Embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth erupted at a California Democrat who dubbed the war in Iran a “quagmire” during a congressional hearing into the conflict, which has so far cost an estimated $25 billion.
Hegseth is being questioned under oath by the House Armed Services Committee alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, as negotiations to end President Donald Trump’s war remain at an impasse.
California Democrat John Garamendi said Trump has got himself “stuck in the quagmire of another war in the Middle East” and accused Hegseth of “misleading” the American people.
“Shame on you for that statement,” Hegseth said. “Don't say, I support the troops on one hand, and then a two month mission is a quagmire...Who you cheering for here? Who you pulling for?”
The war, which Hegseth pledged in early March would likely last between “four to five weeks,” has now entered its eighth week.
Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, who sits on the committee, told Politico that “Hegseth’s got a lot to answer to from this disastrous war,” while fellow Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania accused the Pentagon chief of “dodging congressional questions about the Iran war since Day One.”
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Iran and US ‘allowed’ Russian superyacht through blockaded Strait of Hormuz
Key Points
- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth grilled by lawmakers about the war
- Trump directs his team to prepare for prolonged blockade - report
- Trump responds to Merz’s remarks after German chancellor said US was being ‘humiliated’ by Iran
- Opec takes major hit as UAE leaves oil cartel after nearly 60 years
- Donald Trump warns Iran 'better get smart soon' in latest bizarre post
Briefing: What we know on 61st day of Iran war
05:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar- President Donald Trump has reportedly told his aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran, choosing sustained economic pressure over further strikes or withdrawal.
- Oil prices rose on news there was no end in sight to blockade
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before Congress on war
- Trump claimed Iran has informed the U.S. it was "in a State of Collapse", though this has not been confirmed by Tehran.
- A public spat between Donald Trump and German chancellor Friedrich Merz erupted after the latter said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran
- The United Arab Emirates has quit Opec after nearly 60 years, weakening the group and signaling a major shift in global oil politics and regional alliances.
- Former US officials have criticized the lack of transparency over the deadly Minab school strike in Iran, calling the Pentagon’s silence “highly unusual”
Pictured: Democrats roast Hegseth at hearing as defense sec hits back
17:22 , Rhian LubinDemocrats are on the attack and Hegseth is fighting back, as these pictures show.
The hearing got heated as Democrats grilled the defense secretary about his leadership at the Pentagon.
'You were incompetent then, you're incompetent now': Democrat attacks Hegseth over 'incompetency'
17:13 , Rhian LubinDemocratic Rep. Salud Carbajal attacked Pete Hegseth and said he was “incompetent” when it was his turn to quiz the defense secretary.
“Mr. Hegseth, I stand by what I said last time you were here. You were incompetent then, you're incompetent now,” he said.
'Do you call Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz winning?'
17:05 , Rhian LubinMoulton asked Hegseth whether closing the Strait of Hormuz constitutes winning.
“Well, I would say the blockade that we hold that doesn't allow anything to come in or out of Iranian ports,” Hegseth said.
“So we've blockaded their blockades,” Moulton replied. “They blockaded us and then we blockaded their blockade. That's like saying ‘Tag, you're it.’ Or, you know, if President Madison said, well, ‘the British just burned down Washington, but don't worry, we're going to burn it down as well.’”
Hegseth appeared to smirk at this point in the exchange.
Democrat Seth Moulton lays into Hegseth over whether he advised Trump to go to war
16:59 , Rhian LubinMassachusetts Democrat Seth Moulton is now tearing into Secretary Pete Hegseth over whether he advised President Donald Trump to go to war with Iran.
“Did you advise the president that we should attack Iran?” Moulton asked.
“We never talk about what we would advise the President to do or not,” Hegseth replied.
“ Are you afraid to take ownership of this?” Moulton pressed. “Do you think it was a good idea?”
Hegseth said the war has been “an astounding military success.”
Rep. Jason Crow says he plans to ask Hegseth about 'rank mismanagement' of the department
16:55 , Eric GarciaRep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) previewed what he would ask Hegseth during his hearing.
Crow was one of the six Democrats who put out a video telling U.S. servicemembers that they can refuse illegal orders.
“I'm going to focus on the corruption and the rank mismanagement of the department,” Crow, a retired Army Ranger, told The Independent.
“There's a lot to talk about from the failing more in Iran which Americans do not want to this bloated defense budget and their inability to pass an audit and even account for the money that we're giving them.”
Hegseth explodes in response to Garamendi's attack
16:44 , Rhian LubinPete Hegseth has exploded in response to Rep. John Garamendi’s comments.
“Shame on you for that statement,” Hegseth said. “Statements like that are reckless to our troops. Don't say, I support the troops on one hand, and then a two month mission is a quagmire. That's a false equivalation. Who you cheering for here? Who you pulling for? Our troops are doing incredible work.”
Hegseth accused of 'misleading the public' over the war on Iran
16:38 , Rhian Lubin, Andrew FeinbergCalifornia Democrat John Garamendi has accused Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump of “misleading the public” over the war.
He called it a “political and economic disaster” at every level in a scathing attack on the Pentagon chief, and accused him and the president of “lying to the American public...from day one.”
“You and the President offer ever-changing reasons for the war. You have misled the public about the progress of the war, while the military has executed this war with tactical success, the strategy has been an outstanding example of incompetence.”
Hearing resumes after short recess
16:27 , Rhian LubinThe hearing is about to resume after a short recess.
Smith and Hegseth have fiery exchange over Iran's nuclear weapons program
16:20 , Rhian LubinRep. Adam Smith and Secretary Pete Hegseth had a fiery exchange over Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
Smith questioned Hegseth over the Trump administration’s justification for starting the war.
“We had to start this war, you just said 60 days ago, because the nuclear weapon was an imminent threat,” Smith said. “Now you’re saying that it was completely obliterated?”
Hegseth replied that Iran “had not given up their nuclear ambitions” and still had thousands of missiles.
The war has “left us at exactly the same place we were before,” Smith said.
Watch the clip below via Aaron Rupar.
HEGSETH: Their nuclear facilities have been obliterated
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 29, 2026
SMITH: Whoa whoa whoa whoa. We had to start this war, you just said, because the nuclear weapon was an imminent threat. Now you're saying it was completely obliterated?
HEGSETH: They had not given up their *ambitions*… pic.twitter.com/T8c1vTfC0T
Hegseth is quizzed about sky-high oil prices amid Iran war
16:09 , Rhian LubinPete Hegseth was asked about sky-high oil prices amid the war in Iran.
“Crude oil prices this morning had risen to the highest level since the war in Ukraine started in 2022,” said Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut, citing a report that said the average price of gas has hit $4.30 a gallon.
“Fertilizer prices have also hammered farmers at exactly the same time they're beginning planting all across the country,” he added, and said the war has damaged American consumers, farmers and small businesses.
Pentagon budget official says full cost of war is $25 billion
15:54 , Rhian LubinThe Pentagon’s budget official, Jules Hurst, has revealed that the cost of the war in Iran to date is $25 billion.
The estimated price tag has been spent mostly on munitions, according to Hurst.
Watch: Hegseth asks God to watch over troops in his opening statement
15:43 , Rhian LubinHegseth opening statement to the House: "I ask may God continue to watch over our troops in harm's way" pic.twitter.com/Zg4elKdNe5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 29, 2026
'We made a mistake': Smith condemns administration's response to school strike in Iran
15:35 , Rhian LubinRep. Adam Smith also acknowledged the U.S. involvement in a deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school earlier this year.
The strike killed 175 people, including children, in the opening days of the war.
”We made a mistake and that happens in war... two months after it happened we refused to say anything about it, giving the world the impression that we just don't care,” Smith said.
Democratic Rep. Adam Smith condemns Trump's threat to 'destroy entire civilizations'
15:25 , Rhian LubinIn his opening statement, Democratic Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, has condemned President Donald Trump’s threats to “kill off an entire civilization.”
Smith was referring to a Truth Social post Trump shared at the beginning of April.
“I also worry about the values when the President threatens to kill off an entire civilization,” Smith said. “That is the message coming out of United States of America. If we are going to be this big, powerful force that throws our weight around, the world wants to know, at a minimum, that we do for the right reasons, or the sense of values, to protect people, not to destroy entire civilizations.”
House Armed Services Committee kicks off hearing
15:20 , Rhian LubinThe House Armed Services Committee is introducing the session ahead of testimony from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The hearing is officially to discuss the Pentagon’s proposed budget, but it will also be the first time that Hegseth publicly answers questions on the Iran war on Capitol Hill.
Pictured: Hegseth takes his seat as hearing gets underway
15:10 , Rhian Lubin
What to watch out for during the hearing
15:08 , Eric Garcia in Washington, D.C.Democratic Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado and Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania were both part of the video saying servicemembers could refuse illegal orders. Expect fireworks between them and Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In addition, Rep. Nancy Mace, a firebrand MAGA Republican, has criticized the lack of transparency on the war. Mace has said she might vote for a War Powers Act resolution. But she is also running for governor and needs President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
WATCH: Pete Hegseth is heckled on his way into the hearing
14:54 , Rhian LubinDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth has arrived in Congress to testify about the war in Iran.
He was filmed being heckled on his way in.
NOW: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrives at Capitol Hill, where he’s met with questions from reporters and a barrage of insults from protesters. pic.twitter.com/qcx9TTWTrQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 29, 2026
Senate Republicans claim Hegseth would not pass confirmation process today: report
14:50 , Rhian Lubin, John BowdenWednesday’s hearing is part one of two. Pete Hegseth will go up in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow, where he could be in for a rough ride.
Some Senate Republicans said that Hegseth would not be able to pass a congressional confirmation process today, and want the president to “move on.”
Several members of the chamber spoke to The Hill on the promise of anonymity to trash the former Fox News anchor now serving as the civilian chief of America’s military.
Those senators said that they hoped Trump would “move on” from Hegseth’s efforts to transform his agency, while noting that the decision was ultimately the president’s call.
John Bowden has more details.
Republicans Senators want Trump to ‘move on’ from Pete Hegseth: report
‘Seditious Six' will get the chance to question Hegseth today
14:40 , Rhian LubinThe so-called “Seditious Six” Democrats who told troops last year that they “can and must refuse illegal orders” will have the chance to question Pete Hegseth today.
Hegseth called the video “despicable, reckless, and false” and launched a “thorough review” of “serious allegations of misconduct” against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a naval veteran and astronaut who joined members of Congress to urge service members to honor their oath to the Constitution.
Kelly and several other lawmakers with military backgrounds featured in the video statement, emphasizing that threats to constitutional order can emerge “from right here at home.”
Despite the furious response from the Pentagon and Trump, a federal grand jury refused to indict the Democratic lawmakers in February.
Embattled Pete Hegseth to face lawmakers for the first time since war began
14:30 , Rhian LubinSecretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is set to face lawmakers in Congress for the first time since the war in Iran began.
He is due to appear in front of the House Armed Services Committee at 10 a.m. ET, alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.
Hegseth’s testimony comes as President Donald Trump’s war remains in a state of limbo.
The Pentagon chief has held multiple press briefings since the start of the war, but this is the first time he will have to answer questions from lawmakers head-on.
We’ll bring you all the latest from the hearing once it begins.
Recap: Trump’s approval rating sinks to new low as Iran peace talks stall
14:15 , James ReynoldsPresident Donald Trump’s approval rating has dipped to a new low as the Iran war drives affordability concerns for Americans.
Just 34 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job as president, while a whopping 64 percent disapprove, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. This is the lowest approval rating of Trump that the polling partnership has found since the president returned to the White House in January 2025.
The majority of responses were taken before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday. The suspected gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
Read the full story:
Trump’s approval rating sinks to new low as Iran war drives affordability concerns
Middle East energy crisis 'could wipe £35bn off UK economy'
14:00 , James ReynoldsThe energy crisis triggered by the Iran war could wipe £35bn off the UK economy – even in the best-case scenario, a leading think tank has warned.
But a prolonged conflict in the region could plunge the UK into recession during the second half of this year, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) said in bleak new projections.
The organisation’s director David Aikman said the forecasts were a “serious blow to the government’s mission to get the UK economy growing again”.
Energy crisis could wipe £35bn off UK economy – even in best-case scenario
Watch: US forces board ship suspected of breaking Iran blockade
13:31 , James ReynoldsWashington 'studying how Iran would respond to hasty US withdrawal'
13:04 , James ReynoldsUS intelligence agencies are studying how Iran might respond if Trump were to declare unilateral victory and simply back out of the two-month conflict, insiders have said.
Two US officials and a person familiar with the matter said the intelligence community is working to understand the full implications of a quick de-escalation, as Trump’s popularity falls to record lows.
No decision has yet been made, the sources told Reuters. But in the days after the initial bombing campaign, intelligence agencies assessed Iran would see it as a win if Trump declared victory and hastily withdrew, one of the sources said.
A White House official described the domestic pressure on the president to wrap up the war as “enormous”.
The CIA said they were unaware of the reported assessment.
UK asks refineries to maximise production of jet fuel supply
12:31 , Alex CroftBritain has asked UK refineries to maximise the production of jet fuel supply as it continues to plan for a range of contingencies to increase flexibility on supply, the government said on Wednesday.
The comments, made by energy department minister Michael Shanks in a written ministerial statement, come as airlines are facing a major challenge from rising jet fuel prices due to the war in Iran.
Ryanair boss warns European airlines could go bust if jet fuel prices remain high
12:29 , James ReynoldsRyanair’s chief executive has warned that some European airlines could go out of business if spiralling jet fuel prices remain high throughout the summer.
Prices have surged dramatically since the war in Iran began on 28 February after the Strait of Hormuz, which, before the war, carried a fifth of the world's oil and gas, was blockaded by Tehran, leading to the worst fuel crisis for decades.
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil to be delivered in June fell 0.5 per cent to $110.71 early on Wednesday, but it remains considerably more expensive than before the war began, when it cost around $70 per barrel. That rise has meant the price of jet fuel has risen nearly 84 per cent since the start of the conflict.
Ryanair boss warns European airlines could go bust if jet fuel prices remain high
In full: Trump drags King Charles into Iran row with nuclear weapons claim
12:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has insisted that the King shares his conviction that Iran must never be permitted to develop nuclear weapons, a claim likely to cause unease within royal circles given the monarch’s constitutional neutrality.
The US President made the remarks during a White House state dinner held in honour of the visiting King and Queen Camilla, following bilateral discussions earlier in the day.
As head of state, the King traditionally remains above party politics, making Mr Trump’s public declaration of his views potentially embarrassing for royal aides.
Read the full story:
Trump drags King Charles into Iran row with nuclear weapons claim
Iran's currency drops to record low
11:53 , James ReynoldsIran’s currency dropped to a record low of 1,810,000 rials to the dollar on Wednesday as the cost of war grips.
The Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) reported that the rial had fallen, marking a drop of around 15 per cent over the past two days.
The slump appears to have been driven by increased demand for foreign currencies, including the euro and the Emirati dirham.
Recap: What UAE's exit from OPEC means for global prices
11:02 , James ReynoldsThe United Arab Emirates on Tuesday said it was quitting OPEC, dealing a blow to the oil producers' group as the energy crisis caused by the Iran war exposes discord among Gulf nations.
The exit of the UAE - one of the group's biggest producers - weakens OPEC's control over global oil supplies and widens a rift between the UAE and its neighbour Saudi Arabia, effectively the leader of the cartel.
Brent crude prices fell 0.5 per cent on Wednesday with news of the decision. The UAE will formally exit on 1 May.
The decision represents a win for Donald Trump, who has accused OPEC of “ripping off the rest of the world” by inflating oil prices. He has said that members exploit US military support by imposing high prices.
Analysts said it was also positive for consumers and the broader economy. Monica Malik, chief economist at ADCB, told Reuters: "This opens the door for the UAE to gain global market share when the geopolitical situation normalises.”
Jorge Leon, analyst at Rystad, noted the UAE's significance as one of the few members of OPEC, apart from Saudi Arabia, with spare production capacity that allows it to add extra oil to the market.
“Outside the group, the UAE would have both the incentive and the ability to increase production, raising broader questions about the sustainability of Saudi Arabia’s role as the market’s central stabiliser,” he said.
Watch: Trump says King ‘agrees’ Iran should never have nuclear weapon
11:00 , James ReynoldsIn full: Trump posts extraordinary picture holding assault rifle in new threat to Iran: ‘No more Mr Nice Guy!’
10:15 , James ReynoldsPresident Donald Trump has issued an astonishing new threat against Iran, posting a mocked up picture of himself brandishing an assault rifle with the strapline: “No more Mr Nice Guy!”
“Iran can’t get their act together,” the president wrote on Truth Social early Wednesday morning. “They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!”
The threat was accompanied by a meme of Trump, stood against a Middle Eastern backdrop of explosions devastating a hillside, wearing a dark suit and sunglasses and holding a firearm.
Here’s how the comments tie in with ongoing diplomatic efforts:
Gun-toting Trump posts extraordinary new threat to Iran: ‘No more Mr Nice Guy!’
In focus: The war in Iran is in a ‘limbo’ phase. Here’s why it could leave the world facing chaos
10:01 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has insisted that he is under “no time pressure” to reach a peace agreement and will prioritise a “good deal for the American people”, but a significant gulf remains between both sides on key issues.
For now, American navy continues to blockade Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a painful countermeasure to Iran’s closure of the route that analysts assess to be costing Tehran as much as $435m per day.
Even so, experts say Iran has shown far more tolerance to this kind of pressure than outsiders would like to admit, and Trump will still be influenced by domestic political pressure over rising energy prices.
Analysts told The Independent the status quo was unlikely to be sustainable long term - as the president told allies he was preparing for a protracted blockade.
The war in Iran has entered a ‘limbo’ phase. It could leave the world facing chaos
Donald Trump warns Iran 'better get smart soon' in latest bizarre post
09:53 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump warned Iran ‘better get smart soon’ and make a deal to end the conflict, with no definitive progress in talks to end the war.
The president posted on his Truth Social platform amid reports Washington had received an Iranian proposal to end the war but separately address the nuclear issue at the heart of the dispute.
Trump says King Charles 'agrees' that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon
09:28 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said on Tuesday that Britain's King Charles did not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon in surprising comments roping the monarch into the politically sensitive conflict.
The US president spoke from the East Room during a White House state dinner on the King’s second day of a four-day visit to the United States, which comes against the backdrop of political tension between Trump and the UK government.
“We're doing a little Middle East work right now and we're doing very well,” Trump said at the dinner. “We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we're never going to let that opponent ever - Charles agrees with me even more than I do - we're never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”
Charles did not address the remarks or speak about Iran in subsequent comments. Buckingham Palace did not immediately comment.
The King had earlier hailed the Nato alliance and urged “unyielding resolve” in the cause of Ukraine to secure a “truly just and lasting peace”, echoing Kyiv’s calls.
Silence over Iranian school strike unusual, US officials say
09:00 , James ReynoldsThe Pentagon’s silence over the deadly strike on an Iranian school at the start of the war is highly unusual, former US officials have said, more than two months after the department said it was investigating.
Iranian authorities have said that around 175 people were killed in a strike in the southern city of Minab on the first day of the US-Israeli assault.
A US official said that US investigators believed that American forces were likely responsible. The US says its military would not deliberately target civilians and has stressed that an investigation is ongoing.
Lt Col Rachel E VanLandingham, a retired Judge Advocate General in the US Air Force, told the BBC that the approach “strikingly departs from the standard response”.
“Administrations in the past at least demonstrated fidelity, a commitment to the law of war,” he said, adding that the administration’s statements were missing a commitment to accountability and “importantly to ensure this doesn’t happen again”.
Middle East energy crisis 'could wipe £35bn off UK economy'
08:53 , James ReynoldsThe energy crisis triggered by the Iran war could wipe £35bn off the UK economy – even in the best-case scenario, a leading think tank has warned.
But a prolonged conflict in the region could plunge the UK into recession during the second half of this year, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) said in bleak new projections.
The organisation’s director David Aikman said the forecasts were a “serious blow to the government’s mission to get the UK economy growing again”.
Energy crisis could wipe £35bn off UK economy – even in best-case scenario
Trump’s approval rating sinks to new low as Iran peace talks stall
08:25 , James ReynoldsPresident Donald Trump’s approval rating has dipped to a new low as the Iran war drives affordability concerns for Americans.
Just 34 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job as president, while a whopping 64 percent disapprove, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. This is the lowest approval rating of Trump that the polling partnership has found since the president returned to the White House in January 2025.
The majority of responses were taken before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday. The suspected gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
Read the full story:
Trump’s approval rating sinks to new low as Iran war drives affordability concerns
Watch: Rubio says Iran using Strait of Hormuz as economic nuclear weapon
08:00 , James ReynoldsIran defence official says Tehran ready to share its military experience with US with SCO member nations
07:26 , Maroosha MuzaffarA senior Iranian defence official, Reza Talaee Nik, said Iran is ready to share its military experience from the recent war with the US with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to Tasnim news agency.
Speaking at a defence meeting in Kyrgyzstan, he argued that the US can no longer dictate terms globally and claimed Iran successfully resisted what it calls US-Israeli aggression.
He added that Tehran is willing to cooperate more closely with the members of the SCO, while also insisting that any future negotiations depend on lifting the US naval blockade.
Trump says King Charles agrees Iran shouldn't have nuclear weapons
07:16 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump said during a White House state dinner with King Charles that the US is making progress in Iran and said that the King agrees with the US strategy in the region.
He said the US was “doing a little Middle East work right now” and that the situation was “going very well”.
“We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me even more than I do – we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Charles did not address the remark during his own toast, or indeed offer any comment on Iran or the wider Middle East conflict.
Gulf leaders meet as talks overshadowed by UAE leaving Opec
07:06 , Maroosha MuzaffarLeaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened for a summit in Jeddah on Tuesday, marking their first face-to-face meeting since the war began.
Talks focused on how Gulf states should respond to the ongoing threat from Iranian ballistic missiles and drone attacks launched since 28 February, as well as efforts to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
The talks were, however, overshadowed by the United Arab Emirates’s decision to leave Opec, a major shift given its status as one of the group’s top producers, with Abu Dhabi saying the move aligns “in terms of its long-term strategic and economic vision”.
Scott Bessent says US blockade cut off billions of dollars in revenue for Iran
06:56 , Maroosha MuzaffarUS treasury secretary Scott Bessent has claimed that the US’s economic pressure on Iran through sanctions and a blockade has already cut off tens of billions in revenue, driven up inflation, and weakened Iran’s currency.
With key export hubs like Kharg Island nearing storage limits due to restricted shipping, Bessent said that Iran may soon be forced to reduce oil production, losing around $170m a day.
“The Treasury Department, through Economic Fury, has targeted Iran’s international shadow banking infrastructure, access to crypto, shadow fleet, weapons procurement networks, funding for terrorist proxies in the region, and independent Chinese ‘teapot’ refineries that support Iran’s oil trade. These actions have disrupted tens of billions of dollars in revenue that would be used to fund terrorism,” he wrote on X.
The Treasury Department, through Economic Fury, has targeted Iran’s international shadow banking infrastructure, access to crypto, shadow fleet, weapons procurement networks, funding for terrorist proxies in the region, and independent Chinese “teapot” refineries that support…
“Under @POTUS’ maximum pressure campaign, Tehran’s inflation has doubled and its currency has rapidly depreciated.“Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, is soon nearing storage capacity, which will force the regime to reduce oil production, resulting in an additional approximately $170 million per day in lost revenue, and causing permanent damage to Iran’s oil infrastructure.”
He said that the “Treasury will continue to exert maximum pressure and any person, vessel, or entity facilitating illicit flows to Tehran risks exposure to US sanctions”.
Trump’s approval ratings drop
06:46 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to a new low of 34 per cent, driven largely by public dissatisfaction with rising living costs and his handling of the Iran war.
The previous approval rating was 36 per cent.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows growing frustration as fuel prices surge due to conflict-related disruptions, with only 22 per cent approving of his performance on the cost of living.
While most Republicans still back him, concerns are rising within his party, and independent voters are leaning toward Democrats ahead of the midterm elections.
The survey also found that only 34 per cent of Americans support America’s war on Iran, down from 36 per cent in mid-April and 38 per cent in mid-March.
Houthis reaffirm support for Iran
06:36 , Maroosha MuzaffarYemen’s Houthi rebels have declared that they are “not neutral” in the ongoing war between US and Iran and reaffirmed support for Iran and allies, including Lebanon.
In a statement, they condemned what they called US “piracy” in the Gulf of Oman, accusing Washington of illegally targeting Iranian commercial vessels and disrupting global trade.
The group backed Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a legitimate form of self-defence, and warned that Yemen’s position is “clear, public, and explicit”.
They also reiterated past threats to escalate, including potentially targeting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key global shipping route, if the conflict continues.
Iran ambassador complains to the UN over seizure of Iranian vessels
06:26 , Maroosha MuzaffarAmir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, has formally complained to the UN secretary-general and the Security Council president, condemning the United States for seizing Iranian vessels and calling the actions “piracy”.
In the letter, reported by the Tasnim News Agency, he argued that “reliance on domestic arrangements, which are inherently illegal, can under no circumstances justify such an abhorrent crime committed through the use of force”.
He added: “Such behaviour constitutes illegal coercion, interference in lawful international trade, and the unlawful seizure of property. Simultaneously, it sets a dangerous precedent that severely undermines the international rule of law.
Trump directs his team to prepare for prolonged blockade - report
06:16 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump has directed his team to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.
Instead of escalating with more military strikes or pulling back from the conflict, Trump sees the blockade as the least risky option, the officials said.
Earlier, it was reported that Trump was reviewing Iran’s new peace proposal, but that he was unhappy with it since it didn’t include nuclear talks.
WSJ reported that the US president told his aides on Monday that Iran’s three-step offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and save nuclear talks for the final phase proved Tehran wasn’t negotiating in good faith.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump said: “Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse’. They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!).”
Trump responds to Merz’s remarks after German chancellor said US was being ‘humiliated’ by Iran
06:06 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump has publicly lashed out at Friedrich Merz after he said that America was being “humiliated” by Iran.
Trump hit back on social media. “The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago. No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!”
Earlier, Merz had said that the Americans “clearly had no strategy” and that “the problem with conflicts like this is always that you don’t just have to go in; you also have to get out again. We saw that all too painfully in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq. So this whole affair is, as I said, ill-considered, to say the least”.
Opec takes major hit as UAE leaves oil cartel after nearly 60 years
05:56 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe Opec has taken a major hit as the United Arab Emirates announced it is leaving after nearly 60 years, weakening Opec’s ability to control global oil prices.
The move is seen as a win for Donald Trump, who has long accused Opec of inflating prices.
The UAE, one of the group’s top producers, wants more freedom to increase oil output, especially during the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has disrupted supply through the Strait of Hormuz and driven prices up.
Tensions with Saudi Arabia over production limits also reportedly played a role, as the UAE was frustrated with restrictions on pumping more oil.
A statement from the UAE’s energy ministry said leaving Opec would give it greater flexibility to respond to a “new energy age” in line with its “long-term strategic and economic vision”.
While the immediate impact may be limited due to current supply disruptions, analysts say this signals a long-term weakening of Opec.
US silence on Minab school strike highly unusual, former US officials say
05:46 , Maroosha MuzaffarA missile strike on a primary school in Minab in Iran, on 28 February, killed 168 people, including around 110 children, and weeks later the Pentagon has still not confirmed responsibility.
US authorities have only said that “this incident is currently under investigation”.
Five former US officials say this level of silence is highly unusual and that in past cases the US typically released details or admitted fault much sooner.
The current US position “strikingly departs from the standard response”, Lt Col Rachel E VanLandingham, a retired Judge Advocate General in the US Air Force and former senior legal adviser at US Central Command during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, told BBC.