," he said, and explained that MBS and Erdogan convinced him to do it to prevent the collapse of Syria.
In the hours before and after Air Force One touched down in Riyadh, President Trump's team plunged into a frenetic diplomatic blitz, aiming to defuse four of the world's most volatile crises β all at once.
Why it matters: Trump came to the Middle East chasing $1 trillion in foreign investment. But under the pageantry of the Gulf summits, he's betting that a whirlwind of personalized diplomacy can succeed where decades of U.S. policy have failed.
Zoom in: "As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be profound," Trump said in his keynote speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum.
1. Syria: Trump stunned the audience β and drew a standing ovationΒ β by announcing that he would lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, offering the new government "a chance at greatness" after the fall of the Assad regime.
He also agreed to do what no U.S. president has done for 25 years: Meet with the Syrian president.
Until recently, Trump had privately referred to Ahmed al-Sharaa β who was placed on the U.S. terror list due to his ties to al-Qaeda β as "a jihadi."
He now plans to "say hello" to Syria's new leader on Wednesday, and is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet with his counterpart in Turkey later this week.
3. Russia-Ukraine: Trump is pushing hard for the countries to hold direct talks this week for the first time in three year, even floating the idea of joining Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey later this week.
Zelensky confirmed he'll travel to Istanbul for the talks. Despite being the one to propose negotiations, Putin has yet to confirm his attendance.
Trump said Tuesday that he's sending Rubio, Witkoff and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg to Istanbul to help broker a ceasefire, and suggested Russia could face massive sanctions if they won't play ball.
4. Iran: Days after the conclusion of a fourth round of nuclear talks in Oman, Trump issued a public ultimatum urging Iran's leaders to accept a new nuclear deal or face a return to "massive maximum pressure."
"I have never believed in having permanent enemies," Trump said in Riyadh, offering Iran "an olive branch" while stressing that the Islamic Republic can never have a nuclear weapon.
"This is not an offer that will last forever. The time is right now for them to choose β we don't have much time," he warned.
Reality check: In Ukraine, Gaza and beyond, Trump's supreme confidence in his own dealmaking abilities hasn't yet been backed up by results.
But bumps in the road might not stop him from declaring victory, as he did last week when a partial truce with the Houthis gave him cover to end an operation he'd begun to see as a costly boondoggle, the NYT reports.
The big picture: Trump has branded his Middle East diplomacy as a repudiation of both neoconservative interventionism and liberal internationalism β and as proof that his transactional, "America First" approach is delivering where past U.S. presidents failed.
He portrayed the Gulf region's transformation as the product of local ambition and authoritarian stability β not Western values or American-led nation-building.
"The gleaming marbles of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called nation builders, neocons or liberal nonprofits, like those who spent trillions and trillions of dollars failing to develop Kabul, Baghdad, so many other cities," he said.
"Instead, the birth of a modern Middle East has been brought by the people of the region themselves."
Why it matters: The death of Sinwar, if confirmed, would mark another huge blow to the Palestinian militant group that launched the Oct. 7 attacks and has been fighting a war against Israel for the last 18 months.
Sinwar became the leader of the Hamas military wing after Israel killed his brother Yahya Sinwar and predecessor Mohammed Deif. The three were the masterminds of the Oct. 7 attacks.
What they're saying: The IDF said in a statement that it "conducted a strike on Hamas terrorists in an underground command and control facility under the European hospital in Khan Younis."
At least six people were killed and 40 wounded, according to the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
It's unclear if the hospital was significantly damaged in the strike.
Behind the scenes: An Israeli official said the government received intelligence pointing to Sinwar's presence in the bunker earlier on Tuesday, and that the operation proceeded quickly.
The Israeli official said the results of the strike are still unclear and the IDF is checking if other senior Hamas military leaders were in the bunker with Sinwar.
The official stressed that there was no intelligence suggesting Sinwar was in the bunker with Israeli hostages. "If there was the slightest risk of hitting hostages, we wouldn't have launched the strike," the official said.
Israeli officials said they didn't inform the Trump administration in advance because of the short time between receiving the initial intelligence and the urgent need to conduct the strike.
The big picture: The Israeli negotiation team and President Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler, travelled to Doha on Tuesday for talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators β and indirectly with Hamas β on a possible new Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.
Israeli officials said they hope that Hamas elements that support a deal will have the upper hand if Sinwar β who took a hard line on negotiations β is killed.
Trump said in his speech in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that he is working on ending the war in Gaza β and that the people of Gaza "deserve a much better future." He stressed, however, that this won't be possible as long as Hamas is in control.
President Trump announced in a speech in Saudi Arabia that he is lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria "to give them a chance."
Why it matters: Trump's announcement is a dramatic shift in U.S. policy towards Syria less than six months after the collapse of the Assad regime. The sanctions crippled the Syrian economy and brought the country to the verge of bankruptcy.
Trump is also expected to meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, according to two sources familiar with the plan.
Assad's son, Bashar al-Assad, was toppled in December in a lightning rebel offensive that brought al-Sharaa to power after 14 years of devastating civil war.
What they're saying: Trump said he hopes the new Syrian government manages to stabilize the country and keep the peace and stressed he will continue the process of normalization of U.S.-Syrian relations.
"After discussing the situation in Syria with the Crown Prince [Mohammed bin Salman] and also with President Erdogan of Turkey, who called me the other day and asked for a very similar thing ... I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump said with the crowd bursting into a standing ovation.
Trump said the sanctions were "brutal and crippling" and served a purpose at the time, but are no longer needed.
"Now it is their time to shine. We are taking them all off. Good luck Syria. Show us something very special," he said.
Driving the news: When asked by reporters Tuesday if he expects to meet with al-Sharaa during his visit to Saudi Arabia Trump replied: "Yes, I think so."
"The president agreed to say hello to the Syrian president while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow," a White House official told Axios.
The extraordinary planned meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa β who remains on the U.S. terrorist list due to his past ties with al-Qaeda and ISIS β would mark the first meeting between a U.S. and Syrian president in 25 years.
The last such meeting took place in 2000, when then-President Bill Clinton met with then-Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in Geneva as part of efforts to broker an Israeli-Syrian peace deal.
Trump also said Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet later this week in Turkey with the Syrian foreign minister.
The big picture: Trump's new announcement marks a shift in the administration's policy toward the new Syrian government, which is struggling to rebuild the country under the weight of U.S. sanctions.
In his first few weeks in office, Trump referred to al-Sharaa as "a Jihadi" when speaking with foreign leaders, a source with direct knowledge said.
One of Trump's stated goals is to fully withdraw all remaining U.S. troops from Syria β a process he started in recent weeks.
A meeting and potential coordination with the Syrian president could accelerate that process.
Behind the scenes: Two sources with knowledge of the issue said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, along with several countries, including Turkey, Qatar and France, urged Trump to hold the meeting on the sidelines of his summit with Gulf leaders in Riyadh on Wednesday.
State of play: Charles Lister, director of the Syria program at the Middle East Institute, told Axios that the meeting could be a make-or-break moment for a country that urgently needs U.S. engagement and sanctions relief.
"If President Trump wants to bring peace to the Middle East, the departure of Assad's regime and the near-defeat of Iran in the Levant presents him a historic opportunity β but Damascus will be central to whether that succeeds or fails," Lister said.
"A Syrian olive branch has been extended for several months; it's up to Trump whether that's grasped or not."
Mouaz Moustafa, the director of the Washington-based Syrian Emergency Task Force, briefed White House officials after meeting with al-Sharaa in Damascus for four hours several days ago.
He told Axios al-Sharaa wants to meet Trump and present his vision for the country, and that he expressedstrong interest in partnering with the U.S. on Syria's energy sector β including a proposal to allow a U.S. entity to manage Syria's oil and gas fields.
Al-Sharaa emphasized his commitment to preventing Iranian reentry into Syria and continuing close cooperation with the U.S. on counterterrorism efforts, including the handling of ISIS prisoners, Moustafa added.
Between the lines: The meeting with al-Sharaa and the lifting of U.S. sanctions is another instance of Trump defying Israel's preferred policy, after the U.S. engaged with direct talks with Iran and negotiated a ceasefire with the Houthis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is deeply skeptical towards the new Syrian government due to al-Sharaa and his advisers' past affiliation with al-Qaeda.
Israel took over territory inside Syria to create a buffer zone after the collapse of the Assad regime, and has been conducting air strikes on Syrian military bases and weapons depot.
Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout with new details.
