President Trump announced Monday that he has postponed a scheduled military attack on Iran, citing diplomatic overtures from Gulf allies who believe a negotiated settlement may be possible. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia had petitioned Washington to hold back because a deal that would satisfy US interests while preventing Iranian nuclear weapons development could be within reach.
At the same time, Trump instructed his military commanders to maintain readiness for what he called "a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice" should negotiations fail. The dual message underscored the administration's unpredictable posture toward Tehran even as a ceasefire that paused six weeks of US-Israeli airstrikes and Iranian retaliation remains technically in place.
There is little sign of momentum on the diplomatic front. Trump himself described the current ceasefire as "on life support," and Israeli media reports have suggested that large-scale fighting could resume at any time. Iran's foreign military spokesperson claimed that Pakistan had shared Tehran's latest proposal with Washington, but no breakthrough announcements have followed.
The threat of renewed conflict comes as Trump's domestic political standing faces headwinds. His approval rating has dropped to its lowest point since taking office for a second term, with most American voters telling pollsters that his decision to enter the conflict with Iran was a mistake. As attention turns toward the November midterm elections, frustration over living costs and the war's trajectory appears to be weighing on his numbers.
Beyond the Middle East, the Trump administration is pursuing several policy reversals from the Biden era. The administration announced plans to repeal Obama-era drinking water standards limiting PFAS compounds, often called "forever chemicals" because they do not degrade naturally in the environment. Health researchers have linked PFAS exposure to cancer, birth defects, weakened immunity, high cholesterol, and kidney disease.
Immigration enforcement is also reshaping the fiscal landscape. Tax experts warned that the administration's crackdown on undocumented workers could cause the US to forfeit as much as $479 billion in tax revenue over the next decade, as enforcement measures discourage workers from filing returns.
The administration is also cutting federal weather data programs as hurricane season approaches and forecasters predict record summer heat. Experts have cautioned that reduced funding for climate and weather monitoring could compromise the accuracy of forecasts when public safety depends on them most.
Trump moved Monday to dismiss a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, with reports suggesting he is considering a settlement that would establish a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies alleged to have faced government persecution. The filing came two days before a judge-imposed deadline for arguments on whether a legitimate legal controversy exists, given that Trump now controls the agency being sued.
In civil liberties news, the New York Times filed a second lawsuit against the Pentagon, challenging a policy that requires journalists to have official escorts when on Pentagon grounds. The Times argued in federal district court in Washington that the interim policy amounts to unconstitutional restrictions on press freedom.
Three people were killed and two suspects died in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The two suspects, aged 17 and 19, reportedly died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Cuba's president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, warned that any American military action against the island nation would result in a "bloodbath" with unpredictable consequences for regional stability, stating that Cuba poses no threat to the United States.
US health authorities confirmed that an American contracted Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an ongoing epidemic continues. Officials said they are taking preventive measures to protect Americans in affected regions of the DRC and Uganda.
A jury ruled in favor of Sam Altman in a lengthy legal battle involving the world's richest person and a leading figure in artificial intelligence development.
Greenland's government objected to the arrival of a US doctor who accompanied Trump's special envoy, Jeff Landry, to the territory, saying Greenlanders will not be treated as "experimental subjects."
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's seesaw on Iran, from postponement to hair-trigger readiness, makes for good political theater but raises the stakes for any miscalculation that could spiral beyond his control."
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