Tom Howell Jr.

U.S. says ceasefire with Iran intact despite skirmishes at sea, missile strikes

The U.S. ceasefire with Iran is intact despite a second day of hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on a critical Persian Gulf ally, the Trump administration said Tuesday.

May 5, 2026

Trump says Iran’s economy is crashing: ‘I hope it fails’

Iran's economy is failing and its currency is worthless, President Trump said Tuesday, heaping pressure on Tehran to make a deal.

May 5, 2026

Emiratis say they’re facing a second day attacks from Iran

The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday it was dealing with a new round of missile and drone attacks from Iran, testing a Middle East ceasefire that Trump officials described as intact despite new aggression in the region.

May 5, 2026

Iran official warns the U.S., says it violated the ceasefire and cannot withstand pain

A top Iranian official accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire in the Middle East with its blockade of Iranian ports.

May 5, 2026

Trump says U.S. attacked Iranian boats, urges allies hurt by Strait of Hormuz closure to help

President Trump said Monday the U.S. military "shot down" seven speedy Iranian boats and urged South Korea to join efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

May 4, 2026

Iran threatens ships as Trump launches mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran threatened ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, forcing the U.S. to fire on Tehran's speedy boats and threatening a fragile ceasefire as President Trump launched a bold operation to break the economic logjam in the Middle East.

May 4, 2026

Pentagon rejects Iran’s claim it struck U.S. Navy vessel near the Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military is denying Iranian claims that it struck a Navy ship in the Middle East as President Trump launches a program to help vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.

May 4, 2026

Trump says he’s not afraid to appear in public after latest assassination attempt

President Trump reveled in a crowd of seniors in Florida in his first major public appearance since a gunman allegedly tried to kill him at White House Correspondents Association dinner last weekend.

May 1, 2026

Who will blink? Iran war alters oil, arms, allies in Gulf region

The Iran war is fundamentally reshaping the Persian Gulf region with near-term shocks to Tehran's oil-based economy under a crippling U.S. naval blockade and the long-term impact of the United Arab Emirates leaving OPEC.

May 1, 2026

Trump says Iran ‘not there’ yet in offering an acceptable deal

President Trump says he cannot accept Iran's latest proposal for making a deal to end the war and alleviate economic pressures from his blockade.

May 1, 2026

U.S. optimistic the blockade will force Iran to reopen Hormuz

U.S. officials insisted Thursday the economic pressure from the Navy blockade of Iranian ports will force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, relieving global economic pressure that has driven up energy prices over the past two months.

April 30, 2026

Hassett says Iran’s economy ‘on the ropes,’ hopes Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said he's hopeful the Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon, pointing to the economic stress that Tehran leaders face because of President Trump's blockade.

April 30, 2026

Trump, Iran trade insults over the Strait of Hormuz as peace talks stumble along

President Trump nettled Iran on Thursday by posting an illustration that relabeled the Strait of Hormuz as the "Strait of Trump."

April 30, 2026

Fed holds rates steady in Jerome Powell’s last meeting as chairman

The Federal Reserve decided to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday in what was likely Jerome Powell's last session as chair.

April 29, 2026

Trump warns Iran: ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’

President Trump on Wednesday drafted a stark social media post warning Iran to "get smart soon" or else face renewed military attacks.

April 29, 2026

Trump slams Germany’s Merz over his Iran comments

President Trump swiped back at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday after the European leader said Iranian negotiators were humiliating the U.S.

April 28, 2026

Gas prices rise to highest point since war’s start; Trump insists Iran in ‘state of collapse’

Gas prices in the U.S. have reached their highest levels since the start of the Iran war, putting intense pressure on President Trump even as he insists that the Islamic republic is on the verge of collapse.

April 28, 2026

Trump says Iran is heading toward ‘collapse,’ hopes Tehran sorts out leadership

President Trump on Tuesday said Iran is in a "state of collapse" as he squeezes the Islamic republic by blockading its ports.

April 28, 2026

Oil prices jump again as U.S. and Iran struggle to reach peace deal

Oil prices rose again Tuesday as the Trump administration seemed cool to Iran's latest proposal for ending the war.

April 28, 2026

Iran promises to reopen strait if U.S. agrees to postpone talks on nuclear program

The White House said Monday it received an offer from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if talks around its nuclear program are postponed to another time, prompting a debate among President Trump and his security team.

April 27, 2026