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April 24 **U.S.-Iran Standoff Escalates Overnight, Early Today** Iran accused the U.S. of being the root cause of regional turmoil, stating it has identified retaliation targets and is expanding military capabilities. Senior U.S. officials—rarely unified—denied internal divisions. The U.S. has ordered U.S. citizens to evacuate Iran. Donald Trump reiterated his refusal to use nuclear weapons, noting the U.S. military has completed its “strongest ever” Middle East deployment and is ready to escalate strikes if the ceasefire collapses or intensifies. **Israel Boosts Readiness** Israel has increased air-to-ground missile procurement by $200 million, with its Defense Minister saying the country is prepared to resume operations against Iran. Clashes in southern Lebanon persist, as Hezbollah continues engaging Israeli forces. **Strait of Hormuz Tensions Spike** The U.S. intercepted an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. Trump threatened to sink Iranian fast-attack boa

April 24 — President Trump announced Wednesday that the existing Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will be extended by three weeks. The extension is aimed at buying more time to secure a long-term deal and clearing key hurdles for the U.S. to wrap up the Iran-related conflict. Trump said he will soon invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to visit the U.S. He noted the U.S. will work with Lebanon to tackle Hezbollah-related security threats but did not specify details. On Iran, Trump noted Tehran "wants a deal but is internally chaotic," stressing he’s not in a rush to negotiate. But if Iran rejects a deal, he said the conflict would be resolved "through military means." He also clarified nuclear weapons won’t be used, arguing conventional military force already has overwhelming superiority. Additionally, Trump noted Iran may have "slightly replenished its military gear" during the prior ceasefire period, but the U.S. can quickly destroy it. He re

April 24 — U.S. federal authorities have arrested a Special Forces soldier who participated in a Thursday operation, accusing him of insider trading on a prediction market tied to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The soldier allegedly used non-public information to place bets, netting significant profits, per ABC News. Investigators found he placed over $33,000 in cumulative wagers on the decentralized platform Polymarket hours before former President Donald Trump announced the “capture of Maduro” in January. His accurate prediction yielded roughly $409,000 in gains. Polymarket’s internal risk controls flagged the unusual trading, sparking joint scrutiny from the platform and law enforcement that launched a months-long insider trading probe. Federal officials believe the soldier had direct access to sensitive operation-related information and exploited it for trading advantage. This marks a landmark case: the first major insider trading enforcement in the on-

April 24 — U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that U.S. officials met with senior Israeli and Lebanese representatives at the White House today. “The meeting went very smoothly!” he noted. The U.S. will work with Lebanon to help it defend itself against the threat posed by Hezbollah, Trump added. Separately, the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended for three weeks. Trump also said he looks forward to welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Michel Aoun in the near future.

April 24 – CNN reported Wednesday, citing multiple sources, that U.S. officials are drafting a new plan to target Iran’s military capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz should the current ceasefire with Iran collapse. Sources noted that among the target options under review, the plan prioritizes Iran’s capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, southern Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman for a “dynamic strike”—which could target small fast-attack boats, mine-laying vessels, and other asymmetric assets. These assets have enabled Iran to effectively disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Though the U.S. military has targeted Iran’s navy in the past, most of the initial month-long strikes focused on targets far from the strait. The new plan calls for more concentrated strikes near the strategic waterway.

Local time Thursday, April 24 — U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed as "silly" a question about whether he would use nuclear weapons against Iran, stating he would not and claiming he had already "defeated them without nuclear weapons." Speaking from the Oval Office, he added, "No one should ever be allowed to use nuclear weapons." Previously, Trump had threatened Iran, saying that unless an agreement was reached, "tonight the entire civilization will be destroyed and can never be recovered." However, just ahead of the deadline he set, an extension of the ceasefire was announced. (Xinhua)