Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Jun 21, 2026

Trump and Pezeshkian Sign US–Iran Ceasefire Memorandum; Hormuz Standoff and Invasion Threat Follow

On June 17, 2026, President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remotely signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding extending the 2026 Iran war ceasefire for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and lifting the US naval blockade while negotiators pursued a final nuclear deal. The framework drew sharp bipartisan criticism in Washington, with Republican hawks calling the terms a capitulation and Democrats saying Iran had "won" the negotiation. The truce frayed on June 20 when Iran's IRGC Navy declared it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, though US Central Command said traffic continued to flow. On June 21 Trump warned in a Fox News phone interview that if Iran closed the strait "you won't have a country," and separately threatened to impose US tolls on the waterway if a final deal was not reached within 60 days. On June 23 the Senate advanced a war powers resolution rebuking Trump's handling of the conflict.

Trump Announces Renewed Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire in Lebanon After Deadly Beirut Strikes

On June 19, 2026, President Trump said Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to renew their ceasefire in the 2026 Lebanon war, a truce a U.S. official described as mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Iran. The agreement came after fighting flared with intense Israeli strikes on southern Beirut and across southern Lebanon that killed dozens, making it one of the deadliest days of the conflict and briefly derailing U.S.-Iran talks. Vice President JD Vance postponed a trip to sign a related U.S.-Iran memorandum and publicly pressed Israel to respect the peace process, while Trump called the renewed truce "a little icing on the cake." Reactions among U.S. officials ranged from praise for the de-escalation to skepticism that a diplomatic solution would hold.

Iran and Israel Trade Missiles for First Time Since April Ceasefire; Trump Claims "Total Victory" Near

Iran fired approximately 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on June 7–8, 2026 — the first such attack since an April 8 ceasefire — after Israel launched airstrikes on Lebanon. Israel retaliated with strikes on central and western Iran before both sides announced a halt to hostilities on Day 100–101 of the Iran war. Trump publicly called for an "immediate ceasefire" while privately warning Netanyahu he might be "left alone," and declared "total victory" would come within two weeks. JD Vance acknowledged that US and Israeli interests had "diverged" in the conflict, and Trump told the Financial Times "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn't call the shots."

Iran Fires Missiles and Drones at US Bases in Kuwait and Bahrain Despite Nominal Ceasefire

Iran launched seven ballistic missiles and multiple one-way attack drones at US military installations in Kuwait (Ali Al Salem Air Base) and Bahrain (5th Fleet headquarters) on June 2–3, 2026. All missiles were intercepted or missed their targets; no US personnel were killed. Iran said the strikes were retaliation after the US disabled an oil tanker heading to an Iranian port and struck a communications tower on Qeshm Island. US Central Command conducted "self-defense strikes" on Iranian radar and ground control sites. Kuwait International Airport was also struck, killing one Indian national and injuring 63, with significant damage to a passenger terminal. The attacks occurred while a nominal ceasefire from April remained nominally in effect, with Secretary of State Rubio insisting Operation Epic Fury was "over" even as exchanges of fire continued. The escalation accelerated congressional war-powers pressure; the House passed a war powers resolution 215–208 days later.

Trump Says Iran Deal "Largely Negotiated" — GOP Senators Call It a Disaster

On May 23, 2026, President Trump announced on Truth Social that a memorandum of understanding to end the US-Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is "largely negotiated," with Secretary of State Rubio confirming "a pretty solid thing on the table." The reported deal terms — a 60-day ceasefire extension, Iran retaining uranium enrichment capabilities, and Iran maintaining a role in the strait — immediately drew sharp Republican opposition. Senators Graham and Wicker, chairs of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees respectively, called a 60-day ceasefire with Iran "a disaster." Sen. Ted Cruz warned that any deal leaving Iran with enrichment capabilities and effective control of the Strait of Hormuz would be "a disastrous mistake." Sen. Thom Tillis said the deal was "doomed to fail" without congressional oversight. Democrats also weighed in, with Sen. Cory Booker calling the framework hypocritical given the Trump administration's rejection of the Obama-era nuclear deal. Speaker Johnson and Rep. Massie were among the minority of Republican voices expressing support for or openness to a deal.

Trump Brokers 3-Day Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Ahead of Victory Day

On May 8–9, 2026, President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 3-day ceasefire (May 9–11), coinciding with Russia's Victory Day commemorations, along with a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. Trump called it potentially "the beginning of the end" of the four-year war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The ceasefire largely failed to hold — both sides accused the other of violations, with Russia's Defense Ministry claiming over 23,000 Ukrainian violations and Ukraine reporting Russian drone and artillery strikes on civilian areas of Kharkiv and Kherson that killed at least two people on May 11. The Congressional Ukraine Caucus — co-chaired by Reps. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Quigley (D-IL), Kaptur (D-OH), and Wilson (R-SC) — had backed Ukraine's ceasefire proposal in the days before the announcement, calling on Russia to demonstrate good faith.

Iran Attacks UAE Amid Ceasefire as Rubio Declares Operation Epic Fury Over

On May 4-5, 2026, Iran launched missiles and drones at the UAE's Fujairah oil port — the first Iranian attack on a US Gulf ally since the April 7 ceasefire — while the US Navy sank seven small Iranian military boats in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes injured three Indian nationals and sparked international condemnation. Despite the attacks, the Trump administration insisted the ceasefire remained intact. Defense Secretary Hegseth said the ceasefire was "not over," and Trump warned Iran it would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it targeted US ships escorting commercial vessels through the strait under Operation Project Freedom. On May 5, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Operation Epic Fury — the 66-day US-Israel offensive bombing campaign against Iran — had officially concluded. The US was now operating in a defensive posture only. Rubio acknowledged that Project Freedom, the effort to escort commercial ships through the strait, would not "solve the whole straits problem": only two ships had successfully transited under US protection since the operation began, compared to roughly 130 per day before the war. Trump separately paused Project Freedom, citing progress toward a deal.

Trump Administration Claims Iran War "Terminated" to Dodge 60-Day War Powers Deadline

On May 1, 2026, the Trump administration declared that the Iran war has been "terminated" for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution — a legal maneuver designed to avoid the law's requirement that Congress authorize military action within 60 days of its start. A senior administration official stated that "the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28 have terminated," pointing to the US-Iran ceasefire agreed on April 7 and its subsequent extensions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators the ceasefire effectively paused or stopped the 60-day clock entirely. Trump separately sent a letter to congressional leaders formalizing the declaration and called the War Powers Act itself "totally unconstitutional." On May 5, Secretary of State Rubio formally declared Operation Epic Fury — the offensive bombing campaign — concluded, with the US transitioning to the defensive Project Freedom mission in the Strait of Hormuz. Critics and legal experts continued to reject the administration's interpretation. Democrats noted that Senate Republicans had blocked a war powers resolution for the sixth time, while moderate Republicans including Susan Collins and Rand Paul broke with leadership to demand congressional authorization. Congress then left town for a week recess without taking action.

US Navy Fires On and Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Touska

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman on April 19, 2026 — the first forcible seizure since the US naval blockade of Iranian ports began. After six hours of warnings, Spruance fired on the Touska's engine room to disable it; US Marines then boarded and took custody. Trump announced on Truth Social that "it did not go well for them" and threatened to "take out their bridges and their power plants" if Iran doesn't sign a deal before the ceasefire expires Wednesday. Iran's joint military command accused the US of "armed piracy" and "violating the ceasefire," vowing the armed forces "will soon respond and retaliate." The seizure threw planned Islamabad peace talks into doubt, with Iran declining to confirm its participation. Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf declared it "impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot."

Iran-US Ceasefire Unraveling Within Hours

The two-week ceasefire announced April 7, 2026 began breaking down almost immediately. Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. of violating three of Iran's 10 conditions: Israel continued striking Hezbollah in Lebanon (which Iran considers covered by the truce), Trump publicly denied Iran's claim that the framework permits uranium enrichment, and "an intruding drone" was destroyed in Fars Province. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz again. The U.S. denied that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire and demanded the Strait be reopened immediately. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar all reported missile and drone attacks within hours of the agreement.

US-Iran Two-Week Ceasefire (Pakistan-Brokered)

On April 7, 2026 — less than two hours before President Trump's deadline to "annihilate" Iran — the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The deal is built on a 10-point Iranian peace proposal, with talks to begin in Islamabad on April 10. The ceasefire was almost immediately complicated: the Farsi version of Iran's plan includes "acceptance of enrichment" while the English version omits it; Pakistan said Lebanon is included while Netanyahu insists it is not, with Israel launching its largest wave of strikes on Hezbollah hours into the truce; and explosions hit Iranian oil sites at Lavan and Sirri Islands the same day.