U.S. Prepares for Possible Iran Strikes as Regional Mediators Push for De-escalation

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing for a potential fresh round of military strikes against Iran, with military and intelligence officials remaining on high alert through the holiday weekend. While no final order to strike has been issued, White House officials emphasized that the Pentagon remains ready to execute any decision made by the Commander-in-Chief. This hardening posture comes as President Trump warns Tehran of 'another big hit' should negotiations fail or Iranian actions threaten U.S. interests. Simultaneously, a complex diplomatic effort is unfolding. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that back-channel negotiations have shown 'a little bit of movement' toward a possible settlement. To support these efforts, regional mediators including Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and a specialist team from Qatar arrived in Tehran on Friday. Despite these efforts, Pakistani officials characterized the current divide between Washington and Tehran as 'deep and significant.' The confrontation is also expanding into maritime and international spheres. The U.S. has called on NATO allies to prepare contingency plans for the Strait of Hormuz to ensure global energy stability in the event of a blockade or retaliatory strikes. Meanwhile, multilateral diplomacy faced a setback at the United Nations, where a four-week conference reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty ended Friday without a consensus agreement, largely due to ongoing friction over Iran's nuclear program.