Tuesday, June 17, 2025

The escalating Iran and Israel conflict

President Donald Trump denied reports that he had reached out to Tehran seeking an end to the conflict between the two countries. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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On Politics

Tue Jun 17 2025

 

Rebecca Morin Newsletter Writer

@RebeccaMorin_

Hi! Rebecca Morin here. It's Election Day here in Virginia for the primary season! Are you voting? Here's what to know about the election.

The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel

It's been five days since Israel and Iran began trading air strikes. President Donald Trump on early Tuesday denied reports that he had reached out to Tehran seeking an end to the conflict between the two countries, despite earlier suggesting he was working toward a broad Iran nuclear deal. Trump in Tuesday's Truth Social post said that if Iran wants to talk, "they know how to reach me." In a Truth Social post later Tuesday, the president appeared to indicate that the United States has been involved in the Israeli attack on Iran, where he said "we" have control of the skies and "American made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff'" defeated Iranian defensive equipment.

Will U.S. military get involved? The Pentagon has shifted warplanes and an aircraft carrier to the Middle East amid the growing conflict, but the moves have been defensive in nature as the United States observes rather than participates in Israel's punishing air campaign, according to U.S. officials. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance raised the possibility that Trump could order U.S. military action if Iran doesn't give up its nuclear enrichment program. 

What does Congress have to say? Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, announced a measure "to prohibit our involvement" in the conflict with Iran, which drew enthusiastic support from progressive Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, also introduced legislation on Monday to prevent Trump from using military force against Iran without congressional authorization.

Iran Nuclear Israel

An Israeli man looks at smoke that rises following a missile attack from Iran, in Herzliya, Israel, June 17, 2025.

Itai Ron, Reuters

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Deeper Medicaid cuts, limited tax breaks for tips: What's in the Senate tax bill

Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.

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