I. Legislative Branch
1) Personnel and Correspondence
Jeffries Calls on Trump Administration to Address Israeli Settler Violence in West Bank. On August 17, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) called on the Trump administration to press the Israeli government to protect Palestinian civilians from violent settlers besieging homes in the occupied West Bank.
House Democrats Question Looser UAE Export Controls. On August 19, Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick seeking answers about the Department of Commerce’s decision to loosen export controls on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The lawmakers argued that the Department had not provided evidence that the risks of nuclear proliferation or diversion of controlled exports to China had been mitigated. Citing the Trump family’s financial ties to the UAE, they also questioned whether political or financial influence had played a role in the decision.
Progressive Caucus to Push for House Vote on Block the Bombs Act. On August 17, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) said that his caucus would push for a House vote on the Block the Bombs Act if Democrats win control of the House in the November 2026 midterm elections. The bill, introduced by Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), would block certain weapons transfers to Israel and is cosponsored by more than a third of House Democrats. Casar added that the caucus would also oppose bills that “subsidize weaponry for a military that’s been out of control.”
House Bill Would Require Report on Insider Trading During Iran War. On August 20, Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA) introduced H.R.10137, which would direct the Inspector General of the Department of War to report to Congress on complaints of insider trading on prediction and energy markets during the war on Iran.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Kushner Meets Netanyahu as Gaza Deal Stalls. On August 17, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside Board of Peace Director Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, after Netanyahu rejected the US-backed 15-point plan that called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. Netanyahu said that Israel would not withdraw from Gaza or allow reconstruction to begin until Hamas fully disarmed. Kushner reportedly urged Netanyahu to “not create obstacles” to the plan.
Haaretz reported that the meeting ended with an agreement allowing Israel to continue targeted strikes in Gaza, despite Trump’s statement earlier that day that Israel “should not be striking in Gaza.”
Trump Again Threatens to Bomb Oman. On August 17, President Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of US efforts to end the war with Iran, as the 60-day negotiating period established under the June Memorandum of Understanding expired without an agreement. The threat came as Oman and Iran were negotiating a plan to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration reportedly opposed parts of the proposed deal, including joint Iranian–Omani management of the strait’s exit route. This was the second time Trump had directed such a threat towards Oman. That same day, Trump said that he was “not in a hurry” to reach a deal with Iran and urged Iran to surrender.
On August 18, Trump posted a meme on Truth Social depicting the Strait of Hormuz as a new US territory, then said that no talks with Iran were underway or scheduled, that the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in place, and that the strait was “open and operating.” His words came despite significantly reduced ship traffic and a reported strike on a British ship exiting the waterway.
Trump Speaks with UAE President. On August 18, President Trump spoke with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional developments and ways to strengthen US-UAE relations.
Trump Threatens Economic Consequences for Countries Supporting Iran. On August 19, President Trump announced intensified efforts to isolate Iran economically, threatening “tremendous economic consequences” for countries that support Tehran. He called for an immediate end to activities including “oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, [and] front companies.” Trump did not specify what measures would be imposed, or which countries would be affected.
On August 20, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said that the administration would impose the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran and warned that countries continuing to trade with Tehran could also face economic penalties.
2) Department of State
Department Sanctions ICC President and Senior Trial Lawyer. On August 18, the Department of State announced sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, who was tasked with investigating Israel’s actions in the West Bank and arming of settler groups. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the two had “directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.”
Rubio Speaks with UAE National Security Advisor. On August 18, Secretary Rubio spoke with UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional security issues, including Lebanon, US-UAE coordination on Iran and its “proxies”, and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Barrack Calls Israeli Airstrikes on Syrian Base “Unnecessary Escalation.” On August 18, US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack condemned Israeli strikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwest Syria, calling them an “unnecessary escalation.” Barrack then suggested creating a “deconfliction mechanism” among Israel, Turkey, and Syria.
On August 21, during an interview with podcaster Mario Nawfal, Barrack said that US intelligence agencies had reviewed intelligence Israel provided before the strikes and found no evidence that Turkey was moving forces into the base, contradicting Israel’s stated justification for the attack. He added that one theory was that Israel was “baiting” Turkey ahead of its October 27 elections.
During the same interview, Barrack described Syria’s Golan Heights as occupied in violation of UN resolutions. On August 23, he clarified that he had been referring to the territory’s historical status, “not an endorsement of the United Nations’ position,” and reaffirmed that US policy on the Golan, set by President Trump in 2019, was unchanged.
Department Approves Military Sale to Qatar. On August 20, the Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Qatar for KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft and related equipment, with an estimated cost of $4.5 billion.
United States Again Plans to Block Abbas from UN General Assembly. On August 20, a US official told the Times of Israel that the administration plans to bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York to address the UN General Assembly on September 24. The United States previously denied Abbas and other Palestinian officials visas to attend the opening of the UN General Assembly in 2025.
Huckabee Warns Israeli Settlers Against Seizing Palestinian Property. On August 20, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee warned Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank against seizing property owned by Palestinian Americans. He added that those involved in the siege of homes in Qusra, a Palestinian village south of Nablus, could face US sanctions, though he said that he was not aware of any such measures being under consideration.
3) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Hezbollah Courier Network and Redesignates Group over Iran Ties. On August 20, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 10 individuals accused of operating a courier network that moved hundreds of millions of dollars in cash for Hezbollah between Lebanon and Iran, Turkey, and the UAE. OFAC said that the network enabled Hezbollah to obtain foreign currency and evade sanctions outside the formal financial system.
OFAC also redesignated Hezbollah under Executive Order 13224 as owned or controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), citing the IRGC-QF’s coordination of Hezbollah attacks and involvement in the group’s political decision-making.
III. Judicial Branch
Judge Vacates Policy Suspending Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries. On August 21, a federal judge in New York ruled that a Department of State policy suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, was contrary to law and exceeded Secretary Rubio’s statutory authority.
