Dr David Hamill (@david-hamill.bsky.social)

NEW: Iran, the United States, and Israel have not exchanged fire since ISW-CTP’s last data cutoff on April 8. Gulf states continue to report drone attacks against them, however. Other Key Takeaways: The US Government stated on April 8 that Iran submitted a “new” and “modified” proposal to the United States that will serve as the basis for the US-Iran talks. US President Donald Trump stated on April 7 that this proposal is a “workable basis on which to negotiate.” Unspecified mediators told the Wall Street Journal on April 8 that Iran has softened several of its demands, including its demands related to nuclear enrichment, the withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East, and war reparations. Iran is taking several steps to try to exert control over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which have the net effect of keeping oil prices high. Iran likely aims to use high oil prices to exert economic pressure on the United States and extract concessions from the United States during negotiations. Iranian officials continue to insist that Lebanon is part of the ceasefire framework. Israeli officials have stated that Israel will not observe a ceasefire in Lebanon and will continue to strike Hezbollah, however. Hezbollah has resumed attacks on Israeli forces and positions in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israeli officials on April 8 to conduct direct negotiations with the Lebanese government “as soon as possible to discuss Hezbollah disarmament.

If sanctions on Russian oil have been lifted because of the war in the Middle East, will the U.S. sanctions be reimposed now that there is a ceasefire? I think that an answer to this question will expose the reason for lifting sanctions in the first place. We just need to wait and see. In my view, Russia played the Americans again – played the President of the United States. The Russians lied about the role their oil supplies played in keeping oil markets stable. If the U.S. reimposes sanctions, that would be fair. But if it doesn’t… We heard that Russia wanted Americans to buy certain energy assets in Europe belonging to Lukoil. I ask myself, “If I want to sell sanctioned energy assets, what do I do?” I come up with a scheme to lift sanctions. How else could I sell it? From an interview with Rai Radio 1 (3/3).

Tapper: Is the world safer today than it was before the war was started? Rutte: Absolutely… thanks to President Trump's leadership.

Thank you Megyn Kelly for saying what everyone is thinking!

Good morning. It’s so good to be back home in Blighty 🙄🇬🇧

Day 497 of nonstop protests. Georgians are holding a 24-hour protest tonight—tomorrow is April 9, the day Soviet troops killed 21 demonstrators on this same Rustaveli Avenue in 1989. Flowers, candles, polyphonic singing, and photos of the victims at the memorial.

Iran Update Evening Special Report, April 8, 2026: US President Donald Trump announced on April 7 that the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal mediated by Pakistan. Trump stated that Iran sent a ten-point proposal to form the basis of upcoming negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 10. Other Key Takeaways: Senior US and Israeli officials stated on April 7 and 8 that the Israeli campaign in Lebanon is not a part of the US-Iran ceasefire deal. Hezbollah officials claimed that unspecified actors informed the group that it would be a party to the ceasefire deal. US President Donald Trump told PBS News on April 8 that Lebanon is not included in the US-Iran ceasefire deal. The IDF conducted the largest number of airstrikes against Hezbollah personnel and infrastructure throughout Lebanon, including central Beirut, since the start of the Israeli campaign in Lebanon. The IDF struck over 100 Hezbollah headquarters, command-and-control centers, missile launch sites, and Hezbollah drone unit and Radwan Force sites in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Iran has continued to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz despite the ceasefire, which is making vessels reticent to transit the strait. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly low amid Iran’s lingering threats and uncertainty over a fragile ceasefire.· Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi had to convince Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders to accept the US proposal for a ceasefire, according to a regional source familiar with the talks speaking to Axios. The ceasefire follows reports that a group of veteran hardline IRGC commanders has consolidated power within the Iranian regime in recent weeks and is playing an increasingly central role in decision-making, such as appointments to key positions.