I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Reps. Khanna, Massie Move to Force Vote on Resolution to Block Iran Strikes. On February 18, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said that he and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) will seek to force a vote next week on their bipartisan War Powers Resolution on Iran that would require congressional authorization before any US military action against the Islamic Republic.
On February 20, Axios reported that Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) will oppose the resolution.
House Bill to Support Human Rights and Internet Freedom in Iran. On February 20, Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) introduced H.R.7622 to support human rights and internet freedom in Iran and hold the Iranian regime accountable for its repression of Iranians.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Meeks Urges Sanctions on RSF. On February 20, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) issued a statement after the UN’s International Fact-Finding Mission concluded that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed acts of genocide against non-Arab communities in al-Fasher. Meeks urged the Trump administration to take additional steps to prevent further atrocities, including imposing sanctions on the RSF as an entity and pressing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stop providing weapons to the armed group.
House Democrats Oppose Iran Strike; Graham Urges Military Action. On February 20, Reps. Meeks, Adam Smith (D-WA), and Jim Himes (D-CT) issued a statement opposing the use of US military force against Iran and urging President Donald Trump to continue diplomatic engagement with Tehran.
The following day, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged Trump to move forward with military action against Iran, adding that “the voices who counsel against getting entangled seem to ignore the consequences of letting evil go unchecked.”
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
United States, Iran Signal Progress in Nuclear Talks Amid US Military Buildup. On February 17, following US-Iran talks in Geneva, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that some progress had been made. He added, however, that “it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through,” including that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported on February 18 that the US military moved dozens of fighter jets to the Middle East over the previous day, which is reportedly the largest buildup of US airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering limited preliminary strikes to pressure the Islamic Republic into agreeing to a nuclear deal.
On February 19, speaking at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace, Trump said that Iran has about 10 to 15 days to reach a deal with Washington or face further military strikes. The same day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump “has always been very clear, though, with respect to Iran or any country around the world, diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal” with the administration, adding that there are “many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran.”
Trump Announces $17 Billion in Gaza Pledges at Inaugural Board of Peace Meeting. On February 19, President Trump announced at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace that nine members committed a combined $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package, while the United States pledged $10 billion to the board, though he did not specify how the funds would be allocated.
Trump also said that five countries—Albania, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Morocco —agreed to contribute thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, while Egypt and Jordan committed to training Gaza police forces. He added that countries pledging reconstruction funds include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Uzbekistan. Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE later confirmed that they would donate more than $1 billion each, with those funds expected to support the initial humanitarian response. Separately, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is raising $2 billion for Gaza, and FIFA pledged $75 million to build soccer fields, academies, and stadiums.
Additionally, Trump warned that Hamas will “be harshly met” if it does not agree to disarm. He also said that the war in Gaza is over, even if there are “little flames” that persist, despite Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire deal.
During the event, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that there is a “long ways to go” in Gaza, noting that “there’s a lot of work that remains. It will require the contribution of every nation-state represented here today.”
The administration presented a video outlining its longer-term vision for Gaza. The video said that Rafah would be fully rebuilt within three years and that Gaza would be connected to the world through a gateway, linking it with Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and extending to India and Europe. According to the video, by year 10, “Gaza will be self-governed, integrated into the region with thriving industries and housing for all.”
Witkoff Says Trump “Curious” Why Iran Has Not “Capitulated” Under US Pressure. On February 21, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that President Trump is questioning why Iran has not yet “capitulated” amid the US military buildup in the region.
2) Department of State
Department Imposes New Visa Restrictions on Iranian Officials. On February 18, the Department of State announced visa restrictions on 18 Iranian regime officials and telecommunications industry leaders, along with their immediate family members, over serious human rights violations in Iran.
Rubio Meets with UAE Foreign Minister. On February 19, Secretary Rubio met with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the Board of Peace and the implementation of phase two of the Gaza peace plan. Rubio thanked the foreign minister for the UAE’s $1.2 billion contribution to Gaza. The two also discussed the need for a humanitarian truce in Sudan and their AI partnership.
Rubio Meets with British Foreign Secretary. On February 20, Secretary Rubio met with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss Syria, the implementation of Phase Two of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, and securing a humanitarian truce in Sudan.
Huckabee Says It Would Be “Fine” If Israel Took All of Middle East. In an interview with right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson released on February 20, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee suggested that Israel has a biblical right to take over the entire Middle East. His comments sparked immediate backlash from more than a dozen Arab and Muslim governments.
During the interview, Huckabee also said that Israel’s right to exist is rooted in international law, while criticizing the legal institutions that oversee it for their opposition to Israeli abuses, stating that “one of the reasons I’m so grateful President Trump and Secretary Rubio are pushing hard, trying to get rid of the ICC and the ICJ is because they have become rogue organizations that are no longer really about an equal application of law.”
3) Department of War
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On February 17, US forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabab in Somalia.
United States Withdrawing All Forces from Syria. On February 18, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is in the process of withdrawing its roughly 1,000 troops from Syria.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions RSF Commanders. On February 19, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on three commanders of the paramilitary RSF for their role in the 18-month siege and capture of al-Fasher, during which the group carried out “a horrific campaign of ethnic killings, torture, starvation, and sexual violence.
