BIG: Trump has rejected efforts by Middle Eastern allies to start Iran ceasefire talks.

A White House official said:

“He’s not interested in that right now… we’re going to continue with the mission unabated.”

Iran also refuses talks until U.S. and Israeli strikes stop.

Mediation attempts by Oman and Egypt have stalled.

Source: Reuters

France proposed a plan to end the Israel-Lebanon War that would require Lebanon to recognize Israel for the first time.

In return, Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon and negotiations would begin on a non-aggression agreement to end the state of war between the countries.

The plan also calls for disarming Hezbollah, redeploying the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River, and international monitoring.

Israel and the U.S. are reviewing the proposal, and Lebanon has accepted it as a basis for talks, but success likely depends on strong U.S. mediation.

Source: Axios

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

Touted US security umbrella has proven to be full of holes and inviting rather than deterring trouble.

US is now begging others, even China, to help it make Hormuz safe.

Iran calls on brotherly neighbors to expel foreign aggressors, especially as their only concern is Israel.

Trump:

Countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz must take care of that passage, and the U.S. will help — a lot.

This should have always been a team effort.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to AP:

Our primary objective is to stay out of this war.

I know that we are being provoked and we will be provoked, but we want to stay out of this war.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to AP on Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei:

What we know is that he is alive and functioning.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to AP:

As long as Netanyahu is there, Israel will always identify somebody as an enemy. Because they need it to advance their own agenda.

If not Türkiye, they would name some other country in the region.

They are after not security, they are after more land.

So as long as they don’t give up this idea, there will always be a war in the Middle East.

Jared Kushner is reportedly trying to raise $5 billion+ for his private equity firm Affinity Partners from Middle Eastern governments while serving as Trump’s Middle East envoy, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.

Kushner has held talks with investors including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which previously invested $2 billion in the firm.

The fundraising comes as Kushner is also involved in diplomacy in the region, including meetings with Iran’s foreign minister shortly before the war began.

Kushner had previously said he would avoid fundraising during Trump’s second term, stating:

“We don’t have to raise capital for the next four years.”

Source: NYT

Many Iranians initially hoped the U.S.–Israeli War on Iran would lead to the fall of the government.

Instead, many now feel betrayed as officials signal regime change is unlikely.

Residents fear the war will end with the same leadership still in power—while the country is left devastated and facing continued sanctions.

Some Iranians who once supported the offensive now believe they were used as justification for the war.

Source: WSJ

BREAKING: Iran's IRGC warns the U.S. to evacuate all American industrial facilities in the Middle East, urging civilians near factories with U.S. ownership to leave the area to avoid harm.

The U.S. flag was raised at the American Embassy in Caracas on Saturday for the first time since 2019.

Satellite analysis by Oregon State University shows widespread structural damage across Iran since the start of the U.S.–Israel war.

Major damage clusters in Tehran and Shiraz.

40+ structures damaged in Bandar Abbas, home to a key naval base near the Strait of Hormuz.

Researcher Jamon Van Den Hoek said:

“There’s really no frontline at the moment — it’s simultaneous damage across different corners of Iran.”

Source: WaPo

Kuwait says several drones struck Kuwait International Airport, damaging the airport’s radar system.

No casualties reported.

BIG: Israel is running very low on ballistic missile interceptors while fighting Iran.

The U.S. has known for months and expected this shortage.

A U.S. official said: “It’s something we expected and anticipated.”

The U.S. claims its own supplies are fine: “We have all that we need to protect our bases and our personnel.”

It’s unclear if the U.S. will send interceptors to Israel, which could strain U.S. stockpiles.

Iran’s missile attacks (including cluster munitions) are accelerating interceptor depletion.

Source: Semafor

Cuba is expected to soon allow Cubans living abroad—especially in Miami—to own and invest in private businesses on the island.

The move would formalize what already happens informally, as many small businesses in Cuba are funded by relatives overseas.

Source: Miami Herald

Zelensky says Ukrainian intelligence suggests Russia is aiding Iran in targeting U.S. assets in the Middle East.

The Government of Israel has approved allocating 2.6 billion shekels (about $830 million) for urgent defense procurement.

Formula 1 canceled the Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19) Grands Prix due to security concerns related to the Iran War and rising Middle East tensions.

Officials said the races won’t be replaced, creating a five-week gap between the Japanese GP (March 28) and the Miami GP (May 3).