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	<title>Military Times - Independent News About Your Military | Military Times</title>
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		<title>Trump heads to Camp David as questions swirl over Iran deal</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/19/trump-heads-to-camp-david-as-questions-swirl-over-iran-deal/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:49:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[President Trump headed to Camp David on Friday for a weekend of policy and political meetings as negotiations with Iran move toward an inflection point.]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump headed to Camp David on Friday for a weekend of policy and political meetings as negotiations with Iran move toward an inflection point, a White House official told Military Times. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump, speaking at an event unveiling a new Air Force One aircraft, said that if Tehran fails to agree to a final deal with Washington within the 60-day negotiating window, “We will do things that won’t make them happy.” He added, “I don’t think it’s going to get to that. I think it’s going to be very good.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The president signed a <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/17/read-the-14-point-memorandum-of-understanding-between-the-united-states-and-iran/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/17/read-the-14-point-memorandum-of-understanding-between-the-united-states-and-iran/">14-point</a> memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night, establishing a two-month period for deliberations focused in part on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. It was later co-signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The MOU provides for the reopening of the <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/06/18/us-military-lifts-navy-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-after-two-months/?contentFeatureId=f0fmoahPVC2AbfL-2-1-8&amp;contentQuery=%7B%22includeSections%22%3A%22%2Fhome%22%2C%22excludeSections%22%3A%22%22%2C%22feedSize%22%3A10%2C%22feedOffset%22%3A5%7D" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/06/18/us-military-lifts-navy-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-after-two-months/?contentFeatureId=f0fmoahPVC2AbfL-2-1-8&amp;contentQuery=%7B%22includeSections%22%3A%22%2Fhome%22%2C%22excludeSections%22%3A%22%22%2C%22feedSize%22%3A10%2C%22feedOffset%22%3A5%7D">vital Strait of Hormuz</a>, a key objective for Trump. The president has emphasized the positive response of U.S. financial markets to this news, and has suggested that little would be achieved by further bombing. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Critics — <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/18/republicans-blast-iran-agreement-as-details-emerge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/18/republicans-blast-iran-agreement-as-details-emerge/">including some Republican lawmakers</a> — contend the deal is too soft on Iran and leaves several key U.S. aims unmet. At the same time, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has boasted that Trump had to make a deal “out of desperation.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Attention has since shifted to Switzerland, where Vice President JD Vance was expected to lead an American delegation for further talks with the Iranians. But the White House said Thursday night that Vance was postponing the trip — an unexpected twist that raised questions about the next round of diplomacy. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Iran, meanwhile, said it was seeking guarantees that the conflict in Lebanon would cease. Israel invaded southern Lebanon earlier this year and has carried out numerous air strikes amid its battles with Hezbollah. The Lebanese Health Ministry says that almost 4,000 people have been killed since early March. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the MOU calling for a suspension of hostilities across all fronts — including in Lebanon — Israel and Hezbollah militants on Friday had the second deadliest night of fighting since the current escalation began.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Israeli strikes killed at least 47 people in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said in a statement. Israel reported that four of its own soldiers were killed overnight. U.S. officials announced soon after that an immediate truce had been reached between Israel and Hezbollah.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The issue of Lebanon has cast an increasingly long shadow over Trump’s efforts to make peace with Iran, however.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who launched the war against Iran alongside Trump on Feb. 28, has criticized Washington’s interim agreement with Tehran as overly permissive and has insisted he will act independently in response. But Iran has indicated it could, even now, walk away from the nascent peace process if Trump does not rein in Netanyahu. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These will be among the issues playing on Trump’s mind as he makes his weekend visit to the presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains — only his second Camp David trip since he returned to power in January 2025. He will be joined by family members on Sunday for Father’s Day, according to a White House official. </p>
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		<title>Read the 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/17/read-the-14-point-memorandum-of-understanding-between-the-united-states-and-iran/</link>
					<comments>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/17/read-the-14-point-memorandum-of-understanding-between-the-united-states-and-iran/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:02:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[The 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran leaves contentious issues between the countries unresolved.]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and Iran includes a 60-day <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/15/iran-us-agree-to-halt-war-and-reopen-hormuz/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/15/iran-us-agree-to-halt-war-and-reopen-hormuz/">ceasefire</a> and the <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/15/us-wont-soften-military-posture-in-middle-east-despite-iran-agreement/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/15/us-wont-soften-military-posture-in-middle-east-despite-iran-agreement/">reopening</a> of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a copy of the text obtained by Military Times. It also paves the way for sanctions relief and a $300 billion reconstruction incentive for the Islamic Republic – contingent upon a final deal being agreed. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance electronically signed the accord Sunday, ahead of a formal ceremony scheduled for Friday <a href="https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-diplomacy/signing-of-the-agreement-between-the-us-and-iran-at-the-b%C3%BCrgenstock/91597954" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-diplomacy/signing-of-the-agreement-between-the-us-and-iran-at-the-b%C3%BCrgenstock/91597954">in Switzerland.</a> Vance is expected to lead the American delegation alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The agreement leaves the most difficult points of contention between Washington and Tehran – such as the fate of Iran’s nuclear program – to the next phase of negotiations.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump, speaking at the Group of Seven<b> </b>summit in France on Wednesday, warned that any Iranian violation of the terms would spark a renewed U.S. military campaign. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head,” the commander-in-chief told reporters. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>The full text of the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran” is as follows: </b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 1</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MOU, declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operations against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 2</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 3</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 4</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Immediately upon the signing of this MOU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade, and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of prewar traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 5</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements, using its best efforts, for the safe passage of commercial vessels, with no charge for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the needs for removing the technical and military obstacles, and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 6</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers, and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 7</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions. IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned, and expressed their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 8</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpile enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven with the minimum methodology to be down-blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned, and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 9</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 10</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU and until the termination of sanctions, U.S. Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 11</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MOU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during negotiations. Such funds, whether obtaining the original account or transfer, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 12</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 13</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">After signing this MOU, and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of this MOU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><b>Paragraph 14</b></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.</p>
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		<title>US won’t soften military posture in Middle East despite Iran agreement</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/15/us-wont-soften-military-posture-in-middle-east-despite-iran-agreement/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Nearly 50,000 U.S. troops are positioned across the region, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, head of Central Command.]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The United States will maintain its current military posture in the Middle East despite the electronic signing of a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran, a senior U.S. official said on Monday, indicating that any drawdown remains off the table for now.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The plan is to keep to the current force posture during the succeeding negotiations,” the official said on a call with reporters. “We hope to draw them down, but we’re not doing that yet.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We want to see, again, that the Iranians do what they promised they’re going to tell us that they’re going to do,” the official added.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although the text of the memorandum of understanding has not been made public, officials conceded that several major points of contention — including the future of Iran’s nuclear program — have been deferred. The hope is that those issues will be resolved during subsequent negotiations scheduled to take place over the next 60 days. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the meantime, the framework’s opening phase extends a ceasefire between the two sides, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and lifts the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Nearly 50,000 U.S. troops are positioned across the region, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, the chief of Central Command. Two aircraft carriers — USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush — anchor the deployment. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Trump administration’s decision to preserve its military posture sends the message that a return to war is a possibility and underscores the provisional nature of the diplomatic breakthrough. Any retrenchment of American forces, officials said, would be contingent on a satisfactory final deal and Iran’s verifiable compliance with its terms. </p>
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		<title>Trump vows to seize Iran’s Kharg Island</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/11/trump-vows-to-seize-irans-kharg-island/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:50:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Your Military]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Kharg Island, the linchpin of Iran’s oil industry, has once more come under focus amid a fraying ceasefire.]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/10/they-got-very-lucky-trump-says-of-downed-apache-helicopters-crew/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/10/they-got-very-lucky-trump-says-of-downed-apache-helicopters-crew/">Donald Trump</a> on Thursday threatened to seize Kharg Island — the linchpin of <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/09/us-launches-new-strikes-on-iran-after-helicopter-downed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/09/us-launches-new-strikes-on-iran-after-helicopter-downed/">Iran’s</a> oil industry — as he escalated pressure on Tehran amid a fraying ceasefire.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a post on Truth Social, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116731447139970106" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116731447139970106">the president wrote</a> the United States would be hitting Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” adding that “at some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/flashpoints/2026/03/14/us-bombs-key-iranian-island-amid-oil-concerns/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.defensenews.com/flashpoints/2026/03/14/us-bombs-key-iranian-island-amid-oil-concerns/">Kharg Island</a>, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf, typically handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. It has been central to the economic survival of the Islamic Republic for decades. A 1984 declassified CIA document called its facilities “the most vital in Iran’s oil system, and their continued operation is essential to Iran’s economic well-being.” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But Trump’s saber-rattling was quickly tempered by a note of caution. Speaking to the hosts of “Fox &amp; Friends” shortly after his social media post, the president questioned whether America “has the stomach” for a <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/07/us-troops-families-adjust-to-new-normal-of-iran-war/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/07/us-troops-families-adjust-to-new-normal-of-iran-war/">larger military operation</a> to take the island.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I’m not sure the country has the appetite for it, as good as it is,” Trump said. “I think they’d like to see us come home.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The White House told Military Times that all military options remain available to the president, including scenarios involving a significant number of ground forces occupying Kharg Island. On Thursday, however, Trump appeared to rule out that possibility.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I don’t want to have boots on the ground. But if I wanted to, we could put a small group of soldiers and take over the whole place,” the commander in chief said, punctuating his remarks on Iran with “They’re finished.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump’s political coalition has been riven with tensions since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Foreign policy hawks who insist Iran must be curbed are on one side, and isolationist-leaning, “America-First” voices are on the other. The latter group is vigorously opposed to the use of ground troops, fearing that such a deployment would pave the way for the U.S. getting sucked into a long and costly conflict, similar to those in <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/10/first-look-at-the-global-war-on-terrorism-memorial-design-in-washington/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/10/first-look-at-the-global-war-on-terrorism-memorial-design-in-washington/">Iraq and Afghanistan</a>. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The proposal to seize the island and establish control over Iran’s oil sector also diverges from the four objectives that bolstered Operation Epic Fury in the first place. The Trump administration’s stated war aims were to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, inflict serious damage on its Navy and Air Force, prevent nuclear development and curtail its support for proxy groups in the region, including Hamas and Hezbollah. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This all comes as hostilities between American and Iranian forces in the Middle East are on the rise, despite a ceasefire signed in April. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">U.S. Central Command said that Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy assets conducted strikes Wednesday evening against Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defense sites. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump, during his interview with Fox News, claimed the U.S. “dropped $250 million worth of bombs on them last night.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tehran — which asserts it has launched a series of retaliatory strikes against American bases in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait — cast the nearly two-month ceasefire as “practically meaningless.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The illegal and criminal attacks perpetrated by the United States in recent hours not only constitute a flagrant violation&#8230; but also render the ceasefire practically meaningless,” Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “Responsibility for the extremely serious consequences of the criminal act lies with the leaders of the United States.”</p>
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		<title>‘They got very lucky,’ Trump says of downed Apache helicopter’s crew</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/10/they-got-very-lucky-trump-says-of-downed-apache-helicopters-crew/</link>
					<comments>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/10/they-got-very-lucky-trump-says-of-downed-apache-helicopters-crew/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:31:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Flashpoints]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MilTech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Your Military]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/uncategorized/2026/06/10/they-got-very-lucky-trump-says-of-downed-apache-helicopters-crew/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[After a U.S. Army Apache helicopter was downed by an Iranian drone, President Donald Trump said the rescued aviators “got very lucky.”]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">131447</post-id><media:content medium="image" url="https://one.sightlinemg.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-04-30T192425Z_376055108_RC2VZKABFHV2_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP.JPG.jpg" width="6000" height="4000" type="" />
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump on Wednesday said two U.S. Army aviators “got very lucky” after an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter was <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/09/us-soldiers-rescued-after-apache-helicopter-goes-down-near-the-coast-of-oman/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/09/us-soldiers-rescued-after-apache-helicopter-goes-down-near-the-coast-of-oman/">downed by Iran</a> over the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/09/us-launches-new-strikes-on-iran-after-helicopter-downed/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/09/us-launches-new-strikes-on-iran-after-helicopter-downed/">American retaliation</a> for the incident is not over. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president declared, “We hit them hard yesterday and we’re going to hit them hard again today.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump initially claimed in a Truth Social post on Tuesday that Iran had shot down the aircraft, before revising his account a day later to say it was struck by an Iranian ordnance that failed to detonate on impact.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“That bomb was lodged in the helicopter, it didn’t explode. It was on fire but it didn’t explode,” Trump explained. “Those two guys, they knew how to fly, but they got very lucky.” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He then quipped: “You won’t believe the rescue, how cool it was.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The crew members were retrieved by a remotely piloted Navy surface drone, in what Trump and military officials described as the first U.S. operation of its kind.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Still, the episode demonstrated one asymmetrical element of the conflict. U.S. officials said a low-cost Iranian Shahed-136 drone — estimated to cost roughly $20,000 — engaged the American attack helicopter valued at between $35 million and $40 million. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Describing the subsequent rescue, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for Central Command, told Military Times that the unmanned surface vessel retrieved the downed aviators and ferried them to a rendezvous point at sea, where they were then hoisted aboard a helicopter for extraction. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The surface drone that assisted in [Monday’s] rescue of the Apache crew off the coast of Oman was a U.S. Navy Corsair unmanned surface vessel operated by U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59,” he said. “The task force began fielding these drones in theater in late March.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The 24-foot Corsair — built by Texas-based Saronic Technologies — can carry payloads of up to 1,000 pounds over a 1,000-nautical-mile range and reach speeds of up to 35 knots, according to the <a href="https://www.saronic.com/vessels" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.saronic.com/vessels">company’s website</a>. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Soon after the U.S. began carrying out retaliatory strikes on Tuesday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a social media post, wrote that “our powerful armed forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later announced, through a statement carried by Iranian state TV, that it had conducted 21 attacks on U.S. bases across the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But despite the fresh wave of attacks, Trump on Wednesday insisted that a peace agreement can be reached. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We’ll see what happens with the deal. We were really close to a deal but they keep tapping us along, they keep playing us for suckers,” Trump said. “All they have to do is they have to start signing a paper, it’s fully negotiated.” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Given that negotiations are highly sensitive and secret, it’s unclear how close — or distant — the sides are from an agreement. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A delegation of Qatari officials arrived in Iran on Wednesday in an effort to broker a deal between Washington and Tehran, a source familiar with the discussions told Military Times, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matters publicly.</p>
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		<title>Pentagon bows to criticism, admitting ‘mistake’ over new religious list</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/08/pentagon-bows-to-criticism-admitting-mistake-over-new-religious-list/</link>
					<comments>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/08/pentagon-bows-to-criticism-admitting-mistake-over-new-religious-list/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:43:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Your Military]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[The Pentagon revised its abridged list of officially recognized faith affiliations after Utah lawmakers balked at the omission of Mormonism.]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Department of Defense — which is poised to slash its number of officially recognized faith affiliations from more than 200 to just 31 — updated its classifications following criticism from Republican lawmakers over its omission of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints from the Christian category.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, a close ally of President Donald Trump, says he raised the issue <a href="https://x.com/basedmikelee/status/2063841898838552928?s=46" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://x.com/basedmikelee/status/2063841898838552928?s=46">directly with the president,</a> arguing that the government should not be involved in adjudicating doctrinal disputes among faith traditions. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Two more Republicans from Utah — Sen. John Curtis and Rep. Mike Kennedy — also urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to amend the list for the same reason.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Pentagon subsequently announced on Monday that it had removed “unnecessary labeling, and the mistake has been fixed.” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The new “Religious Affiliation Codes” no longer features the subheading gathering together Christian denominations, thus sidestepping the contentious issue of whether to include or exclude Mormonism. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Instead, it provides a <a href="https://x.com/dowresponse/status/2064015222621221315?s=46" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://x.com/dowresponse/status/2064015222621221315?s=46">long list</a> of uncategorized options, including the previous Christian denominations; the Church of Latter-day Saints; other major religions like Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism; and classifications of Agnostic, “no religion,” and “other religions.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to a May 20 memorandum signed by Under Secretary of Defense Anthony Tata, the list will provide chaplains with “clear, readily available information” to better anticipate the religious needs of service members and to deliver religious support consistent with their faith and practices.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, described the original shift as “long overdue,” saying that the consolidation is intended to improve administrative efficiency rather than elevate certain religions over others.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“This decrease in religious affiliation codes is not designed to make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith or religious belief, nor is it intended to provide a list of ‘officially approved’ religions,” <a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/2062964159222874227?s=20" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/2062964159222874227?s=20">Parnell said in a statement</a> on Friday. “Rather, it is designed to allow chaplains to quickly look at the religious composition of their units and determine how they structure resources to best provide for warfighters of all faith groups.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Troops will not be restricted, however, in what information they choose to include on their dog tags. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When previewing the new policy in March, Hegseth said that the rank insignia worn by military chaplains on their uniforms is set to be replaced with religious insignia. He emphasized chaplains are “first and foremost called and ordained by God,” and, while they will retain rank as an officer to those they serve, <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/03/25/hegseth-removes-rank-insignia-from-military-chaplains/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/03/25/hegseth-removes-rank-insignia-from-military-chaplains/">their rank will not be visible</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The changes are expected to take effect by mid-July.</p>
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		<title>Joint Chiefs head makes first official visit to post-Maduro Venezuela</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/05/joint-chiefs-head-makes-first-official-visit-to-post-maduro-venezuela/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:59:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Your Military]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[The visit comes five months after the high-risk U.S. military operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. ]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made his first official trip to Venezuela this week, five months after the high-risk U.S. military operation that removed the country’s strongman leader, <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/01/06/this-was-surgical-the-tactics-behind-the-maduro-mission/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/01/06/this-was-surgical-the-tactics-behind-the-maduro-mission/">Nicolás Maduro</a>, from power.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Caine held bilateral discussions with senior leaders of the interim government and with U.S. embassy personnel. During those meetings, he underscored the importance of <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/04/24/us-soldier-charged-with-making-400000-on-maduro-removal-bets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/04/24/us-soldier-charged-with-making-400000-on-maduro-removal-bets/">Venezuelan</a> stability, broader security across the Western Hemisphere and the military’s commitment to implementing Trump’s “three-phase plan,” Joe Holstead, a spokesman for Caine, said in a statement.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The plan focuses on avoiding chaos, bolstering an economic recovery and — eventually — facilitating a transition to democracy. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A key pillar of the effort has been restoring Venezuela’s oil industry, which Trump previously characterized as a “total bust.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">All of that changed with Operation Absolute Resolve. The sprawling military raid — which involved more than 150 aircraft — culminated in Delta Force commandos descending on a heavily fortified compound and capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The pair were later flown to New York, where they each face criminal charges.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The U.S. military, meanwhile, continues to maintain a robust presence in the region, with the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group sailing into the Caribbean in May. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Since September, the Pentagon has carried out at least 62 strikes in the waters off South America, killing nearly 200 people whom the Trump administration says were involved in drug trafficking, according to <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/11/06/a-list-of-us-military-strikes-against-alleged-drug-carrying-vessels/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/11/06/a-list-of-us-military-strikes-against-alleged-drug-carrying-vessels/">data compiled</a> by Military Times. Many legal experts dispute the legality of those operations. </p>
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		<title>Experts warn terrorism threat is rising in Africa as US pulls back</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/03/experts-warn-terrorism-threat-is-rising-in-africa-as-us-pulls-back/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:31:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[A jihadist front is gaining ground across Africa, the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned in its annual risk analysis.]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">From the Horn to the Sahel, a <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/18/isis-leader-killed-in-africa-as-us-commander-raises-force-reduction-concerns/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/18/isis-leader-killed-in-africa-as-us-commander-raises-force-reduction-concerns/">jihadist front</a> is gaining ground across Africa, the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned in its annual risk analysis. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <a href="https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-05/260522_Palmer_Threat_Assessment.pdf?VersionId=tvYsJG7fkJ.KYpKVJjrDAe5d9z_JpkgJ" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-05/260522_Palmer_Threat_Assessment.pdf?VersionId=tvYsJG7fkJ.KYpKVJjrDAe5d9z_JpkgJ">“Global Terrorism Threat Assessment 2026″</a> identifies <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/04/02/us-carried-out-nearly-50-strikes-in-somalia-so-far-this-year/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/04/02/us-carried-out-nearly-50-strikes-in-somalia-so-far-this-year/">terrorism</a> on the continent as “the greatest uncertainty,” citing the rising capabilities of al-Qaida and Islamic State affiliates. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Unlike the Middle East’s terrorist organizations, most African terrorist groups are unquestionably ascendant,” the authors wrote, pointing to larger fighting forces, greater financial resources, and the groups’ ability to move through wide swaths of territory. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Many are also capitalizing on the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems and artificial intelligence to enhance their deadly effectiveness. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“These new capabilities unlock new forms of operation, facilitation, and inspiration for international terrorists, requiring novel responses from states, which may also take advantage of emerging technologies,” the report said. “Given the increasing pace of technological change, the future of how terrorists and counterterrorists will act against each other is increasingly unclear.” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The report classifies Al Shabaab, a Somalia-based al-Qaida-affiliated group, as Africa’s most capable – and likely largest – terrorist organization, with the clearest demonstrated intent to attack American interests. But the authors stop short of declaring that this group represents an imminent threat to the U.S. homeland.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Al Shabaab seems focused on its regional objectives, meaning the probability that an African terrorist group attempts a mass-casualty attack against the U.S. homeland remains low,” the authors wrote. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Meanwhile, ACLED, a nonprofit organization that collects conflict data, recorded that nearly 80% of all ISIS activity during the first 11 months of 2025 occurred in Africa, marking a 50% increase from the previous year.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the heart of that surge is the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, a powerful insurgent network in the Sahel that poses the most significant challenge to Al Shabaab’s dominance on the continent and increasingly serves as a hub for intelligence gathering and logistical coordination among Islamic State branches in the region.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“ISWAP has also recently benefited from external support in the form of trainers deployed by the international Islamic State organization to increase ISWAP capabilities in UAS operations, advanced explosive assembly, and military tactics,” the authors wrote. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Trump administration has recently focused its African counterterrorism strategy on those two theaters: Somalia, where U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, has ramped up air and drone strikes, and Nigeria, where Washington has launched a series of airstrikes alongside local partners and deployed a small contingent of U.S. personnel to support training efforts. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Yet these developments come as the United States has reduced its military footprint in Africa by 75%. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gen. Dagvin Anderson, the head of AFRICOM, told lawmakers in May that the departure of American and allied forces had created “an intelligence black hole” on the continent. Anderson also emphasized that his command was operating with the “minimum necessary resources” and that its diminished force posture was compromising its ability to respond to crises. </p>
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		<title>National Guard’s DC deployment has had no ‘measurable effect’ on violent crime: Report</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/02/national-guards-dc-deployment-has-had-no-measurable-effect-on-violent-crime-report/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:59:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Your Military]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[The report, which the White House called "out of touch," asserted that Guard troops have been deployed in “the wrong places for the wrong types of crime.” ]]></description>
		
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The presence of more than 2,000 <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/01/17/guard-troops-to-stay-on-dc-streets-through-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/01/17/guard-troops-to-stay-on-dc-streets-through-2026/">National Guard</a> troops in Washington, D.C., since Aug. 2025 has had “no measurable effect on violent crime,” according to a new report <a href="https://www.niskanencenter.org/washington-dc-crime-decline-and-its-lessons-for-american-policing/#efficient-policing-vs-the-national-guard-a-cost-effectiveness-comparison" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.niskanencenter.org/washington-dc-crime-decline-and-its-lessons-for-american-policing/#efficient-policing-vs-the-national-guard-a-cost-effectiveness-comparison">by the Niskanen Center.</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The researchers described the deployment as “an expensive tool” used in “the wrong places for the wrong types of crime.” They cited the <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/01/29/guard-deployments-to-us-cities-cost-496-million-in-2025-cbo-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/01/29/guard-deployments-to-us-cities-cost-496-million-in-2025-cbo-says/">$607 average daily cost</a> per <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/05/04/national-guard-officers-earn-medals-for-apprehending-gunman-in-dc-shooting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/05/04/national-guard-officers-earn-medals-for-apprehending-gunman-in-dc-shooting/">Guard</a> member in the nation’s capital, compared with $384 in pay for Metropolitan Police Department officers. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The National Guard was deployed primarily in high-visibility public spaces, exactly the locations where opportunistic property crime tends to occur and where visible deterrence is most likely to be effective,” they wrote. “A uniformed presence in tourist corridors and transit hubs is unlikely to interrupt a dispute between individuals with preexisting ties on their own turf. The Guard’s footprint was simply misaligned with the geography of violence.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Robbery and other violent crimes in Washington, D.C., have also seen a downward trend that predates the deployment, the report said, and the operation did not impact that trajectory. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But the policy think tank emphasized that the effort was “not a waste.” It acknowledged there was a 24% decline in opportunistic property crime recorded in the first six months of the operation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“What the Guard brought was a massive, sudden shock from the visible presence of uniformed military personnel on the streets of Washington almost overnight,” they continued. “It produced a significant reduction in property crime, and it did so quickly, which matters when residents and businesses are demanding visible action.” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The authors went on to argue that a more targeted, data-driven MPD mobilization could have achieved “comparable or better outcomes” at a fraction of the expense for taxpayers. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The White House, in response, dismissed what it called an “out-of-touch” think tank analysis, written by “keyboard warriors” seeking to undermine President Donald Trump’s agenda. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Here’s the reality: President Trump has transformed D.C. from a crime-ridden city into a safe and beautiful haven for residents and visitors alike,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Military Times. “The president’s Safe and Beautiful Task Force and National Guard presence have driven down crime, beautified the city and improved quality of life for countless individuals,” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump, for his part, said last week there were no plans for the National Guard to leave the nation’s capital anytime soon. The administration is requesting an additional 1,500 Guard troops ahead of America’s 250th birthday events in the district.</p>
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		<title>Rubio faces lawmakers as Iran ceasefire hangs in the balance</title>
		<link>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/02/rubio-faces-lawmakers-as-iran-ceasefire-hangs-in-the-balance/</link>
					<comments>https://one.sightlinemg.com/militarytimes/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/02/rubio-faces-lawmakers-as-iran-ceasefire-hangs-in-the-balance/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tanya Noury]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:25:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentagon & Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Your Military]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[The U.S. has been "highly successful" in achieving its military objectives in Iran, but the country continues to field a robust drone arsenal, Rubio said.]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">131365</post-id><media:content medium="image" url="https://one.sightlinemg.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-06-02T195541Z_19227023_RC2ULLAQZ0VR_RTRMADP_3_USA-DIPLOMACY-RUBIO.JPG.jpg" width="5919" height="3946" type="" />
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Iran continues to field a robust drone arsenal, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday, attributing the resilience — despite America’s 38-day bombing campaign — to the low cost and high replaceability of the technology. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“They still have a lot of drones because these are easy to make,” Rubio said as he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the first time since the United States launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. “This is a pervasive problem around the world.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Islamic Republic’s Shahed-136 drones have become emblematic of <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/03/06/pentagon-acknowledges-tough-quest-to-counter-iranian-drones/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/03/06/pentagon-acknowledges-tough-quest-to-counter-iranian-drones/">a new era in warfare</a> defined by cheap, mass production. Costing between $20,000 and $50,000 apiece, the roughly 11-foot-long, delta-winged munition carries an explosive warhead that detonates on impact.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rubio nonetheless insisted that the U.S. had been “highly successful” in achieving its military objectives in Iran, contending that the campaign had significantly degraded the country’s Navy, industrial base and its ability to manufacture missiles.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“There is no Iranian Navy. It lies at the bottom of the ocean, and will soon, within a number of years, be prime fishing spots because they’ll turn into reefs,” he quipped. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The nominal ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, however, remains tenuous. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday that it conducted “self-defense strikes” against Iranian radar and drone control sites over the weekend. Iran, meanwhile, declared it targeted U.S. forces at an airbase in Kuwait. American officials said the attack was thwarted and no personnel were harmed. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rubio, a central player in the negotiations to end the war, stressed the intricacy of the process, given the heavy reliance on intermediaries. The discussions are “not like talks with Switzerland,” he noted wryly. Still, he pointed to signs of progress, citing the regime’s alleged willingness to begin bargaining over facets of its nuclear program.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He said the latest framework for review is built around a two-pronged model, beginning with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Under that phase, he said, Iran would forgo tolls, assist in removing mines it had laid, and commit to not firing on ships — preconditions he described in aggregate as “the predicate that opens the door to phase two.” </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The second phase would require Iran to enter “very specific negotiations” on the means of disposal of highly enriched uranium that is “buried deep in the mountain.” The secretary of state added that the regime would also have to accept “severe and long-term limitations and/or cancellation, of enrichment.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rubio talked up the overall outlook for a deal, but diplomatic channels have fallen quiet in recent days, according to Iran’s semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies. The outlets report that Tehran has suspended communication with mediators in the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order of an incursion deep into Lebanon to target Hezbollah, effectively unraveling the truce between the countries. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump disputed the claim of severed communications in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116681581361115247" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116681581361115247">Truth Social post</a> on Tuesday. “The conversations between us have been going on continuously, including four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today,” he asserted.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The crisis in Lebanon represents a significant hurdle on the path to a U.S.-Iran peace deal. Netanyahu appears adamant about prolonging Israel’s invasion of its northern neighbor — and preserving the right to strike inside its borders. But the Iranians are equally insistent that any enduring cessation of hostilities must encompass Lebanon. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2061412756125831623?s=20" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2061412756125831623?s=20">said on Monday.</a> “Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts.”</p>
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