U.S. sanctions Iran's shadow oil network.
Today's events
Iran oil network.
State and Treasury sanctioned a Hong Kong–based oil network that has moved tens of millions of barrels of Iranian crude worth billions — designating eight entities and eight vessels — funding Iran's Revolutionary Guard and armed forces.1May 28 · StateBrazil's gangs.
The State Department designated Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital — Brazil's two largest criminal organizations, with thousands of members — as global terrorists, and said it will name both foreign terrorist organizations on June 5.2May 28 · StateTerror indictment.
The Justice Department charged Mohammad Baqer Al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi commander of the Iran-backed militia Kata'ib Hizballah, over nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States.3May 28 · DOJSupply-chain hack.
CISA flagged active compromises of developer software: a poisoned Nx Console extension auto-installed on machines breached a GitHub employee and exfiltrated internal repositories, while the “Megalodon” campaign harvested cloud credentials from public repositories.4May 28 · CISAEconomic growth.
The economy grew at a 1.6% annual rate in the first quarter — revised down from the advance estimate — while the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge held at 4.5%, or 4.4% excluding food and energy.5May 28 · BEA
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U.S.–Mexico trade.
The U.S. Trade Representative launched the first joint review of the North American trade pact (USMCA), opening bilateral rounds with Mexico in Mexico City on May 28–29 covering economic security and rules of origin, with a second round in Washington June 16–17.6May 28–29 · USTREbola response.
The State Department committed an additional $80 million — more than $112 million in two weeks — against the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda, as the U.S., Mexico, and Canada aligned travel-screening measures ahead of the 2026 World Cup.7May 28 · StateStates sued.
The Justice Department sued Maine, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts for refusing to issue confidential license plates to federal agents, arguing the policies endanger officers and obstruct immigration enforcement.8May 27 · DOJEnergy sunset rule.
The Energy Department issued a rule inserting expiration dates into energy regulations under President Trump's 2025 Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting order; rules not renewed within five years will lapse automatically.9May 29 · Fed. Reg.
This week
Quad nations move on critical minerals.
The U.S., Japan, Australia and India launched a Critical Minerals Initiative Framework in New Delhi on May 26, pledging to mobilize up to $20 billion across mining, processing and recycling. Paired with a separate bilateral U.S.–India minerals framework signed the same day (first in the May 26 brief), it is the bloc's most concrete attempt yet to break China's dominance of rare-earth supply chains.1May 26 · StateThe Iran blockade passed 100 ships.
Central Command said on May 23 that U.S. forces had redirected 100 commercial vessels since the April 13 blockade of Iranian ports began — disabling four ships, allowing 26 humanitarian transits, and committing 15,000 troops and 200 aircraft and warships. The milestone marked how far the Iran war has shifted from strikes to a sustained economic blockade.3May 23 · CENTCOMU.S. and Armenia sign a strategic partnership.
In Yerevan on May 26, Secretary Rubio signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Charter, a critical-minerals agreement, and a framework for a multimodal transit corridor across the South Caucasus — the “Trump Route” — building on the 2025 Armenia–Azerbaijan peace deal. The corridor would open a new east–west trade route between Asia and Europe.4May 26 · StateU.S. energy exports hit a record.
The Energy Information Administration reported on May 27 that net U.S. energy exports reached a record 11 quadrillion BTU in 2025, up 20% from 2024, led by petroleum and record natural-gas shipments. The figures landed the same week retail gasoline averaged $4.49 a gallon — up 42% year-on-year — as the Strait of Hormuz stayed effectively closed.5May 27 · EIAWarsh takes the Fed.
Kevin Warsh was sworn in on May 22 as chairman of the Federal Reserve; the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously selected him the same day, with his term running through May 2030. He inherits an economy growing at a revised 1.6% annual rate, with the Fed's preferred inflation gauge holding at 4.5%.6May 22 · Fed
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Seven nations sign an Arctic security pact.
On May 22 the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden agreed to deepen military presence, surveillance and critical-infrastructure protection in the High North, citing Russia's military activity and China's growing strategic interest. The same day Rubio signed a U.S.–Sweden technology pact spanning AI, quantum, space and trans-Arctic subsea cables.7May 22 · State
Allied Governments
Ankara summit prep.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met the prime ministers of Hungary and Bulgaria in Brussels to prepare next month's Ankara summit, pressing allies to turn Hague pledges into higher defense spending, more arms production, and sustained support for Ukraine.aMay 28 · NATOCyber partnership.
NATO announced strategic, non-commercial partnerships with Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, and ESET to strengthen alliance resilience against cyber threats.bMay 27 · NATOMilitary planning.
NATO's Military Committee visited Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands for a briefing on the deliverables to be presented at the Ankara summit.cMay 28 · NATO
Voices
“The United States will not hesitate to take action against anyone, anywhere, funding the Iranian government's ability to attack its neighbors and its own people.”
State Dept. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott · May 281
“Together, they command thousands of members and have orchestrated brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials, and civilians.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio · May 282
“All Americans should recognize that we have sworn enemies and when your enemies tell you something, and when they act, you should know that they mean it.”
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, Southern District of New York · May 283
Show 3 more voices
“By denying undercover license plates to DHS components, including ICE, while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against federal law enforcement.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche · May 278
“[Cyber threat actors] are abusing tools and processes that support enterprise, cloud, and DevOps environments — specifically CI/CD pipelines, code extensions and workflows.”
CISA Advisory · May 284
“This was a righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents, investigators, CIRG tactical units, interagency partners and our allies around the world who delivered yet again.”
FBI Director Kash Patel · May 283
Sources
- U.S. Dept. of State, “U.S. Continues Maximum Pressure with Sanctions Targeting Iran's Shadow Oil Economy,” May 28, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/iran-shadow-oil-economy
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Terrorist Designation of Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital,” May 28, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/comando-vermelho-pcc-designation
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Dual Iranian-Iraqi National Indicted for Providing Material Support to Terrorist Organizations,” May 28, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/al-saadi-indictment
- CISA, “Supply Chain Compromises Impact Nx Console and GitHub Repositories,” May 28, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/…/nx-console-github-compromise
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, “GDP (Second Estimate) and Corporate Profits, 1st Quarter 2026,” May 28, 2026. bea.gov/news/2026/…/gdp-second-estimate-q1-2026
- USTR, “The United States and Mexico Announce Series of Bilateral Negotiating Rounds Related to the First Joint Review of the USMCA,” May 27, 2026. ustr.gov/…/usmca-first-joint-review
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Ebola Response Update – May 28, 2026,” May 28, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/ebola-response-update
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Justice Department Sues States for Denying Undercover License Plates to Federal Law Enforcement,” May 27, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/states-undercover-license-plates
- Federal Register, “Zero-Based Regulating” (Dept. of Energy, Direct Final Rule), published May 29, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/doe-zero-based-regulating
- NATO, “NATO Secretary General meets with Prime Minister Magyar of Hungary,” May 28, 2026. nato.int/…/sg-meets-pm-magyar-hungary
- NATO, “NATO strengthens relations with key cyber industries,” May 27, 2026. nato.int/…/nato-key-cyber-industries
- NATO, “NATO Military Committee visits JFC Brunssum,” May 28, 2026. nato.int/…/military-committee-jfc-brunssum