I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Senate Bill Seeks Sanctions Over Israel’s “E1” Settlement Plan in the Occupied West Bank. On September 23, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), a staunch supporter of Israel, introduced S.5476, which would impose sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate Israeli settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank. The sanctions would not apply to US citizens. The bill’s sponsors said that the measure seeks to protect the viability of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The E1 project would connect Ma’ale Adumim and other illegal Israeli settlements to occupied East Jerusalem, isolating the city from the West Bank and effectively dividing the West Bank in two. If completed, it would potentially undermine the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Senate Rejects Iran War Powers Resolution. On September 24, the Senate narrowly rejected H.Con.Res.89 in a 49-50 vote. The Iran war powers resolution, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), would halt US military operations against Iran conducted without congressional authorization. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to vote against the measure.
Senate Resolution Seeks to Block Proposed Saudi Military Sale. On September 24, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced S.J.Res.217, a joint resolution that would block a proposed foreign military sale of certain defense articles and services to Saudi Arabia.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
House Democrats Urge Trump to Confront China Over Support for Iran. On September 21, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) led 12 other House Democrats, all of whom are military veterans, in a letter urging President Donald Trump to press Chinese President Xi Jinping to end Chinese support and intelligence sharing with Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The letter referenced reports that Chinese satellite imagery was used in an Iranian strike on a US base in Jordan that killed three US service members.
Meeks Meets Yemeni Officials on Sidelines of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). On September 21, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) met with Yemeni officials to discuss recent Houthi attacks and possible US security and humanitarian support for Yemen’s government. Meeks also called for renewed US-Yemeni-Saudi dialogue and a comprehensive political settlement to the conflict.
Shaheen and Meeks Meet with Syrian President. During UNGA, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) met separately with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss Syria’s post-sanctions recovery, protection of religious and ethnic minorities, and regional security. Shaheen also discussed the implementation of the Syrian government’s agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces and its continued cooperation against the so-called Islamic State.
Bicameral Democrats Seek Hearings on Fatal Iran Strike on US Base in Kuwait. On September 21, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led 19 other Democrats in a letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) and House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL), urging them to hold public hearings on the Iranian drone strike on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait that killed six US service members.
Johnson Calls for “Resolution” of Iran War. On September 23, The Hill reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is urging that the war with Iran be brought “to a resolution.” He stated that the United States had achieved its objective of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability. Johnson also acknowledged that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had raised fuel and grocery costs and added that reopening the strait could help bring prices down.
House Democrats Urge Netanyahu to Address Settler Violence in the West Bank. On September 24, Reps. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) and Eugene Vindman (D-VA) led 70 other House Democrats in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging his government to protect Palestinian communities from Israeli settler violence, investigate attacks against Palestinians and Palestinian Americans, halt further settlement approvals, and take steps to remove illegal outposts in the occupied West Bank.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Administration Reportedly Proposes $5 Billion Fund to Rebuild Gulf Energy Infrastructure. The United States is reportedly proposing a $5 billion investment in a new fund to rebuild energy infrastructure across the region damaged during the Iran war and to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas exports. The plan calls for matching contributions from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Trump Tells UN He May Reach Deal After Midterms or “Annihilate” Iran. On September 22, President Trump said in his UNGA speech that he faced a “big decision” between reaching a new agreement with Iran and moving to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if diplomacy failed. Trump said that he expected a deal after the November midterm elections and urged other countries to join US economic measures against Iran.
Trump also praised the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire and Board of Peace, while calling on UN member states to withdraw from the International Criminal Court.
Later in the day, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that the US and Iranian delegations held lengthy talks through mediators on the sidelines of the UNGA and completed a round of discussions, which he described as “constructive and promising.”
Trump Rejects Iranian Peace Proposal. On September 26, President Trump rejected an Iranian proposal—conveyed through Qatari mediators on the sidelines of UNGA—to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, resume nuclear talks, and establish a seven-day ceasefire that would include Lebanon. In response, Iran called on the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian funds, and waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales. Trump also reportedly told aides that he expected US strikes on Iran to resume after the November midterm elections. The previous day, Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing the Strait of Hormuz labeled “Trump Strait.”
On September 27, Trump told reporters that he expected US negotiators to hold further talks with Iran this week.
2) Department of State
Rubio Meets with Iraqi Prime Minister. On September 21, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to discuss the future of the US-Iraqi partnership, including the need for Iraq to dismantle militias, prevent attacks from its territory, and fully exercise its sovereignty.
On September 23, Rubio said that bringing all armed groups in Iraq under state control was essential to prevent armed factions from “Balkanizing” the country, adding that at least three militias had disarmed and sided with the national government.
Department of State Calls for Sudan Truce and Civilian Transition. On September 22, the Department of State said that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) nor the Rapid Support Forces “represent legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan,” and called on both sides to accept an immediate humanitarian truce without preconditions and to support a transition to a civilian government.
The United States also withheld a visa for SAF General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to attend UNGA, making its issuance contingent on his acceptance of a 90-day ceasefire proposed by the US.
Rubio Meets with Indian External Affairs Minister. On September 23, Secretary Rubio met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss developments in the Middle East and potential sanctions on states that engage economically with Iran.
3) Department of War
CENTCOM Concludes Eager Lion Exercise with Jordan. On September 24, CENTCOM concluded Eager Lion 2026, a two-week US-Jordanian military exercise in Colorado involving more than 200 personnel, which focused on interoperability, cyber defense, command operations, and disaster response.
4) Department of the Treasury
Bessent Says US Pressure Is Increasing Iran’s Economic Isolation. On September 26, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said that US efforts to economically isolate Iran were “delivering results,” citing new restrictions on Iranian airlines and banks. Bessent said that Turkey and Oman had halted incoming Mahan Air flights, while the UAE had stopped flights by Iranian airlines and blocked transactions to and from Iran’s Bank Melli.
