Day 83: Gas Hits $613 as Hormuz Shipping Halts

Day 90: Trump Rejects Iran Uranium Deal

President Trump said the United States would not offer sanctions relief for Iran giving up highly enriched uranium, undercutting weekend claims that a peace deal was close. The episode tracks how that dispute collided with renewed US-Iran strikes, Hormuz toll threats, and widening Lebanon and Kuwait spillover. We also examine intelligence warnings that Iran still retained missile launchers and drones despite public claims that its military was negotiating on fumes. Sources for this episode are available at: https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep165 [https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep165] About War Desk War Desk is an investigative podcast using AI-assisted analysis of military intelligence, diplomatic signals, and conflict data to assess global war risk, with sources and references published on our website for verification. Subscribe to NBN's Newsletter Get new investigations, new shows, and the raw intelligence you won't find anywhere else straight to your inbox. Sign up at nbn.fm/newsletter [https://nbn.fm/newsletter].

Day 89: US Strikes Iran Sites During Qatar Peace Talks

US forces struck Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats in Hormuzgan Province while ceasefire negotiations continued in Qatar. The episode tracks how that tactical escalation collided with reports of a Greek tanker strike off Oman and claims that Iran's military was still reconstituting under bombardment. We also examine Israel's expanding operations in southern Lebanon and Gaza, and how those fronts complicated the broader US-Iran diplomatic track. Sources for this episode are available at: https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep164 [https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep164] About War Desk War Desk is an investigative podcast using AI-assisted analysis of military intelligence, diplomatic signals, and conflict data to assess global war risk, with sources and references published on our website for verification. Subscribe to NBN's Newsletter Get new investigations, new shows, and the raw intelligence you won't find anywhere else straight to your inbox. Sign up at nbn.fm/newsletter [https://nbn.fm/newsletter].

Day 88: US Demands Israel Recognition for Iran

The White House has introduced a mandatory precondition for the 60-day ceasefire, requiring regional mediators like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to formally recognize Israel. This diplomatic poison pill has effectively stalled negotiations in Doha, despite President Trump'S public claims of progress. Meanwhile, Pope Leo IV has issued a new encyclical calling for the total disarmament of artificial intelligence, providing a stark contrast to the ongoing kinetic conflict in the Persian Gulf. All documents and records referenced in this episode are available at nbn.fm. Sources for this episode are available at: https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep163 [https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep163] About War Desk War Desk is an investigative podcast using AI-assisted analysis of military intelligence, diplomatic signals, and conflict data to assess global war risk, with sources and references published on our website for verification. Subscribe to NBN's Newsletter Get new investigations, new shows, and the raw intelligence you won't find anywhere else straight to your inbox. Sign up at nbn.fm/newsletter [https://nbn.fm/newsletter].

Day 87: Trump says he told negotiators 'not to rush'

On May 24, 2026, U.S.-Iran peace talks remained unresolved as President Trump said he told negotiators not to rush, Iranian outlets disputed the U.S. version of a tentative deal, and Israeli and Lebanese security pressures complicated the path to a binding agreement. This episode follows how uranium terms, sanctions relief, Strait of Hormuz pressure, and the Lebanon front turned Day 87 into a test of whether Operation Epic Fury can still produce a durable settlement. Sources for this episode are available at: https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep162 [https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep162] About War Desk War Desk is an investigative podcast using AI-assisted analysis of military intelligence, diplomatic signals, and conflict data to assess global war risk, with sources and references published on our website for verification. Subscribe to NBN's Newsletter Get new investigations, new shows, and the raw intelligence you won't find anywhere else straight to your inbox. Sign up at nbn.fm/newsletter [https://nbn.fm/newsletter].

Day 86: US Demands Uranium Stockpile for Sanctions

The United States has proposed a 60-day ceasefire framework that requires Iran to surrender its highly enriched uranium and clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz before any sanctions are lifted. Despite the diplomatic push, Iranian officials continue to reject US sovereignty over the waterway while active combat persists in Lebanon. President Trump is attempting to project regional consensus through a series of calls with leaders across the Middle East, even as he simultaneously threatens military escalation if the current negotiations fail. For the full record of documents and sources, visit nbn.fm. Sources for this episode are available at: https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep161 [https://nbn.fm/war-desk/episode/ep161] About War Desk War Desk is an investigative podcast using AI-assisted analysis of military intelligence, diplomatic signals, and conflict data to assess global war risk, with sources and references published on our website for verification. Subscribe to NBN's Newsletter Get new investigations, new shows, and the raw intelligence you won't find anywhere else straight to your inbox. Sign up at nbn.fm/newsletter [https://nbn.fm/newsletter].