Trump Blasts Critics of Iran Strategy as 'Traitors, All'

President Trump is defending his Iran war strategy, attacking critics and skeptics on Monday as "TRAITORS, ALL" after a second round of talks with Iran were thrown into doubt by the US Navy's seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. It was the first such interception since the US blockade of Iranian ports began last week, and Iran's military vowed to respond, the AP reports.

• Trump said Vice President JD Vance, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff would be going to Islamabad on Monday, where Pakistani officials were preparing the venue, but Iranians made no commitment to a Round Two of talks with the US, and Vance's motorcade was later spotted at the White House.
• A senior Iranian official tells Reuters that Tehran, which had ruled out attending peace talks in earlier statements, is "positively reviewing" proposals for talks this week but no final decision has been made.

• Trump appeared to throw cold water on hopes for an agreement, telling Bloomberg he's "highly unlikely" to renew the ceasefire before it expires. He said the truce will expire "Wednesday evening Washington time."
• In the leadup and throughout the seven-week war, Trump has faced criticism from the left and from some of his own supporters that he followed Israel's lead into launching the conflict. But Trump on social media is blaming the media for pushing what he claims is a false narrative. "Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON," Trump said in a Monday Truth Social post.
• The escalating standoff threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy after nearly two months of fighting that Iran's forensic chief has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran.
• Israel and Lebanon, meanwhile, said they would join another round of talks in Washington, DC, on Thursday, continuing their first direct diplomatic talks in decades.