U.S. Vice President JD Vance: "If the Iranians get a nuclear weapon, you know who gets a nuclear weapon like the next day? The Saudi Arabians."

🚨The U.S.–Iran talks scheduled for Friday have been canceled. Iranian officials said Tuesday they wanted to relocate the talks to Oman and conduct them in a strictly bilateral format. While U.S. officials considered the venue change, they ultimately rejected the proposal on Wednesday. “We told them it was this or nothing, and they said, ‘Okay, then nothing,’” a senior U.S. official told Axios.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “If the Iranians want to meet, we’re prepared. I don’t know if a deal with them is possible, but we’re willing to find out. This president always prefers a peaceful resolution to any conflict or challenge.”

A fuel train derailed in Russia’s Tambov Oblast earlier today, triggering a powerful explosion.

Iran has requested changes to both the venue and format of Friday’s planned negotiations with the United States, raising concerns the talks could be derailed, according to two sources familiar with the matter cited by Axios. The sources say Tehran wants to shift the talks from Istanbul to Muscat, Oman, and prefers a strictly bilateral format with the United States, rather than a broader meeting involving multiple Arab and Muslim states. However, Iranian officials told Al-Monitor that reports suggesting the talks are close to collapse are inaccurate. They said both sides are jointly considering the most suitable format and location, with Oman and Turkey among the options still under discussion.

According to a source close to the Trump administration speaking to Israel Hayom, President Donald J. Trump remains firm on four key objectives ahead of this week’s talks with Iran: • Full abandonment of Iran’s nuclear program • An end to the long-range ballistic missile program • Termination of funding for proxy groups across the Middle East • Respectful and lawful treatment of demonstrators involved in the early January anti-regime protests

Saudi Arabia and Turkey released a joint statement in which they: • Rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland • Reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity • Opposed any attempt to divide Yemen • Rejected the UAE-backed RSF’s self-declared government in Sudan • Called for Israel’s immediate withdrawal from Syria

Israel has asked the United States for “operational freedom” to carry out unilateral military action against Iran, according to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, as President Donald J. Trump appears to favor diplomacy over direct strikes on the Islamic Republic. In my view, there is little to no chance that President Trump would grant Israel a green light to strike Iran while genuinely pursuing a diplomatic path. Even if the U.S. did not participate directly in any attack, American military assets would almost certainly be needed to help defend Israel in the aftermath.

The House narrowly passed a $1.2 trillion funding bill by a 217–214 vote, ending the partial government shutdown and sending the measure to President Trump, who has said he will sign it into law. View quoted note →

🚨 U.S. House has passed the government funding bill, sending it to U.S. President Donald Trump's desk.