U.S. Military on High Alert for Iran Strikes Amid Signs of Diplomatic 'Movement'

The Trump administration has intensified military preparedness for potential strikes against Iran, with U.S. intelligence and defense officials reportedly canceling Memorial Day weekend plans to remain on standby. While the White House maintains that 'all options' remain on the table, Pentagon officials are in a heightened state of readiness to execute rapid orders if the President decides to act. This military posture comes despite signs of a functioning diplomatic channel. Simultaneously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that indirect negotiations have shown 'a little bit of movement,' suggesting that a diplomatic resolution remains a possibility. However, Rubio also emphasized the need for international intervention in the Strait of Hormuz, calling on NATO allies to establish contingency plans to prevent Iran from asserting control over the critical waterway or imposing illegal shipping transits. On the multilateral front, international efforts to address nuclear concerns hit a stalemate as the four-week UN Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference concluded without an agreed-upon final document. This marks the third consecutive failure for the 191 member states to reach a consensus, highlighting deep global divisions over the nuclear file. Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to play an active role as a regional mediator, with military leadership engaged in ongoing discussions with Tehran to encourage de-escalation.