Ukraine fails to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, as Zelensky pleads for Patriot interceptors
Ukraine fails to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, as Zelensky pleads for Patriot interceptors

President Donald Trump spent part of his time in Turkey on Tuesday conferring with top advisers about a response to Iran’s targeting of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Ahead of a leaders dinner hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump huddled with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine to formulate a response, including the US strikes on Iranian targets.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is also in Turkey, and conferred with Trump on reversing a sanctions waiver that allowed Iran to sell oil.
Trump has been frustrated at Iran’s violations of the Memorandum of Understanding, which he signed exactly three weeks ago. Iran has also accused the US of repeatedly breaching the agreement.
At the dinner, amid courses of Turkish specialties like “pide” flatbread and “manti” dumplings, Trump held a private conversation with NATO chief Mark Rutte.
The next morning, Rutte said the military action was “absolutely necessary” as he entered the high-stakes NATO summit.



