United States Politics and Government – War Watch

Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Rubio, Marco | Ships and Shipping | State Department | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump and Rubio Insist Iran War Is Over, Even as Missiles Fly During Cease-Fire
ByDavid E. Sanger May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

The White House is turning to rhetorical leaps as President Trump tries to put the biggest political crisis of his presidency behind him.

Read More Trump and Rubio Insist Iran War Is Over, Even as Missiles Fly During Cease-Fire
Defense Department | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

The Cheap Guided Rockets U.S. Forces Use Against Iranian Drones
ByJohn Ismay May 5, 2026

Called the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, it adds laser guidance to a weapon first used in the Korean War.

Read More The Cheap Guided Rockets U.S. Forces Use Against Iranian Drones
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Shot Down Iranian Missiles and Drones Aimed at American Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Admiral Says
ByEric Schmitt May 4, 2026

An exchange of fire threatened to shatter a fragile cease-fire as President Trump seeks to break Iran’s effective blockade of the waterway.

Read More U.S. Shot Down Iranian Missiles and Drones Aimed at American Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Admiral Says
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump Says U.S. Will Help Stranded Ships Leave Strait of Hormuz
ByZolan Kanno-Youngs and David E. Sanger May 3, 2026May 4, 2026

President Trump offered few details on how the new program, which he called Project Freedom, would work, but said interference would be dealt with “forcefully.”

Read More Trump Says U.S. Will Help Stranded Ships Leave Strait of Hormuz
Democratic Party | Federal Budget (US) | Hegseth, Pete | House of Representatives | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq War (2003-11) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Moulton, Seth W | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Hegseth’s and Moulton’s Parallel Lives Collide Over Iran
ByGreg Jaffe May 2, 2026

The defense secretary and Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat, debated the Iran war through the prism of their shared experiences fighting Iraq.

Read More Hegseth’s and Moulton’s Parallel Lives Collide Over Iran
Arms trade | Defense Contracts | Defense Department | Federal Budget (US) | Hegseth, Pete | House Committee on Armed Services | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Production | Senate Committee on Armed Services | Shortages | Stockpiling | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years
ByHelene Cooper and Eric Schmitt April 30, 2026May 1, 2026

While the defense industry has announced plans to make more munitions, much of that expanded production will not quickly kick in.

Read More Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years
China | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Persian Gulf | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | Xi Jinping

How Trump’s Iran Blockade Is Complicating a High-Stakes Trip to China
ByDavid E. Sanger and Tyler Pager April 30, 2026

If President Trump flies to China as planned in May, the primary topic will clearly be the rippling economic effects of a war that Beijing has made clear it viewed as unnecessary.

Read More How Trump’s Iran Blockade Is Complicating a High-Stakes Trip to China
Afghanistan War (2001- ) | Central Intelligence Agency | Civilian Casualties | Deaths (Fatalities) | Decisions and Verdicts | Federal Bureau of Investigation | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State Khorasan | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Justice Department | Kabul (Afghanistan) | Kabul International Airport | Patel, Kashyap | Terrorism | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government

Jury Delivers Mixed Verdict in Case of Afghan Charged in 2021 Kabul Attack
ByCharlie Savage April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Jurors found the man guilty of conspiracy to support the terrorist group that took credit for a horrific bombing, but deadlocked on whether he was responsible for the attack itself.

Read More Jury Delivers Mixed Verdict in Case of Afghan Charged in 2021 Kabul Attack
International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kuwait | Natural Gas | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries | Persian Gulf | Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) | Production | Qatar | Russia | Saudi Arabia | Shutdowns (Institutional) | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United Arab Emirates | United States | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Loss of Emirates Further Weakens OPEC’s Influence
ByIvan Penn and Rebecca F. Elliott April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

The exit of the United Arab Emirates is the most significant in a series of departures from the oil cartel in recent years.

Read More Loss of Emirates Further Weakens OPEC’s Influence
Araghchi, Abbas | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamabad (Pakistan) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Pakistan | Peace Process | United States | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Israel and Hezbollah Trade Strikes in Lebanon, as Iran Talks Remain on Hold
ByAaron Boxerman April 26, 2026April 26, 2026

Cease-fires in Lebanon and Iran are on shaky ground, with military attacks flaring and direct talks between Washington and Tehran to end their war stalled.

Read More Israel and Hezbollah Trade Strikes in Lebanon, as Iran Talks Remain on Hold