Sign up for your FREE personalized newsletter featuring insights, trends, and news for America's Active Baby Boomers

Newsletter
New

Lawmakers Question Trump's Iran Talks

Card image cap

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter
{beacon}

Defense &
National Security

 

The Big Story 

Lawmakers question Trump's Iran talks

President Trump is set to open direct talks with Iran this weekend in a high-stakes push for Tehran to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions, raising a chorus of questions and concerns from lawmakers in both parties. 

© AP

Iran on Monday said the “high-level talks,” set to start in Oman on Saturday, would be indirect, seeming to contradict Trump, who said earlier Monday, “We’re having direct talks with Iran.”

 

It’s also unclear if the president is looking to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities — similar to the Obama-era agreement he trashed in 2018 — or demand the full destruction of its facilities.

 

Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), chair of the influential Republican Study Committee, said anything short of a nuclear disbandment was unacceptable. 

 

“A full commitment that they, not just when Trump is president, but whoever follows President Trump is there, that there is a firm commitment, and we know, we can verify, and there’s a complete dismantlement of their nuclear enterprises,” he told The Hill.

 

The uncertainty over Trump’s endgame has strained relations with Israel, which is wary of any U.S. engagement with Iran, a sentiment shared by many on Capitol Hill. 

 

“I worry a little bit that this seems to be done, almost going around Israel,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

 

“I just worry that with the complete disruption of most of our alliances, I think our negotiating position is weakened,” he added. 

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program while sitting next to Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, saying he wants to see the “Libya model” applied to Israel’s top adversary.  

 

Trump has warned that “Iran is going to be in great danger” if the talks fail. And Netanyahu has long been mulling an assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities — though such a major move would be unlikely without some level of U.S. backing. 

 

The fact the talks are happening at all signals that pragmatic voices in Trump’s ear are winning out over Iran hawks, at least for the moment. 

 

Read the full report at TheHill.com.

 

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

 

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

 

Essential Reads 

How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:

 

Panama says the U.S. government has recognized the country’s sovereignty over the Panama Canal, but it’s unclear if Washington fully agrees with that assertion. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, after meeting in private with Panama’s top officials in the country on Tuesday, “acknowledged the sovereignty of Panama over the Panama Canal,” Minister for Public Security Frank Abrego told reporters in a press conference alongside the …

 

The Chinese government is accusing the U.S. of “blackmail” after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Beijing a threat to the Panama Canal, asserting that Washington along with Panama “will take back” the waterway from Chinese influence. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said Hegseth had “maliciously attacked China” with his comments and was sabotaging China-Panama cooperation. “Everyone knows who wants to control …

 

The Pentagon is trying to woo back to the military thousands of service members involuntarily discharged over refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccination, starting with “letters of apology” sent this week, according to the defense official overseeing the effort. Tim Dill, the Defense Department’s acting deputy undersecretary of personnel and readiness, told reporters Tuesday that President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth …

 

On Our Radar 

Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: 

  • The United Kingdom and Germany will convene the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels. 
 

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

DHS agents denied entry at two Los Angeles schools

It is believed to be the first time federal agents tried to enter Los Angeles schools since President Trump announced a crackdown on immigration.

 

On Tap Tomorrow 

Events in and around the defense world: 

  • The National Institute for Deterrence Studies will hold a virtual discussion on “Ensuring America’s Strategic Edge,” with Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser, commander, 20th Air Force at Air Force Global Strike Command, at 10 a.m. 
  • The Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a forum on “Deepening the U.S.-Japan Space Security Relationship,” with Jun Kazeki, director-general of Japan’s National Space Policy Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, and Lt. Gen. Corey Trusty, military deputy of Space Force’s International Affairs Space Division, at 1 p.m. 
 

What We're Reading 

News we've flagged from other outlets:

  • Space Force commander in Greenland sent out email breaking with Vance after his visit (Military.com)
  • DOD issues guidance to advance civilian workforce overhaul (Military Times)
 

Trending Today 

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

President Trump has quietly replaced acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kash Patel with Army Secretary … Read more

President Trump’s tariff plans have raised jitters about the stability of the bond market as demand quickly dropped before he implemented his 90-day … Read more

 

Opinions in The Hill 

Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:

 
 

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! 

Close

Thank you for signing up!

Subscribe to more newsletters here

The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter
Subscribe

Back to Listing
credit: 
Recent