“Multiple U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers appeared to be airborne and heading west from the United States across the Pacific, and President Trump is scheduled to return to the White House late on Saturday afternoon from New Jersey as he deliberates about whether to join Israel’s efforts to destroy Iran’s nuclear sites,” the New York Times reports.

“Air traffic control communications indicated that several B-2 aircraft — the planes that could be equipped to carry the 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs that Mr. Trump is considering deploying against Iran’s underground nuclear facilities in Fordo — had taken off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.”

Wall Street Journal: “Officials said there had been no order given to ready a B-2 strike. The flights could also help pressure Iran amid efforts to resolve the standoff diplomatically.”

“President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğa quietly sought to arrange a meeting between senior U.S. and Iranian officials in Istanbul this week amid Israel’s escalating war with Iran,” Axios reports.

“But the effort collapsed when Iran’s supreme leader — in hiding due to fears of assassination — couldn’t be reached to approve it.”

“New details of this backchannel effort reveal the extent to which Trump was pushing for a direct meeting with the Iranians — even offering to attend himself, if necessary — in hopes of striking a nuclear deal and avoiding U.S. military intervention.”

“Pakistan said on Saturday it would recommend U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, an accolade that he has said he craves, for his work in helping to resolve the recent conflict between India and Pakistan,” Reuters reports.

“Some analysts in Pakistan said the move might persuade Trump to think again about potentially joining Israel in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. Pakistan has condemned Israel’s action as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.”

“Wary of assassination, Iran’s supreme leader mostly speaks with his commanders through a trusted aide now, suspending electronic communications to make it harder to find him,“ the New York Times reports.

“Ensconced in a bunker, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has picked an array of replacements down his chain of miliary command in case more of his valued lieutenants are killed.”

“And in a remarkable move, the officials add, Ayatollah Khamenei has even named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him should he be killed, as well — perhaps the most telling illustration of the precarious moment he and his three-decade rule are facing.”

“After moving to the precipice of military action against Iran, President Trump finds himself caught between negotiations that show few signs of yielding a nuclear deal and a war he is reluctant to join,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“By deferring a decision on a military strike, Trump’s calculation is that Israel’s continued blows against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure or Tehran’s capitulation at the negotiating table might deliver the outcome he has long sought: an end to Iran’s uranium enrichment.”

“The risk is that Iran concludes that Trump is bluffing, opts to endure Israel’s bombs and clings to its longstanding position that it has the right to an enrichment program.”

“Israel’s top general warned on Friday that the war with Iran could be lengthy, calling it the most complex military campaign in the country’s history,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“He spoke as European foreign ministers met Iranian officials in Geneva on Friday to press them to de-escalate and limit Tehran’s nuclear activities. Iran’s foreign minister said as the talks began that Israel’s attacks he described as ‘merciless acts of aggression’ had undermined constructive negotiations.”