EconoTicker

The White House said President Donald Trump’s first option on Iran is diplomacy, but he “will not hesitate” to use lethal force if he deems it necessary underscoring that military action remains an option as Washington assesses next steps.

Source: Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to brief senior congressional leaders at the White House on Iran, as the Trump administration weighs potential military options and just hours before President Donald Trump’s annual address to Congress, according to Politico and a Reuters report.

The closed-door session is expected to include the so-called “Gang of Eight” (top House/Senate leaders and the chairs/ranking members of the intelligence committees). Meanwhile, lawmakers are pressing for a vote on a war-powers resolution that would require congressional authorization before any U.S. strikes on Iran.

Source: Politico (as cited); Reuters.

U.S. Representative Mike Lawler said congressional efforts to restrict Donald Trump’s authority to take military action against the Islamic Republic are dangerous. He added that the U.S. president, as commander-in-chief, is responsible for protecting the United States from its enemies.

Source: Statement attributed to Rep. Mike Lawler.

Bloomberg reported that NATO’s airborne surveillance focus in Turkey has shifted from Russia to Iran, with more frequent AWACS flights—including missions departing from Konya—to monitor Iran amid rising tensions and the risk of a U.S.-led military campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.

Source: Bloomberg.

Open-source flight-tracking data and spotter reports indicate U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors have begun departing RAF Lakenheath and moving east toward the Middle East, reportedly staging in waves and linking up with aerial refueling tankers during the transit. The movement comes amid a broader U.S. airpower surge across Europe and the Middle East as tensions around Iran remain elevated.

Source: Open-source flight tracking and reporting (Times of Israel); broader deployment context (Washington Post).

U.S. military forces seized/boarded the sanctioned oil tanker Bertha in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean, the Pentagon said—marking the third interdiction in the same region tied to Washington’s crackdown on sanctioned oil movements linked to Venezuela’s shadow trade.

The Bertha is under U.S. sanctions related to Iran, and U.S. officials framed the operation as enforcement against sanctioned shipping networks operating across long distances.

Source: Pentagon statement via Reuters and AP.

Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is pushing for a Russia–Ukraine peace deal before July 4, when the U.S. marks the 250th anniversary of American independence—according to NATO allies and senior European officials. The report said the peace push is stalling, with negotiations deadlocked and the battlefield largely at a stalemate after four years of war, while there is little sign President Vladimir Putin is ready to accept an agreement that doesn’t meet his core demands.

Reuters has also reported that U.S. officials have been pressing for a faster timeline in 2026, though European security officials have voiced skepticism about reaching a deal soon.

Source: Bloomberg (citing NATO allies and European/NATO officials); Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow has intelligence about a possible attempt to blow up undersea gas pipelines in the Black Sea, naming TurkStream and Blue Stream, and argued the goal is to disrupt the peace process. He made the remarks at a meeting of the FSB board, as Russian officials step up rhetoric around infrastructure sabotage and wider security threats.

Putin also ordered the FSB to strengthen protection of Russia’s energy and transport infrastructure, warning that Russia’s adversaries are resorting to sabotage and “terror” tactics after failing to achieve their aims on the battlefield.

Source: Reuters; Interfax.

Russia’s State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said any potential transfer of nuclear weapons to Ukraine would be unacceptable, calling it a “crime” that could trigger nuclear war. He said reports alleging Paris and London are considering such a move require an immediate response, and that an appeal has been prepared and sent to the French and UK parliaments seeking an investigation.

The comments come amid broader Russian claims—reported in international coverage—that accuse France and the UK of secretly preparing a nuclear-related step for Ukraine, allegations that have been widely described as unsubstantiated/disinformation in other reporting.

Source: Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin (statement reported by Russian media).

Canada said it is preparing an assistance plan for Cuba as the island faces worsening fuel shortages after the U.S. moved to choke off oil supplies, including crude coming from Venezuela.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Ottawa is working on the plan but has not provided details yet. The tightening U.S. pressure campaign has pushed up costs for food and transportation, contributing to hours-long blackouts and raising concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis, according to warnings cited by officials.

Source: Reuters; Associated Press

Longevity physician and media figure Peter Attia has stepped back from his newly announced CBS News contributor role, after newly released U.S. Justice Department Epstein-related files resurfaced past email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, according to reporting.

A spokesperson said the CBS role “had not yet meaningfully begun” and that Attia moved to avoid becoming a distraction; CBS declined to comment. Attia has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and he has publicly apologized for “embarrassing” emails while denying any involvement in criminal activity, per the same coverage.

The controversy landed weeks after Bari Weiss—appointed editor-in-chief amid a broader CBS News revamp—announced a slate of new paid contributors that included Attia.

Source: Washington Post; Reuters; CBS News.

President Donald J. Trump said reports claiming Gen. Daniel Caine (sometimes referred to as “Razin”) opposes a war with Iran are “100% incorrect.” Trump said Caine prefers avoiding war but believes that if a military decision is made against Iran, it would be “easily won.” Trump also claimed Caine previously led “Midnight Hammer,” which he said destroyed Iran’s nuclear development using B-2 bombers. Trump added he would rather reach a deal, but warned that if no deal happens, it will be a “very bad day” for Iran—while saying the Iranian people are “great and wonderful.”

Source: Statement attributed to President Donald J. Trump.