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August 25, 2026

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Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent addresses the audience during opening remarks at the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism at the State Department on July 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. Bessent spoke alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as they discussed the rise of far-left political terrorism as a transnational threat. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

In 'warning shot,' US threatens sanctions on Iran’s trading partners

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said countries were given "defined timelines" to halt business with Iran or face US sanctions.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran

Traders are awaiting details about new US measures sure to further disrupt Iranian oil flows.

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 7: U.S. President Donald Trump (L)shakes hands with with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Palace during the NATO summit on July 7, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Emrah Gurel - Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel fears Turkey’s Syria ambitions and doubts Trump will stop them

Israeli officials remain skeptical of Turkish and Syrian denials over Ankara’s military ambitions in Syria, warning that a deeper Turkish foothold could threaten Israel’s security and strain its ties with Washington.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

Caught in the middle, Oman shrugs off Trump's latest Iran threat

Win McNamee/Getty Images

China slams Trump over economic war on Iran: What to know

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian holds a press conference on Aug. 19, 2026.

Explainer

King Abdullah visits China as region hedges against US unpredictability

King Abdullah II arrives in Beijing, Aug. 20, 2026. Photo from Xinhua/Chen Yehua.

Trump’s Iran ‘economic D-Day’ threat sends oil prices above $94

Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard at Enghelab Square in central Tehran, Aug. 3, 2026.

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Joyce Karam

Editor-in-Chief

Rosaleen Carroll

News Reporter and Supporting Editor

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Paul J. Saunders

In Washington, DC, reporting on Russia in the Middle East

Tunisia

Biden's budget proposal would slash military aid to Tunisia

Tunisia's president further cemented his hold on power this week as US lawmakers urged the Biden administration to scrutinize its security aid to the country.

Tunisian protesters raise placards and national flags during a demonstration against their president, not far from the Tunisian Assembly (parliament) headquarters, in the capital Tunis, on March 20, 2022.

House Democrats push Biden administration on Tunisia's democratic backslide

The lawmakers called on the Biden administration to promote good governance initiatives in the North African country.

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Iran, Ukraine top agenda as Blinken tours Middle East

Blinken's trip will include extensive discussions with Abu Dhabi's crown prince and stops in North Africa.

Commander of US Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie arrives to testify during a Senate Armed Services hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, March 15, 2022.

Russia not sending Syrians to Ukraine just yet, top US general says

US CENTCOM has seen no sign of widespread recruitment of Syrians to fight in Ukraine.

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Lawmakers call for probe as arms purchasers target US-based dissidents

Democratic lawmakers are seeking a congressional watchdog study on how the State Department is tracking extraterritorial harassment by countries that benefit from US security assistance or arms, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

F-15

Biden administration plans to sell F-15 fighter jets to Egypt

The proposed sale has been in the works for years and is bound to raise opposition on Capitol Hill.

US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines testifies.

Analysis

The Takeaway: Russia, Iran major cyberthreats targeting US, says intel community

Turkey as alternative European gas route; Russian Syrian mercenaries in Ukraine; Palestinians claim double-standard in Western response to Ukraine; Egypt balances US, Russia in dealing with Ukraine war.

Andrew Parasiliti

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Joe Snell

By Andrew Parasiliti , Elizabeth Hagedorn , Joe Snell

US President Joe Biden announces a ban on US imports of Russian oil and gas, March 8, 2022, from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

Biden bans Russian oil imports as Iran talks hit snag

The embargo on Russian energy supplies comes as negotiators in Vienna appear close to striking a deal that would ease sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.

A picture taken July 9, 2017, shows workers at Syria's Arak gas field.

Biden administration to announce sanctions waivers for Syrian Kurds, Sunni opposition-held areas

Sanctions exemptions are aimed at expediting humanitarian aid and diminishing the economic damage in certain areas.

KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images

Lawmakers urge US action on Syria's crisis-hit Rukban camp

The Biden administration faces congressional pressure to help desperate civilians stranded in the Syrian camp near Jordan.

Romanowski

Biden nominees for ambassadors to Iraq, Yemen appear before Senate

Steven Fagin, nominee for ambassador to Yemen, faced questions about whether to designate the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization, while Alina Romanowski, nominee for ambassador to Iraq, said she will work with the nation's elected officials.

The Freedom Initiative photo.

Rights group adds lobbying help to spotlight Egypt, Saudi abuses

Political prisoner advocacy group Freedom Initiative is deploying Washington lobbyists to amplify its message on the Hill.