English transcript

It's day 26 of the Iran war. We're on the ground in the region and there's lots going on.

So let's take you through what's been happening in the Middle East today.

Key question, what's the American game plan?

On the face of it, it seems they're planning to deepen their involvement.

They're expected to send 2,000 troops from an army airborne division

to the Middle East in the next few days,

bringing the total number of personnel who've been sent to the region to 7,000.

But the U.S. president is also talking about winding the whole thing down.

Donald Trump said the vice president, J.D. Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio

are involved in efforts to negotiate an end to the war with Iran,

while hinting at possible economic incentives like

lifting economic sanctions or granting temporary waivers.

The administration has also reportedly delivered a 15-point proposal to the Iranians

to end the conflict, although we don't know who in the regime has received it

or who's considering it either.

So how have the Iranians responded to all of this?

Well, Iran says it's not engaged in negotiations with the U.S.,

and a military spokesman mocked America over its diplomatic initiatives.

Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel and neighboring Arab countries,

with state media broadcasting this footage of what it described as a

successful missile strike at a U.S. base in northern Iraq.

A gift from Mr. Trump, said Iranian state media.

And an Iranian missile landed close to Israel's largest power station

in the coastal city of Hadera.

The Israel Electric Corporation said no damage was sustained.

As far as Israel goes, talk of a swiftly negotiated peace deal

will make them nervous.

The Israeli government is firmly committed to the destruction of the Iranian regime.

The Israeli military says it struck more than 3,000 targets since the conflict began,

and they're expanding their operations in Lebanon.

The defense minister says the Israeli military will occupy

the south of the country up to the Litani River and use it as a defensive buffer.

The country's far-right finance minister went further,

calling for the annexation of southern Lebanon.

The current war in Lebanon must end with a fundamental change.

Beyond the decision of the Hezbollah terrorist organization,

the Litani River must be our new border with the state of Lebanon,

just like the Yellow Strip in Gaza and like the Hezbollah in Syria.

Across the world, countries are bracing for fuel shortages,

with a sharp escalation in prices.

Japan said it will begin releasing 30 days worth of oil from its state-owned reserves,

while the Philippines declared a state of national emergency.

Iran's mission to the UN says non-hostile vessels

can pass through the Straits of Hormuz, this strategic chokepoint,

but Western shipping is effectively blocked.

And it underlines a new reality,

that Iran has an effective stranglehold on the global economy.