SOFREP Daily: Trump Wants “Direct Nuclear Talks” with Iran, Israeli Jets Level Gaza Homes Overnight

Good morning! It’s Saturday, April 5, 2025. Stay informed with the latest updates in defense and global affairs.

Trump Wants “Direct Nuclear Talks” with Iran

US President Donald Trump stated he wants direct nuclear talks with Iran, following threats to bomb the country if it pursues nuclear weapons.

Trump gave Iran a two-month deadline to negotiate, favoring face-to-face dialogue over intermediaries.

The U.S. is pressing to hold direct nuclear talks with Iran, U.S. officials say, as the Trump administration seeks an ambitious goal: dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program https://t.co/20x25bib6p

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 4, 2025

Iran has refused direct talks unless the US changes its approach.

Trump previously withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions. He recently warned Iran’s Supreme Leader of potential military action.

Iran’s leadership dismissed the threats and vowed reciprocal measures. The call for talks comes amid Tehran’s weakened position after Israeli attacks on its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.

Kurdish Fighters Exit Aleppo Districts

US-backed Kurdish fighters withdrew from two neighborhoods in Aleppo—Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh—on Friday as part of a deal with Syria’s interim government.

The move strengthens Damascus’s authority and supports a broader agreement that may integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national army.

Kurdish fighters (SDF) withdraw from two neighborhoods in Syria’s Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/88TYzOVSHO

— Roya News English (@RoyaNewsEnglish) April 4, 2025

The withdrawal followed a prisoner exchange between the two sides.

The agreement also grants Syria’s Kurds constitutional rights, citizenship for stateless Kurds, and the right to use their language.

Kurdish leaders seek decentralization, not full autonomy. The deal could enable the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Kurds.

Israeli Jets Level Gaza Homes Overnight

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 17 people in Khan Younis, Gaza, early Friday, as Israel escalated its ground offensive against Hamas.

Witnesses watch on in horror as heavy Israeli bombardment violently blows Palestinians into the air in besieged Gaza pic.twitter.com/wuVoaVNVDX

— TRT World (@trtworld) April 4, 2025

The attack hit a residential building, killing members of the same family and injuring at least 16 others.

Civilians continued searching through rubble for survivors.

The strike is part of Israel’s broader operation, which has included a blockade on food, fuel, and aid—criticized by rights groups as a war crime.

The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel, has since left over 50,000 Palestinians dead, with most of Gaza devastated and nearly 90% of its population displaced.

🔴 Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Awad, one of the terrorists that was likely involved in the abduction of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, has been eliminated.

Awad was a senior commander in the Military Intelligence Array in Gaza and affiliated with senior commanders of the Palestinian… pic.twitter.com/1VvMBKKUyT

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 4, 2025

Trump Removes Top Intel Officials Abruptly

President Donald Trump has fired National Security Agency (NSA) Director and Cyber Command head Gen. Tim Haugh, along with his deputy Wendy Noble, without providing a public explanation.

Senior military officials and Congress received no prior notice, sparking bipartisan concern.

Critics say the move appears politically motivated and could undermine national security, especially amid growing cyber threats. Far-right commentator Laura Loomer claimed credit, citing concerns over Haugh’s ties to Biden-era officials.

Lawmakers warned that the firings send a dangerous signal about political loyalty in military leadership.

Trump dismissed the concerns, calling the firings routine.

Haugh had led both agencies since 2023 and met recently with Elon Musk to align on administration priorities.

US Reassures NATO, Raises Pressure to Spend More

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed America’s commitment to NATO but urged allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Rubio dismissed media concerns about President Trump’s stance on NATO as “hysteria” and emphasized Trump supports the alliance but expects stronger military capabilities.

Trump’s demands come ahead of NATO’s June summit and amid rising European fears over his outreach to Russia and new trade tariffs.

NATO members have begun boosting their military budgets, with Germany leading large-scale increases. NATO chief Mark Rutte called it the biggest defense buildup since the Cold War but said more is needed.

Despite fears of a US withdrawal, officials stressed there are no immediate plans to reduce US forces in Europe. Ukraine’s foreign minister called for more pressure on Russia, warning it remains an existential threat to Europe.

Poland Ups Military Investment, Targets Five Percent Spending

Poland plans to raise its defense spending to around 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, up from 4.7% this year, according to Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

This exceeds NATO’s 2% target and aligns with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent call for all NATO members to spend 5%.

BREAKING:

Poland announces it’s preparing a new defense package that will add another USD 7.7 billion for the Polish Armed Forces.

It’s likely that it will push Poland’s military spending in 2026 to well over 5% of GDP, by far the highest in NATO. pic.twitter.com/2WCUsNFLT3

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 5, 2025

Poland, a firm supporter of Ukraine and neighbor to Russia, has been rapidly modernizing its military in response to regional threats, purchasing weapons mainly from the US and South Korea.

Putin Stalls Talks, Escalates Strikes

A Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, killed at least 14 people—including six children—and wounded 50, according to Ukrainian officials.

The strike hit residential areas and followed a drone attack in Kharkiv that killed five.

Local authorities reported widespread damage across multiple regions.

ISW continues to assess that Russia is not genuinely interested in negotiations but is instead prolonging the negotiation process to extract concessions and maximize territorial gains, while it continues to pursue its maximalist ambitions of total Ukrainian capitulation rather… pic.twitter.com/Adw1Fv9o6U

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) April 5, 2025

Zelenskyy blamed Russia’s ongoing aggression and urged allies to increase pressure on Moscow and boost air defenses.

Russia has rejected a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, prompting frustration from US, UK, and French officials, who accused Putin of stalling peace talks.

Meanwhile, Russia continues rebuilding its military strength and now fields over 600,000 troops in Ukraine. Western allies are forming a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine militarily and deter further Russian attacks.

Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia maintains leverage on the battlefield and shows no sign of halting its offensive.

Beijing Matches Trump Tariffs, Hits US Imports

China announced Friday a 34% tariff on all US imports starting April 10, mirroring President Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariff on Chinese goods.

Beijing also tightened export controls on rare earth minerals like samarium and gadolinium, which are vital to high-tech and defense industries.

Chinese customs suspended chicken imports from select US suppliers over banned substances and contamination, and added 27 US firms to its trade sanctions list. These include defense and logistics companies facing bans on dual-use goods.

China also filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO), accusing the US of violating trade rules. Additional actions include anti-monopoly and anti-dumping investigations into US firms, and tariffs on coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil, and agricultural equipment.

Sources: News Agencies