I. Legislative Branch
1) Personnel and Correspondence
Bipartisan Senators Meet with Syrian President. On July 8, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. Shaheen discussed the future of US-Syria relations, Syria’s recovery and governance, implementation of the Syrian government’s agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces, her bipartisan bill to repeal remaining legislative sanctions on the country, and the importance of removing it from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who also took part in the meeting, had previously expressed skepticism about Syria’s new government. After meeting with al-Sharaa, however, he said that it was in the US national security interest to give the Syrian president a chance to form a lasting government. Graham also said that al-Sharaa has “dramatically reduced Iran’s influence in Syria,” adding that Israel should recognize those efforts.
Senate Democrats Seek NDAA Debate on Israel Provisions.On July 9, Reuters reported that Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in a letter urging Senate Democrats to oppose advancing the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) until the chamber debates provisions that would deepen US-Israel military and intelligence cooperation.
Khanna Says Israeli Settlers Detained Him During Occupied West Bank Visit.On July 11, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said that armed Israeli settlers detained him during a visit to the occupied West Bank and accused the Israeli military of supporting the settlers. Khanna told Reuters that the settlers were carrying US-made assault rifles.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Announces Plans to Lift Sanctions on Turkey. On July 7, during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump said that his administration would lift sanctions imposed on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The proposed move would prompt congressional review and probable pushbacks.
Washington imposed the CAATSA sanctions on Turkey in 2020 over Ankara’s acquisition of components for the Russian S-400 air defense system. The purchase had also prompted the United States to remove Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019. Under the 2020 NDAA, the Trump administration would need to certify that the S-400 systems had been removed before resuming F-35 sales to Turkey.
Trump Declares Iran MOU “Over” as United States and Iran Exchange Attacks. On July 8, speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit, President Trump said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran was “over,” calling Iranian leaders “scum,” though he added that he would still allow negotiations to continue. His comments came after CENTCOM announced the previous day that it had launched strikes on more than 80 targets in Iran following attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, including Saudi and Qatari tankers. In response, Iran targeted US military installations in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE.
Following Iran’s actions in the Strait, the Department of the Treasury revoked a license that had temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran.
Later on July 8, the US military launched more strikes against Iranian targets, with CENTCOM saying that it struck approximately 90 new military targets across Iran, including air-defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure.
White House Invites Lebanese President to Washington. On July 8, a White House official told Reuters that the White House invited Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to visit the United States on July 21, following Lebanon and Israel’s signing of a US-backed framework agreement in Washington on June 26. The meeting is expected to cover bilateral relations and regional security.
Trump Threatens to “Decimate” Iran over Assassination Threat. On July 10, President Trump claimed that Iran had threatened to assassinate him, warning that 1,000 missiles were “locked and loaded” and aimed at Iran, with thousands more prepared to follow immediately if Iran acted on the threat.
2) Department of State
United States Begins Process to Remove Syria from Terrorism List. On July 8, the United States announced that it had formally begun the process to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. President Trump informed Congress of the move, which will take effect following a 45-day notification period unless blocked by Congress.
Rubio Speaks with Saudi Foreign Minister. On July 10, Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss coordination on regional security.
3) Department of Defense
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On July 8, US forces conducted another airstrike against al-Shabab in Somalia.
CENTCOM Launches More Strikes on Iran. On July 11, CENTCOM said that it struck approximately 140 Iranian military targets after Iranian forces attacked a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM announced that this was the third round of strikes in one week and that it had struck more than 300 Iranian targets during the operations.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Iranian Financial Networks. On July 10, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Iranian “financial facilitator” Ali Ansari, who it said oversees a global network of assets benefiting Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The sanctions followed Iran’s renewed attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Also on July 10, OFAC sanctioned three Iranian currency exchange houses, their managing partners, and associated front companies that it said moved billions of dollars annually on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks.
5) Department of Commerce
United States Eases Export Controls on UAE. On July 10, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security loosened export controls on the United Arab Emirates, making it easier to export Nvidia AI chips, military equipment, commercial satellites, and spacecraft to the country.
