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President Trump said Wednesday that negotiations with Iran may be approaching a breakthrough, though he warned that military measures remain on the table if Tehran refuses to compromise on key issues tied to its nuclear program and regional shipping routes.

“We’re in final stages of Iran,” he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. “We’ll see what happens. Either [we] have a deal or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won’t happen.”

Following Trump’s remarks, oil markets reacted sharply, with global crude prices dropping more than 5%. In the United States, oil traded below the $100-per-barrel mark, settling at $98.94 — the steepest one-day decline in two weeks.

Sources in Pakistan told The Post that officials there are assisting Washington and Tehran in preparing a letter of intent meant to pave the way for another round of diplomatic discussions. The proposed framework would outline the major topics for negotiation. Trump has previously said talks could be held in Islamabad if Iran agrees to discuss ending its nuclear pursuits and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Efforts to restart negotiations have been bogged down by disagreements surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities and the future of maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has maintained that no second round of negotiations will take place unless Iran backs away from its insistence on preserving uranium enrichment rights.

Later Wednesday, the president emphasized that developments could unfold rapidly.

“It could go very quickly, or a few days, it could be a few days, but it could go very quickly,” he said after he gave the commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy.

He described the situation as “very right on the borderline. Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go. We have to get the right answers. It would have to be a complete 100% good answers.”

At the same time, Trump signaled he is still prepared to allow diplomacy more time before authorizing another military operation.

“If I can save people from getting killed by waiting a couple of days, I think it is a great thing to do,” Trump noted.

Reports from regional news outlets claimed Wednesday that a diplomatic understanding could emerge within “hours,” and suggested Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir may travel to Iran as early as Thursday to personally urge Iranian officials to finalize an agreement if talks remain stalled.

However, a Pakistani government source cast doubt on those reports, describing them to The Post as “speculative.”

Officials familiar with the discussions indicated that any current “deal” would not represent a finalized peace settlement, but rather a mutual commitment by Iran and the United States to seriously pursue negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

Trump has repeatedly stated that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a non-negotiable condition and that he wants such guarantees formally documented as part of any agreement.

Iranian leaders, however, have thus far rejected even preliminary discussions on abandoning their nuclear activities, insisting their program is intended solely for peaceful energy purposes.

Another major obstacle remains the Strait of Hormuz. Iran views the waterway as falling under its territorial authority and has pushed for imposing tolls on commercial shipping passing through the route. As a result, cargo ships and oil tankers continue waiting offshore while the passage remains shut down.

In response, the US military has implemented a blockade targeting Iranian ports, a strategy Pentagon officials reportedly view as one of Washington’s strongest pressure points against Tehran.

The ongoing confrontation over the strait could also carry major global economic consequences. On Wednesday, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization warned that prolonged disruption could spark a worldwide food-price emergency within the next six to 12 months if swift action is not taken.

“The window for preventive action is closing quickly,” the agency said.

Food costs have already begun climbing, and officials warned that poorer nations throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America may suffer the most severe effects because many rely heavily on nitrogen fertilizer imports from the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz toured Israel’s eastern border on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security infrastructure and prepare for potential threats along the frontier.

Joining the visit were the IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, the commander of Division 96, and other senior military officials.

During the tour, Netanyahu and Katz visited one of the region’s central “Waterline Outposts,” part of an upgraded network of fortified positions that recently underwent major renovations and operational enhancements.

The upgraded defensive system is part of a broader strategic initiative aimed at reinforcing Israel’s frontline defenses and preventing weapons smuggling operations as well as possible infiltration attempts by Iranian-backed militias or terrorist organizations.

Military officials briefed the prime minister and defense minister on intelligence assessments and operational measures being implemented in the sector. The updates included details about the construction of a new physical and technological border barrier, along with the deployment of advanced monitoring systems, radar technology, and upgraded combat equipment.

Netanyahu and Katz later met with both active-duty and reserve soldiers stationed in the area and held an open discussion with troops serving under what officials described as difficult and demanding conditions.

During the visit, Netanyahu praised the soldiers for their efforts in securing the border.

“I am very impressed by the work you are doing here. This is extremely important work in defending the eastern border. We take into account that our enemies want to invade the State of Israel, and therefore we rely on you. I was very impressed by the new tools and capabilities, but above all I am impressed by you. I want to strengthen you and tell you that the entire people of Israel trust you. I salute you. Well done.”

{Matzav.com}

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US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued an unusually harsh rebuke Wednesday evening against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir following his filmed confrontation with activists from the pro-Hamas flotilla headed toward Gaza.

Huckabee sharply criticized Ben Gvir’s conduct and said senior Israeli leaders across the political spectrum had denounced the minister’s actions.

“Universal outrage & condemnation from every high-ranking Israeli official, from Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa’ar, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Ambassador Yechiel Leiter for despicable actions by Ben Gvir. Flotilla was a stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed the dignity of his nation,” Huckabee said.

Ben Gvir also faced public criticism earlier in the day from Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, who accused the minister of damaging Israel’s diplomatic standing.

“As Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have made clear, Itamar Ben Gvir’s reckless grandstanding is not representative of government policy. I am Israel’s top diplomat in the US, at the heart of our most important alliance. Ben Gvir’s antics take a sledgehammer to our diplomatic efforts while Israel’s enemies gleefully jump on every unfortunate nonsense to discredit and demonize. The provocateurs of the Flotilla charade were properly detained in accordance with international law and will be deported to their home countries. End of story,” Leiter wrote on X.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu also distanced himself from Ben Gvir’s handling of the situation, while reiterating Israel’s right to block flotillas attempting to reach Gaza.

“Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza. However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms. I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar joined the criticism as well, accusing Ben Gvir of inflicting serious diplomatic damage on the country.

“You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display – and not for the first time,” Sa’ar wrote in response to the incident. “You have undone tremendous, professional, and successful efforts made by so many people – from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others. No, you are not the face of Israel.”

The controversy has already sparked international fallout. At least five countries have announced plans to summon Israeli ambassadors for formal reprimand meetings following Ben Gvir’s tour among the flotilla activists and the footage later released from the encounter.

Despite the widespread criticism, Ben Gvir remained defiant and signaled no regret over his actions.

“There are those in the government who still do not understand how supporters of terrorism should be treated. Israel’s foreign minister is expected to understand that Israel has stopped being a punching bag. Anyone who comes into our territory to support terrorism and identify with Hamas will get hit – and we will not turn the other cheek,” Ben Gvir said.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee renewed discussions Wednesday on the controversial Draft Law and legislation extending mandatory military service, following instructions from Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu amid growing political tensions surrounding the issue.

The renewed talks came shortly after MKs from the Degel Hatorah faction announced that they plan to support dissolving the Knesset during the preliminary vote scheduled for later Wednesday.

During the committee session, Brig. Gen. Shay Tayeb, who heads the IDF’s Planning and Manpower Administration Division, presented stark figures regarding the army’s manpower crisis.

“We have not yet received a new draft of the law. There is a need for 12,000 soldiers, and at the beginning of the year this will rise to 17,000 when soldiers are discharged after 30 months.”

According to Tayeb, the military is already facing an urgent shortage of between 6,000 and 7,000 combat troops.

He added that enlistment numbers have increased in part due to enforcement measures and penalties already being implemented, but cautioned that the broader situation remains alarming.

“there are already 30,000 draft dodgers now, and another 50,000 on the way to becoming draft dodgers.”

Tayeb also noted that the burden on reservists has grown far beyond earlier projections. While the army had originally hoped to limit reserve duty to approximately 55 days annually, he said the reality is far harsher.

“today we are at 80-100 days of reserve duty.”

Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth addressed the prolonged legislative deadlock as well as the public uproar over the punishment handed to a soldier who wore a “Moshiach” patch.

“Today we are resuming the discussion on the Draft Law after many long weeks, and at the instruction of the Prime Minister, out of a genuine and sincere intention to complete the legislation of the law that is so necessary at this time for the IDF, for the cohesion of the people, and out of the need to ensure that brothers do not turn to each other as enemies – certainly not during wartime,” Bismuth said.

Later in the discussion, Bismuth argued that efforts to increase chareidi enlistment cannot simultaneously reject outward expressions of religious identity and faith.

“You cannot want more chareidim in the IDF and at the same time be alarmed by every expression of faith or Jewish spirit that they bring with them.”

“If we want more chareidim in the IDF, we must understand that they will not arrive as secular people wearing a kippah; they will arrive with their value system, with faith, with symbols, and with a spirit that will integrate into a single Israeli partnership.”

Bereaved father Yehoshua Shani also addressed the committee and appealed directly to MKs Yuli Edelstein and Dan Illouz, both of whom oppose the current legislation.

“Show responsibility and support the Draft Law. This is the only law that will expand the enlistment of chareidim and prevent the rift from deepening.”

{Matzav.com}