U.S. sanctions Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges after ship attacks.
Today's events
Iran's crypto pipeline.
The United States sanctioned six entities and one individual — two of them digital-asset exchanges Tehran uses to reach the international financial system — days after Iran attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.1Aug 7 · StateU.S.–Colombia reset.
The United States intends to announce $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia and welcomed its accession to the Shield of the Americas, after a delegation attended President Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration.2Aug 7 · StateAmerican mining.
Trump announced more than $2 billion in critical-minerals projects — $1.4 billion to battery-anode maker Sila Nanotechnologies, $400 million for the world's first primary scandium mine — plus $180 million for the country's mining schools.3Aug 7 · WHWar-powers challenge.
A joint resolution introduced in the Senate on August 6 would direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran that Congress has not authorized.4Aug 6 · SenateFaith-based health funding.
State announced nearly $2 billion for faith-based organizations — $1.4 billion for hospitals and clinics across more than 20 countries and $538 million in humanitarian response — the largest such allocation in over 20 years.5Aug 6 · StateMetals tariff expansion.
Commerce sought comment on extending steel, aluminum and copper tariffs to 14 more derivative products — aluminum powder, electric conductor cable, fire extinguishers, tanker trailers and brass-wind instruments among them. Comments close August 27.6Aug 6 · CommerceMineral price floors.
The U.S. trade representative welcomed S&P Global pricing benchmarks for gallium, germanium, tungsten, antimony and two rare earths, a step toward border-adjusted price floors under a planned critical-minerals trade agreement.7Aug 7 · USTRAir-traffic datalink.
CISA published five vulnerabilities in the unauthenticated, clear-text messaging link that carries controller-pilot clearances worldwide; rogue ground stations can inject false instructions or reset sessions, and no mitigation is available.8Aug 7 · CISAFirst drone live-fire.
Marines of the 4th Marine Regiment concluded the Corps' first live-fire attack-drone series in South Korea, striking targets with the roughly 20-kilometer-range Neros Archer from squad level.9Aug 6 · DOD
Allied Governments
Trilateral on North Korea.
Japan, the United States and South Korea held a foreign-ministry telephone meeting after North Korea's August 6 ballistic-missile launch, calling the launch a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.aAug 7 · Japan MoFAGeorgia occupation warning.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy marked 18 years of Russia's occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, warning that a May 9 pact between Moscow and South Ossetia's de facto authorities points toward possible annexation.bAug 7 · UK FCDOScottish shipbuilding.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting toured Babcock's Rosyth yard, where Type 31 frigates are built, and pointed to £26 billion for naval infrastructure, including £15.1 billion to regenerate the Clyde submarine base.cAug 7 · UK MoD
Voices
“The United States will continue to deny the regime the resources it needs to threaten its neighbors and innocent vessels, support terrorism, and advance its nuclear ambitions.”
Spokesperson Thomas Pigott, State Dept. · Aug 71
“[T]he United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President de la Espriella's Administration.”
State Dept. fact sheet, A New Era in U.S.-Colombia Relations · Aug 72
“As a result of non-market policies and practices, global prices for minerals lack the stability necessary for markets to function.”
U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer · Aug 77
“In many of the countries where the United States provides foreign assistance, faith-based healthcare providers represent 40% or more of all health facilities.”
State Dept. media note on faith-based health assistance · Aug 65
“These vulnerabilities do not constitute an unsafe aircraft condition but can degrade operational safety margins by increasing workload, delaying safety-critical instructions, and reducing situational awareness.”
CISA advisory ICSA-26-219-01 · Aug 78
“We are not just upgrading our tactics, we are building a faster, smarter and deadlier team capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with our South Korean allies.”
Sgt. Maj. Ismael Bamba, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea · Aug 69
Sources
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Targeting Digital Asset Exchanges Fueling the Iranian Regime,” August 7, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/iranian-digital-asset-exchanges
- U.S. Dept. of State, “A New Era in U.S.-Colombia Relations” (Fact Sheet), August 7, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/new-era-us-colombia-relations
- White House, “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces Billions in New Deals and Investments to Power American Mining,” August 7, 2026. whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/…/power-american-mining
- U.S. Senate, “S.J. Res. 211 — To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress,” introduced August 6, 2026. govinfo.gov/app/details/…/BILLS-119sjres211is
- U.S. Dept. of State, “United States Announces Historic $2 Billion in Health and Humanitarian Assistance to Faith-Based Organizations,” August 6, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/faith-based-health-assistance
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, “Request for Public Comments on the Proposed Implementation of Duties on Additional Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Derivative Articles Under Section 232,” August 6, 2026. federalregister.gov/documents/…/section-232-derivative-articles
- Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, “Ambassador Greer Issues Statement Welcoming S&P Global's Release of Critical Minerals Pricing Benchmarks,” August 7, 2026. ustr.gov/press-releases/…/critical-minerals-pricing-benchmarks
- CISA, “CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities” (ICSA-26-219-01), August 7, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/…/icsa-26-219-01
- U.S. Dept. of War, “Marines Make History With First Attack Drone Live-Fire Series in South Korea,” August 6, 2026. war.gov/News/…/first-attack-drone-live-fire-south-korea
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministries' Official Telephone Meeting on North Korea,” August 7, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/release/…/japan-us-rok-north-korea
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “18th anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Georgia: Joint Statement,” August 7, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/russia-invasion-of-georgia-joint-statement
- UK Ministry of Defence, “‘Scotland is powering Britain's future defence' says Defence Secretary on first visit to Rosyth Shipyard and forces housing,” August 7, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/rosyth-shipyard-and-forces-housing