Reports of significant air-defense activity and explosions throughout the last hour over the Iranian capital of Tehran, with both U.S. and Israeli officials denying renewed strikes against Iran.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump said in a post tonight on TruthSocial following his call to with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that the United States is assessing a possible reduction of troops in Germany. Per the statement, “a determination [is] to be made over the next short period of time.”

U.S. President Donald J. Trump met with oil executives, including Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, at the White House yesterday to discuss the implications of the war with Iran. Per reports, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also present at the meeting alongside President Trump.

During today’s hearing in front of the House Armed Services Committee regarding the $1.7 trillion defense budget requested by the Trump Administration for 2027, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Jules W. Hurst III stated that the Pentagon’s current estimate for the cost of the Iran War is $25 billion.

While speaking today alongside NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and the crew of Artemis ll, President Trump stated that they will soon be releasing additional information and material related to UFOs.

According to Bloomberg, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has requested the deployment of the U.S. Army's long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW), aka "Dark Eagle," for use in Operation Epic Fury. The LRHW is still in development, having only completed a handful of classified tests to date. The request to the Pentagon comes due, in part, to Iran having moved their missiles out of range of the Precision Strike Missile.

Today, the U.K. Ministry of Defense released footage of British troops in the Middle East sheltering amidst an Iranian ballistic missile threat to their base during the conflict with Iran. They can be heard saying “I’m in position to brace lads,” as subsequently, a ballistic missile impact is detected.

His Majesty, King Charles lll and Queen Camilla arrive earlier at the White House for a formal farewell hosted by President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, with Trump saying about the King, “He's a great King - the greatest King, in my book!”

The USS Higgins (DDG-76), a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer forward deployed to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), suffered a major main space engineering fire earlier this week knocking out electricity as well as propulsion and leaving the destroyer “dead in the water,” according to CBS News.

Details on how the fire started and the exact location of the Higgins in the Pacific are not publicly known, with no injuries to Sailors onboard the destroyer having been reported as of Wednesday. The Higgins was last seen ported in Singapore in February and was observed last year in the South China Sea near the Philippines, according to maritime tracking data via MarineTraffic.

Oil prices spiked overnight, with Crude Oil WTI surpassing $105 per barrel, as it appears more and more likely that the U.S. naval blockade of Iran will continue for the foreseeable future along with significant disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

As oil prices rise and the likelihood of resumed hostilities between Iran and the United States grows, chances on Polymarket of a nuclear deal with Tehran by the end of 2026 have begun to dive, down over 15% in the last day and currently sitting at only 53%.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has wished Iraqi Prime Minister Delegate Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi success as he works to form a new government, following the lengthy impasse over the next Iraqi prime minister, as Iraq’s government continues to struggle balancing competing U.S.-Iranian interests in the country. Per the Iraqi prime minister’s office, President Trump spoke with Al-Zaidi today and discussed bilateral cooperation. Additionally, per the Iraqi prime minister’s office, President Trump extended an invitation to the prime minister designate to visit Washington.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced in a post today on TruthSocial, following the recent visit by King Charles lll, "I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon."

The last 24 hours of playback via MarineTraffic of the Strait of Hormuz shows some transits are occurring and are mostly using the Iranian traffic separation scheme announced by the IRGC. Daily traffic transit volume is still less than 10% of pre-war levels, which averaged 130 per day prior to the Iran War.

Reporting indicates that President Trump is seriously mulling renewed combat operations against Iran, as Israeli media also reports that the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, is set to brief President Trump on military options for Iran.

U.S. hostilities with Iran that began in February have "terminated" for purposes of the War Powers Resolution, according to a senior administration official to Reuters. "Both parties agreed to a ​2-week ceasefire ​on Tuesday, April 7, ‌that ⁠has since been extended…there has ​been ​no ⁠exchange of fire between ​U.S. Armed ​Forces ⁠and Iran since Tuesday, April ⁠7."

His Majesty, King Charles III and Queen Camilla participated in an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Thursday, marking the final day of the Royal Couple’s state visit commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, along with the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper briefed President Trump today for 45 minutes on new plans for possible military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, two U.S. officials told Axios.