Jun 18 U.S. sending troops to Mideast amid Gulf tensions over Iran By Matthew Lee, Associated Press The U.S. is sending 1,000 more troops to the Middle East as tensions in the Persian Gulf mounted Tuesday over Iran's announcement it will not comply with the international agreement that keeps it from making nuclear weapons. At the same… Continue reading
Jun 13 Watch 6:09 How this Palestinian music festival is breaking down cultural barriers By John Yang Typically, the Palestinian West Bank is referenced in the context of Middle East peace talks. But for the past three years, the organizers of the three-day Palestine Music Expo, or PMX, have sought to encourage people to open their minds,… Continue watching
Jun 13 U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks near Persian Gulf, Pompeo says By Associated Press A U.S. assessment of Iran's responsibility, which forced the evacuation of the crews in international waters, was based in part on intelligence as well as the expertise needed to carry out the operation, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters… Continue reading
May 28 Kushner in the Mideast to drum up support for peace plan By Associated Press Kushner, along with Trump's special envoy for international negotiations and the special Iran envoy are in Morocco and will visit Jordan and Israel later this week. Continue reading
May 24 Watch 5:05 To respond to Iran, U.S. will deploy more troops and sell more weapons to Middle East The Trump administration took two significant steps Friday to counter what it calls an escalated threat level from Iran. The U.S. will deploy 1,500 additional troops and military equipment to the Middle East, as well as sell additional arms to… Continue watching
May 24 Trump sends 1,500 troops to Middle East amid Iran tensions By Susannah George, Lolita Baldor, Associated Press "We are going to be sending a relatively small number of troops, mostly protective," the president told reporters at the White House before setting off on a trip to Japan. Continue reading
May 23 Pentagon proposing troop reinforcements in Mideast By Lolita Baldor, Robert Burns, Associated Press Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters the Defense Department has not yet determined how many troops might be sent to reinforce the existing U.S. military presence in the region. He disputed reports by The Associated Press and others that… Continue reading
May 21 Dual congressional hearings focus on Trump’s Iran policy By Lisa Mascaro, Robert Burns, Susannah George, Associated Press The competing closed-door sessions Tuesday come after weeks of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf that have raised alarms over a possible military confrontation with Iran. Continue reading
May 14 WATCH: Trump says U.S. isn’t ramping up for military conflict with Iran By Associated Press The president was responding to a report that the White House is reviewing military plans against Iran if it attacks American forces or steps up work on nuclear weapons. Continue reading
May 06 U.S. dispatches aircraft carrier to send message to Iran By Robert Burns, Catherine Lucey, Associated Press The dispatch came after "clear indications" that Iranian forces were preparing to possibly attack U.S. forces in the region, a defense official told the Associated Press. Continue reading