I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Bipartisan Bill Would Establish House-of-Worship Buffer Zones Following Protests Outside Israeli Real Estate Events. On August 6, Reps. Brad Knott (R-NC) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) introduced H.R.10052, which would establish 100-foot protest-free buffer zones around houses of worship during religious services, “making it unlawful to knowingly disrupt or impede people from attending.” The bill’s definition of religious services includes “any collective worship or prayer service, class, or other event, at which individuals congregate to worship, study, or otherwise exercise, their religion.”
On the same day, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced companion legislation (S.5289) in the Senate.
The bill follows pro-Palestine protests in May 2026 at New York synagogues that hosted Israeli real estate events promoting land sales in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Anti-Defamation League, which endorsed the bill, cited those demonstrations in its statement welcoming the legislation.
Bipartisan Bill Would Sanction Hezbollah Financing and Expand Security Assistance to Lebanon. On August 6, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced S.5356, which would impose sanctions on foreign persons who facilitate Iran’s financing of Hezbollah or obstruct Lebanese efforts to disarm the group, and authorize $200 million annually in security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, conditioned on demonstrated progress in disarming Hezbollah. If sufficient progress is made, the amount authorized would increase to $300 million. The bill would also fund state-run infrastructure and civil services and require recurring reporting to Congress on Hezbollah’s disarmament and banking sector reform.
Senate Democrat Introduces Iran War Powers Resolution. On August 6, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced S.J.Res.211, an Iran War Powers resolution that would halt US military operations against Iran that do not have congressional authorization.
Senate Bill Would Increase Transparency on Iran War Casualties. On August 6, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced S.5300, which would prohibit the Department of War from improperly reclassifying military operations or casualty records and require the restoration of casualty records and benefits for military and civilian personnel involved in the Iran war. The legislation follows abrupt changes made by the Pentagon to its Iran war casualty classifications, removing from the tally several US troops who had been killed or wounded.
Senate Passes Sanctions Bill Targeting Russia and Iran. On August 7, the Senate passed H.R.5334 in an 86-11 vote. The bill would impose harsher sanctions on Russia and the top five buyers of Russian oil and extend existing sanctions on Iran.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
House Democrats Press Administration for Updates on Gaza Peace Plan. On August 3, Reps. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) and Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) led 63 other House Democrats in a letter to President Donald Trump requesting updates on the administration’s 20-point Gaza peace plan and urging him to prioritize a lasting peace for Palestinians in Gaza. The lawmakers cited concerns over Israeli control of nearly 70 percent of Gaza, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and delays in deploying security and political alternatives to Hamas.
House Democrats Urge Administration to Address Israeli Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid to Gaza. On August 3, Reps. Derek Tran (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) led 62 other House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to address Israel’s overly broad restrictions on dual-use goods entering Gaza that were delaying essential humanitarian supplies.
Senate Democrats Urge Administration to Prevent Atrocities in Sudan. On August 3, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 20 other Democratic senators in a letter to the Department of State urging the administration to use US leverage to prevent further atrocities in Sudan, including by halting certain arms sales to the United Arab Emirates over its support for the Rapid Support Forces.
Lawmakers Urge Administration to Address Settler Violence in the Occupied West Bank. On August 5, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 19 other lawmakers in a letter to Secretary Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and then-Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche urging the administration to use diplomatic and economic measures to address Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The lawmakers also called for restoring sanctions on individuals and entities linked to settler violence and for independent investigations into the deaths of nine Americans killed in the occupied West Bank since 2022.
3) Hearings and Briefings
Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Alleged Muslim Brotherhood Influence in the United States. On August 5, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights held a hearing on the “Muslim Brotherhood network in America.”
Witnesses alleged that the Muslim Brotherhood operated a network of influence involving numerous US organizations aimed at the “erosion” of American values. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who chaired the hearing, said that Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood through his father-in-law’s work with Muslim nonprofit organizations. Cruz also accused Democratic campaigns of “embracing terrorist organizations waging war on America” and portrayed El-Sayed’s August 4 primary victory over Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) as a victory for those groups.
On August 3, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) said that they would not attend, rejecting what they described as the scapegoating of Muslims to mobilize Texas Republican voters.
SFRC Holds Briefing on Sudan. On August 5, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) held a classified briefing on the war in Sudan.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Says Hormuz Deal Could Be Announced Soon. On August 4, President Trump said that negotiations with Iran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz had made progress and that an agreement could be announced as soon as August 5 or 6. That same day, Secretary Rubio said that the United States was involved in negotiations between Iran and Oman aimed at increasing maritime traffic through the strait.
On August 5, Iran said that it was in the “final stage” of drafting an agreement with Oman.
Then, on August 9, Trump said that the United States was only “semi-negotiating” with Iran and indicated that he would allow mounting economic pressure on Tehran to take effect rather than immediately pursue renewed military action. His remarks came as Iran reportedly presented new conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Speaks with Qatari Emir. On August 4, President Trump and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed efforts to ease regional tensions and advance a diplomatic settlement between the United States and Iran. The two leaders also emphasized continued US-Qatar coordination on regional developments.
Trump Attacks El-Sayed as a Hater of Jews and Israel. On August 5, President Trump lashed out at Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, saying that he “hates Jews and Israel.” His comments came after El-Sayed’s primary win. El-Sayed will now face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) in the November elections.
Trump Denies US Munitions Shortage. On August 6, President Trump denied reports that the United States was facing a munitions shortage and vowed to seek “long term jail sentences” for those suspected of leaking information.
His denial followed reports on August 4 that the United States had used nearly all of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the Iran war.
Meanwhile, on August 8, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that the department was pressing defense companies to accelerate weapons production to replenish diminished munitions stockpiles, including weapons used in the Iran war.
2) Department of State
Rubio Meets with British Foreign Secretary. On August 5, Secretary Rubio met with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband to discuss the Strait of Hormuz and preventing Iran from developing or obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Department of State Says Progress Made in Israel-Lebanon Talks. From August 4 to 6, US-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Rome. Department of State spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that the talks focused on advancing full implementation of the Trilateral Framework, including the pilot zone process, verified disarmament of Hezbollah and “other Iran-linked security threats,” and the redeployment of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. On August 6, the Department of State said that progress had been made during the negotiations.
3) Department of War
AFRICOM Conducts Strike in Somalia. On August 7, US forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabab in Somalia.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Lifts Sanctions on Iraqi Airline. On August 5, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed counterterrorism sanctions imposed in 2024 on Iraq’s Fly Baghdad Airlines and two aircraft over alleged links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force.
A Treasury official said that the airline had made significant changes to its operations, without providing specifics. The official claimed that the decision did not signal a change in US policy toward Iran and was unrelated to ongoing negotiations with Iran.
Treasury Sanctions Entities Supporting Iran’s Financial Networks. On August 7, OFAC designated two digital asset exchanges and an Iranian national accused of facilitating cryptocurrency-based sanctions evasion and supporting the IRGC. OFAC separately targeted multiple networks accused of helping Iran’s shadow banking system move hundreds of millions of dollars.
