Here's the latest
• Shaky peace: A senior Iranian military official has said renewed conflict with the US is possible after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal. On Friday, Trump said the US may be “better off” if no deal is reached, after stating he was unsatisfied with Tehran’s offer.
• Troop withdrawal: Germany said the Pentagon’s move to withdraw roughly 5,000 US troops over the next year was “anticipated.” Trump foreshadowed the cuts after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran.
• Sanction threat: The US has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay tolls to Iran to safely use the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, analysts say the impact of the waterway’s closure on the economy will deepen in the coming weeks.
• In Lebanon: Israel’s military warned residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate amid a fragile ceasefire. Several people were killed in Israeli strikes Friday.
Reduction in US troop numbers in Germany is good news for Putin, NYT’s Sanger says
Germany is downplaying news that the US is pulling 5,000 troops out of the country, describing the Pentagon move as “anticipated.”
All the same, it remains striking that the announcement – which represents an almost 15% reduction in US troop numbers – came just days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran was ‘humiliating” the US in stumbling peace talks.
CNN’s Victor Blackwell discussed the US drawdown with David Sanger of the New York Times on Saturday morning.
Perhaps the main beneficiary of the Trump administration’s decision, Sanger said, would be Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Iran says renewed conflict with US "possible" after Trump rejects latest peace proposal
A senior Iranian military official has said renewed conflict with the US is “possible” after Donald Trump rejected the latest peace proposal from Tehran.
“Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements,” said Brig. Gen. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, spokesman for Iran’s military headquarters, in remarks carried by Iranian news agencies.
“Surprise measures are planned for the enemy, beyond their imagination,” Asadi said.
Official Iranian outlets also meanwhile restated an uncompromising position on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
“With its dominance and control over nearly 2,000 kilometers of Iran’s coastline in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC (Revolutionary Guards) Navy will make this water area a source of livelihood and power for the dear Iranian people and a source of security and prosperity for the region,” the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Saturday.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded that freedom of navigation be restored through Hormuz since declaring a ceasefire early last month. But Iranian officials have responded that the strait will remain under Iran’s supervision.
Here are Trump’s latest comments on a deal with Iran
President Donald Trump made several remarks yesterday about a prospective deal with Iran, after Iran offer to end the war sent by Pakistani mediators to the US.
Here’s the latest, if you haven’t been keeping up:
In the afternoon, Trump said he is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal, telling reporters at the White House, “They want to make a deal,” but “I’m not satisfied with it.”
In the same gaggle with reporters, Trump cast doubt on the Iran’s ability to accept a deal, saying, “They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” describing “tremendous discord” among Iran’s leaders.
The president also said his options, as it relates to Iran, are striking a deal or to “blast the hell out of them and finish them forever.”
Then, while delivering remarks in the evening at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said the US may be “better off” if no deal is reached with Iran, adding “Because we can’t let this thing go on. Been going on too long.”
CNN has reached out to the White House for clarity on Trump’s next steps in the war, and whether the US plans to resume strikes in the country.
UAE lifts all precautionary air traffic measures imposed during Iranian attacks
The United Arab Emirates has lifted “all precautionary measures” on air traffic during Iranian attacks on the country, a statement by the General Civil Aviation Authority said.
The authority announced the full resumption of air navigation operations across UAE airspace “following a comprehensive evaluation of operational and security conditions.”
The UAE had imposed limited air travel restrictions after Iran attacked the country using hundreds of missiles and drones in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in late February.
How US-Iran peace talks appear stuck
The White House says Iran’s latest offer to get beyond a ceasefire is unsatisfactory, though President Donald Trump insisted to reporters, “we’re doing everything in terms of negotiating right now.”
CNN’s International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson breaks it down for us from Islamabad.
Iran and the US may tolerate a deadlock at the Strait of Hormuz, but the world will pay the price
With talks between the United States and Iran once again still deadlocked, both Washington and Tehran are signaling their ability to endure a prolonged stalemate. Yet this standstill may force the rest of the world to pay a heavy price for a war it did not choose.
Iran’s “very good” negotiators – as described by Secretary of State Marco Rubio – have sent Trump a fresh proposal he views as unsatisfactory. Tehran’s lack of willingness to make a compromise acceptable to the US suggests its comfort with a prolonged stalemate, despite a US naval blockade intended to squeeze the regime into capitulation.
As the conflict drags on without a military or diplomatic resolution, Iran believes its vision for a new regional order is gradually edging closer to acceptance. In a message last week (though this was Thursday?), the new supreme leader declared victory over the US and implied dominance over the Persian Gulf, before proclaiming Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
And as proposals move slowly between capitals, Trump has declared he’s in “no rush” and is committed to his naval blockade, even as analysts expect it will take weeks to fully exert the necessary pressure on a regime battle-hardened by years of sanctions.
While both sides continue their shadowboxing, rising global prices have squeezed consumers worldwide with analysts projecting a further rise in global inflation and countries scrambling to prepare for additional shocks should the conflict persist.
“We’re going to get this thing done properly,” Trump said. “We’re not going to leave early and then have the problem arise in three more years.”
How many US troops are in Europe — and why are they there?
The withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, as we’ve been reporting today, will take the total back to about the level before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to Department of Defense data, there were 36,436 US military personnel in Germany as of December last year, second only to the numbers in Japan.
The Pentagon did not indicate whether the troops would return to the US or be redeployed elsewhere. A long-range fires battalion that was due to be deployed later this year will be cancelled, depriving Germany of the cover of a significant missile capability.
Former President Joe Biden approved the deployment of 7,000 additional US troops to Germany in February 2022, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The US military presence in Germany peaked during the Cold War, when there were roughly 250,000 forces stationed in West Germany.
Other European countries where significant numbers of active duty US personnel are based include Italy, with more than 12,000, and the UK, with just over 10,000.
There are nearly 4,000 US troops in Spain, but US President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw them over the Spanish government’s refusal to allow bases there to be used in the war with Iran.
Besides playing an important role in the Cold War, US facilities in Europe have served a role in multiple crises in the Middle East.
European countries host US forces at several important air force and naval bases, including the US airbase at Ramstein in Germany, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom, Aviano in Italy and Lajes Field in the Portuguese Azores.
The headquarters of US European Command and US Africa Command are in Stuttgart, Germany and there are two facilities that support the US Navy in Naples and Sigonella, Italy.
Israel and Hezbollah trade strikes despite ceasefire in Lebanon, as US pushes for meeting
It’s more than two weeks since President Donald Trump announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire.
The White House has also been pushing for what would be an historic meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, aimed at securing a lasting peace.
As Oren Liebermann reports from Jerusalem, above, any such a meeting looks unlikely in the near-term, amid continuing exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah.
Paying to pass through Strait of Hormuz could lead to sanctions, US warns
The US Treasury Department released an advisory yesterday indicating shipping companies could face sanctions if they choose to pay tolls to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The advisory, posted through the Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, characterizes toll payments as a form of engaging in transactions with the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which are both sanctioned by the US. The notice warns that transactions to pass through the waterway could subject companies and individuals to sanctions as well.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to warn U.S. and non-U.S. persons about the sanctions risks of making these payments to, or soliciting guarantees from, the Iranian regime for safe passage,” the statement reads. “These risks exist regardless of payment method.”
Before the the Iran war began in late February, about 3,000 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz during a typical month, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Traffic has since reduced to a trickle, with just 154 vessels recorded crossing in the entire month of March, according to Kpler data.
The current US troop presence in Germany
The Pentagon said on Friday the US will be withdrawing roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year, a move the German defense minister today said was “anticipated.”
Germany is home to Ramstein Air Base, which is the headquarters for US Air Forces in Europe — including the unit that does “airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation operations” — and a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) installation, according to its website.
As of December 2025, there were 36,436 active-duty US military personnel permanently stationed in Germany, according to data from the US Defense Manpower Data Center.
Friction between European leaders and the Trump administration has intensified due to the war with Iran, which the US launched without notifying most NATO allies.
The president has also lashed out at allies for what he sees as insufficient help in the conflict, also threatening to cut troop levels in Italy and Spain.
CNN’s Sophie Tanno, Sebastian Shukla and Aleena Fayaz contributed to this report.
Trump questions benefits of any Iran deal, as US poll reveals public opinion of war
US President Donald Trump has said the US could be “better off” if officials don’t reach a deal with Iran, as negotiations again appear snagged.
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
- Florida remarks: In comments made at a West Palm Beach, Florida, event Friday evening, Trump questioned whether the US would be “better off” not making a deal with Iran. Before departing for Florida, he told CNN he was not satisfied with Tehran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the war.
- “Totally unconstitutional:” Trump also called a law limiting the use of force without congressional authorization “totally unconstitutional.” However, in a letter to Congress leaders he argued war “hostilities” with Iran had “terminated.”
- Lebanon: The Israeli military issued an urgent warning today for residents in parts of southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes amid a precarious ceasefire. At least nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, according to the country’s health ministry.
- Troop withdrawal: A NATO spokesperson said the alliance is working with the US to “understand” the details of its announcement to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany. Berlin’s defense minister said the move was “anticipated.”
- Public opinion: Six in ten Americans say it was a mistake for the US to use military force against Iran, according to a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released Saturday.
- Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been transferred from prison to a hospital after “a catastrophic deterioration in her health,” her foundation said in a statement.
CNN’s Ivana Kottasová, Ariel Edwards-Levy, Laura Sharman, Eugenia Yosef, Tori B. Powell, Alejandra Jaramillo, Natasha Bertrand and Kit Maher contributed reporting,
Impact of paralysis in Strait of Hormuz will deepen, analysts say
The paralysis of oil and gas flows out of the Gulf will have a deepening impact in coming weeks as existing stocks are drawn down, according to industry executives and analysts.
Supplies are now down from about 20 million barrels a day before the conflict — and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — to close to one billion barrels a day in April, maritime intelligence group Kpler said Friday.
“While a gradual recovery may begin from June, the rebalancing is incomplete, leaving the global oil market tighter and increasingly reliant on inventories and demand adjustment,” Kpler said.
One of the US oil executives who met with US President Donald Trump Thursday says the market has not absorbed the full impact of the disruption.
“There’s more to come if the strait remains closed,” Exxon’s CEO Darren Woods told shareholders Friday.
Disruption to supply had been mitigated by the large number of loaded oil tankers that were in transit during the first month of the war, the release of strategic petroleum reserves by governments and tapping into inventories, Woods said.
Analysts say that buffer is now depleted. According to the US Energy Information Administration, US gasoline stocks fell to 222 million barrels on April 24, their lowest for this time of year in more than a decade.
In recent days there have been just a handful of crossings through Hormuz, according to Kpler and other shipping data sources.
The UK Navy said Friday that “Hormuz traffic has collapsed by 90% since conflict began, with fewer than 10 ships a day now transiting the strait,” and some 20,000 sailors stranded on ships in the Gulf.
Some context: Trump said Friday there were options in addition to the ongoing US blockade of ships using Iranian ports.
Iran has shown no willingness to compromise on the control over Hormuz that it asserted when the conflict began.
“The new management of the Persian Gulf will be implemented under the command of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution,” reported the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim.
Iran executes two men convicted of spying for Israel
Two men convicted of spying for Israel and its Mossad intelligence service have been executed, Iran’s judiciary said on Saturday.
Authorities identified them as Yaghoub Karimpour and Naser Bakrzadeh, saying their death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court after legal proceedings. Officials allege Karimpour passed sensitive information to a Mossad officer during Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June.
Rights groups have raised concerns about both cases. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights says Karimpour was sentenced to death on charges of “corruption on earth” tied to alleged espionage, and claims he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure to extract confessions.
Bakrzadeh, about 26 years old, was arrested in January 2024, according to HRANA, the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Bakrzadeh had his death sentence overturned twice by Iran’s Supreme Court before being sentenced again, with allegations that he faced rights violations during detention, HRANA said.
Germany "anticipated" US withdrawal of some troops, defense minister says
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says the US’ decision to withdraw troops was “anticipated.”
The Pentagon announced yesterday the US will be withdrawing roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year.
“The presence of American troops in Europe, particularly in Germany, serves the interests of both the US and ourselves,” Pistorius said today, in a defense ministry statement provided to CNN.
Pistorius stressed the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security and said Germany was “on the right track” with this.
US President Donald Trump foreshadowed the cuts earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran.
Trump then said his German counterpart “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” on Iran and the following day announced the US was “studying and reviewing” a possible reduction in troops.
Majority of Americans say Iran war a mistake, poll finds
Six in ten Americans say it was a mistake for the US to use military force against Iran, according to a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released today.
As the Post notes, that’s on par with the 59% who called the Iraq war a mistake in a May 2006 Post/ABC poll. A Gallup poll from 1971 noted that roughly six in 10 Americans said the same thing about the Vietnam war.
Roughly nine in 10 Democrats currently call the military action against Iran a mistake, as do 71% of independents and 19% of Republicans.
There are mixed opinions on America’s next steps, with 48% of the public saying the US should make a peace deal with Iran even if it results in a worse deal for the US, and 46% saying that the US should push Iran for a better deal, even if that means resuming military action.
On the economy: The survey also finds that 23%, roughly one-quarter of Americans, say they’re falling behind financially — up from 17% in February. Another 52% say they have just enough to maintain their standard of living, with 24% saying that they’re getting ahead.
On the impact of high gas prices: The poll showed 44% saying they’ve cut back on driving, 42% say they’ve cut household expenses and 34% say they’ve changed travel or vacation plans. Half of Americans say they expect gas prices to get worse over the next year, while only 21% say they expect them to get better.
The Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll surveyed 2,560 US adults on April 24-28, using a nationally representative panel. Results among the full sample have a margin of sampling error of +/- 2 percentage points.
Iranian Nobel peace laureate in hospital after "catastrophic deterioration in her health"
The Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been transferred from prison to a hospital after “a catastrophic deterioration in her health,” her foundation said in a statement.
Mohammadi’s family and supporters have spent weeks calling on the Iranian regime to allow her to receive urgent medical care. Until Friday, these appeals appeared to have been ignored.
The Narges Foundation said Mohammadi has been transferred from the Zanjan prison to a local hospital in Zanjan province in Iran. The foundation said in February that Mohammadi was on hunger strike.
In March, it said Mohammadi was in extremely poor health, had suffered a suspected heart attack, and was denied specialist medical care.
One of Iran’s most prominent human rights activists, Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”
2 months into the Iran war, here is where the key actors stand
When US President Donald Trump launched the war on Iran, he promised a swift and decisive victory. Just ten days into the conflict, he said the United States had “already won the war in many ways.”
Two months on, the fighting has been suspended but a definitive end to the war is nowhere in sight. Washington remains short of clear strategic gains, while a conflict once framed as limited is now dragging much of the world into a widening quagmire – with few, if any, coming out ahead.
“There aren’t any real winners from the war, but there are some countries that are comparatively well-positioned to manage its effects,” Melanie Sisson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, told CNN.
Here is where the key actors stand.
- Iranian people: The Iranian people have found themselves under fire from both the outside and the inside. The US and Israel have struck thousands of targets in Iran, killing more than 3,600 people, according to the advocacy group Human Rights Activists in Iran. At the same time, the Iranian regime has stepped up its brutal crackdown on dissent. The Iranian economy has also suffered a heavy blow, leading to job losses and rising poverty.
- Lebanese people: The Lebanese people have been caught up in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel for decades. A fragile ceasefire was in place until February, when, after Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah began firing at Israel. Israel retaliated by launching a wave of deadly airstrikes and a deeper ground incursion.
- American people: The war has been punishing for Americans and their wallets. They are already paying more for gasoline and air tickets as well as some services as more businesses start adding a fuel surcharge to their prices.
At least 9 killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon on Friday
At least nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday.
Eight people, including one child, were among the dead in strikes on Habbouch, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported, adding that 21 others were wounded.
And in Ain Baal, one person was killed and seven were wounded, according to the ministry.
For context: The Lebanese health ministry said more than 2,600 people have been killed since the latest conflict started in early March.
Israel warns residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate
The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning for residents in parts of southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes.
Israel Defense Forces’ Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, urged people to “stay at least 1,000 meters away” from nine towns and villages and move to open areas in an X post on Saturday morning.
Towns and villages in the evacuation zone are Qaq’a Al-Jisr, Adshiet Al-Shaqif, Jbeishit, Abba, Kfar Jouz, Harouf, Al-Dweir, Deir Al-Zahrani and Habboush, he said.
The fragile ceasefire in Lebanon is under growing pressure as Israel and Hezbollah have increased attacks on each other despite the US-brokered extension.
What Trump said at Florida event about Iran deal, Cuba and seized cargo ship
President Donald Trump said that the US was “sort of like pirates” as he described a recent incident in which the Navy fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship.
President Donald Trump delivered remarks on Friday evening at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he addressed a pending deal with Iran, taking over Cuba and a recently seized cargo ship.
Here’s what he said:
- On a deal with Iran: Trump said Friday that the United States could be “better off” if officials don’t reach a deal with Iran, as negotiations again appear snagged. “Frankly, maybe we’re better off not making a deal at all. Do you want to know the truth? Because we can’t let this thing go on,” he said. “Been going on too long.” Earlier, Trump told CNN before departing for Florida that he was not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
- On “taking over” Cuba: Trump quipped about the prospect of the US immediately “taking over” Cuba, suggesting military forces could move on the country on their way back from the war in Iran. “We’ll do on the way back from Iran, we’ll have one of our big — maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, the biggest in the world. We’ll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they’ll say, thank you very much, we give up,” he said of the Cuban leaders.
- On seized Iranian cargo ship: Trump also likened the US to being “sort of like pirates” as he described a recent incident in which the Navy fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship. “The ship stopped. They used tugboats, and then we landed on top of it, on top of everything else. … We took over the cargo, took over the oil,” he said.
Here's the latest
• Shaky peace: A senior Iranian military official has said renewed conflict with the US is possible after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal. On Friday, Trump said the US may be “better off” if no deal is reached, after stating he was unsatisfied with Tehran’s offer.
• Troop withdrawal: Germany said the Pentagon’s move to withdraw roughly 5,000 US troops over the next year was “anticipated.” Trump foreshadowed the cuts after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran.
• Sanction threat: The US has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay tolls to Iran to safely use the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, analysts say the impact of the waterway’s closure on the economy will deepen in the coming weeks.
• In Lebanon: Israel’s military warned residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate amid a fragile ceasefire. Several people were killed in Israeli strikes Friday.
Reduction in US troop numbers in Germany is good news for Putin, NYT’s Sanger says
Germany is downplaying news that the US is pulling 5,000 troops out of the country, describing the Pentagon move as “anticipated.”
All the same, it remains striking that the announcement – which represents an almost 15% reduction in US troop numbers – came just days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran was ‘humiliating” the US in stumbling peace talks.
CNN’s Victor Blackwell discussed the US drawdown with David Sanger of the New York Times on Saturday morning.
Perhaps the main beneficiary of the Trump administration’s decision, Sanger said, would be Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Iran says renewed conflict with US "possible" after Trump rejects latest peace proposal
A senior Iranian military official has said renewed conflict with the US is “possible” after Donald Trump rejected the latest peace proposal from Tehran.
“Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements,” said Brig. Gen. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, spokesman for Iran’s military headquarters, in remarks carried by Iranian news agencies.
“Surprise measures are planned for the enemy, beyond their imagination,” Asadi said.
Official Iranian outlets also meanwhile restated an uncompromising position on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
“With its dominance and control over nearly 2,000 kilometers of Iran’s coastline in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC (Revolutionary Guards) Navy will make this water area a source of livelihood and power for the dear Iranian people and a source of security and prosperity for the region,” the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Saturday.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded that freedom of navigation be restored through Hormuz since declaring a ceasefire early last month. But Iranian officials have responded that the strait will remain under Iran’s supervision.
Here are Trump’s latest comments on a deal with Iran
President Donald Trump made several remarks yesterday about a prospective deal with Iran, after Iran offer to end the war sent by Pakistani mediators to the US.
Here’s the latest, if you haven’t been keeping up:
In the afternoon, Trump said he is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal, telling reporters at the White House, “They want to make a deal,” but “I’m not satisfied with it.”
In the same gaggle with reporters, Trump cast doubt on the Iran’s ability to accept a deal, saying, “They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” describing “tremendous discord” among Iran’s leaders.
The president also said his options, as it relates to Iran, are striking a deal or to “blast the hell out of them and finish them forever.”
Then, while delivering remarks in the evening at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said the US may be “better off” if no deal is reached with Iran, adding “Because we can’t let this thing go on. Been going on too long.”
CNN has reached out to the White House for clarity on Trump’s next steps in the war, and whether the US plans to resume strikes in the country.
UAE lifts all precautionary air traffic measures imposed during Iranian attacks
The United Arab Emirates has lifted “all precautionary measures” on air traffic during Iranian attacks on the country, a statement by the General Civil Aviation Authority said.
The authority announced the full resumption of air navigation operations across UAE airspace “following a comprehensive evaluation of operational and security conditions.”
The UAE had imposed limited air travel restrictions after Iran attacked the country using hundreds of missiles and drones in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in late February.
How US-Iran peace talks appear stuck
The White House says Iran’s latest offer to get beyond a ceasefire is unsatisfactory, though President Donald Trump insisted to reporters, “we’re doing everything in terms of negotiating right now.”
CNN’s International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson breaks it down for us from Islamabad.
Iran and the US may tolerate a deadlock at the Strait of Hormuz, but the world will pay the price
With talks between the United States and Iran once again still deadlocked, both Washington and Tehran are signaling their ability to endure a prolonged stalemate. Yet this standstill may force the rest of the world to pay a heavy price for a war it did not choose.
Iran’s “very good” negotiators – as described by Secretary of State Marco Rubio – have sent Trump a fresh proposal he views as unsatisfactory. Tehran’s lack of willingness to make a compromise acceptable to the US suggests its comfort with a prolonged stalemate, despite a US naval blockade intended to squeeze the regime into capitulation.
As the conflict drags on without a military or diplomatic resolution, Iran believes its vision for a new regional order is gradually edging closer to acceptance. In a message last week (though this was Thursday?), the new supreme leader declared victory over the US and implied dominance over the Persian Gulf, before proclaiming Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
And as proposals move slowly between capitals, Trump has declared he’s in “no rush” and is committed to his naval blockade, even as analysts expect it will take weeks to fully exert the necessary pressure on a regime battle-hardened by years of sanctions.
While both sides continue their shadowboxing, rising global prices have squeezed consumers worldwide with analysts projecting a further rise in global inflation and countries scrambling to prepare for additional shocks should the conflict persist.
“We’re going to get this thing done properly,” Trump said. “We’re not going to leave early and then have the problem arise in three more years.”
How many US troops are in Europe — and why are they there?
The withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, as we’ve been reporting today, will take the total back to about the level before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to Department of Defense data, there were 36,436 US military personnel in Germany as of December last year, second only to the numbers in Japan.
The Pentagon did not indicate whether the troops would return to the US or be redeployed elsewhere. A long-range fires battalion that was due to be deployed later this year will be cancelled, depriving Germany of the cover of a significant missile capability.
Former President Joe Biden approved the deployment of 7,000 additional US troops to Germany in February 2022, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The US military presence in Germany peaked during the Cold War, when there were roughly 250,000 forces stationed in West Germany.
Other European countries where significant numbers of active duty US personnel are based include Italy, with more than 12,000, and the UK, with just over 10,000.
There are nearly 4,000 US troops in Spain, but US President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw them over the Spanish government’s refusal to allow bases there to be used in the war with Iran.
Besides playing an important role in the Cold War, US facilities in Europe have served a role in multiple crises in the Middle East.
European countries host US forces at several important air force and naval bases, including the US airbase at Ramstein in Germany, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom, Aviano in Italy and Lajes Field in the Portuguese Azores.
The headquarters of US European Command and US Africa Command are in Stuttgart, Germany and there are two facilities that support the US Navy in Naples and Sigonella, Italy.
Israel and Hezbollah trade strikes despite ceasefire in Lebanon, as US pushes for meeting
It’s more than two weeks since President Donald Trump announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire.
The White House has also been pushing for what would be an historic meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, aimed at securing a lasting peace.
As Oren Liebermann reports from Jerusalem, above, any such a meeting looks unlikely in the near-term, amid continuing exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah.
Paying to pass through Strait of Hormuz could lead to sanctions, US warns
The US Treasury Department released an advisory yesterday indicating shipping companies could face sanctions if they choose to pay tolls to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The advisory, posted through the Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, characterizes toll payments as a form of engaging in transactions with the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which are both sanctioned by the US. The notice warns that transactions to pass through the waterway could subject companies and individuals to sanctions as well.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to warn U.S. and non-U.S. persons about the sanctions risks of making these payments to, or soliciting guarantees from, the Iranian regime for safe passage,” the statement reads. “These risks exist regardless of payment method.”
Before the the Iran war began in late February, about 3,000 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz during a typical month, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Traffic has since reduced to a trickle, with just 154 vessels recorded crossing in the entire month of March, according to Kpler data.
The current US troop presence in Germany
The Pentagon said on Friday the US will be withdrawing roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year, a move the German defense minister today said was “anticipated.”
Germany is home to Ramstein Air Base, which is the headquarters for US Air Forces in Europe — including the unit that does “airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation operations” — and a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) installation, according to its website.
As of December 2025, there were 36,436 active-duty US military personnel permanently stationed in Germany, according to data from the US Defense Manpower Data Center.
Friction between European leaders and the Trump administration has intensified due to the war with Iran, which the US launched without notifying most NATO allies.
The president has also lashed out at allies for what he sees as insufficient help in the conflict, also threatening to cut troop levels in Italy and Spain.
CNN’s Sophie Tanno, Sebastian Shukla and Aleena Fayaz contributed to this report.
Trump questions benefits of any Iran deal, as US poll reveals public opinion of war
US President Donald Trump has said the US could be “better off” if officials don’t reach a deal with Iran, as negotiations again appear snagged.
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
- Florida remarks: In comments made at a West Palm Beach, Florida, event Friday evening, Trump questioned whether the US would be “better off” not making a deal with Iran. Before departing for Florida, he told CNN he was not satisfied with Tehran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the war.
- “Totally unconstitutional:” Trump also called a law limiting the use of force without congressional authorization “totally unconstitutional.” However, in a letter to Congress leaders he argued war “hostilities” with Iran had “terminated.”
- Lebanon: The Israeli military issued an urgent warning today for residents in parts of southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes amid a precarious ceasefire. At least nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, according to the country’s health ministry.
- Troop withdrawal: A NATO spokesperson said the alliance is working with the US to “understand” the details of its announcement to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany. Berlin’s defense minister said the move was “anticipated.”
- Public opinion: Six in ten Americans say it was a mistake for the US to use military force against Iran, according to a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released Saturday.
- Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been transferred from prison to a hospital after “a catastrophic deterioration in her health,” her foundation said in a statement.
CNN’s Ivana Kottasová, Ariel Edwards-Levy, Laura Sharman, Eugenia Yosef, Tori B. Powell, Alejandra Jaramillo, Natasha Bertrand and Kit Maher contributed reporting,
Impact of paralysis in Strait of Hormuz will deepen, analysts say
The paralysis of oil and gas flows out of the Gulf will have a deepening impact in coming weeks as existing stocks are drawn down, according to industry executives and analysts.
Supplies are now down from about 20 million barrels a day before the conflict — and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — to close to one billion barrels a day in April, maritime intelligence group Kpler said Friday.
“While a gradual recovery may begin from June, the rebalancing is incomplete, leaving the global oil market tighter and increasingly reliant on inventories and demand adjustment,” Kpler said.
One of the US oil executives who met with US President Donald Trump Thursday says the market has not absorbed the full impact of the disruption.
“There’s more to come if the strait remains closed,” Exxon’s CEO Darren Woods told shareholders Friday.
Disruption to supply had been mitigated by the large number of loaded oil tankers that were in transit during the first month of the war, the release of strategic petroleum reserves by governments and tapping into inventories, Woods said.
Analysts say that buffer is now depleted. According to the US Energy Information Administration, US gasoline stocks fell to 222 million barrels on April 24, their lowest for this time of year in more than a decade.
In recent days there have been just a handful of crossings through Hormuz, according to Kpler and other shipping data sources.
The UK Navy said Friday that “Hormuz traffic has collapsed by 90% since conflict began, with fewer than 10 ships a day now transiting the strait,” and some 20,000 sailors stranded on ships in the Gulf.
Some context: Trump said Friday there were options in addition to the ongoing US blockade of ships using Iranian ports.
Iran has shown no willingness to compromise on the control over Hormuz that it asserted when the conflict began.
“The new management of the Persian Gulf will be implemented under the command of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution,” reported the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim.
Iran executes two men convicted of spying for Israel
Two men convicted of spying for Israel and its Mossad intelligence service have been executed, Iran’s judiciary said on Saturday.
Authorities identified them as Yaghoub Karimpour and Naser Bakrzadeh, saying their death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court after legal proceedings. Officials allege Karimpour passed sensitive information to a Mossad officer during Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June.
Rights groups have raised concerns about both cases. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights says Karimpour was sentenced to death on charges of “corruption on earth” tied to alleged espionage, and claims he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure to extract confessions.
Bakrzadeh, about 26 years old, was arrested in January 2024, according to HRANA, the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Bakrzadeh had his death sentence overturned twice by Iran’s Supreme Court before being sentenced again, with allegations that he faced rights violations during detention, HRANA said.
Germany "anticipated" US withdrawal of some troops, defense minister says
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says the US’ decision to withdraw troops was “anticipated.”
The Pentagon announced yesterday the US will be withdrawing roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year.
“The presence of American troops in Europe, particularly in Germany, serves the interests of both the US and ourselves,” Pistorius said today, in a defense ministry statement provided to CNN.
Pistorius stressed the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security and said Germany was “on the right track” with this.
US President Donald Trump foreshadowed the cuts earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran.
Trump then said his German counterpart “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” on Iran and the following day announced the US was “studying and reviewing” a possible reduction in troops.
Majority of Americans say Iran war a mistake, poll finds
Six in ten Americans say it was a mistake for the US to use military force against Iran, according to a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released today.
As the Post notes, that’s on par with the 59% who called the Iraq war a mistake in a May 2006 Post/ABC poll. A Gallup poll from 1971 noted that roughly six in 10 Americans said the same thing about the Vietnam war.
Roughly nine in 10 Democrats currently call the military action against Iran a mistake, as do 71% of independents and 19% of Republicans.
There are mixed opinions on America’s next steps, with 48% of the public saying the US should make a peace deal with Iran even if it results in a worse deal for the US, and 46% saying that the US should push Iran for a better deal, even if that means resuming military action.
On the economy: The survey also finds that 23%, roughly one-quarter of Americans, say they’re falling behind financially — up from 17% in February. Another 52% say they have just enough to maintain their standard of living, with 24% saying that they’re getting ahead.
On the impact of high gas prices: The poll showed 44% saying they’ve cut back on driving, 42% say they’ve cut household expenses and 34% say they’ve changed travel or vacation plans. Half of Americans say they expect gas prices to get worse over the next year, while only 21% say they expect them to get better.
The Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll surveyed 2,560 US adults on April 24-28, using a nationally representative panel. Results among the full sample have a margin of sampling error of +/- 2 percentage points.
Iranian Nobel peace laureate in hospital after "catastrophic deterioration in her health"
The Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been transferred from prison to a hospital after “a catastrophic deterioration in her health,” her foundation said in a statement.
Mohammadi’s family and supporters have spent weeks calling on the Iranian regime to allow her to receive urgent medical care. Until Friday, these appeals appeared to have been ignored.
The Narges Foundation said Mohammadi has been transferred from the Zanjan prison to a local hospital in Zanjan province in Iran. The foundation said in February that Mohammadi was on hunger strike.
In March, it said Mohammadi was in extremely poor health, had suffered a suspected heart attack, and was denied specialist medical care.
One of Iran’s most prominent human rights activists, Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”
2 months into the Iran war, here is where the key actors stand
When US President Donald Trump launched the war on Iran, he promised a swift and decisive victory. Just ten days into the conflict, he said the United States had “already won the war in many ways.”
Two months on, the fighting has been suspended but a definitive end to the war is nowhere in sight. Washington remains short of clear strategic gains, while a conflict once framed as limited is now dragging much of the world into a widening quagmire – with few, if any, coming out ahead.
“There aren’t any real winners from the war, but there are some countries that are comparatively well-positioned to manage its effects,” Melanie Sisson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, told CNN.
Here is where the key actors stand.
- Iranian people: The Iranian people have found themselves under fire from both the outside and the inside. The US and Israel have struck thousands of targets in Iran, killing more than 3,600 people, according to the advocacy group Human Rights Activists in Iran. At the same time, the Iranian regime has stepped up its brutal crackdown on dissent. The Iranian economy has also suffered a heavy blow, leading to job losses and rising poverty.
- Lebanese people: The Lebanese people have been caught up in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel for decades. A fragile ceasefire was in place until February, when, after Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah began firing at Israel. Israel retaliated by launching a wave of deadly airstrikes and a deeper ground incursion.
- American people: The war has been punishing for Americans and their wallets. They are already paying more for gasoline and air tickets as well as some services as more businesses start adding a fuel surcharge to their prices.
At least 9 killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon on Friday
At least nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday.
Eight people, including one child, were among the dead in strikes on Habbouch, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported, adding that 21 others were wounded.
And in Ain Baal, one person was killed and seven were wounded, according to the ministry.
For context: The Lebanese health ministry said more than 2,600 people have been killed since the latest conflict started in early March.
Israel warns residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate
The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning for residents in parts of southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes.
Israel Defense Forces’ Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, urged people to “stay at least 1,000 meters away” from nine towns and villages and move to open areas in an X post on Saturday morning.
Towns and villages in the evacuation zone are Qaq’a Al-Jisr, Adshiet Al-Shaqif, Jbeishit, Abba, Kfar Jouz, Harouf, Al-Dweir, Deir Al-Zahrani and Habboush, he said.
The fragile ceasefire in Lebanon is under growing pressure as Israel and Hezbollah have increased attacks on each other despite the US-brokered extension.
What Trump said at Florida event about Iran deal, Cuba and seized cargo ship
President Donald Trump said that the US was “sort of like pirates” as he described a recent incident in which the Navy fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship.
President Donald Trump delivered remarks on Friday evening at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he addressed a pending deal with Iran, taking over Cuba and a recently seized cargo ship.
Here’s what he said:
- On a deal with Iran: Trump said Friday that the United States could be “better off” if officials don’t reach a deal with Iran, as negotiations again appear snagged. “Frankly, maybe we’re better off not making a deal at all. Do you want to know the truth? Because we can’t let this thing go on,” he said. “Been going on too long.” Earlier, Trump told CNN before departing for Florida that he was not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
- On “taking over” Cuba: Trump quipped about the prospect of the US immediately “taking over” Cuba, suggesting military forces could move on the country on their way back from the war in Iran. “We’ll do on the way back from Iran, we’ll have one of our big — maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, the biggest in the world. We’ll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they’ll say, thank you very much, we give up,” he said of the Cuban leaders.
- On seized Iranian cargo ship: Trump also likened the US to being “sort of like pirates” as he described a recent incident in which the Navy fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship. “The ship stopped. They used tugboats, and then we landed on top of it, on top of everything else. … We took over the cargo, took over the oil,” he said.
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