Axios reports President Trump said on Iran, 'we are handling it quietly'.

Iran believes it can outlast the US in negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing strong internal backing for talks and patience over unmet commitments on frozen assets and maritime restrictions. President Pezeshkian told negotiators 12 of 13 national security council members support negotiations, exceeding the threshold set by Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei. Parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf has expressed frustration at what Tehran describes as US flip‑flopping — "raising issues, then withdrawing them" — delaying delivery on asset unfreezing and easing of sea blockades. Iran says it is less time‑pressured than Washington, pointing to US midterm election, oil price and inflation pressures, and called the standoff a "cat‑and‑mouse game" to see who blinks first. Tehran is using talks with Oman to signal goodwill while pressing Washington to make the first move.

Israel approved an emergency appropriation on the 9th to reallocate funds originally earmarked for an Intel project, adding NIS1 bln to the defense budget for urgent weapons procurement. The transfer was described as a specially urgent measure tied to the current state of emergency; a ministerial procurement committee had approved the move on the 6th. Authorities said the reallocation will not breach the existing national budget framework.