United States | DD News

July 5, 2026 10:36 AM

Trump appears on National Mall for July 4 speech after storm-related delay

After a storm-related delay, U.S. President Donald Trump took the stage on the National Mall on Saturday to deliver a campaign-style speech to mark the country's 250th anniversary. Trump said he would have been willing to wait longer if necessary. "There's no way we can be deterred," he said, shortly after taking the stage at 11:15 p.m. ET (0315 GMT on Sunday). Authorities allowed the crowd to return to an open field near the Washington Monument where Trump was due to speak, after ordering a w...

July 5, 2026 12:40 PM

PM Modi extends greetings to US on 250th anniversary of Independence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended warm greetings to United States President Donald Trump and the people of the United States on the country's historic 250th anniversary of Independence. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I extend my warmest congratulations to President Trump and the people of the United States on the historic 250th anniversary of your Independence." Highlighting the close ties between the world's two largest democracies,...

July 3, 2026 4:13 PM

Iran’s slain leader Khamenei laid in state in Tehran for week of mass funeral events

The body of Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was lying in state in a vast hall in Tehran on Friday as clerics, officials, foreign dignitaries and other mourners paid their respects after his 37-year rule. Iran is staging a week of mass funeral processions for Khamenei — killed in February by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes at the start of a four-month war — in a show of public devotion to the Islamic Republic's theocratic state and revolutionary fire. Khamenei's body was expe...

June 30, 2026 12:57 PM

Doha diplomacy faces early test as U.S. and Iran differ on talks

Diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in West Asia have encountered an early hurdle as the United States and Iran offer conflicting accounts of the next stage of discussions in Doha. Uncertainty has grown over the future of U.S.-Iran engagement after President Donald Trump indicated that fresh talks could be held in Doha. However, Tehran has firmly rejected the claim, saying no negotiations with the United States are currently planned. Iranian officials maintain that their immediate focus is on...

June 29, 2026 9:11 PM

US and Iran stand down after strikes; fresh talks announced in Doha as Hormuz future debated

The United States and Iran have agreed to pause their exchange of military strikes and allow commercial shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz, as President Donald Trump announced a fresh round of talks between the two sides in Qatar on Tuesday. Trump posted on social media that Iran had "requested a meeting" and that it would take place in Doha, without providing further details on the agenda or level of representation. Iran reacted by shooting down the claim, with Deputy Foreign Minis...

October 30, 2026 4:46 PM

Explainer: US Congress backed an Iran war powers resolution. Now what?

This week both the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed a resolution directing President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, reflecting growing concern among members of his party about the conflict that began on February 28. The U.S. Senate passed the War Powers concurrent resolution on Tuesday directing President Trump to halt U.S. military activity against Iran, weeks after the measure was approved by the House. It is the first time...

June 26, 2026 10:03 AM

UN halts escort of ships through Hormuz after vessel comes under attack

The U.N. International Maritime Organization paused its operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel reported an attack, reigniting concerns about whether a preliminary deal to end the Iran war will hold. The cargo ship said it was hit close to Oman by a projectile, British navy agency UKMTO said, hours after Tehran warned vessels against taking routes that it had not approved. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran had fired on the ship, while Iran'...

June 26, 2026 9:54 AM

Rubio wraps up Gulf tour as allies share concerns over Iran peace accord

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at winning over regional partners with deep reservations about the preliminary accord. Speaking at a meeting of Gulf Arab foreign ministers in Bahrain - home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet - Rubio said Washington was seeking an enduring peace with long-time foe Iran that would not come at the expense of the security of allies...

June 23, 2026 12:34 PM

US Eases Iran Sanctions to Allow Oil Sales Amid Peace Talks

The United States has temporarily lifted major sanctions on Iran, authorizing the production, delivery and sale of Iranian-origin crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products. The 60-day general license issued by the U.S. Treasury Department remains in effect through August 21 and aligns with the timeline of an interim agreement aimed at securing a final peace deal between Washington and Tehran. The sanctions relief covers associated services, including banking transactions, insurance and ma...

June 23, 2026 11:18 AM

Rubio faces tough task of selling Iran reset to wary Gulf allies

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faces a delicate mission this week pitching Washington's Iran peace deal to Gulf Arab leaders who fear excessive concessions will strengthen Tehran and reshape the region's security balance and oil flows. Rubio will meet them in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, before traveling to Kuwait and Bahrain, where he will meet officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council, a grouping of monarchies that also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. At issue are eleme...