According to a report by The Washington Post, the United States is preparing to send thousands more military personnel to the Middle East within the next few days. The move is described as part of the Trump administration’s effort to increase pressure on Iran to reach an agreement. The report cited U.S. officials familiar with the deployment plan.

Reuters also reported on the story, noting that it has not yet independently verified the accuracy of The Washington Post’s claims. The report was further referenced by BBC sources. The development comes amid ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic discussions involving Iran and neighboring countries.

No official confirmation or detailed timeline has been provided regarding the troop deployment, leaving uncertainty about the exact scale and objectives of the operation.

Two members of the US Congress have resigned following separate sexual misconduct scandals. Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell announced his resignation on Monday after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or misconduct. Hours later, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas also stepped down after admitting to a relationship with a former aide amid mounting pressure.

In his resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Swalwell expressed regret for past mistakes and apologized to his family, colleagues, and voters. He stated that he would fight what he described as serious and false allegations but accepted responsibility for his errors. Gonzales admitted to having a relationship with a staff member who later died by suicide. He also faces allegations of sending inappropriate messages to another former employee, which he has not publicly addressed.

The resignations mark a rare bipartisan fallout in Congress, highlighting ongoing scrutiny over personal conduct among elected officials.

House Democrats have proposed forming a commission led by Vice President JD Vance to determine whether President Donald Trump should be removed from office under the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The proposal was introduced on Tuesday by Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, following concerns about Trump’s physical and mental fitness after a series of controversial remarks and actions. These included threats to destroy Iran’s civilization and social media posts comparing himself to Jesus Christ.

Raskin stated that such behavior has severely eroded public trust and turned the issue into one of national security. Former CIA Director John Brennan and several Democratic lawmakers have argued that the 79-year-old president is no longer fit to lead. The bill has 50 Democratic co-sponsors and calls for a 17-member commission comprising former executive officials, physicians, and psychiatrists nominated by both parties.

However, the proposal faces steep odds in the Republican-controlled House, where passage is considered highly unlikely.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the NATO military alliance has not adequately supported the United States in the past or present and will not do so in the future. According to a report published on April 15, 2026, by Iran International, Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social on April 14, asserting that NATO has not stood by the U.S. and will not in the future.

His comments have sparked renewed discussion and criticism in international circles. The statement is considered significant given that the United States is a principal member of NATO, one of the world’s most powerful military alliances. The remarks have drawn attention to the dynamics of U.S. relations with NATO and the broader implications for transatlantic defense cooperation.

The report did not specify any official responses from NATO or other governments following Trump’s statement.

US President Donald Trump has praised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing him as doing a great job. In a phone interview with the New York Post, Trump said that discussions between the United States and Iran could resume within the next two days. He noted that talks were ongoing but progressing slowly.

According to the report, Trump called the newspaper’s representative again about half an hour later, suggesting that something significant might happen soon and that the US was leaning toward resuming talks. He linked this optimism to the efforts of Pakistan’s military leadership, saying that Field Marshal Munir was performing excellently. Trump had previously referred to the Pakistani army chief as a “dear” person.

The report also mentioned that Gulf countries were interested in helping Pakistan facilitate renewed dialogue between the United States and Iran, highlighting Islamabad’s potential diplomatic role in easing regional tensions.

US President Donald Trump has said that discussions between the United States and Iran could resume within the next two days. He made the remarks in a phone interview with the New York Post, noting that talks were ongoing but progressing slowly. About half an hour later, Trump called the newspaper again, suggesting that their correspondent should stay in Islamabad, where the first round of talks had taken place, because something might happen soon.

Trump added that the likelihood of renewed discussions was high, crediting Pakistan’s army chief for doing an excellent job. He had previously referred to the Pakistani military leader as a close ally. The comments were reported by the BBC and cited by the Bangladeshi outlet Amar Desh.

The report also mentioned that Gulf countries have shown interest in helping Pakistan facilitate renewed dialogue between the United States and Iran, indicating a possible regional effort to ease tensions.

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to reach a major agreement with Iran, Vice President JD Vance said, according to a CBS News report cited by BBC. Speaking at a Turning Points USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vance noted that significant progress had been made during recent discussions between U.S. and Iranian representatives held in Pakistan. He emphasized that Trump is not interested in a minor deal but aims for a 'Trumpian grand bargain' of historic scale.

Reuters reported that Vance also acknowledged the deep mistrust between the two nations, saying that decades of distrust cannot be resolved overnight. Washington views the high-level talks, the first of their kind in 49 years, as a positive development. Despite the U.S. military maintaining a strict naval blockade on Iran, the Trump administration’s proposal for a major deal has sparked new debate in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The renewed diplomatic engagement signals a potential shift in U.S.–Iran relations, though the outcome of the proposed negotiations remains uncertain.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for not directly supporting the United States in its conflict with Iran. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump said he was disappointed in Meloni, claiming she lacked courage and questioning why she was not involved in securing Iranian oil resources. He also accused her of ignoring the threat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The remarks came after Meloni’s right-wing government decided not to automatically renew Italy’s defense cooperation agreement with Israel, opting instead to suspend it. Tensions between the two leaders had already risen when Meloni previously condemned Trump’s negative comments about Pope Leo as unacceptable.

Analysts cited in the report said the public exchange between the long-time allies signals growing instability in international politics, particularly in U.S.–European relations. Trump’s aggressive stance toward Iran is reportedly creating pressure even among his closest allies.

A new Pew Research Center survey indicates that Israel is losing public support in the United States, particularly among Democrats, younger Americans, and increasingly among Republicans. More than 60 percent of Americans now view Israel negatively, up from 53 percent the previous year. The report notes that 28 percent of respondents hold a very negative view of Israel, a nine-point increase in one year and nearly triple the 2022 figure.

Among Americans aged 18 to 29, 75 percent expressed negative views of Israel, while 67 percent of those aged 30 to 49 shared similar sentiments. Even before the Iran war, U.S. public support for Israel had been declining over its military actions in Gaza. The Gaza conflict further alienated many Americans, especially left-leaning youth, while far-right antisemitism has also resurfaced.

The report underscores that Israel’s long-term security depends heavily on its alliance with the United States, which in turn relies on American public backing. Pew’s data suggest that the erosion of this support is a tangible and growing reality.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated that China will not be allowed to import oil from Iran. Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., he said that Chinese tankers carrying Iranian oil through the Strait of Hormuz would be blocked. Bessent emphasized that China could source oil from other suppliers but not from Iran.

He criticized China for being an unreliable global partner, noting that the country is simultaneously increasing its oil reserves while restricting exports of certain goods. Bessent mentioned that he had discussed these issues with Chinese officials. When asked whether the dispute might affect US President Donald Trump’s planned mid-May visit to Beijing, Bessent declined to comment, saying the visit should focus on stability and that communication between the two nations remains crucial.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions over energy trade and sanctions enforcement, with Washington signaling a firm stance on restricting Iranian oil exports.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited a dispute with Pope Leo over Iran’s nuclear program and the reported number of deaths in the country’s anti-government protests. In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared that Iran possessing a nuclear bomb would be unacceptable. He criticized Pope Leo, claiming Iran had killed at least 42,000 unarmed protesters in the past two months and ended his message by asserting, “America is back.”

Two days earlier, Trump had accused Pope Leo of being weak on crime and disastrous in foreign policy. Pope Leo, the first American-born pontiff, had recently condemned U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran and Lebanon. In response, he said he was not afraid of the Trump administration and would continue to speak against the horrors of war.

Trump’s claim of 42,000 protester deaths has been questioned. Iran’s government reported 3,117 deaths, while human rights groups estimated around 7,007. The UN’s special envoy to Iran suggested the toll could range between 5,000 and 20,000. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated it has no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

US President Donald Trump said the Iran war is 'almost over' during an interview with Fox News, suggesting that the conflict is approaching its conclusion. He also hinted at a possible second round of face-to-face talks with Iran in Pakistan in the coming days.

In the same report, the United States claimed to have completely halted Iran’s economic trade through maritime routes. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), stated that the blockade on Iranian ports has been fully implemented and that US forces continue to maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East.

The developments come amid ongoing diplomatic and military tensions, with regional actors reportedly showing interest in facilitating renewed dialogue between Washington and Tehran.

The United States carried out another strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in four deaths, according to an announcement by the US Southern Command (Southcom) on Tuesday. Southcom shared the information through social media and released a video showing a small boat with an outboard engine being destroyed by a missile and engulfed in flames.

Southcom, which oversees US military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, stated that the attack was based on intelligence reports. It claimed the targeted vessel was operating along a drug trafficking route and was involved in narcotics smuggling. However, the command did not provide evidence to support its claim that the four people killed were “narco-terrorists.”

According to the report, a total of 175 people have been killed in similar attacks on vessels in international waters of the eastern Pacific and Caribbean since early September.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that new talks with Iran could begin in Pakistan within two days, aiming to ease ongoing tensions between the two countries. The announcement coincided with a continued decline in the U.S. dollar, which fell for the seventh consecutive day in global markets. At the end of trading on April 14, the dollar index dropped 0.26 percent to 98.8 points, its lowest level since March 2.

The dollar’s decline was further supported by lower-than-expected U.S. inflation data, which reassured investors and reduced pressure on the currency. Market analyst Karl Schamotta noted that the Trump administration appeared to be seeking an honorable exit from the conflict, raising the possibility of a symbolic agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt attacks.

Analysts said investors are now watching diplomatic developments in Pakistan and the Middle East. If a lasting ceasefire or peace deal is achieved, the dollar could fall further to pre-conflict levels.

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the American delegation in a possible second round of direct talks with Iranian officials before the current ceasefire expires, according to multiple sources cited by CNN. The discussions aim to explore diplomatic solutions to end the ongoing Iran war.

Sources also indicated that President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner may attend the meeting. Kushner has reportedly been involved in diplomatic efforts since before the conflict began. Trump has tasked these three senior advisers with finding a diplomatic path out of the war and has expressed full confidence in them.

Following a 21-hour marathon meeting last Saturday, Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner have maintained close contact with Iranian representatives and mediators in pursuit of a potential agreement, the sources added.