Bloomberg: “It’s the biggest moment yet of JD Vance’s vice presidency.”

“The VP (who has been conspicuously quiet for much of the Iran war) is suddenly center stage for peace talks.”

“His work turning a shaky ceasefire into a lasting peace could determine the course of the conflict – with all the related human and economic consequences – not to mention his own future, and that of MAGA. No pressure.”

Playbook: “It’s the second day of the ceasefire. Israel is still bombing Lebanon, killing nearly 200 people in downtown Beirut yesterday… Hezbollah is firing rockets straight back. The Strait of Hormuz is still highly restricted, with Iran charging crypto fees for limited access. And there’s no clarity at all on Iran’s nuclear material.”

“The White House insists it’s all going well — though Trump made clear last night the U.S. military remains on standby should it be required.”

Wall Street Journal: “Iran told mediators it would limit the number of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz to around a dozen a day and charge tolls under the cease-fire struck by President Trump, showing Tehran plans to tighten its grip on the world’s most important energy-shipping lane.”

“Ships that pass will have to coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful paramilitary group that has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union”

Wall Street Journal: “The White House is considering a plan to punish some members of the NATO alliance that President Trump thinks were unhelpful to the U.S. and Israel during the Iran war, according to administration officials.”

“The proposal would involve moving U.S. troops out of North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries deemed unhelpful to the Iran war effort and stationing them in countries that were more supportive. The proposal would fall far short of President Trump’s recent threats to fully withdraw the U.S. from the alliance, which by law he can’t do without Congress.”

Playbook: “It’s easy to become immune to Trump’s NATO-bashing because it’s been going on so long. But what’s happened over the past 14 months is very different. What’s happened since the start of the year is seismic.”

“It’s too early to call it definitively — the leaks will likely come in the hours ahead — but it’s pretty clear yesterday’s talks between Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte didn’t go well.”

Washington Post: Trump vents at NATO but avoids rupture after meeting with alliance’s leader.

Wall Street Journal: “When Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire only hours before President Trump had vowed to unleash punishing new attacks, it was in many ways a moment of triumph for the battered regime.”

“Tehran emerged from 38 days of war against the U.S. and Israel having won not only its primary goal—its own survival—but also two potential strategic gains: control of the Strait of Hormuz and a newly established deterrence against large-scale attacks by its longtime adversaries.”

“Despite huge military losses, Iran’s stranglehold on the vital waterway for 20% of the world’s oil exports won’t be broken anytime soon.”

Washington Post: After Trump pauses war, Iranians fly flags of victory, not surrender.

Wall Street Journal: “President Trump’s declaration of ‘total victory’ in Iran left some close allies and several senior aides worried Wednesday that he is overstating what is a fragile cease-fire with Tehran, which remains capable of blocking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and attacking U.S. forces in the region.”

“The president has been advised on the risks that could cause the cease-fire to crater and warned that Iran still retains dangerous military capabilities, according to multiple officials.”

New York Times: “President Trump’s 8 p.m. deadline for Iran was fast approaching, and Pakistan was trying to orchestrate an off-ramp for both sides. So Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to social media.”

“Mr. Sharif, adopting Trumpian parlance, said in a post on X Tuesday afternoon that diplomacy was ‘progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully’ and that he was requesting that Mr. Trump extend the deadline for two weeks. He then tagged Mr. Trump and other top advisers.”

“But behind the scenes, the White House had already seen and signed off on the statement before Mr. Sharif posted it, according to a person briefed on the communication, a sign that the diplomatic channels were much more active than the message on social media suggested.”

“President Donald Trump vowed to keep US troops in the Persian Gulf ahead of talks with Iran that are planned to firm up a fragile truce, while Tehran warned there may be mines in a strategic waterway Washington wants reopened,” Bloomberg reports.

New York Times: “President Trump faces new diplomatic tests as he prepares for weekend talks with Tehran amid doubts about the durability of his day-old cease-fire with Iran and the prospects for building it into a broader peace settlement.”

Punchbowl News: “President Donald Trump will head to Arizona and Nevada next week to talk about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its tax cuts, the biggest policy win notched by the GOP-run Congress. And there will be a MAHA roundtable at the White House today. Trump is seemingly trying to turn the page from a brutal month of war in Iran and Republican infighting in Washington.”

“But it won’t be that easy.”

“Despite the ceasefire, oil tankers still aren’t moving through the Strait of Hormuz yet, and the question of Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon is being disputed by U.S., Israeli and Iranian officials. Trump warned late Wednesday night that U.S. forces ‘will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with.'”

“Plus, with lawmakers returning to Washington for the first time in two weeks on Monday, the Capitol will be dominated by votes and action related to the 40-day long conflict.”