U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is not currently considering sending ground troops to Iran. In a telephone interview with NBC, Trump described the idea of deploying ground forces as a “waste of time,” asserting that Iran has already lost much of its military capacity, including its navy.

Trump dismissed remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had warned that any foreign troop deployment in Iran would bring disaster for the attackers. The exchange comes amid heightened tensions following reports of U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran’s Shiraz region that killed 20 people and damaged over 3,000 civilian structures, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

The situation underscores the ongoing volatility in the region, with both military and diplomatic fronts remaining tense as the conflict’s financial and humanitarian toll continues to rise.

The United States Department of the Treasury has granted India a temporary exemption from sanctions to purchase Russian oil that remains stranded at sea. The special waiver, valid for 30 days, was announced to help maintain stability in global oil supplies. The decision was confirmed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Basent in a post on social media platform X.

According to Basent, the move aims to keep global oil flows steady and counter Iran’s attempts to create pressure in the international energy market. He emphasized that the measure is short-term and will not provide significant financial benefits to the Russian government, as it applies only to stranded energy shipments.

Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, US President Donald Trump had imposed sanctions on Russian oil, forcing buyers to seek alternative sources. India remains one of the largest purchasers of Russian energy, and this waiver allows limited continuation of those transactions under strict conditions.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that three Australian citizens were aboard a US nuclear-powered submarine involved in an attack on an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka. Speaking to Sky News, Albanese said that while Australia typically does not confirm such matters, the decision was made in the public interest following a meeting of the national security committee. He emphasized that no Australian personnel took part in offensive actions against Iran.

According to Albanese, the three Australians were present on the submarine as part of the AUKUS trilateral defense partnership to gain operational experience with allied forces. The Iranian warship was struck by torpedoes fired from the US submarine, resulting in the deaths of at least 87 Iranian sailors, according to the report.

The incident adds tension to ongoing regional hostilities, with reports of further attacks and damage to Iranian infrastructure in recent days.

The United States Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposal to halt President Donald Trump’s military offensive in Iran. The motion, introduced by Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, and Chuck Schumer, received 47 votes in favor and 52 against, effectively allowing the ongoing military campaign to continue. The proposal also sought to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional authority to approve any act of war by the United States.

During the debate, Democrats accused Trump of bypassing Congress and offering inconsistent justifications for the conflict, while most Republican senators defended the president’s actions. Supporters of the motion argued that Trump exceeded his constitutional powers by joining Israel in the war against Iran, noting that only Congress can declare war except in cases of imminent threat. Republican Senator Rand Paul broke ranks with his party to support the proposal, emphasizing that no war should proceed without debate and a formal vote.

A similar vote was scheduled in the House of Representatives the following day. The Senate decision came days after the United States and Israel launched a joint assault on Iran, citing Tehran’s renewed nuclear and missile activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that addressing the situation in Cuba is only a matter of time, following the completion of current operations related to Iran. He made the remarks while discussing future U.S. policy directions, indicating that the administration’s immediate focus remains on Iran before turning attention to Cuba.

Trump also commented on the possibility of exiled Cubans returning to their homeland, saying that some may wish to stay because of their affection for Cuba. However, he added that the United States does not intend to make the situation so favorable that everyone would remain there permanently. His comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

The statement comes amid ongoing U.S. involvement in Iran, where recent attacks have caused significant damage and casualties, suggesting that Washington’s foreign policy priorities remain centered on the Middle East before shifting toward the Caribbean.

Microsoft announced Thursday that it will continue using Anthropic’s artificial intelligence models in its products for clients, excluding the U.S. Department of War. The decision follows the Pentagon’s move earlier in the day to label Anthropic a supply-chain risk, a designation the startup plans to challenge in court. Microsoft confirmed that Anthropic’s Claude models will remain available through platforms such as Microsoft 365, GitHub, and AI Foundry for non-defense projects.

The announcement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump urged federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the company’s Pentagon services would end within six months. Talks between Anthropic and the Department of War reportedly collapsed over issues related to mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Meanwhile, rival OpenAI reached an agreement for its models to be used in classified Pentagon workloads.

Microsoft’s stance makes it the first major company to maintain collaboration with Anthropic following the federal blacklist. The two firms have significant financial ties, including Anthropic’s commitment to spend $30 billion on Microsoft’s Azure cloud and Microsoft’s pledge to invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic.

Several European countries are sending naval equipment to Cyprus following a recent drone attack that raised security concerns. According to Al Jazeera, Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament that Italy, Spain, France, and the Netherlands will deploy various naval assets to the island within the next few days to strengthen its security. Spain’s Defense Ministry confirmed that Madrid will send a frigate as part of the coordinated effort.

The move follows Monday’s incident in which a British airbase in Cyprus was targeted by an Iran-made drone, prompting heightened alert across the region. In response, Greece and France also announced plans to send military resources to the island. The coordinated deployments reflect growing European concern over regional stability and the safety of strategic installations in Cyprus.

The increased military presence is aimed at deterring further attacks and ensuring the protection of European and allied interests in the eastern Mediterranean.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing joint war involving the United States and Israel against Iran could last up to eight weeks. He made the remarks during a press conference held at the Pentagon on Wednesday, responding to questions about the possible duration of the conflict.

Hegseth explained that the war might continue for three to eight weeks, depending on developments, and emphasized that the US military had already set its operational pace. He added that the enemy was currently in a state of imbalance, and the US intended to maintain that situation.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of Iranian drone activity prompting Azerbaijan to close its southern airspace and Iran asserting that it is not concerned about the war’s duration.

Adelaide University has cancelled a scheduled literary festival event featuring UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. The event, part of the Constellations: Not Writers’ Week festival, was to be held at the university’s Elder Hall on Thursday night. Organisers said the university informed them on Monday that certain procedural requirements had not been met and revoked the booking. A new venue, Norwood Concert Hall, has been secured to host the 650 ticket holders, with Albanese participating via video link alongside academics Henry Reynolds and Lana Tatour.

The Association for the Promotion of International Law (APIL), which organised the event, disputed the university’s claim of procedural lapses, saying it had been in contact with Elder Hall management since early February. Adelaide University stated it was unaware of the external event until the previous Friday and could not approve the booking without proper review. The cancellation followed a report suggesting that hosting Albanese might breach US sanctions, as she was previously placed on a sanctions list by the Trump administration.

Festival organisers and speakers accused the university of bowing to media pressure and undermining free speech, while the university maintained it supports open exchange of ideas within policy guidelines.

Australia has deployed military assets to the Middle East as a precautionary measure amid escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the move in parliament, citing the rapidly deteriorating situation in the region. As part of an emergency plan, six crisis response teams have already been sent, and at least two military aircraft have been deployed to designated locations, according to national broadcaster SBS News.

The deployment aims to ensure the safety of Australian citizens in the region and to enable swift evacuation if necessary. The government has not disclosed detailed military information, but the action reflects growing concern over the widening conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the active participation of the United States.

Australia’s decision underscores its role as a Western ally closely monitoring regional stability while prioritizing the protection of its nationals in a volatile Middle East environment.

A US religious freedom watchdog has alleged that military commanders used extremist Christian rhetoric to justify the ongoing war with Iran. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) reported receiving over 200 complaints from service members across all branches, including the marines, air force, and space force. One noncommissioned officer said their commander told troops the conflict was 'all part of God’s divine plan,' citing biblical references to Armageddon and claiming that former President Donald Trump was 'anointed by Jesus' to ignite events leading to the end times.

MRFF president Mikey Weinstein said the complaints reveal growing Christian extremism within the military and a violation of the separation of church and state. He noted that service members often feel unable to challenge superiors who promote religious narratives. The watchdog shared one complaint filed on behalf of 15 troops of different faiths, including Christians, a Muslim, and a Jewish member.

The Pentagon did not respond directly to the allegations but instead circulated public clips of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussing the Iran operation. Hegseth has previously expressed support for Christian nationalist ideas and figures.

Former US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Rutte commented that the United States had received broad support from allied nations for its military strikes in Iran. Trump conveyed his thanks through a social media post, calling Rutte a great NATO leader.

Earlier, Rutte stated that although NATO was not directly involved in the US attacks on Iran, many allied countries strongly supported Washington’s actions. He noted that allies were cooperating with the United States in efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Rutte also suggested that several Western nations viewed the initiative to weaken Iran’s military strength as an important security measure within the alliance.

Australia has deployed several crisis response teams and military equipment to the Middle East as part of preparations for potential emergency situations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the move, stating that the deployment was part of the government’s emergency planning. According to reports, six crisis response teams have already been sent to the region, and military assets were positioned earlier in the week.

The announcement was made in the Australian Parliament, though Albanese did not provide further details about the nature or location of the deployment. Al Jazeera reported that the move is part of Australia’s readiness measures for possible regional emergencies. Separately, Australian broadcaster SBS News reported that two military aircraft have been sent to the Middle East.

The deployment underscores Australia’s precautionary stance amid rising tensions in the Middle East, though the government has not disclosed specific threats or operational objectives.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran would have developed a nuclear weapon if the United States had not launched a strike within two weeks. He made the remarks during a roundtable meeting at the White House, adding that if there were no changes in Iran, whoever became its supreme leader would be killed. Trump described the prospect of nuclear weapons in the hands of what he called 'crazy people' as dangerous.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program poses no threat and is intended for peaceful purposes. However, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrote on social media that the agency could not provide assurances about Iran’s activities. He noted that while there was no evidence Iran was building a bomb, its large stockpile of uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels and limited access for inspectors were causes for serious concern.

The statements highlight renewed tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the limits of international monitoring amid U.S. pressure.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing war with Iran could last up to eight weeks. Speaking at a press conference held at the Pentagon on Wednesday, he said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. Hegseth noted that the duration of the conflict could vary, possibly lasting four, six, or even three weeks depending on developments.

He emphasized that the US military has already determined the pace of its operations and is proceeding according to plan. According to Hegseth, the enemy is currently in an unbalanced position, and the US intends to maintain that state. The remarks came as part of a broader briefing on the progress of the conflict and the readiness of US forces.

The statement reflects Washington’s confidence in its military capabilities while acknowledging uncertainty about the exact duration of the conflict.