Lesley Wroughton
Reuters Top News
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Lesley:
U.S. hopeful EU will impose sanctions on Venezuela in coming months: U.S. envoy
Washington's envoy for Venezuela said on Thursday he was hopeful that the European Union will impose sanctions against Caracas "in the coming months" amid stalled talks to resolve the country's political crisis. → Read More
U.S. hopes South Korea and Japan can rebuild ties from 'rock bottom'
The United States hopes a damaging row between the leaders of U.S. allies South Korea and Japan has hit rock bottom but believes recent military exercises by Seoul have not helped, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday. → Read More
U.S. will aggressively enforce sanctions over Iran tanker: State Department official
The United States will aggressively enforce its sanctions to prevent the private sector from assisting an Iranian oil tanker that is traveling through the Mediterranean and that Washington wants seized, a State Department official said on Thursday. → Read More
Should I stay or should I run? Pompeo under pressure over U.S. Senate seat
Republican pressure on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to run for U.S. Senate next year to help keep the party's majority intact is coming up against President Donald Trump's hope of keeping one of his most trusted aides in his administration. → Read More
Exclusive: Shared Afghanistan interests create opening for U.S.-Iran back channel
Western intermediaries are trying to persuade arch foes Iran and the United States to cooperate on bolstering security in Afghanistan as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to extract America from its longest war, according to three source familiar with the efforts. → Read More
Pompeo says possible run for Senate seat in Kansas 'off the table'
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday appeared to close the door to a potential run in 2020 for a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas saying it was "off the table," but he did not rule out the possibility of a presidential run in the future. → Read More
Chevron 'hopeful' of U.S. approval to continue operating in Venezuela
Chevron Corp, the last U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela, said on Thursday it hopes to be able to remain in the Latin American nation as the Trump administration mulls whether to renew its license, expiring on Saturday, to do business there. → Read More
Pence calls on Saudi Arabia to release critic of Islam
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday called out ally Saudi Arabia for the suppression of religious liberties and urged it to release Raif Badawi, a blogger imprisoned for insulting Islam. → Read More
Pompeo calls China's treatment of Uighurs 'stain of the century'
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday called China's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority the "stain of the century" and accused Beijing of pressuring countries not to attend a U.S.-hosted conference on religious freedom. → Read More
Lagarde resigns as IMF chief, cites more clarity on ECB post
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde announced on Tuesday she had submitted her resignation from the global lender, saying she had more clarity about her nomination to be the next head of the European Central Bank. → Read More
Exclusive: U.S. will not blacklist Iran's foreign minister, for now
The United States has decided not to impose sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for now, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, in a sign Washington may be holding a door open for diplomacy. → Read More
Exclusive: Iran's release of Lebanese prisoner was failed overture to U.S.
Iran's release last month of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese businessman with U.S. permanent residency, after four years in prison was meant as an opening for U.S.-Iranian talks, according to three Western sources familiar with the issue. → Read More
An uneasy tenure: how Tillerson found himself cut out by Kushner
In one of the most awkward moments of his time as U.S. secretary of state, Rex Tillerson realized his Mexican counterpart was in Washington only when he walked into a restaurant and found him dining with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner. → Read More
South Korea urges North Korea summit before Trump Seoul visit, U.S. door 'wide open'
South Korea on Wednesday urged North Korea to hold another summit with its leader ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Seoul next week, while the United States said its door remained "wide open" for talks with Pyongyang. → Read More
As promised, Trump slashes aid to Central America over migrants
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Monday cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, after Trump blasted the three countries because thousands of their citizens had sought asylum at the U.S. border with Mexico. → Read More
U.S. suspension of trade program with India 'a done deal': U.S. official
The suspension of a U.S. trade preference program with India is a "done deal," a senior State Department official said on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his second term. → Read More
Tension grows between U.S. and Russia over Venezuela standoff
The United States and Russia traded warnings against interfering in Venezuela on Wednesday, a day after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Moscow of stopping President Nicolas Maduro from leaving the country. → Read More
Venezuela foreign minister says Maduro in control, blames Washington for violence
Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Tuesday denied there was a military coup attempt underway to oust President Nicolas Maduro and accused opposition leader Juan Guaido of operating under orders from Washington. → Read More
Iran's Zarif warns U.S. of 'consequences' over oil sanctions, Strait of Hormuz
Iran will continue to find buyers for its oil and use the Strait of Hormuz to transport it, the country's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday, warning that if the United States tries to stop Tehran, then it should "be prepared for the consequences." → Read More
Exclusive: U.S. carves out exceptions for foreigners dealing with IRGC
The United States has largely carved out exceptions so that foreign governments, firms and NGOs do not automatically face U.S. sanctions for dealing with Iran's Revolutionary Guards after the group's designation by Washington as a foreign terrorist group, according to three current and three former U.S. officials. → Read More