Leaders

Trump submitted the nomination of Todd Blanche to the U.S. Senate to serve as Attorney General, the White House announced.

Scott Pelley compared his firing from 60 Minutes to losing a spouse, saying the decision blindsided him.

He defended challenging CBS leadership directly: "I felt that somebody had to stand up not just for the broadcast but for the people."

Pelley also accused executives of failing to grasp what journalists endure: "There are people in that room who go to war zones when they are pregnant."

IRGC Quds Force commander Gen. Qaani: "From the Strait of Hormuz to Bab el-Mandeb, from the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea, the resistance axis will form a new security belt."

Iran is now openly tying international maritime routes to its regional project.

Iran's Speaker of Parliament, Ghalibaf:

The violation of the ceasefire and the naval blockade were the causes of the recent tensions.

The military arena, the diplomatic arena, the arena of public participation, and the arena of serving the people are all interconnected parts of a single whole.

Diplomacy does not hinder military operations, nor do military operations hinder diplomacy.

Qalibaf, Iran's top negotiator: "We will turn the naval blockade into another defeat for the enemy."

Lebanon's President Aoun says he will not meet with Netanyahu until an agreement to end the war is reached.

Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office for Foreign Media: "If the terrorist regime in Iran makes the same mistake of attacking us again - we will respond with force"

Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich pitched the cabinet on flipping Israel's Iran response, strike Hezbollah, not Tehran. For every Iranian missile, level dozens of buildings in Dahieh. Destroy South Lebanon's contact villages. Force Hezbollah to pressure Iran into flexibility in U.S. talks. Save direct strikes on Iran for a fatal blow to energy and economy. - N12

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council:

"If the evil Zionist-American coalition makes another mistake, the region will become hell for it. Peace be upon the martyrs of Dahiya."

According to new reports for Israel army radio, Israel was about to launch an additional massive strike across Iran, but held back.

According to the NYT, President Trump asked Netanyahu to reconsider to make way for an Iran deal.

Netanyahu: “Iran backed away from its planned attack after Israel responded.”

We may find out about other targets that were hit. (Dozens of IAF jets carried out the response)

PM Netanyahu: Iran thought they will fire at israel and we won’t respond, that would never happen under my watch.

PM Netanyahu: Iran and Hezbollah have never been weaker and Israel has never been stronger.

Netanyahu to Trump: Israel has "the full right to self-defense" and is using it. Said he conveyed this "with appreciation and respect."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz:

“The Dahiya in Beirut is like the northern settlements.

Any attack on the northern settlements will lead to an attack on Dahiya.

The IDF will continue to operate in Lebanon against the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

We categorically reject Iran's threats. Any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force as happened yesterday.”

Iranian Army: The U.S. will bear responsibility for any future Israeli aggression against Iran.

Expediency Council chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani warned that aggression against Iran's allies will now draw responses beyond regional borders, calling Tehran's recent missile strikes on Israel a new "strategic doctrine."

Netanyahu convening security cabinet tonight at 9 PM.

- Times of Israel

NEW: A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that strikes on Iran have been halted at Trump's request. Southern Lebanon operations continue at full force, and Israel will hit Dahiyeh if attacks on Israeli civilians don't stop.

Iran threatens "more powerful actions" if operations continue, including in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu and Trump spoke a short time ago. Israel is waiting for a clear directive from the political echelon on where things are headed, an Israeli official says.

Channel 12

Iran President:

‘Our priority is national security and the peace of our people. We will defend the rights of the nation with authority and will not retreat in the face of any threat. Diplomacy and defense are the two wings of national power; we have neither abandoned the field nor the negotiating table. God willing, with unity and rationality, Iran will emerge triumphant from this trial as well.’

Iran's leadership has lost contact with supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei since last night, according to Iran International. Yesterday's retaliatory strikes on Israel following the IDF's Dahiya attack were launched without coordination with Khamenei's office, relying instead on pre-prepared military protocols. The speed of Iran's response exceeded what the normal messaging process with Khamenei would have permitted.

Sharing images or footage of missile impact sites is now a criminal offense in Iran, the country's Attorney General announced.

- Fars News Agency