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US President Donald Trump before an audience of military personnel at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar last month.

Trump claims elusive win despite uncertainty

The US president’s high-risk bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities looked to have been a big win. Does the quick breakdown in the ceasefire mean this will prove hollow – or just a setback?

Keir Starmer has committed to lift defence spending.

UK vows to spend 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 to hit NATO goal

The new promise marks a significant increase on the government’s current plans, to reach 2.6 per cent – including intelligence spending – by 2027.

Emergency responders work at a building where at least four people died in a missile strike on June 24, 2025 in Beersheba, Israel.

Can Iran, Israel and the US all claim to have won?

In a little more than a week, the war blew through many previous red lines. But Iran’s appetite for a protracted war quickly waned.

Donald Trump’s changes on the direction of Iran policy are head-spinning.

‘Regime change’ or peace: Trump’s head-spinning Iran policy

The president claims another Middle East war has ended – just days after the US joined it.

A jet attached to a US air refuelling squadron leaves Al Udeid air base in 2023.

Iran attacks nerve centre of US air power

The Islamic Republic targeted the sprawling desert facility in Qatar that serves as a main regional military hub for American forces.

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The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial shipping lane for the global economy.

What happens to global oil if Iran tries to close Strait of Hormuz?

Iran would have no legal authority to order a halt to traffic through the key shipping waterway, but has said it will reserve all options to defend itself.

A Japanese frigate docked in Darwin. Japan and other US allies in the region are under pressure to spend more on defence.

Japan refutes report US demanded defence spending of 3.5pc of GDP

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi says that the amount of spending is less important than how Japan raises its military capabilities.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows damage at the Fordow enrichment facility in Iran after US strikes.

Where is Iran’s uranium? Fate of US bombings hangs on 400kg stockpile

The critical question will be whether the country’s nuclear program has been destroyed, or simply pushed into smaller, secret facilities that are harder to find.

 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Why Albanese has to back US strike

The prime minister is belatedly backing America, but what comes next in the Middle East is much less clear.

Data suggests half of those facing return to office mandates would be ready to quit or look for another job.

CEOs hate remote working, unless it’s them

When top executives work remotely, it becomes more difficult to drag everyone else to their desks.

Secretary of Stare Marco Rubio (second from right) with US Vice President J.D. Vance (left), US President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during an address to the American people on Sunday.

The perils of war with Iran

In their different ways, Iran, Israel and the US have all gambled on war. The risk is they will all end up as losers.

Flights continue to avoid airspace over Iran.

Israel starts ‘rescue’ flights as airlines reroute across Middle East

The Israeli government is starting to find ways for citizens stranded abroad to get home and for foreign tourists to leave, if slowly.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to destroy the country’s nuclear program. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Operation Midnight Hammer: How the US strikes on Iran unfolded

The United States used misdirection and stealth to conduct precision strikes on Iran that seemed to take the Islamic Republic by surprise. Here is a timeline of events.

This Month

The US has bombed Iran’s nuclear sites and Tehran has warned of “everlasting consequences”.

Iran vows retaliation after Trump ‘obliterates’ nuclear ambitions

Iran said the United States has crossed all red lines, but Donald Trump warned Iran can choose between peace and tragedy if it attacks US interests.

Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, Saturday, June 21, 2025, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, directly joining Israel’s effort to decapitate the country’s nuclear program, as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen.

Reverberations from Trump’s decision to bomb Iran

The US president is claiming immediate military success hitting the nuclear facilities. But the greater test will come with the Islamic Republic’s response.

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The AUKUS pact was a bid to stem China’s intentions in the Indo-Pacific, but America’s strikes on Iran mean the focus is now on the Middle East.

‘Scarce resources’: AUKUS submarine sales at risk from Pentagon review

Insiders say the most likely outcome of a Pentagon review on AUKUS is a push for more money, but a meaningful risk to Australia’s nuclear submarine plans remains.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military achieved a major achievement on Saturday.

Israeli military says it killed two IRGC commanders

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military secured a major achievement on Saturday after killing two IRGC commanders who financed and armed Hamas and Hezbollah.

Smokes rises from a building of the Soroka hospital complex after it was hit by a missile fired from Iran.

Europe, Iran set for high-level talks to defuse conflict

As the conflict enters its second week, European foreign ministers are set to meet Iranian officials in Switzerland to push to defuse its war with Israel.

Business executives from the City of London are lobbying for the tax to be scrapped.

UK eyes scrapping expat tax rules after millionaire exodus

The City of London is lobbying Britain’s chancellor to drop a tax on the global assets of non-domiciled residents after a spate of departures by executives.

Anthony Albanese should remind Donald Trump of the benefits from AUKUS beyond submarines.

The 3 things Albanese should tell Trump to save AUKUS

Australian taxpayers have already sent hundreds of millions to the US for submarines. More money would help save the deal, but there are other arguments too.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/united-states-of-america-gd5