Vaughn Cockayne

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

Tehran denies reports of U.S.-Iran talks continuing

Iranian officials on Friday denied reports that the U.S. and Iran were gearing up for continued peace negotiations, even as President Trump said Tehran has begged to restart talks.

July 10, 2026

Turkey in talks with Kremlin over control of Russian-made S-400 missile defense system

The Kremlin confirmed Friday it is holding discussions with Turkish leaders over future control over the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, as Turkey looks for ways to gain access to U.S. jet fighters.

July 10, 2026

Iran digs outs from U.S. strikes, sprays missiles across Gulf region as the peace process teeters

Tehran dragged its Persian Gulf neighbors back into the U.S.-Iran war Thursday by firing a volley of drones and missiles at American partners across the region as part of a major flare-up in violence that upended peace talks.

July 9, 2026

U.S.-Iran ceasefire collapses amid new strikes as Trump mulls restarting war

The U.S. launched new strikes on Iran, Central Command announced Wednesday, as the two sides moved closer to resuming full hostilities.

July 8, 2026

Trump plans further strikes on Iran, considers reimposing naval blockade

President Trump on Wednesday warned of more imminent attacks on Iranian targets and weighed reinstating a U.S. naval blockade after the two nations traded strikes over control of the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.

July 8, 2026

U.S. launches new strikes on Iran following attacks on tankers in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday revoked an authorization from June that allowed Iran to legally export its oil following a series of attacks on tanker ships traveling in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the day.

July 7, 2026

Three ships hit by projectiles while in Strait of Hormuz

A tanker ship was struck by an unidentified projectile Tuesday while traveling near Omani waters in the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime authorities.

July 7, 2026

What are the main issues facing U.S., Iranian negotiators?

Billions in frozen assets, an ambiguous nuclear program and a $300B reconstruction fund are just a selection of the high-stakes issues facing U.S. and Iranian negotiators over the next few months as both sides look to find an end to the war and get the best deal possible.

July 3, 2026

Israel hits back at Hezbollah in Lebanon, threatening Iran-U.S. peace talks

The Israeli military announced Friday that it struck 10 Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon in retaliation for an earlier attack on troops, further weakening an already fragile ceasefire and potentially threatening the success of peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

July 3, 2026

Lead Iran negotiator tells allies Tehran will go to war again if U.S. does not fulfill commitments

Iran's parliament speaker and lead negotiator in diplomatic talks with the U.S., Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told representatives from China and Belarus Friday that Tehran was prepared to restart the war if Washington does not fulfill its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

July 3, 2026

Syrian foreign minister meets with Lebanese officials as tensions over Hezbollah mount

Syria's foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, on Thursday began a diplomatic tour of Lebanon as his country looks to maintain comfortable relations with its unstable neighbor.

July 2, 2026

Pentagon moves to consolidate drone programs under single office

The Pentagon is moving nearly every unmanned and autonomous systems program into a new office, in a bid to catch up in a global production race the U.S. is currently losing by volume.

July 2, 2026