At a 27 May cabinet meeting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to "surge" National Guard troops in Washington this summer after President Trump told officials "don't lower the number," and framed a US "world-class blockade" as having forced Iran to "cry uncle" at the negotiating table. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran would "never" obtain a nuclear weapon and called diplomacy "the first option," while stressing that Trump retained "other options" if talks fail within "the next few hours and days." Trump dismissed concern over Iran-linked gas prices, claiming US output now doubles Russia and Saudi Arabia combined, and pivoted to domestic claims on fraud and drug prices.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy reported on Wednesday that 23 ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz with its permission in the past 24 hours, Iranian media said. U.S. Central Command stated it has redirected 109 commercial vessels in the Arabian Sea to enforce President Trump's blockade of ships traveling to and from Iranian ports since it began on April 13. The IRGC had previously said 25 ships passed through the strait on Tuesday in coordination with its navy.

A senior IRGC Navy official threatened on Wednesday to turn Iran's Gulf coastline into a killing ground if the US resumes military action, even as negotiators reported the two sides were closer to an initial agreement than at any point since the April ceasefire. The IRGC Navy's political deputy Mohammad Akbarzadeh said Iran would 'turn the area from Chabahar to Mahshahr into a graveyard for aggressors,' according to Tasnim news agency. Talks over an initial deal remain stuck on control of the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear file, with neither side yielding.

One person is dead and nine remain missing after a chemical tank imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co paper mill in Longview, Washington, on Tuesday. The tank held about 900,000 gallons of a caustic liquid called white liquor, and nine others were injured, including eight employees and one firefighter. Recovery efforts are paused until the unstable tank can be reinforced, with crews working only during daylight due to safety hazards.

Background: The US and Iran are in a frozen conflict with US financial sanctions and a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's closure of the strait, and stalled negotiations. Trump rejected Iranian peace proposals transmitted via Pakistan, calling them 'total nonsense' and 'completely unacceptable' on Truth Social, as the ceasefire remains 'incredibly fragile' and on 'life support.' Today: President Trump is struggling to secure a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran's nuclear program, having boxed himself in politically. His aggressive social media posts and domestic political constraints are complicating negotiations, despite his self-proclaimed status as a master dealmaker.

Background: The US-Israeli war against Iran has entered its third month with no end in sight, characterized by an indefinite impasse, no good deal possible, Washington losing the initiative, Israel's complicating role, and Iran's asymmetric advantage in defining victory as regime survival. The conflict remains frozen, with US financial sanctions and a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's closure of the strait and toll charges, and stalled negotiations. Iran proposed a side deal to reopen the strait in exchange for lifting the blockade, but the US has not decided. President Trump vacillates between military strikes and maintaining maximum pressure. Iran's economy is under severe strain from sanctions and inflation, but the regime remains defiant, relying on a patronage system and Revolutionary Guard influence amid domestic protests and international pressure. A new analysis published on May 25, 2026, argues that Operation Epic Fury has failed to achieve its stated goals of regime change and eliminating Iran's nuclear program, despite massive airstrikes. The conflict has become a stalemate, with Iran not capitulating and the Strait of Hormuz remaining functionally closed. The article attributes the failure to the 'short-war fallacy'—the mistaken belief that superior firepower and speed would yield a quick strategic victory. It notes that negotiations for a ceasefire remain uncertain, with both sides far apart on key issues, including Iran's nuclear program. The analysis also highlights that the war has reinforced the Iranian regime's hold on power, as hard-liners in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have tightened control. The U.S. has struck 13,000 targets, destroyed 80% of Iran's air defenses, and hit numerous missile and drone storage facilities, but these tactical gains have not translated into strategic success. The article concludes that the U.S. is now in an invidious position, needing concessions from Iran that Tehran is not inclined to offer.

North Korea, under leader Kim Jong Un, conducted tests of a new lightweight multi-purpose missile launch system and a multiple tactical cruise missile weapon system on Tuesday, May 27. The cruise missiles are guided by artificial intelligence and capable of striking South Korea with high precision. South Korea's military reported the launch of several projectiles, including a ballistic missile that flew about 80 km. Pyongyang has designated South Korea as a 'hostile state', abandoning unification goals, and is advancing its nuclear program with support from Russia and China, while the US is focused on Iran. Analysts suggest the tests aim to cement North Korea's nuclear status amid eroding international norms.

Background: France and Spain had previously urged the EU to reserve satellite spectrum for European companies, excluding US players like Viasat and EchoStar, as part of a broader push for digital sovereignty. Today, the European Commission formally proposed reserving two-thirds of the 2 GHz mobile satellite service spectrum for European operators, replacing current licenses held by US firms Viasat and EchoStar which expire in one year. One-third of the spectrum would be reserved for government use, requiring an EU operator compatible with the IRIS2 satellite constellation. The remaining commercial frequencies would be split equally between EU and non-EU providers. The proposal, which requires approval from EU member states and the European Parliament, aims to boost European technological sovereignty and could strain EU-US relations. EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen noted that the US recently awarded a satellite license to a US contractor despite interest from a European provider.