Secretary of state’s address came as US deploys largest force of aircraft and warships to Middle East since 2003 US politics live – latest updates Marco Rubio delivered a rare briefing to top US lawmakers on Iran from the White House on Tuesday as Washington deploys its largest force of aircraft and warships to the Middle East since the 2003 buildup to the Iraq war. The audience for the secretary of state’s briefing was reported to include the so-called “gang of eight”, which includes the senior lawmakers from both parties in the House and Senate, as well as the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees. Continue reading...