Vaughn Cockayne

U.S.-Iran diplomacy faces headwinds as Trump threatens civilian targets, Tehran vows counterattack

Chances of a peace deal between Iran and the U.S. seemed especially distant on Wednesday after President Trump repeated his threats to strike at civilian targets there and Tehran said it would retaliate.

July 22, 2026

U.S., Saudi Arabia sign historic nuclear cooperation deal

The Trump administration signed a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that could lead to the kingdom developing a domestic uranium enrichment program.

July 22, 2026

Iran denies nuclear activity at ‘Pickaxe Mountain’ after Trump’s threats

Iran on Wednesday denied there had been any nuclear-related activity at the so-called "Pickaxe Mountain," one of the country's most advanced uranium-enrichment facilities, less than a day after President Trump promised to strike the complex.

July 22, 2026

Trump warns Houthis over Red Sea blockade, grapples with Hezbollah in Lebanon meeting

President Trump met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday to wind down fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and threatened to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen if they enforce a blockade in the Red Sea.

July 21, 2026

Trump threatens Houthis with strikes if they block shipping in Red Sea

President Trump on Tuesday threatened to bomb Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen if they carry out their threat to enforce a blockade in the Red Sea.

July 21, 2026

Is Mojtaba Khamenei still in Iran? Supreme leader’s whereabouts unclear as speculation grows

Where exactly is Mojtaba Khamenei?

July 20, 2026

Houthi blockade opens new front in Middle East war even as mediators work to salvage peace

The Houthis, a Yemen-based rebel faction backed by Iran, announced a new blockade of the Red Sea on Monday, potentially opening a new front in the U.S.-Iran war even as Pakistani and Qatari mediators work to broker a ceasefire.

July 20, 2026

U.S. delegation oversees food security relief in Venezuela after quake as U.S. expands footprint

The State Department has led a sweeping U.S. humanitarian response in Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastated the country last month, deploying a disaster response team and millions of pounds of aid, according to U.S. officials, further expanding Washington's footprint in the Latin American nation since the Trump administration captured former President Nicolas Maduro in January.

July 20, 2026

Iran’s chief negotiator chastises U.S. for moving new military equipment to the region

Iran's head negotiator in peace talks with the U.S. harshly criticized Washington on Monday for continuing to move military assets to the Middle East despite voicing a desire to end the war.

July 20, 2026

Iran says it targeted U.S. base in Syria as strikes expand

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Friday said its forces struck the al-Tanf air base in southeastern Syria, in the first attack of its kind since the start of the U.S.-Iran war.

July 17, 2026

U.S. strikes creep toward Tehran while talks continue

Renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran entered its sixth day on Thursday, with both nations' militaries ramping up their attacks on sensitive facilities.

July 16, 2026

Rubio touts a Trump-backed global crackdown on ‘left-wing’ terror

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to a gathering of foreign leaders in Washington on Thursday, called for an American-led international crackdown on "left-wing" terrorism.

July 16, 2026

Trump vows to defeat Iran as attacks resume and blockade diverts ships

The U.S. military on Wednesday launched another wave of attacks against Iran and turned away ships evading its blockade as President Trump vowed to batter the Middle East country for days, promising that Tehran's defeat would come "soon."

July 15, 2026

Iran resumes retaliatory strikes in region after U.S. attacks

Iran's military on Wednesday continued its attacks against regional U.S. military targets, with Bahrain and Jordan both reporting new strikes from Iranian drones and missiles.

July 15, 2026

Trump walks back planned tolls in Strait of Hormuz, moves to reinstate blockade of Iran’s ports

President Trump reversed plans to slap hefty fees on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, but the Iran conflict only intensified Tuesday as the U.S. reimposed a naval blockade and Tehran launched new attacks on Gulf countries.

July 14, 2026

What the removal of the state sponsor of terror designation means for al-Sharaa’s Syria

The State Department this month announced formal plans to remove Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism after nearly 50 years, as the Trump administration deepens ties with the young government in Damascus.

July 14, 2026

Iran reiterates control of Strait of Hormuz, as U.S. moves to reinstate blockade

Iran's military said Tuesday the U.S. must respect the Islamic regime's sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz if it wants international shipping in the waterway to return to prewar levels, as the Trump administration vowed to restart a naval blockade of the country's ports.

July 14, 2026

U.S., Iran trade strikes as dispute over control of Strait of Hormuz escalates

The U.S. military launched a new round of strikes against Iran on Sunday evening, as Washington looks to hamper the Islamist regime's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz.

July 12, 2026

Iranian state media reports explosions in coastal region

Iranian state-affiliated media reported explosions in coastal towns Sunday, just hours after Tehran launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military installations in Persian Gulf states.

July 12, 2026

U.S. military says Strait of Hormuz open despite recent strikes on commercial ships

U.S. Central Command said Sunday the Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to "lawfully transit" and insisted that Iran does not control the waterway, despite recent strikes on commercial ships.

July 12, 2026