The U.S. and Israel originally planned to attack Iran a week earlier than they did, but the opening strike was delayed for operational and intelligence reasons, according to senior U.S. and Israeli officials. Why it matters: The delay gave President Trump another week to choose between the two parallel tracks — diplomacy and war — he had been walking for nearly two months. - It also made the final round of nuclear talks in Geneva far more consequential, giving Iran one last chance to make a deal. Behind the scenes: After the second round of U.S.-Iran talks ended without significant progress on Feb. 17, U.S. and Israeli military planners were preparing to launch strikes four days later — on Saturday, Feb. 21. - But the go-ahead…
Trump has taken an approach to selling U.S. citizens on military action in Iran that contrasts with his predecessors, seeking to avoid completely owning it.
Hezbollah fired several missiles from Lebanon towards Israel on Sunday, two days after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran , the IDF said. Why it matters: This would expand the current conflict to another country in the region and threatens to seriously destabilize Lebanon. - While seriously degraded by almost daily Israeli strikes over the past year, Hezbollah is still Iran's strongest and most important and strongest proxy in the region. What they're saying: "Following the sirens that sounded in several areas in northern Israel, a projectile that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, and several projectiles fell in open areas in accordance with standard protocols," the IDF said…
The high prices came as U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. military installations around the Gulf sent disruptions through the global energy supply chain.
What are people in Iran saying about today's attacks by the U.S. and Israel? We hear from people on the ground who experienced the event as it unfolded.
For many far-left Democrats, it's AOC or bust in 2028. - Left-wing Democrats are quietly escalating efforts to persuade New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for president. One big reason: They see no clear alternative. Bernie Sanders (84) is too old — and no other Sanders-like pol with national punch is emerging. Driving the news: Allies tell Axios the pitch to Ocasio-Cortez and her team is essentially this: - She'd enter the race polling in the top five of potential Democratic contenders, and as the liberal heir to Sanders. - Her high profile would allow her to raise $100 million online without a single in-person fundraiser. - There's a window of opportunity for a left-wing nominee that may not come again for a…
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Moderate Democrats are on a mission to stop the next Bernie Sanders , starting with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez . - Third Way , an influential center-left group, is bringing together hundreds of elected officials, party leaders and operatives here this weekend to build a case for nominating a middle-of-the-road Democrat — not a liberal — for president in 2028. Why it matters: Centrist Democrats' efforts to shape the next election have taken on a new urgency as liberals such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and others have unexpectedly won races. - It's a reflection of the deep divisions within the party over how to take on President Trump's MAGA Republicans. What they're saying: Third Way…
U.S. counterterrorism and intelligence teams are on high alert and law enforcement in major cities have bolstered security in the wake of this weekend's strikes on Iran . The big picture: FBI director Kash Patel instructed federal counterterrorism and intelligence to "mobilize all assisting security assets needed" after placing them on high alert Saturday, per a post to X, while law enforcement in D.C., New York City and Los Angeles are among those to take additional steps. - The announcements come amid reports that a gunman in an early Sunday mass shooting that the FBI is investigating in Austin, Texas, wore a shirt with an Iranian flag design. FBI personnel are fully engaged on the situation overseas. Last night I instructed our…
Crude oil prices spiked by over $6 per barrel — their highest level in slightly over a year — in initial trading on Sunday. Why it matters: The surge from the Asia markets' opening is the first major evidence of how markets are digesting the potential for supply disruptions from the strikes against Iran. - It will push up U.S. gasoline prices, though the impact will depend on the evolving market response as well as the scope and duration of the conflict. Driving the news: The global benchmark Brent crude was trading at $79.20 per barrel — up over 8% from Friday's close. - "The risk of escalation is greater than seen in recent regional conflicts," said Jason Bordoff, founding director of Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy, in…