Pentagon

A legal filing by the U.S. Department of Justice reveals that Elon Musk’s Grok AI system was integrated into the Pentagon’s strike planning involving Iran. The disclosure is fueling public and political controversy over the military use of artificial intelligence.

The U.S. Defense Department has updated its list of companies that American security agencies are barred from dealing with. Newly added to the list are automaker BYD, Alibaba, and tech giant Baidu. The reason, according to the Pentagon: they help the Chinese government use civilian technology for military purposes.

American intelligence reports point to rising concern over alleged Israeli espionage activity inside the United States. Israeli officials reject the claims outright, saying the information is inaccurate or politically motivated.

U.S. and Iranian leaders, Donald Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei, have not yet approved the memorandum of understanding their delegations agreed on. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the nuclear issue may not be included in the initial memorandum of understanding.

President Trump orders the Justice Department to subpoena journalists' communications after sensitive details from the Iran campaign hit the press. "Hand over the information or go to jail," he warns. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times are in the crosshairs.

Officials involved in the talks tell CNN that Trump’s patience is wearing thin over the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The president is weighing military steps as his team splits between ramping up pressure and giving diplomacy a fair chance.

Following Friedrich Merz’s criticism of U.S. handling of Iran, the Pentagon says roughly 5,000 troops will leave Germany over six months; an air-defense battalion planned for later this year won’t deploy.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Pentagon’s budget, saying Iran and Lebanon are holding their positions as the U.S. keeps pressure on Tehran.

Washington is weighing steps against key NATO partners that, officials say, failed to back U.S. operations against Iran. An internal email circulated among top Pentagon ranks outlines options ranging from sidelining Spain to revisiting the U.S. stance on the Falklands.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Navy Secretary John Phelan amid mounting Pentagon frustration over shipbuilding delays and priorities. The shake-up lands as the U.S. Navy enforces a sweeping naval blockade of Iran with more than 15 warships.

A CBS report says that by the start of the cease-fire, roughly half of Iran's ballistic missiles and launchers were still intact—and about 60% of the IRGC's naval arm remained operational.

About 5,000 Marines have already arrived in the region, with another 5,000 expected this week, according to U.S. reports. President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to authorize broad or targeted ground operations in Iran.