U.S. reports zero Iranian oil exports since July.
Today's events
Hormuz blockade.
The White House said Central Command has cleared Iranian mines from the shipping lanes and escorted nearly 1,500 vessels carrying 750 million barrels; Iran has exported no oil from its shores since July.1Aug 28 · WHBank Melli manager.
State and Treasury sanctioned the manager of Bank Melli's Dubai branch and a Hong Kong company; a proposed Treasury rule would strip Banque Misr UAE of access to U.S. correspondent banks.2Aug 28 · StateJackson Hole.
On his 100th day as Fed Chairman, Kevin Warsh told the Jackson Hole symposium that artificial intelligence may become a new factor of production, with token sales above $100 billion a year.3Aug 28 · FedOklahoma smelter.
The Justice Department asked an Oklahoma court to dismiss the state's suit against the Inola aluminum smelter, which would more than double U.S. output of a metal America supplies at under 1% of world production.4Aug 28 · DOJOffshore leasing.
An Alaska federal judge dismissed, for lack of standing, a challenge to President Trump's rescission of Biden-era withdrawals that barred oil and gas leasing across more than 600 million acres offshore.5Aug 28 · DOJDirected energy.
Soldiers on the southern border used the Army's Multipurpose High Energy Laser to down three cartel-linked drones, the system's first such use; the War Department's laser-weapon program carries an $847 million ceiling.6Aug 28 · DODMedical-school admissions.
Health and Human Services opened civil-rights compliance reviews of five medical schools over race in admissions, working with the Justice and Education departments; no findings have been reached.7Aug 28 · HHSJapan alliance talks.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro discussed the Strait of Hormuz, freedom of navigation, and securing supply chains across key industries.8Aug 27 · StateSpace Academy.
An executive order created a presidential commission, chaired by NASA's administrator, to propose a United States Space Academy — a federal academy for the space workforce — within 120 days.9Aug 28 · WH
Allied Governments
Moldova visit.
The alliance's Political Committee met President Maia Sandu and Moldova's foreign minister on August 25–26 in its first visit to Chișinău, praising Moldova's resilience against Russian interference.aAug 28 · NATOAmphibious fleet sale.
Britain is selling the assault ship HMS Bulwark to Brazil's navy as it moves to a £2.4 billion UK–Netherlands programme building four new amphibious transports for each country.bAug 28 · UK MoDNepal flood response.
The Foreign Office is sending a rapid deployment team to Kathmandu on August 29 to help British nationals hit by flooding along the Nepal–China border, alongside £5 million in humanitarian aid.cAug 28 · UK FCDO
Voices
“The Strait of Hormuz is open. We have control, and we have the blockade. Iran is not getting anything; nothing is going through.”
President Donald J. Trump · Aug 271
“As the regime prioritizes its malign activities above the needs of its people, we will sever the economic lifelines sustaining it.”
Spokesman Tommy Pigott, State Dept. · Aug 282
“Reports put annualized token sales for the two leading labs alone at more than $100 billion—an increase of 500-plus percent from a year ago.”
Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, Jackson Hole · Aug 283
“This project advances national and economic security by reducing the country's reliance on foreign sources of materials critical to the national defense.”
Principal Deputy AAG Adam Gustafson, DOJ Energy & Natural Resources · Aug 284
“Every student who walks into medical school should know their acceptance was earned through merit, not assigned based on race.”
Paula M. Stannard, HHS Office for Civil Rights · Aug 287
“Space is a critical domain for American national security, economic growth, scientific discovery, and technological innovation.”
Executive order establishing the U.S. Space Academy · Aug 289
Sources
- White House, “President Trump Was Right: America Controls the Strait of Hormuz,” August 2026. whitehouse.gov/releases/…/america-controls-the-strait-of-hormuz
- U.S. Dept. of State, “U.S. Sanctions Sever Financial Lifelines of Iranian Regime,” August 28, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/financial-lifelines-of-iranian-regime
- Federal Reserve, “In Our Time” (Chairman Kevin Warsh, Jackson Hole symposium), August 28, 2026. federalreserve.gov/newsevents/…/warsh20260828a
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Justice Department Files a Statement of Interest in Support of the Primary Aluminum Smelter Project in Inola, Oklahoma,” August 28, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/inola-aluminum-smelter
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Alaska Judge Dismisses Challenge to President Trump's Rescission of Withdrawals Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from Oil and Gas Leasing,” August 28, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/outer-continental-shelf-leasing
- U.S. Dept. of War, “Army Lasers Blast Drones, Proving Directed-Energy Weapons Are Future,” August 28, 2026. war.gov/News/…/army-lasers-blast-drones
- U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, “HHS' Office for Civil Rights Launches Compliance Reviews of Five Medical Schools for Potential Title VI and Section 1557 Violations,” August 28, 2026. hhs.gov/press-room/…/five-medical-schools
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi,” August 27, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/landau-funakoshi-meeting
- White House, “Establishing the United States Space Academy,” August 2026. whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/…/united-states-space-academy
- NATO, “NATO Political Committee's first visit to Chișinău,” August 28, 2026. nato.int/news-and-events/…/political-committee-chisinau
- UK Ministry of Defence, “HMS Bulwark to transfer to Brazilian Navy as UK turns to future of amphibious ships,” August 28, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/hms-bulwark-brazilian-navy
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “UK deploys rapid response team to Nepal to support British nationals affected by floods,” August 28, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/rapid-response-team-nepal