On Thursday, the British daily The Times revealed that the UK has restricted the United States from utilizing its military installations on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia for potential strikes against Iran. This development follows a statement made Wednesday night by US President Donald Trump, who asserted that America would have no choice but to utilize the strategic outpost to protect the UK and “other friendly countries.”

Simultaneously, The Wall Street Journal noted that Tehran turned down Washington’s framework for a sweeping diplomatic resolution. The US proposal demanded a complete halt to Iran’s nuclear development alongside strict limits on its ballistic and hypersonic missile programs. In response, Iranian negotiators countered with an offer featuring significantly smaller nuclear concessions. According to US officials, the talks have reached a deadlock with little hope of a breakthrough.

Tensions further spiked when a high-ranking Iranian military commander announced today that “the Revolutionary Guards are ready to take control of the Strait of Hormuz or close it as soon as possible.” Concurrently, state-run media in Iran confirmed the conclusion of a naval exercise conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the critical waterway, which had been ongoing since Monday.

Further details from The Wall Street Journal suggest that the influx of US military assets into the Middle East provides Washington with the firepower necessary for a prolonged, multi-week aerial campaign. This contrasts sharply with the swift, single-blow execution of the “Midnight Hammer” attack, the targeted US strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities conducted last June.

The escalating brinkmanship between the US and Iran led Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to urge all Polish citizens currently in Iran to evacuate without delay. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, he warned, “Within a few hours, there may no longer be a possibility to evacuate Poles from Iran.”

Local news broadcasts indicated Thursday morning that the IDF have further raised their readiness levels in anticipation of a potential strike on Iran. Military assessments suggest that if the US opts for military intervention, Israel will be notified beforehand. However, to maintain operational security and avoid damaging leaks, this intelligence will remain classified from the public. The report noted that discreet logistical preparations are already underway, echoing the covert strategies used during Operation “With a Dog.”

Attempting to temper the ensuing media frenzy, IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin released a statement. “Negotiations are underway, and the IDF has been prepared for maximum defense for a long time. If we are attacked – we will respond forcefully. There is no change in the assessment of the situation, and if there is – we will update through the IDF spokesman and the Home Front Command. There is no room for false alarm,” he clarified.

Later in the evening, CBS cited national security insiders who claimed the US armed forces are positioned to strike Iran by this weekend, though the operational window could easily stretch beyond the coming days. The network also revealed that the Pentagon plans to strategically relocate some of its regional personnel to Europe and the US over the next 72 hours to shield them from potential Iranian retaliation.

Following CNN’s coverage of a potential coordinated offensive pending President Trump’s authorization, Israeli defense officials are emphasizing a stark reality: even if Israel does not directly participate in the strike, intelligence assessments anticipate that Iran will retaliate by firing on Israeli territory.

Concurrently, the Israeli defense establishment has ramped up its internal readiness for the month of Ramadan, heavily reinforcing troop presence across Judea and Samaria. Northern border units are also on high alert over concerns of a sympathetic escalation by Hezbollah, while national emergency services have been directed to brace for a multi-front conflict. Despite this heightened state of vigilance, official safety directives for the civilian population remain unchanged.