Congress returns as Iran crisis deepens

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VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE MON, JAN 06, 2020 CNBC POLITICS EDITOR'S NOTE Hello,      This is CNBC.com politics reporter Jacob Pramuk, in for Mike Calia.    Congress returns to Washington this week facing a more dangerous world than it did when it left last year.    Lawmakers have to grapple with rising Middle East tensions sparked by the U.S. killing of Iran's top general. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump threatened to target key Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates. He also said he could slap sanctions on Iraq if its government expels U.S. troops there.   Fearing an escalation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised a vote this week to rein in Trump's power to take military action in Iran. On the 2020 campaign trail, the Democrats hoping to replace the president are trying to show their foreign policy chops as the crisis escalates.   Lest we forget as Iran dominates the White House and Congress' attention: the Senate still has to hold a trial on whether to remove Trump from office. Pelosi still has not sent the House-passed articles of impeachment to the Senate as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer grapple over whether to call witnesses.   One key witness, former Trump national security advisor John Bolton, said he would testify if the Senate subpoenaed him. As of now, there's no indication the GOP-held Senate plans to compel his testimony.   With impeachment on hold, the Senate will start moving this week toward ratifying Trump's new North American trade deal, which the House already passed.   Thanks for reading.   Thoughts? Email me at CNBCPolitics@nbcuni.com.     Have friends or colleagues who might like this newsletter? They can sign up here. For more on the intersection of business and politics, sign up for the weekly Capital Exchange newsletter here. Mike Calia @Michael_Calia KEY STORIES  John Bolton says he will testify in Trump's impeachment trial if the Senate subpoenas him "I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," former national security advisor John Bolton said. Here's a timeline of US-Iran tensions leading up to the death of Qasem Soleimani The latest increase in tensions between the United States and Iran following the killing of Qassem Soleimani continues decades of enmity. How the world's most important oil chokepoint could factor into escalating US-Iran tensions A critical gateway to the world's oil industry has been thrust back into the global spotlight. House to vote on limiting Trump's military powers regarding Iran, Pelosi says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House will vote on a war powers resolution this week. Iran will no longer abide by uranium enrichment limits under 2015 nuclear deal Iran would have no limit on its enrichment capacity, the level to which uranium could be enriched, or its nuclear research and development. Defense secretary's chief of staff to step down, the latest in a string of high-profile departures Eric Chewning, chief of staff to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, is stepping down at the end of the month. Julian Castro endorses Elizabeth Warren for president days after quitting Democratic primary Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president on Monday, days after dropping out of the 2020 race. Premium cigar makers could catch a break from the FDA as White House applies pressure Handrolled cigar-makers and importers are facing a May deadline that requires all new tobacco products to obtain regulatory clearance from the FDA. But the mom-and-pop shops that dominate the premium cigar industry say compliance costs would effectively put them out of business.       Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2020 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS