Washington — President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday to seek Tokyo’s support for efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open amid the U.S.-Iran war. Trump urged Japan to “step up,” citing U.S. defense commitments and the strategic importance of the waterway for Japanese oil...
Washington — President Donald Trump on March 19 defended keeping allies uninformed about recent U.S. strikes on Iran, saying surprise preserved military advantage and invoking Pearl Harbor while seated next to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Takaichi appeared visibly uncomfortable but did not respond as reporters recorded the exchange. News...
Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday the United States has no definitive time frame to end Operation Epic Fury against Iran, and that President Donald Trump will decide when objectives are met. He told reporters this week that U.S. forces are "on plan," claiming significant degradation of Iran's...
Washington, The Pentagon asked the White House this week to forward a request exceeding $200 billion to Congress to fund ongoing U.S. strikes on Iran, officials and media reported. Defense leaders said the sum would replenish depleted munitions and expand weapons production after strikes that began Feb. 28. The Defense...
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. would 'massively blow up' Iran's South Pars gas field if Tehran attacked Qatar. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. 'knew nothing' about an Israeli strike and said Israel would stop further strikes unless Iran hit Qatar. The Wall Street Journal...
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to the Middle East as its campaign against Iran enters a possible new phase, officials said Tuesday. Sources told Reuters that options under review this week include securing tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz with air and...
WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence concluded Wednesday that Iran has not rebuilt nuclear enrichment capacities destroyed last year, DNI Gabbard said in written public remarks to the Senate Intelligence Committee. Gabbard added Iran’s leadership remained intact and that entrances to bombed facilities were sealed. She omitted that passage during live testimony...
Washington. On Wednesday the Treasury Department issued a broad authorization allowing Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) to sell oil directly to U.S. companies and on global markets, reversing years of restrictions. The White House announced a 60-day waiver of Jones Act shipping rules for domestic shipments. Officials framed the actions...
Washington — Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's nominee for Homeland Security secretary, appeared before Senate Homeland Security Committee Wednesday for confirmation hearing. Senators questioned his plans for enforcing immigration and his temperament after comments about Sen. Rand Paul’s 2017 assault. Mullin urged bipartisan funding for DHS after a Feb. 13...
SPRINGFIELD — Republican Darren Bailey won Illinois' GOP primary Tuesday, setting a November rematch with Democratic incumbent Governor J.B. Pritzker, who secured the Democratic nomination unopposed. Unofficial Associated Press returns called Bailey with 50 percent of the vote to Ted Dabrowski's about 32 percent, with other GOP candidates trailing. Lt....
