Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Iran raises sticking points even before talks in Pakistan begin
A senior Iranian official says major parts of the two-week ceasefire negotiated with President Trump must be implemented before deeper negotiations begin in Pakistan on Saturday. Published April 10, 2026
J.D. Vance warns Iran not to ‘play us’ as he departs for Pakistan-led talks
Vice President J.D. Vance warned Iran not to "play" the U.S. as he departed for high-stakes negotiations in Pakistan amid a two-week ceasefire in the war. Published April 10, 2026
Inflation surged in March due to jump in gas prices during Iran war
Consumer prices jumped in March due to a big increase in gasoline prices alongside President Trump's war on Iran. Published April 10, 2026
Israel seeks talks with Lebanon as globe rallies to preserve U.S.-Iran ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his government Thursday to start negotiations with Lebanon as "soon as possible" to disarm Hezbollah fighters, as violence between the Middle Eastern neighbors threatened the ceasefire that President Trump had struck with Iran. Published April 9, 2026
Iran warns ceasefire violations will meet ‘strong’ response, as Lebanon emerges as sticking point
A top Iranian official warned Thursday that violations of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will have "explicit costs," as European leaders and others urged Israel to stop attacking Lebanon. Published April 9, 2026
Trump pivots from military victory to negotiation with Iran, dispatches Vance to Pakistan
The White House and the wider world clung to a "fragile truce" in the Middle East on Wednesday as President Trump worked to declare military victory over Iran and pivot to a negotiation phase that would lead to lasting peace. Published April 8, 2026
White House hails ‘swift and successful’ military campaign against Iran, turns to negotiation phase
The White House declared a military victory over Iran on Wednesday and said President Trump will not accept a final deal that violates any of his red lines or keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed to oil shipping traffic. Published April 8, 2026
Gas prices could start falling within days, but ceasefire wild cards remain
The two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran caused oil prices to plummet on Wednesday, meaning American drivers should see lower gas prices down the road. Published April 8, 2026
Trump floats a toll-charging venture with Iran in Strait of Hormuz
President Trump says he's considering a "joint venture" in which the U.S. and Iran charge tolls for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a major passage for oil tankers and a key point of leverage in the Middle East conflict. Published April 8, 2026
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez: Trump had to ‘show up with a bucket’ to stamp out his own global crisis
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a chief critic of the U.S. war on Iran, welcomed President Trump's ceasefire with Tehran on Wednesday but said the U.S. leader put out his own fire. Published April 8, 2026
Wall Street rebounds strongly, oil prices dip after U.S. and Iran agree to two-week ceasefire deal
Markets are cheering the two-week ceasefire struck by President Trump and leaders in Iran, with investors scrambling to buy up stocks after a six-week conflict marked by periodic Wall Street selloffs. Published April 8, 2026
Trump says U.S. will work with new leaders in Iran for lasting peace deal, will nab ‘nuclear dust’
President Trump said Wednesday his team is working closely with Iran to turn a two-week ceasefire into a lasting peace that prevents Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Published April 8, 2026
Trump agrees to two-week suspension of threatened attacks on Iran
President Trump agreed to hold off on his apocalyptic promise to order the death of "a whole civilization" Tuesday after Iran agreed to open up the Strait of Hormuz as part of a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire of the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran. Published April 7, 2026
U.S. hits Iranian oil hub as Trump threatens to eliminate a ‘whole civilization’
U.S. forces pummeled a critical offshore hub of Iran's oil-export industry as the world waited to see if President Trump would follow through on his threat to bomb the country into the Stone Age unless his ceasefire demands are met. Published April 7, 2026
Congressional Democrats condemn Trump’s threat to wipe out Iran
Top-ranking Senate Democrats condemned President Trump on Tuesday for threatening to wipe out a "whole civilization" in Iran, calling it a betrayal of American values and a threat to commit war crimes. Published April 7, 2026
J.D. Vance boosts Hungarian PM Viktor Orban as defender of Western values before election
Vice President J.D. Vance said he supports Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his effort to put Hungarians first, a blunt display of trans-Atlantic support for President Trump's populist ally ahead of Sunday's tough election. Published April 7, 2026
J.D. Vance says Iran faces two pathways: Normalcy or more pain
Vice President J.D. Vance said Tuesday the U.S. has achieved many of its military objectives in Iran, but the regime in Tehran must choose between two pathways if it wants to avoid more economic pain and destruction before a deadline set by President Trump. Published April 7, 2026
J.D. Vance visits Hungary to boost Viktor Orban before weekend election
Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Budapest Tuesday to boost Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of a tough election on Sunday. Published April 7, 2026
Trump’s deadline for Iran to make deal approaches as critics fear his ultimatum threatens war crimes
President Trump said Monday that God is on the side of the U.S. as Iran faces the looming zero hour on the president's ultimatum to either make a deal to end the war or sustain even worse destruction. Published April 6, 2026
Trump vows to root out, punish ‘leaker’ who spoke to media about Iran rescue
President Trump fumed Monday over the leak of information that revealed one U.S. military aviator was missing behind enemy lines in Iran, even as the military had recovered the plane's pilot. Published April 6, 2026
