U.S. President Donald Trump is reassessing his next steps and available options regarding the ongoing Iran war as he prepares for an upcoming visit to China. According to American media reports, the trip could significantly influence his decision-making process. A White House official told NBC that the China visit is one of the key factors Trump is considering while evaluating military and diplomatic alternatives. The visit, previously postponed due to the conflict, is now scheduled for May 14–15 and is being prioritized by the administration.

The New York Times reported that the dual blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports is complicating the situation ahead of the China trip. China has expressed interest in playing a constructive role in halting the war. However, the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on several Chinese refineries and shipping companies accused of continuing oil trade with Iran in violation of U.S. restrictions. Much of China’s imported oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since early March.

Bruce Fein, a U.S. constitutional and international law expert and former Associate Deputy Attorney General, told Al Jazeera that loopholes in the 1973 War Powers Resolution could allow a U.S. president to continue military action without congressional authorization. He argued that the law contains constitutional inconsistencies and cannot override the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the sole authority to approve war unless the nation is under attack.

Fein cited Iran as an example, saying that since Tehran has not attacked the United States, any military action against it would constitute a criminal act of aggression. He warned that the law’s ambiguity enables a president to reset the 60‑day war clock at will, effectively extending hostilities indefinitely.

According to Fein, the War Powers Resolution fails to define precisely when a conflict begins or ends, leaving room for executive manipulation. This legal uncertainty, he cautioned, could let a president prolong war without congressional oversight.

A report cited by Al Jazeera states that several billion dollars’ worth of US military equipment has been destroyed in the ongoing Iran war. According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), losses are estimated between 2.3 and 2.8 billion dollars. The report highlights that on March 26, a day after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iran had been swiftly neutralized, an Iranian missile and drone strike destroyed a $700 million E-3 AWACS radar aircraft at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base.

CSIS senior adviser Mark Cancian compiled the damage assessment, which includes the loss of a THAAD missile defense radar valued between $480 million and $970 million, and three F-15 fighter jets downed in a friendly fire incident in Kuwait. Security expert Omar Ashour told Al Jazeera that the Trump administration may be concealing the full extent of losses for political reasons ahead of the November election.

The report adds that satellite imagery of US bases in the Middle East has been restricted at the Pentagon’s request, though Iranian satellite images indicate significant damage. Despite damage to Iran’s conventional forces, its missile and drone capabilities remain operational.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense criticism from Democratic lawmakers over the true cost of the Iran war during his first appearance before Congress since the conflict began three months ago. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing, the Pentagon reported that the war had cost $25 billion so far, mainly for ammunition and equipment maintenance. Democrats rejected the figure as unrealistically low, arguing that the broader economic impact could push total costs between $630 billion and $1 trillion.

Acting Pentagon comptroller Jay Hurst clarified that the $25 billion estimate covered only direct operational expenses. Harvard economist Linda Bilmes suggested total costs might reach $1 trillion, noting that daily spending averaged $2 billion. The prolonged conflict has also driven U.S. fuel prices up 40 percent to $4.23 per gallon, worsening living costs and eroding President Trump’s popularity, with only 22 percent of Americans supporting his handling of the issue.

The New York Times reported that repairing damage from Iranian attacks on U.S. bases, including Bahrain’s Fifth Fleet headquarters, could cost hundreds of millions more, underscoring the war’s growing strain on the U.S. economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump shared a map on his social media platform Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz as the 'Strait of Trump.' The post follows an earlier speech in which he also used the term 'Trump Strait.' During that event, audience members reportedly laughed, prompting Trump to remark that the media might call it a mistake, but he rarely makes mistakes.

The move comes after a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, which led Iran to take full control of the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran. Although a ceasefire between Iran and the United States has been extended indefinitely, tensions around the strategic waterway remain high.

The symbolic renaming of the strait and continued military posturing underscore the fragile state of U.S.-Iran relations and the persistent volatility in the region’s maritime security.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has urged the British royal family to return the historic Kohinoor diamond to India. He made the statement at a press conference in Lower Manhattan ahead of King Charles’s visit. Mamdani clarified that he had no scheduled meeting with the King, who was attending an event at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. When asked what he would say if he met the monarch, Mamdani replied that he would ask him to return the priceless Kohinoor diamond to India.

The 105.6-carat diamond was taken from an Indian princely ruler during British colonial rule in the 1840s and later presented to Queen Victoria. It is now part of the British Crown Jewels, kept in the Tower of London. According to The New York Times, Mamdani’s Indian heritage and family background align with his anti-colonial stance. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a noted scholar of colonialism, and his mother, Mira Nair, is a filmmaker whose work often explores colonial experiences.

India has long demanded the return of the Kohinoor diamond, a symbol of colonial-era loss and cultural heritage.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that American consumers lost about 2.1 billion dollars to social media–based scams in 2025. The report identified social media as the leading source of financial losses compared to other fraud channels. Around 30 percent of victims said their scams began on social platforms, with Facebook accounting for the highest losses, followed by WhatsApp and Instagram.

The FTC found that online shopping scams were the most common, with over 40 percent of victims saying they ordered products after seeing social media ads. These included clothing, cosmetics, car parts, and even pets, often from fake or unfamiliar websites. Investment scams caused about 1.1 billion dollars in losses, while romance scams also grew, with 60 percent of those victims reporting initial contact through social media.

The FTC advised users to limit who can view their posts and personal information, avoid investments suggested online acquaintances, and research sellers before making purchases. Analysts warned that as social media use expands, targeted advertising and personal data misuse are increasing fraud risks, making stronger platform security and user awareness essential.

An Indigenous Australian senator, Lidia Thorpe, has called for action against growing anti-Palestinian racism in Australia. Her remarks followed a new report by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, which claimed that anti-Palestinian sentiment is increasing across the country. Thorpe accused the government, institutions, and media of actively fueling such racism, warning that this trend is contributing to a broader climate of intolerance.

She linked the tightening of protest laws to efforts to silence those speaking out against the situation in Gaza and alleged genocide there. Thorpe emphasized that Australia must confront all forms of racism if the nation hopes to heal its divisions.

The report and Thorpe’s comments highlight rising tensions in Australia’s political and social discourse concerning Palestine, with calls for stronger institutional accountability and protection of free expression.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, announced that 42 commercial vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports have been redirected. He praised the effectiveness of the naval blockade against Iran, stating that 41 tankers carrying 69 million barrels of oil, valued at over six billion dollars, remain unsold by the Iranian authorities. Cooper reaffirmed the US military’s commitment to fully enforcing the blockade.

The situation has intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds of oil and gas tankers and cargo ships are stranded. Approximately 20,000 sailors are reportedly stuck in the Persian Gulf, unable to cross the strait due to the US blockade and heightened security risks.

The ongoing maritime standoff underscores the growing tension in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, with significant implications for global oil transport and regional stability.

The United States has claimed to have seized nearly $500 million worth of Iranian cryptocurrency assets, intensifying its economic pressure on Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent told Fox News that about $350 million in crypto assets were recently seized, adding to a previously confiscated $100 million, bringing the total close to half a billion dollars. He added that bank accounts in several countries are also being frozen as part of the same effort.

Besent stated that former President Donald Trump had ordered the expansion of economic pressure on Iran in March of the previous year and recently renewed that directive. The US is now urging foreign governments and companies to reduce economic ties with Iran, warning of secondary sanctions on those purchasing Iranian oil. Besent said the ongoing financial campaign and naval blockade at Iranian ports could cause lasting damage to Iran’s economy.

Iran dismissed the move, saying it would only push global oil prices higher. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Besent’s comments on social media, calling them irrelevant.

Following the Pentagon’s announcement that the ongoing war in Iran has cost $25 billion, Democratic leaders in the United States voiced strong criticism. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier argued that the vast expenditure could have been used to reduce healthcare costs for millions of Americans. He noted that instead, the country has lost 14 soldiers, seen fuel prices rise, and become less secure.

Another Democratic congressman, Ro Khanna, criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying he was unaware of the war’s true economic impact. Khanna said he had asked Hegseth about the combined costs of replacement spending, gas, and food prices resulting from the Iran war, but the secretary had no answer. He described the situation as “unbelievable.”

The criticism underscores growing Democratic frustration over the financial and social toll of the conflict, as questions mount about its broader economic consequences.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed allies to prepare for a long-term naval blockade targeting Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday. The directive followed a Monday meeting with officials involved in operations in Iran, where Trump said he preferred economic pressure over renewed warfare or withdrawal. He described the blockade strategy as less risky than resuming conflict.

The move comes after the U.S.-Israel coalition launched an invasion of Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite the offensive, the coalition failed to achieve its objectives, and Iran retaliated with strikes on Israeli and U.S.-linked targets in the Middle East while closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire was declared on April 7, followed by unsuccessful peace talks in Islamabad on April 11–12.

Trump rejected a new Iranian ceasefire proposal conveyed through Pakistan, citing its omission of Iran’s nuclear program. He later stated at a state dinner honoring Britain’s King Charles that U.S. forces were performing well in the Middle East and vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing mounting political pressure to end the ongoing war with Iran, which has become a major burden for the White House, according to a Reuters report published Tuesday. Intelligence agencies are assessing how Iran might respond if Trump unilaterally declares victory after two months of conflict that has already claimed thousands of lives and turned into a political liability for his administration.

Senior officials have asked intelligence agencies to evaluate possible outcomes of a U.S. troop withdrawal from the conflict. Advisers have warned that continuing the war could severely damage Republican prospects in the upcoming November midterm elections. Sources told Reuters that intelligence assessments following the initial February offensive suggest Iran would likely interpret a U.S. withdrawal after a victory declaration as its own success.

The report also noted that if Trump declares victory but maintains a significant troop presence in the region, Iran may view it as part of a strategic negotiation process, though such a move would not guarantee an end to the war.

The United States has spent at least $25 billion in its ongoing war with Iran, according to Pentagon officials. Acting Undersecretary (Comptroller) Jules Hurst disclosed the figure during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was also present. Hurst said most of the spending went toward ammunition and weaponry, as well as military operations and replacement of damaged equipment.

The war, which began on February 28, has drawn concern among US lawmakers over its financial toll. Democratic members have accused President Donald Trump of launching the costly conflict without congressional approval. The hearing also revealed that US bases in the Middle East suffered significant damage from Iranian drone and missile attacks, further straining resources.

Hurst added that the Pentagon is still calculating the total cost of the war and may request additional funds from Congress to rebuild damaged military infrastructure. The hearing was held as part of the administration’s effort to justify its proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that America’s greatest enemy at present is not any foreign power but the 'defeatist' Democratic members of Congress. Appearing before lawmakers for the first time since the Trump administration launched the war with Iran, Hegseth accused Democrats of obstructing the country’s defense efforts through their statements and actions.

During the hearing, Hegseth reiterated former President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran’s nuclear program, asserting that the United States would never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. He said top negotiators were working toward a deal to prevent that outcome. While welcoming dialogue on the Iran situation, he sharply criticized Democratic lawmakers for questioning the justification of the war and the record $1.5 trillion defense budget, calling their position a threat to national security.

Democratic members strongly protested Hegseth’s remarks, accusing the administration of violating the Constitution by starting the Iran war without congressional approval and labeling critics as enemies for challenging the defense budget.