In the wake of Iran’s leadership presenting a seemingly unified stance that challenges the traditional narrative of moderates versus hardliners, President Donald Trump has called off scheduled discussions with Tehran. The talks were to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan. The reason for this cancellation, according to Trump, is the “infighting and confusion” within the Iranian regime.

Experts specializing in Iranian-American relations point out that recent social media activity from Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, along with President Masoud Pezeshkian and other prominent officials, suggests a breakdown in the “good cop, bad cop” strategy. This approach had previously been used by Iran to manipulate adversaries and gain favorable terms in nuclear discussions, but it now appears to have lost its effectiveness.

On Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social to explain his decision, citing “too much time wasted on traveling” and an overwhelming workload as factors in his choice. He further remarked on the “tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership,'” adding that “nobody knows who is in charge, including them.”

In an image captured at the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 1, 2026, President Donald Trump is seen addressing the nation regarding the ongoing war in Iran. (Getty Images)

President Donald Trump speaks from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 1, 2026, updating the nation on the war in Iran. (Getty Images)

“Also, we have all the cards, they have none!” Trump wrote. “If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”

The implosion of the hardline-moderate dichotomy within the regime could have profound consequences for Trump’s approach to the atomic talks in Islamabad, experts said. Trump appeared to allude to a blurry divide between factions within Iran last week.

“Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know! The infighting is between the ‘Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), and it is CRAZY!” Trump wrote in an X post Thursday.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader of Iran and second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran. (Hamed Jafarnejad/ISNA/WANA/Reuters)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei quickly fired back, claiming “due to the strange unity created among compatriots, a fracture has occurred in the enemy.”

“With practical gratitude for this blessing, cohesion has become even greater and more steel-like, and the enemies will become more wretched and diminished,” Khamenei wrote in a reply. “The enemy’s media operations, by targeting the minds and psyches of the people, intend to undermine national unity and security; may our negligence not allow this sinister intent to come to fruition.”

Mariam Memarsadeghi, a senior fellow at The Macdonald-Laurier Institute and founder and director of the Cyrus Forum for Iran’s Future, told Fox News Digital the Islamic Republic has, for decades, fooled Western policymakers by sending moderates to negotiations as a “window dressing for its terror and subjugation.”

A poster of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is pasted on a motorcycle windshield as government supporters gather in Tehran on April 9, 2026, marking the 40th day since the killing of his father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

The officials would then tell their counterparts that they are under pressure from hardliners, implying that the West must make concessions to strengthen them internally.

“Because of the war, the Trump administration is in a remarkably advantageous situation vis-à-vis the imperial terror state, one never before attempted, much less achieved,” Memarsadeghi said. “But every time Trump says regime change has already happened, he denies America the opportunity to finally, truly be rid of the world’s top sponsor of terror and the existential threat it poses not just to the people of Iran but to all the world.”

Navid Mohebbi, who worked as a Persian media analyst for the State Department’s Public Affairs Bureau, cautioned that while rivalries and factions do exist within the Islamic Republic, they are united on the regime’s core principles.

“Their disagreements are primarily over tactics, not fundamental direction,” Mohebbi told Fox News Digital, stressing that real decision-making power in Iran has always rested with the supreme leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“So-called moderates have never had the final say on key strategic issues and are often used to soften the regime’s image abroad,” he said. “From the perspective of the Iranian people, there has been little difference. Across administrations labeled ‘moderate’ or ‘hardline,’ the system has consistently relied on repression.”

Mohebbi cited the example of Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani, who presented himself as a moderate, but whose security forces violently killed 1,500 protesters during the November 2019 uprising.

Members of security forces watch over the crowd during a funeral procession for IRGC Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri and other senior naval commanders killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes in late March in Tehran, Iran, on April 1, 2026. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

“The same pattern has continued under Masoud Pezeshkian in the January 2026 protest massacre, reinforcing the reality that these labels have not translated into meaningful change on the ground,” he said.

A regional official, however, insisted there are clashes between moderates and hardliners in Iran. The official told Fox News Digital that Pezeshkian is a moderate, but he “could not even make good on his campaign promise regarding internet freedom. To be honest, he’s not even been able to do s—.”

“The joint reaction by the heads of the three branches of power was in response to Trump’s reference to the issue of rift, and also to the fact that there are indeed hardliners and moderates,” the official added. “Look, whenever Iran wants to make concessions, they throw moderates under the bus so that the moderates make a deal, and then, the hardliners blame them for the same concessions all of them had agreed to make.”

Lawdan Bazargan, who was imprisoned by the Islamic Republic in the 1980s for her political dissident activities, told Fox News Digital that what officials are seeing now is not the disappearance of the divide, but the exposure of what that divide actually was.

“In reality, all of these figures — Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf [speaker of Iran’s parliament], Saeed Jalili [member of the Expediency Discernment Council], Pezeshkian, Ahmad Vahidi [head of the IRGC], Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei [head of Iran’s judiciary] — operate within the same ideological framework,” Bazargan said. “They are all committed to the preservation of the system, the projection of power in the region, and confrontation with what they define as ‘the forces of evil,’ namely the United States and Israel.”

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing backlash from drivers following her decision to convert a lane on a heavily trafficked road into a dedicated bus lane.

Wilson introduced the Denny Way Bus Reliability Project during a press conference on Wednesday, proudly sharing her personal commitment to public transportation. She highlighted her own lifestyle choices, noting, “I’ve never owned a car and regularly use the bus.”

“As a transit rider, this initiative is especially meaningful to me,” Wilson stated, receiving a round of applause. “I am among the 20 percent of Seattle households that do not own a car—a number that continues to grow.”

She expressed her fondness for public transit by mentioning, “Route 8, which serves my neighborhood on Capitol Hill, is one of my favorite buses.”

Wilson shared personal anecdotes, saying, “I’ve used that bus with my daughter for various activities—whether it’s visiting the tide pools, attending Shakespeare plays at Seattle Center, or simply taking her to daycare.”

Wilson called the bus a ‘workhorse route’ with one of the highest ridership counts, but it has long faced reliability issues. 

The city said around 8,000 people ride the route every day, and it is a key east-west connection that links Downtown, South Lake Union and Capitol Hill. 

The initiative has angered motorists who claim that eliminating a lane for drivers will worsen traffic and allege she’s conveniently chosen the route she uses. 

Mayor Katie Wilson, pictured above, announced a controversial transit imitative on Wednesday 

The project will add additional bike lanes, causing concern among some motorists who worry it could increase traffic. Pictured is congestion on Denny Way, where the bus lanes are set to be installed 

Wilson said at a press conference, pictured above, that she has never owned a car and frequently rides on Route 8 to Capitol Hill 

Seattle’s Department of Transportation saw a barrage of negative comments on its recent announcement, with one reading: ‘Definitely don’t ask for public opinion on these proposed changes. 

‘People are apparently getting really tired of SDOT intentionally making traffic worse everywhere they go.’

‘No Kings or Queens. Mayor Wilson should not be unilaterally taking over public streets for those privileged enough to not have to own a car and who have an extra 2 hours a day to take a bus,’ another comment added. 

‘She is penalizing people who need to drive by closing roads throughout the city, and limiting our driving routes, backing up traffic, with no backup plan,’ wrote a third. 

The city has maintained that the project will ‘eliminate choke points’ and provide faster and more reliable trips for transit riders. 

The first phase of the project is set to kick off in May. Three blocks of lanes from Queen Anne Ave North down to Second Avenue, a two-mile stretch, are scheduled for installation. 

An existing southbound lane on Queen Anne Ave to Denny Way is also set to be extended, and another bus queue is scheduled to be installed to help bus riders move ahead of traffic at a major intersection. 

The second phase, scheduled for August, includes an extension of the eastbound bus lane, nine blocks of a new bus lane, and the reconfiguration of an intersection to enhance pedestrian safety, according to the city. 

The first phase of the transit police will begin next month, while the second is scheduled for August. Pictured above are busses in Seattle 

The project will install new bus lanes in an effort to speed up buses and make transit more reliable. Pictured above is a depiction of the project map 

The Department of Transportation warned that intermittent lane closures and slower speeds may be expected during working hours. Noise, dust and vibrations may also occur when workers are on site from 8am to 7pm. 

Seattle residents expressed mixed reactions to the proposal, telling local ABC affiliate, KOMO, that although Route 8 is consistently delayed, they are concerned about what could happen after losing a general-purpose lane. 

Wilson has a background in transit policy, having previously served as the Transit Riders Union General Secretary before running for mayor. 

Seattle elected Wilson as its first democratic socialist mayor in November, echoing the recent victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s mayoral contest.

She has been referred to as ‘the white Mamdani’ and like her counterpart she ran on a campaign characterized by promises to increase affordability in the city. Another core part of her platform is addressing Seattle’s homelessness crisis, which is one of the worst in the country.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Wilson’s office and the Department of Transportation for comment on the backlash against the project. 

It was an unforgettable driving lesson for one group of Mississippi students.

Displaying remarkable calmness and quick thinking, a group of children on a Mississippi school bus took control of a dangerous situation when their driver fainted while navigating a busy four-lane highway.

The incident unfolded just after the students departed Hancock Middle School in Kiln, Mississippi, on Wednesday. Their driver, Leah Taylor, suddenly experienced an asthma attack, causing her to lose consciousness.

Without hesitation, the students sprang into action.

Among them was 12-year-old Jackson Casnave, a sixth-grader seated directly behind the driver. As the bus began to veer off course, Jackson swiftly stood up and took hold of the steering wheel.

“I didn’t have time to process my emotions,” Casnave said. “I just wanted to make sure nobody got hurt.”

A classmate, 12-year-old Darrius Clark, hit the brakes and between them, they were able to get the bus off the road and put it in park.

Clark’s 13-year-old sister, Kayleigh, called 911, but said there were so many students screaming inside the bus, she couldn’t hear what the woman was telling her.

Other kids helped by finding Taylor’s nebulizer and administering the medication while another held her head.

“They saved my life,” Taylor said later.

And their classmates too.

A student also picked up Taylor’s phone, which was ringing, and told the district’s transportation team what had happened.

“I’m grateful for my students,” said Taylor, 46. “They’re the ones that saved my life and everybody else’s on that bus.”

The students were honored at a pep rally Friday and will be treated to a lunch field trip next week at a restaurant of their choosing.

“What they did took courage,” principal Dr. Melissa Saucier said. “They didn’t wait for somebody to step in, they stepped up themselves and that says a lot about their character.”

Post Wire Services

SALINAS, Calif. — Maverick Foletta is well on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a pilot, despite being just 8 years old.

The young aviation enthusiast from Salinas has already accumulated more than 10 hours of flying lessons, a notable achievement for someone so young.

Despite his impressive progress, Maverick shared with KSBW that piloting a plane involves juggling multiple tasks.

“You have all your instruments, and you have to look outside mostly,” he explained.

Maverick’s passion for aviation took flight two years ago when his father introduced him to flying lessons, and he has been enthralled ever since.

“He gave me some lessons. I really enjoyed it,” Maverick said. “Recently, he gave me some more lessons, and I’m enjoying it right now.”

“It’s always my dream to fly with Maverick, and that was like, a dream come true,” said Michael Foletta, Maverick’s father.

Enoch Weichers, Maverick’s instructor, praised him for his work ethic.

“Kids really tend to learn really quickly because they don’t have any preconceived notions of how to do things,” Weichers said. “He’s very humble and a very quick learner.”

Most students are ready to fly solo after 40-60 hours of flight time, but Weichers believes he’ll be ready much sooner.

“If Maverick could, he’d probably be ready to solo pretty soon, maybe in the next couple of flight lessons,” Weichers said.

Maverick has a reason behind his motivation to fly.

“It’s because I want to be like Top Gun Maverick,” he said.

MEXICO CITY: A recent high-profile summit in Barcelona, orchestrated by Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is gaining significant attention. Analysts suggest this move could signify a strategic geopolitical shift, potentially challenging U.S. influence in Latin America and beyond.

The summit assembled notable leaders such as Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum. While the official agenda focused on tackling inequality, climate change, and the rise of right-wing politics, the discussions have sparked concerns in Washington and the region about a possible coordinated political pushback against the United States.

Though he did not directly reference the Trump administration, Sánchez criticized what he termed as the “normalization of the use of force” and “attempts to undermine international law,” indirectly pointing to U.S. foreign policies. He also advocated for reforming global institutions, arguing that the current frameworks do not adequately represent today’s geopolitical realities, subtly challenging the traditional U.S. dominance in these bodies.

During the 4th Meeting in Defense of Democracy, held at Fira Barcelona Gran Via in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Prime Minister Sánchez welcomed various delegations and emphasized the importance of enhancing international collaboration to uphold democratic values. The event, which took place on April 18, 2026, included customary formalities like the greeting of delegation heads and a family photo before the leaders convened. Attendees featured prominent figures such as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro.

“The Barcelona summit marks a conscious effort by Pedro Sánchez to establish himself as a central figure in a burgeoning progressive alliance that is increasingly critical of U.S. foreign policy under President Trump,” remarked Juan Angel Soto, founder and CEO of Fortius Consulting, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“This positioning is particularly complex given Spain’s structural anchoring in both the European Union and NATO, which traditionally align it closely with Washington. However, Sánchez has simultaneously deepened ties with the Global South, evident in his growing proximity to China, as well as to leaders such as Lula, Sheinbaum and Petro, suggesting a dual-track foreign policy that seeks greater autonomy from U.S. influence,” Soto said.

The Colombian leader tied global tensions directly to economic and energy systems, arguing that fossil fuel dependence has fueled conflict and inequality, an argument that aligns with broader criticism of Western-led economic models.

Roberto Salinas León, director of International Affairs at Universidad de la Libertad in Mexico City, told Fox News Digital, “The ill-named summit ‘In Defense of Democracy’ held in Barcelona brought together notable ‘progressives’ with an aim to bring together a global contingent opposed to, well, Trump 2.0. How convenient.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez shake hands before their meeting in Beijing, China September 9, 2024. (China Daily via Reuters)

“Petro stated that ‘Latin American progressivism is a ray of hope for a humanity in crisis.’ Yet these would-be spokespersons for democracy have supported such inhumane brutal dictatorships like Cuba, Nicaragua, Maduro’s Venezuela, Iran, and others. This gathering is more aptly characterized as a political mascara of electoral autocracies, each leader undermining the institutional checks and balances of open liberal democracies,” he said.

Brazil’s Lula criticized what he described as interventionist policies by major powers and called for a rebalancing of global governance, including changes to the U.N. Security Council. At one point, he characterized recent U.S. leadership as contributing to global instability, reinforcing a central theme of the summit: that the current international order needs to be redefined.

President Donald Trump, center, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, second from left, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz and Chile’s President-elect Jose Antonio Kast pose for a family photo during the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Fla., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

“The new Cold War is being waged between China and the United States; it is this very rivalry that is at stake in every country participating in the summit. Lula’s concern regarding the resurgence of the right has become patently obvious, particularly when observing Argentina and Chile, where the victories of Milei and Kast have ushered in ‘winds of change.’ We are, quite literally, living through times reminiscent of the fall of the Berlin Wall, specifically, the collapse of ‘21st-century socialism’ across Hispanic America, and this is precisely what has them so worried,” Brazilian political analyst Sandra Bronzina told Fox News Digital

“When the global progressive left rails against the United States, talking about sovereignty and peace, or speaking out against war, they are not doing so out of mere altruism or good intentions. Rather, they are driven by a shadowy self-interest: ensuring that China continues to colonize our nations, a process that is, evidently, already well underway.”

Mexico’s Sheinbaum underscored the principle of national sovereignty, reiterating Latin America’s longstanding emphasis on non-intervention. She joined other leaders in opposing sanctions on countries such as Cuba, signaling a willingness to coordinate positions that diverge sharply from U.S. policy in the region.

Taken together, analysts say the messaging out of Barcelona suggests the early stages of a loosely aligned bloc, one that is increasingly willing to challenge U.S. positions on global governance, regional policy and economic strategy.

Chile elected right wing leader Jose Kast as president. (Juan Gonzalez/Reuters)

Yet even as leaders in Barcelona warn of a rising right-wing threat, political realities across the Americas tell a different story, one that may resonate more directly with U.S. audiences.

In Argentina, sweeping economic reforms focused on deregulation and fiscal discipline have captured global attention as an alternative to state-led models. In El Salvador, aggressive security policies have dramatically reduced violence. And in Ecuador, a renewed focus on law-and-order and institutional control is emerging as a response to escalating cartel violence.

Analysts say these examples highlight a counter to the Barcelona narrative in that a significant portion of the region is moving toward policies centered on security, market reforms and stronger state authority — priorities that often align more closely with U.S. strategic interests.

Experts say the contrast is striking. On one side, a group of leaders in Barcelona is calling for a rethinking of global systems long associated with U.S. leadership. On the other, governments across the hemisphere are experimenting with approaches that emphasize economic liberalization and strong security measures.

The White House Correspondents’ Association weekend launched with flair on Friday evening, marked by a grand event at the British embassy. This gathering was a collaborative effort with the Daily Mail and the public relations firm Brunswick.

Sir Christian Turner, the British ambassador, graciously opened his opulent residence to a distinguished crowd that included media luminaries, influential figures from tech and business sectors, diplomats, and key players from Washington, D.C.

Highlighting the widespread influence of the Daily Mail’s journalism, Sir Christian, who previously served as the high commissioner to Pakistan, shared an amusing anecdote. In November 2022, his mother-in-law, a devoted reader of the Daily Mail, called to inform him that Pakistan’s then-prime minister, Imran Khan, had been shot.

Returning home after a demanding day navigating the diplomatic crisis surrounding the assassination attempt, Sir Christian recounted how his mother-in-law’s call ensured he was aware of the incident, as it dominated the Daily Mail’s coverage.

As prominent figures like Fox News hosts Harris Faulkner and Brian Kilmeade, CNN chairman Sir Mark Thompson, and leading journalists from major media outlets listened, Sir Christian emphasized the crucial role journalism plays today more than ever.

‘The Founding Fathers of this amazing country established the First Amendment as a bedrock of America,’ he said. ‘Freedom of speech is not a luxury. It is the foundation of democracy.’

He said ‘the right to speak your mind’ was ‘at the heart’ of the British and American nations.

The ambassador noted that, with King Charles and Queen Camilla arriving on Monday for their eagerly anticipated state visit – the first by a British monarch in almost 20 years – there could not be a better moment to celebrate Anglo-American relations.

The White House Correspondents’ Association weekend kicked off in spectacular style on Friday night with a celebration at the British embassy

The party was hosted in conjunction with the Daily Mail and PR firm Brunswick

Sir Christian Turner, the British ambassador, opened the doors of his lavish residence for the party

Guests roamed throughout the jewel of Embassy Row

‘It’s been quite a year, and it’s about to get busier,’ he said, pointing also to the celebrations of America’s 250th birthday.

Henry Timms, the CEO of Brunswick, joked that the spectacular gardens must have been pruned to perfection for Friday night’s crowd, with the impending Royal visit an added bonus.

And Kelly Laco, executive editor of politics for the Daily Mail, declared that the evening was ‘sure to be the talk of the town’ – especially given the team’s recent string of scoops.

‘Even though the Daily Mail has British roots, our DC team is dominating coverage on everything rocking Washington, rattling the White House, and setting tongues wagging on Capitol Hill,’ she said.

‘In a city defined by power and personalities, the Daily Mail’s DC bureau has built a newsroom that doesn’t just follow the story.

‘We break it, shape it, and, when necessary, challenge it – as many of you here tonight may have experienced.’

Many of political aides, diplomats and Cabinet staffers raised wry eyebrows.

But then it was on to the party, with a DJ spinning the tunes on the terrace in front of the stately mansion.

Guests including Mark Halperin, Scott Jennings and Dr Mehmet Oz, the TV presenter turned Medicaid and Medicare administrator, sipped on DC Insiders, a cocktail created specially for the night, commemorating the launch of the Daily Mail’s must-read weekly politics newsletter. Combining honeyed bourbon and orange marmalade, the DC Insider was the textbook tipple for an Anglo-American soiree.

Three bars were spread throughout the chandeliered entertaining rooms, allowing the hundreds of guests to roam throughout the jewel of Embassy Row.

Bow-tied servers circulated with roast beef canapes and mini crab cakes, and a chef on the terrace served up platters of the ambassador’s twist on fish and chips – caviar on fries.

Faulkner, elegant in a white pant suit, told the Daily Mail she was ‘blessed’ to be invited to such a soiree.

Indeed, the embassy, built in 1931 by Sir Edwin Lutyens, truly set the standard to the US capital. Lutyens, widely seen as the greatest British architect of the 20th Century, was also responsible for building much of New Delhi, and creating a series of war memorials and British country houses.

Kelly Laco, executive editor of politics for the Daily Mail, declared that the evening was ‘sure to be the talk of the town’

Fox News host Harris Faulkner told the Daily Mail she was ‘blessed’ to be invited to such a soiree

Guests including Scott Jennings (pictured) sipped on DC Insiders, a cocktail created specially for the night

When he began building his sole project in the United States, no other embassies were in the area.

Lutyens gave the residence an imposing Queen Anne façade, and designed it to echo a British country estate.

Now it is filled with spectacular works of art, ranging from an Andy Warhol screenprint of the King’s mother, Elizabeth II, to a giant Grayson Perry tapestry and Damien Hirst’s 1994 dots, Pardaxin.

It was indeed the perfect setting for a media and political party.

Sir Christian raised his glass at the end to toast ‘the journalists who keep us honest, the advisors who keep us sane, and the sponsors who keep us libated.’

On Saturday morning, two vessels flagged by the US for their involvement in Iran’s “shadow fleet” navigated the Strait of Hormuz, as indicated by tracking data.

The tanker Ocean Jet, part of a US sanctions list due to its connection to Iran’s drone exports supporting Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, along with the Lumina Ocean, an oil tanker registered in Curacao, successfully traversed the Strait without interference, according to a report from NBC News citing Marine Traffic data.

The Curacao-flagged ship reportedly maneuvered through the passage by hugging the coastline, as detailed by the news outlet.

In addition to these, several cargo vessels and a Russian yacht also passed through the Strait early on Saturday morning.

This movement occurred in spite of a US naval blockade that is otherwise restricting shipping activities in the region.

Trump ordered the blockade of the vital passageway on April 12, in a move intended to pressure the Iranian regime. The USS George W. Bush aircraft carrier is joining the mission, Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth said Friday, and the blockade is “growing.”

But Iranian drone and missile attacks on ships prior to the US and Tehran agreeing to a cease-fire on April 8, as well as the threat of potential Iranian mines has prevented many captains from risking the passage.

US Central Command did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment but CENTCOM posted an image on social media Saturday of the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta helping enforce the blockade against an Iranian-flagged ship trying to sail to an Iranian port on April 24.

It also posted an image of the Bush Carrier Strike Group sailing in the Indian Ocean as it makes its way to the region.

Meanwhile, a US Navy operation is underway to search for mines and keep the Strait clear of potential threats. The USS George W. Bush aircraft carrier is joining the mission, Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth said Friday, and the blockade is “growing.”

Trump called off peace talks Saturday that were scheduled to take place in Islamabad, where Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were planning to meet Pakistani mediators and an Iranian delegation.

He was upbeat on the overall US position. “We have all the cards. We’ve won everything,” Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida.