Trump weighs attacking Iran again —
or pressure, or a deal.
Trump said Sunday, Sept. 20 he was weighing further attacks on Iran, continued economic pressure or a deal — framing the choice as “if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave.”
Ambassador Mike Waltz declined to give a timeline for ending the war. Iran warned the U.S. and its allies against further escalation — and U.S. gasoline averaged $4.48 a gallon Sunday.
September 21, 2026 · Six stories, illustrated
- Further attacks
on Iran
- Continued economic pressure
- A deal
“My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave”— President Trump, Sunday, Sept. 20
- No timeline
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz declined to give one for ending the war in a CNN interview Sunday.
- Iran's warning
Tehran warned the United States and its allies against further escalation, per Reuters.
U.S. gasoline averaged $4.48 a gallon Sunday, per AAA. On Friday, Trump said he faced a decision on whether to annihilate the regime.
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Tanker rates through Hormuz hit records —
the shortage reaches the pump.
A shortage of oil tankers threatens to keep gasoline prices high even as crude eases: refiners pay transportation and insurance before fuel reaches stations. Damaged LNG export facilities could take two to three years to repair.
Costco has imposed purchase limits on some motor oil — and QatarEnergy says the crisis could delay some expansion projects.
- Strait of Hormuz
the crisis
- Tankers
record shipping rates; a shortage of hulls
- Refiners
pay transportation and insurance before gasoline reaches stations (EIA)
Qatar's central bank governor's estimate for repairing damaged LNG export facilities; March strikes disabled 17% of export capacity, initially assessed at three to five years.
Costco has imposed them on some motor oil; the Journal reports high shipping rates could keep gasoline expensive even as crude prices ease.
QatarEnergy warned Sunday that the Hormuz crisis could delay some expansion projects.
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Trump and Zelensky will meet in New York —
expected Sept. 22.
The two agreed on Sunday's call to meet at the UN's annual gathering of world leaders. Ukraine said it was prepared to take serious steps to reduce the fighting; the White House sought steps from both Russia and Ukraine.
Trump repeatedly asked Ukraine to stop striking Russian refineries — citing higher diesel prices, at $6.29 a gallon.
Ukraine stops striking Russian refineries — he repeatedly cited higher diesel prices on Sunday's call, a person familiar told Axios.
Ukraine halts strikes on Russian oil exports if Russia spares its energy facilities, critical infrastructure and food routes — tabled Sept. 15; Russia had not agreed as of Sept. 16.
drones Ukraine said it launched overnight into Sept. 20; two people were reported killed and 20 wounded in the wider Moscow region (PBS NewsHour/AP).
U.S. diesel averaged $6.29 a gallon on Sept. 14, per the EIA. Congress has sent Trump legislation authorizing tariffs on buyers of Russian oil; he signed it, also requiring sanctions on Russian officials.
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The U.S. and China are talking in New York —
Thursday, Xi comes to dinner.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng opened talks Sunday on trade, artificial intelligence and critical minerals — “focused, fulsome and constructive,” Bessent said. Trump hosts Xi for a summit and state dinner Thursday, Sept. 24.
Both sides are weighing an extension of the trade truce; neither has announced terms.
- Talk
Sunday, Sept. 20 — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng open talks in New York
- Summit
Thursday, Sept. 24 — Trump hosts Xi Jinping at the White House, with a state dinner
- trade commitments
- artificial intelligence
- critical minerals
Both sides are weighing an extension of the trade truce; neither government has announced terms. The U.S. has already extended 178 product exemptions to Nov. 10, 2026 (USTR).
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington would monitor existing commitments while seeking better access to China's market for American farmers, manufacturers and workers.
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EPA let Bayer pick its own restrictions —
then wrote the picks into the rule.
Internal documents released in litigation show EPA asked Bayer to select restrictions on its dicamba weedkiller, then used the company's choices in a proposed rule meant to limit the herbicide evaporating into the air and washing off fields.
Bayer selected the least protective option for one restriction — and the middle of three protection levels for another. EPA says “the registrant does not dictate terms.”
“the registrant does not dictate terms”— EPA's defense — companies may suggest protections
the current approval permits spraying dicamba on growing cotton and soybeans through both growing seasons
whether the current approval retained Bayer's choices — the released material does not say
- Days of drift
dicamba can turn to vapor for several days after spraying and damage neighboring crops, per EPA
- The lobby
EPA pesticides chief Kyle Kunkler previously lobbied for the American Soybean Association, which advocated restoring this use — per a March 2026 Senate letter
The restrictions were intended to limit dicamba evaporating into the air and washing off fields. Internal documents released in litigation reveal the exchange.
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Eighteen suspects in the Moïse assassination —
flown to the U.S. for trial.
The suspects in the 2021 killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse were flown to the United States for trial. U.S. prosecutors say 30 people have been indicted.
The file isn't closed — prosecutors say investigations into those who financed or facilitated the killing will continue.
- 18suspects flown to the U.S. for trial
in the 2021 killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse
- 30people indicted
in the killing, per U.S. prosecutors
investigations into those who financed or facilitated the killing will continue, prosecutors say.
Jovenel Moïse was killed in 2021. The eighteen suspects were flown to the United States for trial.