Pentagon preparing second aircraft carrier for Mideast - WSJ

President Donald Trump said he told Benjamin Netanyahu he prefers a deal with Iran, but warned Tehran of consequences if talks fail, citing last June’s strikes.

"I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer - That did not work well for them," he added.

"I have just finished meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, of Israel, and various of his Representatives. It was a very good meeting, the tremendous relationship between our two Countries continues. There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated.

If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be. Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer — That did not work well for them. Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible. Additionally, we discussed the tremendous progress being made in Gaza, and the Region in general.

There is truly PEACE in the Middle East. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"

A reporter on Iran’s state TV on Wednesday appeared to accidentally say “Death to Khamenei” during his sign-off in a live broadcast marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in the southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan.

Following the incident, Iran’s state broadcaster said it dismissed the provincial broadcast director and summoned several staff for disciplinary review.

The reporter's apparent slip of the tongue circulated widely online on Wednesday, alongside footage of a mosque sermon in which a speaker nearly uttered the same phrase, drawing laughter from onlookers. “Death to Khamenei” has become a recurring chant in anti-government protests, including during January’s nationwide demonstrations.

Senators Tim Kaine and Peter Welch led a group of Democratic senators in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, calling for an immediate end to deportation flights to Iran.

They cited grave risks to deportees, including potential torture, arbitrary detention, and death, given Iran's documented human rights abuses and treatment of returnees. The senators urged the administration to suspend all such flights until safety can be assured.

In addition to Kaine and Welch, the letter was cosigned by US Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Mark Warner, Adam Schiff , Chris Van Hollen, Jeffrey Merkley, Angela Alsobrooks, Michael Bennet, Ron Wyden, Cory Booker, and Alex Padilla.

Senator John Kennedy on Wednesday defended Trump's Iran negotiations, citing a measured Venezuela-style strategy and doubts about Tehran's sincerity despite the talks.

"President Trump made a promise to Iranian people to support them... The president is in the process to keep his promise," Republican Senator from Louisiana told Iran International.

Kennedy said US decisions on dealing with the Islamic Republic will rely on Israeli intelligence assessments, adding the need for a careful strategy rather than hasty actions like bombing or deploying thousands of American troops.

"You can't just go in and start dropping bombs and committing thousands of American troops that could make things worse. You have to be strategic about this like we were in Venezuela," he added.