First Thing: US reportedly poised to send airborne troops to Middle East

Iran has targeted Israel and Gulf states while denying Donald Trump’s claims that any negotiations are taking place. Plus, Democrats flip seat in district home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

Good morning.

The US appeared poised to deploy airborne troops to the Middle East, according to reports, as strikes intensified across the region.

What is the 15-point framework? Diplomats with knowledge of the talks believe it is likely to be a rehashed version of a proposal put forward by Trump’s negotiating team during nuclear talks in May 2025.

What is happening with the strait of Hormuz? Iran has announced it is permitting “non-hostile” ships to pass safely through the strait.

This is a developing story. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.