Trump says deal could be reached 'soon' as Iran warns against US ground invasion

Key Points:

• Overnight airstrikes targeted locations in Iran, with Tehran retaliating by striking Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a potential peace deal, claiming regime change in Iran has already occurred.
• Pakistan aims to leverage its relationships with Iran, Gulf states, and the US to facilitate peace talks, though Iran's parliament speaker accused the US of using diplomacy as a cover for military plans.
• Iran experienced significant power outages in Tehran and surrounding areas following attacks on its electrical infrastructure, prompting retaliatory strikes on Kuwaiti and Saudi facilities that resulted in casualties and intercepted missile attacks.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of military operations in southern Lebanon to neutralize Hezbollah threats, while the death toll from the conflict continues to rise, with over 1,200 Lebanese killed and casualties reported on all sides including UN peacekeepers.
• The US has increased military presence in the Middle East, deploying the USS Tripoli with thousands of Marines, and is reportedly preparing for potential ground operations, though no deployment has been approved by Trump yet.