Middle East

The role of Jared Kushner in Iran

Axios - Classified intelligence assessments from earlier this month indicate that "Iran has regained access to most of its missile sites, launchers and underground facilities," the N.Y. Times' Adam Entous, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan report.

• "The findings undercut months of public assurances from President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have told Americans that the Iranian military was 'decimated' and 'no longer' a threat," The Times notes.

The assessments say there's evidence that Iran restored operational access to 30 of the 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz.  They suggest Iran has retained roughly 70% of its prewar missile stockpile and 70% of its mobile launchers. It has regained access to about 90% of its underground missile storage and launch facilities. MORE

The Congressional Insider -   Israel’s prime minister just floated a once-unthinkable idea: ending U.S. military aid—forcing Washington to ask whether “forever funding” allies has become a default setting instead of a strategy.  Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS’s “60 Minutes” he wants to phase out the financial component of U.S. military aid to Israel to zero over the next decade, starting immediately. The current U.S.-Israel aid framework is governed by a 2016 memorandum committing $38 billion from 2018–2028, including roughly $3.8 billion annually.

As of May 2026, there are no formal negotiations to implement a phase-out, and aid continues to flow under the existing agreement.  The proposal lands amid U.S. domestic frustration over spending, “forever commitments,” and a broader belief—left and right—that Washington’s priorities often serve elites more than citizens.