Kuwait has accused Iran and its allied groups of carrying out drone strikes against the country on Thursday, even as a two-week truce holds in the broader conflict with Iran. The foreign ministry in Kuwait reported that the attacks aimed at key infrastructure sites occurred that evening. This claim, reported by the official KUNA news service, adds strain to the fragile truce before scheduled discussions between the US and Iran in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Saturday.
The White House has issued a directive cautioning federal employees against using their roles to make bets in prediction markets, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters citing unnamed sources. Certain major policy moves by President Trump have been followed by suspiciously timed wagers, prompting concerns about potential leaks of confidential information. Just before the recent truce was declared, a set of new accounts on the Polymarket platform placed precise bets on an announcement halting hostilities around April 7, yielding profits in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Market records and Reuters analysis also indicate that unknown parties wagered $500 million on Brent and WTI oil futures in a brief window before Trump announced a five-day postponement of strikes on Iran’s energy facilities on March 23, leading to a 15% drop in oil prices. White House representative Davis Ingle commented to Reuters that while the president aims for a robust market benefiting all, lawmakers and officials must not exploit privileged data for personal gain.
Islamabad is under tight security measures as it gears up to host critical negotiations between the US and Iran, which could potentially resolve the destructive conflict affecting the Middle East. Despite the truce appearing vulnerable due to Israel’s ongoing operations in Lebanon and disagreements on negotiation terms, Pakistani authorities confirm the pivotal talks will proceed. Images from the area show the preparations in progress.
US outlets report that Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to organize urgent truce discussions next week involving Israel and Lebanon to neutralize Hezbollah forces supported by Iran and foster ties between the two nations. According to CBS News, the sessions will be facilitated by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, with participation from Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. Netanyahu approved the initiative on Thursday, while emphasizing that no truce exists in Lebanon and Israel will persist in targeting Hezbollah aggressively. Israeli strikes in Beirut on Wednesday resulted in over 250 deaths, marking the most lethal day in Lebanon since hostilities started on February 28. Exchanges of fire continued between the parties on Thursday.
President Trump has urged Israel’s prime minister to adopt a more restrained approach in Lebanon to support the forthcoming US-Iran talks in Islamabad. Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah has jeopardized the tentative truce with Iran established earlier this week. Disputes remain over whether the agreement encompasses a halt to Israel-Hezbollah confrontations.
Trump has distanced himself from conservative media personalities Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, labeling them as not true supporters of his movement and calling them failures. These figures had backed Trump during much of his term but recently criticized the Iran conflict. In a detailed message on Truth Social, the president made pointed remarks against them, key players in conservative media. He noted that as president, he could rally them if needed, but he ignores their outreach due to pressing global and national duties, leading them to turn critical. The Iran conflict has deepened divisions within Trump’s base, with critics arguing it contradicts his commitment to prioritize American interests and avoid foreign entanglements. Carlson described Trump’s language toward Iran, including a profane Easter threat, as deeply offensive. Jones, on his program, questioned invoking the 25th Amendment against the president. Kelly viewed the truce as akin to capitulation but expressed support for it.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held meetings with officials from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, denouncing Iranian aggression toward those countries, as stated by Downing Street in separate announcements.
