I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Resolution Condemns Hezbollah. On June 23, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced H.Res.1379, condemning Hezbollah for “its repeated violations of ceasefire agreements” and calling on the Lebanese government to ensure that the group immediately ceases all attacks and disarms in accordance with the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
Senate Approves One Iran War Powers Resolution, Rejects Another After Trump Pressure. On June 23, the Senate approved an Iran War Powers resolution, originally passed by the House on June 3, that would halt US military operations against Iran without congressional authorization. It marked the first time a war powers resolution had passed both chambers of Congress. The resolution, introduced in the House by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), passed the Senate by a 50-48 vote, with Republican Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) voting in favor and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) the only Democrat voting against it. That day, Trump criticized the resolution, calling it “poorly timed and meaningless.”
On June 24, the Senate voted down a separate Iran War Powers resolution in a 47-50 vote, with Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) reversing their earlier positions: Cassidy voted against the measure, while Paul voted present. Earlier that day, Cassidy reportedly had a shouting match with Trump over the administration’s lack of transparency with Congress regarding the Iran war. Cassidy then received a private briefing on the war at the White House from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Both votes were largely symbolic, and neither resolution carries the force of law, but represents a rare rebuke of the president.
Massie Proposes Ending $3.3 Billion in Military Aid for Israel. On June 23, the House Rules Committee advanced Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) amendment to strike $3.3 billion in foreign military aid for Israel from H.R.8595, the FY 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations bill. The amendment is expected to receive a floor vote during the week of June 29.
Senate Resolution Seeks Report on Israel’s Human Rights Practices. On June 24, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced S.Res.797, which would require the secretary of state to submit a report to Congress on Israel’s human rights practices under Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act.
House Bill Would Denaturalize Citizens over Alleged Ties to Terrorist Organizations. On June 24, Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) introduced H.R.9447, which would require the denaturalization of naturalized US citizens “convicted of terrorism or supporting designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
House Committee Advances Three Bills Targeting Anti-Semitism and Criticism of Israel on Campus. On June 25, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce advanced three bills targeting criticism of Israel:
- R.4795, the “Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act,” which would strip federal student aid from universities engaged in a “nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel” or that fail to certify that students are not obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel.
- R.8476, the “No Antisemitism in Education Act of 2026,” which would require schools and universities to treat antisemitic discrimination, as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of anti-Semitism, in the same manner as discrimination prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The definition classifies certain criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.
- R.9203, the “Student Protection and University Accountability Act,” which would require schools to establish formal procedures for investigating anti-Semitism and other Title VI complaints and to brief Congress on their handling of these cases.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
House Democrats Urge Action to End RSF Siege of al-Obeid in Sudan. On June 24, Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Sara Jacobs (D-CA) called on the Department of State to secure an agreement ending the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) siege of al-Obeid, a strategically important city linking Khartoum and Darfur, and to ensure humanitarian access and safe passage for civilians.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
United States and Iran Offer Conflicting Accounts of Nuclear Talks. On June 22, Vice President Vance said that talks with senior Iranian officials in Switzerland had created a “good foundation for a successful final deal” aimed at permanently ending the war with Iran. Vance and other US officials stated that progress had been made on several fronts, including the establishment of “mechanisms” to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and address fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Vance also claimed that Iran had agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country. The next day, President Donald Trump similarly announced that Iran had fully agreed to “highest level nuclear inspections long into the future,” adding that there would be no further negotiations if Tehran did not agree. Iran, however, denied the claims.
Trump Says Iran Will Not Charge Ships to Transit Strait of Hormuz. On June 24, President Trump said that Iran had informed the United States that it was not seeking or collecting tolls, insurance costs, or other charges from ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that negotiations would end immediately if that information proved false. Trump also stated that Washington had not released any Iranian funds directly to Tehran but would use some Iranian money under US control to buy corn, soybeans, wheat, and other food for Iran from American farmers and ranchers.
Trump Suggests Possible F-35 Sale to Turkey. On June 24, President Trump was asked whether he was preparing a major weapons package for Turkey, including F-35 fighter jets, ahead of the NATO summit that Ankara will host on July 7 and 8. Trump replied, “I think so, look… I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make [President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] very happy.”
The United States blocked Turkey from receiving the jets in 2019 after Erdoğan’s government acquired Russia’s S-400 air defense system.
Administration Seeks Nearly $88 Billion from Congress, Mostly for Iran War. On June 24, the Trump administration submitted an $87.6 billion supplemental funding request to Congress, mostly to cover the cost of the Iran war, along with several unrelated priorities. The request is in addition to the administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget.
Trump Threatens Iran After Renewed Exchange of Attacks. On June 26, CENTCOM said that it had struck Iran in retaliation for an Iranian attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz the previous day. That day, President Trump accused Iran of violating the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries, saying that Tehran had hit ships in the strait with at least four “attack drones.”. That evening, Vice President Vance said that Iran should “pick up the phone” if there were any disagreements about the ceasefire, adding that “violence will be met with violence.”
The following day, the US military launched a second round of airstrikes against multiple Iranian targets. CENTCOM said that the strikes responded to an Iranian drone attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker Kiku, which was carrying more than two million barrels of crude near the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post, Trump warned that the United States could reach a point where it was “no longer able to be reasonable” and “forced to militarily complete the job,” adding that if that happened, Iran “will no longer exist.”
2) Department of State
Department of State Warns of “Imminent” Atrocities in al-Obeid. On June 22, the Department of State warned that Sudan’s RSF and allied forces were massing around al-Obeid, raising the risk of imminent mass atrocities against civilians. It called on them to protect civilians, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and uphold international humanitarian law.
Rubio Travels to UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain. From June 23 to 25, Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain to discuss the US-Iran MOU, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and regional security. He also met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers in Bahrain.
While in the UAE on June 23, Rubio rejected concerns that the MOU failed to address Iran’s missiles and proxies, arguing that they were covered by its call for “an end of hostilities in the entire region.”
In Bahrain on June 25, Rubio said that Israel and Lebanon were making progress in US-mediated talks toward reaching a “commitment of intent,” despite continued Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon. Rubio Speaks with German Foreign Minister. On June 24, Secretary Rubio spoke with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to discuss Iran.
United States and European Union Discuss Counterterrorism Cooperation. On June 24, counterterrorism officials from the United States and the European Union convened in Washington to discuss joint priorities, including cooperation in the Middle East.
Israel and Lebanon Sign Framework Agreement in Washington. On June 26, Lebanon and Israel signed a US-brokered 14-point framework agreement aimed at ending the Lebanon war. In his remarks that day, Secretary Rubio said that the deal was only the “first step” in further negotiations. The Trump administration also pledged $100 million in humanitarian assistance, coordinated with the United Nations, and $30 million to reimburse the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) for efforts to support an “enduring peace.”
Under the agreement, the LAF will gradually assume full security control of designated pilot zones, beginning with two already agreed upon. Lebanon committed to restoring the state’s monopoly on the use of force and disarming all nonstate armed groups, including Hezbollah. Israel said that removing these threats would eliminate the need for its military presence or action in Lebanon and declared that it has no territorial ambitions there. Both countries retain the right to self-defense and will establish a US-backed military-coordination group to oversee implementation. The United States will also seek international support for Lebanon’s reconstruction, while Israel and Lebanon will form working groups to develop a comprehensive peace and security agreement.
3) Department of War
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On June 23, US forces conducted airstrikes against al-Shabab in Somalia.
CENTCOM Kills Senior Leader of So-Called Islamic State in Syria. On June 24, CENTCOM announced that US forces had killed a senior leader of the so-called Islamic State, Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi, in a June 19 airstrike in northwest Syria.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Authorizes Sale of Iranian Oil. On June 22, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a 60-day general license, valid through August 21, authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and petrochemical products. The license allows Iranian oil imports into the United States for the first time in significant quantities since the 1990s.
Treasury Targets So-Called Islamic State Facilitators. On June 22, OFAC designated three individuals and six entities across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa for allegedly facilitating financial transactions on behalf of the so-called Islamic State.
Treasury Sanctions Networks Fueling Sudan War. On June 26, OFAC sanctioned eight individuals and entities linked to procurement and recruitment networks that have enabled both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF to expand the scale of the war.
The Department of State also announced additional measures under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act, including opposition to loans or assistance from international financial institutions, further Department of Commerce export restrictions, and a ban on Sudanese state-owned air carriers operating in the United States.
III. Judicial Branch
Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to End Protections for Syrians. On June 25, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Syrians living legally in the United States, exposing them to potential deportation.
