Archiv: next war on Iran (run-up) / splitting the country after its conquest (plans) / 28-02-2026 USA and Israel launch war of agression / Iranian state leaders assassinated / West Asia War


14:13 [ Common Dreams ]

Caving to Trump ‘Temper Tantrum,’ Two Republicans Flip to Block Iran War Powers Resolution

Two Senate Republicans who supported a previous resolution calling for an end to the US war on Iran changed their votes late Wednesday after President Donald Trump publicly and privately berated GOP lawmakers, calling them “losers” who provided “aid and comfort to the enemy.”

In Wednesday’s procedural vote, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)—who reportedly got into a shouting match with Trump over the Iran war during a closed-door lunch hours earlier—sided with virtually every other Republican in opposing the war powers resolution, just a day after he supported a separate, symbolic resolution calling for the removal of US forces from the conflict. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also switched, changing his vote to “present” at the urging of the president.

13:52 [ CBS News ]

Senate rejects measure to restrict Trump‘s Iran war powers as key Republicans shift votes

Updated on: June 24, 2026 / 11:37 PM EDT / CBS News

Later in the day, however, signs emerged that some of the Senate Republicans who had previously voted to constrain Mr. Trump‘s war powers were reconsidering.

Cassidy was briefed on Iran at the White House by Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, the senator confirmed on X, writing that the conversation „address[ed] many of my concerns.“ Cassidy voted against advancing the resolution Wednesday night.

And Paul voted present on Wednesday, despite voting in favor of the last several Iran war powers resolutions. He said on X his goal was to „give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.“

13:50 [ CBS News ]

Trump has testy meeting with GOP senators, telling Cassidy at one point to sit down

Updated on: June 25, 2026 / 12:07 AM EDT / CBS News

President Trump‘s meeting with Republican senators on Wednesday turned testy, and at one point, he sternly told Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy to sit down, after questions arose about the War Powers Resolution, according to sources directly familiar with the meeting.

13:46 [ Time Magazine ]

Trump Lashes Out at ‘Meaningless’ Senate Rebuke Over Iran War

Jun 24, 2026 11:30 AM CET)

Trump claims that his war on Iran doesn’t need congressional approval because a cease-fire that took effect on April 8 effectively ended it. His Administration also argues that the 1973 law is “unconstitutional” and that the Administration only complies with parts of it to maintain good relations with the legislative branch.

Others, however, argue that Congress’ authority over declarations of war allows for the method. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D, N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who sponsored the House war powers resolution, said in a statement that he will make sure that the Administration adheres to it: “Regardless of what President Trump says, this measure is binding under the War Powers Resolution, and I will explore all legal avenues to ensure the Executive complies with the will of Congress.”

24.06.2026 - 02:28 [ Democrats / US House Committee on Foreign Affairs ]

Meeks Statement on Senate Passage of His Iran War Powers Resolution

Washington, DC — Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement following the Senate’s approval of his War Powers Resolution which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month. The Senate passed the Resolution 50-48.

Having passed both chambers as a Concurrent Resolution, this measure does not go to the president’s desk for signature. Under the War Powers Resolution, however, it is binding on the president and directs him to cease hostilities against Iran.

“With the Senate passage of my Iran War Powers Resolution, both chambers have now made clear that the president cannot continue this war of choice and must cease all hostilities against Iran. Regardless of what President Trump says, this measure is binding under the War Powers Resolution, and I will explore all legal avenues to ensure the Executive complies with the will of Congress.

24.06.2026 - 02:22 [ CNN ]

Senate votes to limit Trump’s Iran war powers in rare rebuke

GOP Sens. Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Bill Cassidy joined Democrats in voting for the resolution, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted against it. The final tally was 50-48. The absences of GOP Sens. Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick, who have previously voted against advancing war powers resolutions, contributed to the measure’s adoption.

22.06.2026 - 21:54 [ Antiwar.com ]

Pentagon Tells Lawmakers It Needs Additional $80 Billion for Iran War and Other Costs

The White House is expected to formally request a supplemental spending bill in the coming days

22.06.2026 - 19:44 [ Middle East Eye ]

US suspending sanctions on Iranian oil until 21 August

The US government has said it is suspending sanctions on Iran until 21 August.

The Treasury said in a statement that it was waiving all existing US sanctions on „the Production, Delivery and Sale of Crude Oil, Petrochemical Products, and Petroleum Products of Iranian-Origin through August 21, 2026.“

The waiver will also allow the US to import „petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin“ for domestic use.

21.06.2026 - 04:55 [ Joe Kent, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center / X ]

For the MOU to hold and result in a lasting peace, we must restrict aid to Israel immediately & make it clear that we will not defend them should Iran opt to strike in response to Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.

Israel has not responded to our verbal & written demands—that is not going to change, unless we change it by taking action.

Israel claims sovereignty & continues to threaten our peace deal, yet they rely on us to bail them out. This is calculated.

We have to respond accordingly and stop this cycle once and for all.

Lead with action: remove their leverage, otherwise they will not take us seriously.

An open SOH & peace in the region have to be our focus. Israel is playing spoiler—we must limit their ability to do so.

20.06.2026 - 15:28 [ Amnesty International ]

Red lines not red carpets: Why Italy & Germany must support suspending EU-Israel Agreement

(May 11, 2026)

Millions of people around the world are demanding that their leaders act to stop Israel’s violations. Humanity must win.

18.06.2026 - 18:59 [ Trita Parsi / Common Dreams ]

Ending the Costly, Unnecessary Iran War Is the Right Thing. Period.

The task now is not to reward Trump politically, nor to excuse the recklessness that produced this war. It is to prevent the war from returning. Democrats can condemn the decision to start it without sabotaging the agreement that ends it. They can hold Trump accountable without helping Netanyahu drag the United States back into conflict. The choice before them is not between opposing Trump and supporting peace. It is between learning from America’s endless wars and repeating them.

18.06.2026 - 18:45 [ Al Jazeera ]

World reacts to US-Iran deal to extend ceasefire, reopen Strait of Hormuz

Here’s how the world has reacted to the news:

18.06.2026 - 01:29 [ PressTV.ir ]

Iran, US presidents sign Islamabad MoU digitally as war-ending deal finalized: FM spox

The memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States has now been formally signed by the presidents of both countries, with the text finalized and the agreement officially in effect, Iran‘s Foreign Ministry spokesman announced on Wednesday.

18.06.2026 - 01:14 [ CNN ]

Trump signed hard copy of US-Iran agreement during dinner at the Palace of Versailles

A different senior US administration official said earlier this week that Trump and Vice President JD Vance had previously both virtually signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, and Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signed the document virtually for the Iranian side.

But a US official said Wednesday that Trump has now signed a hard copy, and also suggested he had not signed digitally before, but rather, “witnessed” the signing by Vance.

17.06.2026 - 19:56 [ Al Jazeera ]

Trump hails Russia, China for being ‘neutral’ on Iran

Trump has thanked China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s ⁠Vladimir Putin for being “neutral” during the US-Israel war on Iran.

“I just want to thank them because they made it ⁠a lot better,” Trump said, adding that China was “terrific” and made efforts to help settle the conflict.

17.06.2026 - 19:34 [ Türkiye Today ]

Exclusive – Syria‘s al-Sharaa eyes potential Trump meeting at Ankara NATO summit

(June 16, 2026)

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa may travel to Ankara to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming NATO summit, though he has not received an official invitation to the gathering, according to information obtained by Türkiye Today.

Contrary to the reports published earlier in Turkish media, the Syrian leader is not included on the official guest list for the alliance‘s formal event. However, sources indicate a face-to-face meeting with Trump remains a possibility as global leaders converge on the Turkish capital.

17.06.2026 - 19:22 [ Middle East Eye ]

Death toll in Lebanon reaches 3,826 as Israeli strikes continue

(June 16, 2026)

Lebanon’s health ministry has revised the death toll in Lebanon on Tuesday to 3,826, with 11,851 wounded since the conflict began on 2 March.

17.06.2026 - 18:26 [ TKP.at ]

Trump plaudert am G7-Gipfel Plan B aus für Fortsetzung der Kriege in Westasien

Euronews berichtete mit der Schlagzeile, Trump habe Netanjahu zu „mehr Verantwortung“ ermahnt und Syriens Präsidenten als den „Fähigsten“ zur Bekämpfung der Hisbollah bezeichnet. Das ist der Terrorist, auf den die USA davor eine Kopfprämie von 50 Millionen Dollar ausgesetzt hatten und der jetzt für sie arbeitet – als Terrorist. Middle East Eye nannte es eine Bestätigung von Berichten, die „ein hochrangiger US-Beamter ursprünglich dementiert hatte“ — nämlich dass Washington Syrien zu einer Invasion des Libanon drängt.

17.06.2026 - 17:47 [ i24nrews.com ]

Syria‘s al-Sharaa rejects military action against Hezbollah despite Trump‘s push – report

New details have also emerged regarding discussions involving Israeli and Lebanese representatives. Reports indicate that Trump proposed a framework in which the Syrian military would play a central role in a future effort to disarm Hezbollah.

The proposal, however, has reportedly faced skepticism from multiple sides. Israeli officials have questioned Syria‘s ability to effectively confront Hezbollah, while Lebanese authorities oppose the presence of foreign troops operating within Lebanon.

17.06.2026 - 04:44 [ Antiwar.com ]

Trump Suggests Syria Should ‘Take Care’ of Hezbollah in Lebanon

“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah, because to be honest with you, I think they’d do a better job of doing it,” Trump said. He went on to praise Sharaa, formerly known by his al-Qaeda nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, saying he “has pulled that country together very quickly, he’s very capable, and he’s very good for me. He’s protected everything that I’ve asked for.”

Sharraa and his group of jihadists, known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an offshoot of al-Qaeda, took power in Damascus in December 2024, ousting former President Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa has been embraced by Trump and visited the White House despite HTS and affiliated fighters being responsible for massacres of Alawites, Druze, and other minorities in Syria.

17.06.2026 - 04:17 [ CNN ]

Why Trump’s proposal for Syria to fight Hezbollah will send shudders across Lebanon

US President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that Israel allow Syria to “deal with Hezbollah,” claiming Damascus would do a “better job.” The proposal, which Trump has now raised twice this month, touches on some of Lebanon’s deepest anxieties: Syria’s long history of interference in its affairs and the jihadist past of the country’s new rulers.

17.06.2026 - 04:04 [ ABC.net.au ]

Trump intensifies pressure on Netanyahu over Lebanon attacks

US President Donald Trump says Benjamin Netanyahu must be „more responsible“ in Lebanon and suggests asking Syria to fight Hezbollah „if Israel can‘t do the job without killing everyone else“.

17.06.2026 - 03:49 [ CBS News ]

Trump says Netanyahu „has to be more responsible“ with Lebanon, recent Israeli attack there was „too much“

Mr. Trump said Tuesday that Netanyahu „has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.“

„[I] didn‘t like where two hours before we‘re signing the agreement that there was an attack in Lebanon, in Beirut,“ Mr. Trump said Tuesday. He also described the attack as „vicious,“ saying it was „too much.“

But the president added he and Netanyahu have a „great relationship,“ and „we‘re talking about some end details.“

16.06.2026 - 08:36 [ NNA-Leb.gov ]

PM Nawaf Salam at beginning of Cabinet session at Grand Serail: We hope ceasefire will succeed and thank all who contributed to this outcome

Premier Salam said at the beginning of the Cabinet session held at the Grand Serail: „Since the start of the war imposed on Lebanon, the Lebanese government has continuously worked to bring it to an end and to spare Lebanon and the Lebanese people further harm.

Today, we hope that the ceasefire announced by the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will succeed in putting an end to this war and stopping the killing, destruction, displacement, and all the tragedies and suffering inflicted upon the Lebanese people. I can only extend my sincere thanks to all those who contributed to reaching this outcome.“

16.06.2026 - 08:12 [ Jordan Times ]

Jordan welcomes US-Iran deal to end military operations, begin talks

The ministry stressed the importance of achieving a permanent agreement that would reinforce security and stability in the region, while taking into account the security interests of regional countries and adhering to the principles of good-neighborliness, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.

It also highlighted the importance of restoring security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to the situation that existed before February 28, 2026 [when the war began].

16.06.2026 - 07:54 [ Saudi Gazette ]

Saudi Arabia welcomes US-Iran deal, hopes for lasting peace and regional stability

In a statement issued Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kingdom welcomed the efforts of both countries to reach a lasting agreement that would contribute to regional and international security and stability.

The Kingdom also commended the mediation efforts undertaken by Pakistan and Qatar, as well as the positive engagement shown by the United States and Iran, which helped pave the way for the agreement.

Saudi Arabia further emphasized the importance of restoring security for navigation and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to the conditions that existed before Feb. 28.