Tehran

Republican Mike Rogers, locked in a tight Michigan Senate race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, called this week for an immediate end to the US-Canada tariff dispute, marking a reversal from his earlier support for President Trump's trade policy. In a social media ad filmed in a bar, Rogers drinks a Labatt beer and says "Canada is not our enemy," pledging to work across party lines to lower prices for Michigan consumers.

The shift contrasts with Rogers' comments as recently as last month, when he called the tariffs "necessary," and with a post from nearly a year ago crediting Trump's tariffs with restoring "fairness for Michigan workers." El-Sayed accused Rogers of flip-flopping only because his poll numbers have slipped. The tariffs, imposed on Canadian imports in July, have strained Michigan's auto industry, which relies on cross-border supply chains.

In a subsequent debate, Rogers attacked El-Sayed's foreign financing ties and record, while El-Sayed drew criticism for calling a question about whether Iran or Israel poses a greater threat to the US "ridiculous." Rogers made a similar reversal on Iran policy two weeks earlier, part of a broader trend of Republicans in competitive races distancing themselves from Trump.

Dan Green, a Navy veteran and Republican congressional candidate in Florida's 9th District, is backing President Trump's military action against Iran, framing it not as a new war but as the resolution of hostilities dating back to the 1979 U.S. embassy seizure in Tehran. Citing the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, the Khobar Towers attack, and casualties from his own tours in Iraq, Green argues Iran has effectively been at war with the United States for decades and says the priority now is a successful end to the conflict and regional stability.

Green is challenging a 10-year Democratic incumbent in a redrawn, conservative-leaning suburban district with a large Latino population, where he says affordability concerns like grocery and gas prices dominate alongside law-and-order issues. He criticized his opponent's voting record on taxes and other economic measures, and warned that a rising democratic socialist wing within the Democratic Party represents a broader ideological threat to the district's voters.

Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked, with analysts warning that failure could trigger renewed fighting within weeks. The two sides have fundamentally different negotiating styles: Trump pushes for quick, splashy deals and has set unrealistically short deadlines in past rounds, while Iran's government favors a slower, narrow, transactional truce negotiated with minimal public visibility. Mutual distrust runs deep — Iran accuses Trump of attacking during past negotiations, including after the June memorandum of understanding collapsed, while US officials cite Iranian strikes on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as evidence Tehran cannot be trusted to honor agreements, particularly given hardline factions like the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Both governments face domestic political pressure complicating compromise. Trump, in a recent interview, expressed skepticism that peace with Iran is achievable and suggested he is considering renewed military action after the midterms. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended continued dialogue despite what he called repeated US betrayals, though hardliners within Iran's security establishment argue negotiations are futile and favor further military escalation instead.

President Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington this week, staging an elaborate state visit even as Beijing faces accusations of undermining U.S. interests. American officials have said Chinese firms supplied Iran with satellite imagery used in regional attacks, and that China has continued business dealings with Tehran despite U.S. sanctions pressure. Trump has also previously accused China of election interference in 2020.

Rather than confront Xi over these issues, Trump has repeatedly downplayed them, describing his rapport with Xi as friendly and dismissing concerns about China's support for Iran and its espionage activities. The approach has drawn criticism even from Republican allies, including Senator Roger Wicker, who questioned honoring an "oppressive dictator." Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the engagement as necessary given China's global standing. The visit's agenda reportedly includes artificial intelligence, fentanyl, and an expiring trade truce. Analysts note Xi arrives with leverage, anticipating Trump's political weakening after upcoming midterm elections, raising questions about what concessions, if any, the U.S. secures from the summit's diplomatic spectacle.

President Trump hosted President Xi Jinping in Washington this week even as Beijing faces accusations of undermining U.S. interests, including alleged election interference claims, providing Iran with satellite imagery used in regional attacks, and continuing business dealings with Tehran despite U.S. sanctions pressure. Trump has largely downplayed these issues, emphasizing his personal rapport with Xi rather than confronting him, a posture that drew criticism even from allies like Senator Roger Wicker, who called Xi a "brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator." Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the engagement as necessary given China's global economic and military weight.

Foreign policy analysts say Trump's deference is unusual and question what concessions the U.S. will secure in return for the ceremonial treatment. The White House says talks will cover artificial intelligence, fentanyl, and an expiring trade truce, though officials declined to say whether election interference claims would be raised. Analysts note Xi enters the meeting with a stronger long-term position, anticipating a weakened Trump after upcoming midterm elections, while Trump faces criticism for treating an adversary more warmly than traditional allies.

Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate John James joined Senate candidate Mike Rogers in calling for a quick end to the Iran War, breaking from President Trump's public defense of the conflict. James, a combat veteran, said "Iran cannot have a nuke" but urged using "every resource" to end the war quickly, while praising the administration's diplomatic and economic efforts. Rogers similarly called for the war to end "quickly," warning it is driving up costs for Michigan families, and has proposed suspending both the state and federal gas tax, a combined 70 cents a gallon, along with a temporary embargo on U.S. diesel exports.

Democrats pushed back, noting James voted against multiple congressional resolutions demanding an end to the war or requiring authorization to continue it, including a September 15 measure that passed 220-204. The Michigan Democratic Party accused James of "trying to desperately lie about his record" as gas hovers near $5 a gallon and diesel prices hit record highs. James has not committed to suspending the state or federal gas tax, unlike Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, who backs pausing the federal tax. In the Senate race, Rogers trails Democrat Abdul El-Sayed by roughly 7 points in recent polling, while Trump has defended the war and warned he could act more forcefully against Iran absent a peace deal.

The Department of Defense has confirmed the non-hostile death of a U.S. Army officer supporting operations tied to the ongoing war with Iran. A defense official told Task & Purpose the female soldier, over 35, died after a medical incident aboard a military flight bound for Saudi Arabia; the Pentagon logged the death as "undetermined" in its casualty system without releasing her identity.

The war, which began in late February, has disrupted energy markets and pushed up U.S. oil prices, with no resolution in sight. President Trump told the UN General Assembly this week he faces a choice between a peace deal or further military escalation against Iran, while defending the conflict and pressing allies for economic isolation of Tehran; Iran's delegation walked out during his remarks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump remains open to meeting Iran's president.

The Pentagon puts total U.S. military deaths in the conflict at 19, with over 800 wounded, though the Washington Post has reported at least 22 fatalities, a figure the Pentagon disputes.

U.S. Central Command said American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island that were preparing to fire naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz, the first acknowledged U.S. strike on Iranian targets since a broader campaign on July 29. Officials described the action as limited and possibly preemptive, based on intelligence that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps was readying a mining operation shortly after U.S. forces had cleared mines Iran previously planted in the strait.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards retaliated with missile attacks on U.S. forces in Jordan; U.S. and Jordanian officials say most missiles were intercepted with no significant damage or American casualties. Iranian state media claimed casualties from the initial strike, unconfirmed independently. President Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting destruction of Iran's Kharg Island while reaffirming commitment to blocking Iranian nuclear weapons. The escalation comes amid tightening U.S. sanctions and Iranian acknowledgment of severe economic strain, raising stakes for markets tracking Middle East conflict escalation and oil shipping security.