Tom Howell Jr.

Trump says deal with Iran is still possible, as ceasefire nears end

Vice President J.D. Vance is expected to fly to Pakistan on Tuesday for peace talks with Iran, with tensions in the Middle East running hot and negotiations on a knife-edge before the expiration of a two-week ceasefire.

April 20, 2026

Trump insists Israel did not drag him into war with Iran

President Trump said Monday the outcome of his military operation against Iran will be "amazing" and pushed back against claims that Israel talked him into the war.

April 20, 2026

U.S. Customs launches portal to process tariff refunds after Supreme Court ruling

The Trump administration on Monday launched an online portal where companies can submit claims for refunds of payments on tariffs nullified by the Supreme Court.

April 20, 2026

Treasury sanctions Iran-backed militias in Iraq as part of pressure campaign

The Treasury Department is sanctioning some of Iraq's "most violent" Iran-backed militia groups as part of its broader effort to rein in Tehran.

April 17, 2026

Trump, Iranian official say the Strait of Hormuz is open for duration of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

A top Iranian official says the Strait of Hormuz will be "completely open" for the duration of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a major development that enthused markets.

April 17, 2026

Trump hopes for breakthrough in Iran talks or ‘fighting resumes’

The U.S. and Iran could meet for another round of peace talks this weekend, President Trump said Thursday after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire that might open the path to a lasting truce in the Middle East.

April 16, 2026

Trump announces Israel-Lebanon ceasefire after personal outreach to leaders

President Trump said Thursday that leaders in Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, a major development that could accelerate peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.

April 16, 2026

International Energy Agency chief warns Europe could run out of jet fuel soon

The head of the International Energy Agency is warning that Europe could run out of jet fuel within six weeks due to the Middle East conflict and energy crunch.

April 16, 2026

White House says prospects of deal with Iran are ‘good,’ but Trump has not extended ceasefire

President Trump has not agreed to a formal extension of the ceasefire with Iran, but the U.S. is engaging with Pakistani mediators and is open to a second round of talks in Islamabad, the White House said Wednesday.

April 15, 2026

Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged not to send weapons to Iran

President Trump said Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping told him Beijing would not send weapons to Iran.

April 15, 2026

Trump says Iran war is ‘very close’ to over, says Iranians want a deal

President Trump says the war with Iran is "very close to over" as both sides consider another round of talks for a lasting peace.

April 15, 2026

U.S., Iran could restart talks within days while Israel and Lebanon hold rare meeting over Hezbollah

Pressure mounted on the U.S. and Iran to resume peace talks, while officials from Israel and Lebanon held parallel negotiations Tuesday in Washington about dealing with Tehran-backed militants in Hezbollah.

April 14, 2026

U.S. military says Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports has been airtight

U.S. Central Command said Tuesday it's successfully implementing President Trump's decision to block ships from going to and from Iranian ports.

April 14, 2026

French President Macron urges U.S. and Iran to restart talks

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he personally urged President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to resume peace negotiations that ended without a deal over the weekend.

April 14, 2026

Trump says Iran ‘badly’ wants deal as he threatens to sink ships challenging U.S. blockade

Iran reached out to the U.S. because it wants to make a deal "very badly," President Trump said Monday as he implemented a blockade of Iranian ports to punish Tehran and force it back to the negotiating table.

April 13, 2026

Trump says port blockade is designed to force Iran to the table over nuclear ambitions

President Trump said Monday that his blockade of Iranian ports is designed to get Tehran back to the negotiating table and compel the Iranians to relinquish their chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

April 13, 2026

Trump trade agenda reduces reliance on China and leads to ‘golden age,’ White House tells Congress

President Trump's trade agenda is paying off by slashing trade imbalances with major global powers in 2025 and reducing America's reliance on China, the White House said Monday in a report to Congress.

April 13, 2026

Trump threatens to blow up Iranian ships that disrupt port blockade

President Trump on Monday threatened to blow up Iranian ships that attempt to disrupt his blockade of Iranian ports, as both sides jockey for leverage during a tenuous ceasefire.

April 13, 2026

Iranian leaders brush off blockade threat, say Americans will be ‘nostalgic’ for current gas prices

Officials in Tehran talked tough as President Trump's blockade of Iranian ports loomed on Monday, saying the regime still had "cards" to play after peace talks broke down over the weekend.

April 13, 2026

Trump says Strait of Hormuz will reopen shortly, says Iran cannot charge toll

President Trump says he wants to see oil traffic move freely through the Persian Gulf region "with or without" cooperation from Iran as talks get underway to end the war.

April 10, 2026