Donald Trump Issues Stern Ultimatum to Iran Over Ongoing Attacks by Terror Group on Vital Oil Route
The House vote marked a significant rebuke to President Trump's handling of the conflict, with lawmakers from both parties expressing concerns about the escalating violence and the potential for further destabilization in the region. The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., would require the president to withdraw US forces from hostilities against Iran within 30 days. Meanwhile, the US military has continued to maintain a strong presence in the region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group remaining stationed in the Arabian Sea. The US has also deployed additional Patriot missile defense systems to the region, in an effort to bolster its defensive capabilities against potential Iranian missile attacks. As tensions continue to rise, international leaders have urged restraint on all sides, with the United Nations calling for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. The European Union has also expressed concerns about the impact of the conflict on global energy markets, with the bloc's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, warning of the potential for "unintended consequences" if the situation is not brought under control.
Both chambers of Congress voted to advance War Powers resolutions in June, though they lacked the force of law. U.S. Central Command, which is leading the ongoing military operation against Iran, released a photo on social media of a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet taking off from a base in the Middle East. "U.S. forces remain vigilant," CENTCOM wrote in the Thursday morning social media post. Overnight, U.S. forces completed the 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets, according to CENTCOM.
Since the war began on February 28, 18 U.S. service members have been killed. This week, the U.S. identified two soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan: 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19. Senate Democrats are set to force another War Powers vote Thursday morning to end U.S. involvement in Iran. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the Senate will vote at about 11:30 a.m. on whether to bring the resolution to the floor.
The measure will "direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress," according to a statement from Durbin's office. This will be the 12th time the Senate has voted on a War Powers Resolution related to the Iran conflict. In June, one of the measures passed the House and the Senate but because it was a concurrent resolution, it did not carry the force of law and President Donald Trump did not have to abide by it.
Brent crude oil, the world benchmark, hit $100 per barrel on Thursday morning, marking its highest level since late May, before the latest escalation in fighting between the United States and Iran. According to AAA, prices at the pump have also been rising in the U.S. A week ago, the average price for regular gasoline was $3.94 per gallon. It has since jumped nearly 4% to $4.09 per gallon. After a late-June ceasefire collapsed earlier this month, the United States resumed its blockade of Iran and has conducted airstrikes in the country for 12 consecutive days.
The renewed campaign has coincided with continued Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said Thursday the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear deal will be approved only if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords. Trump added there would be "no enrichment of material" under the agreement and that it would be limited to non-military civilian nuclear use. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while on his trip to the Philippines, answered questions from reporters about the Iran war, urging the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group to disentangle itself from the ongoing conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments come as the US is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East, with the deployment of special operations forces, squadrons of jet fighters, and bomber aircraft on high alert. The Wall Street Journal reported that the surge in forces and assets is intended to provide President Donald Trump with broader military options as he considers widening the conflict against Iran. According to flight-tracking data and US officials, the special operations forces have been deployed to the region from their US bases. Additionally, squadrons of jet fighters have been staged across the Middle East, while bomber aircraft at bases in the US and UK are ready to ramp up operations at short notice. This military buildup suggests that the US is preparing for a potential escalation of the conflict, despite Iran's reported attempts to negotiate a new deal to end the fighting.
Both chambers of Congress voted to advance War Powers resolutions in June, though they lacked the force of law. U.S. Central Command, which is leading the ongoing military operation against Iran, released a photo on social media of a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet taking off from a base in the Middle East. "U.S. forces remain vigilant," CENTCOM wrote in the Thursday morning social media post. Overnight, U.S. forces completed the 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets, according to CENTCOM.
Since the war began on February 28, 18 U.S. service members have been killed. This week, the U.S. identified two soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan: 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19. Senate Democrats are set to force another War Powers vote Thursday morning to end U.S. involvement in Iran. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the Senate will vote at about 11:30 a.m. on whether to bring the resolution to the floor.
The measure will "direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress," according to a statement from Durbin's office. This will be the 12th time the Senate has voted on a War Powers Resolution related to the Iran conflict. In June, one of the measures passed the House and the Senate but because it was a concurrent resolution, it did not carry the force of law and President Donald Trump did not have to abide by it.
Brent crude oil, the world benchmark, hit $100 per barrel on Thursday morning, marking its highest level since late May, before the latest escalation in fighting between the United States and Iran. According to AAA, prices at the pump have also been rising in the U.S. A week ago, the average price for regular gasoline was $3.94 per gallon. It has since jumped nearly 4% to $4.09 per gallon. After a late-June ceasefire collapsed earlier this month, the United States resumed its blockade of Iran and has conducted airstrikes in the country for 12 consecutive days.
The renewed campaign has coincided with continued Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said Thursday the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear deal will be approved only if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords. Trump added there would be "no enrichment of material" under the agreement and that it would be limited to non-military civilian nuclear use. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while on his trip to the Philippines, answered questions from reporters about the Iran war, urging the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group to disentangle itself from the ongoing conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments come as the US is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East, with the deployment of special operations forces, squadrons of jet fighters, and bomber aircraft on high alert. The Wall Street Journal reported that the surge in forces and assets is intended to provide President Donald Trump with broader military options as he considers widening the conflict against Iran. According to flight-tracking data and US officials, the special operations forces have been deployed to the region from their US bases. Additionally, squadrons of jet fighters have been staged across the Middle East, while bomber aircraft at bases in the US and UK are ready to ramp up operations at short notice. This military buildup suggests that the US is preparing for a potential escalation of the conflict, despite Iran's reported attempts to negotiate a new deal to end the fighting.
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