• Bolstering US firepower: Around 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy in coming days to the Middle East, sources told CNN, adding to the growing military firepower in the region as the Trump administration touts talks with Iran to end the conflict.
• Emergency and reserves: Japan said it will begin releasing 30 days’ worth of oil from its state-owned reserves on Thursday while the Philippines, another US ally, declared a state of national emergency due to the energy crisis.
• Negotiations: US President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading negotiations with Iran, expressing optimism that a deal is in sight. An Iranian source told CNN that Tehran is willing to listen to “sustainable” proposals to end the war.
• Strait of Hormuz toll: Iran will “absolutely” keep charging a fee for safe passage through the critical waterway, a senior Iranian official told India Today.