The United States has approved arms sales worth $230 billion to three Middle Eastern countries as tensions with Iran intensify. According to the US State Department, the United Arab Emirates will receive air defense systems and related equipment valued at over $80 billion, including missiles, drones, radar systems, and ammunition for F-16 fighter jets. Kuwait will purchase military equipment worth $80 billion, featuring missile defense and radar systems. Jordan will receive $75 million in aircraft and ammunition support.

A State Department official, speaking anonymously, said an additional $6 billion in arms sales to the three countries had also been approved. These did not require congressional notification because they were part of previously authorized packages or purely commercial transactions.

The arms deals come as regional tensions rise due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, with the US reinforcing defense cooperation with its Arab partners in the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that despite the Iran war entering its fourth week, he is not considering deploying American troops to the Middle East. He made the remarks on Thursday in response to a journalist’s question, emphasizing that he is not sending troops anywhere and that necessary actions will be taken as required. The statement came during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House Oval Office.

According to the report, Trump’s comments come as the Iran conflict continues to escalate. The situation in the region remains tense, with reports of downed Israeli drones in Iran and European nations preparing post-ceasefire assistance in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, The Economist has criticized Trump’s stance on the Iran issue, calling his decision misguided.

The ongoing conflict and uncertainty have cast a shadow over Eid celebrations across the Middle East, reflecting the broader regional instability linked to the Iran war.

A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing after reportedly being damaged by suspected Iranian fire amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to sources familiar with the matter. The aircraft, which was on a combat mission, landed safely at a US base in the region, and the pilot was unharmed. US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed that the fifth-generation stealth jet was forced to land while operating near Iranian airspace and that an investigation is underway.

This marks the first reported incident since the conflict began in late February in which a US warplane was allegedly hit by Iranian fire. Both the United States and Israel have been deploying F-35 jets in the conflict, each valued at over 100 million dollars. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth stated that the United States is maintaining an advantage in the war and that Iran’s air defense systems have been largely dismantled.

The investigation’s outcome may influence future US operational strategies in the region as tensions remain high.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a Pentagon press briefing that Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped by 90 percent since the conflict began. He said the United States has damaged or sunk at least 120 Iranian naval vessels, rendering Iran’s surface fleet ineffective and its submarines depleted. Hegseth described senior positions in Iran’s military as temporary due to heavy losses.

He asserted that Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions poses a direct threat not only to the United States but also to freedom and civilization. Comparing Iran’s leadership to Hamas in Gaza, Hegseth said Tehran has invested heavily in tunnels, rockets, missiles, and drones, but the US is systematically and forcefully targeting them. He added that the US has struck more than 7,000 targets inside Iran and is preparing for another major strike.

Hegseth concluded that US military capability continues to grow while Iran’s capacity is steadily eroding.

During a Pentagon briefing on March 19, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed questions about a Washington Post report claiming the Pentagon had requested additional funding for the Iran war. Hegseth stated that the reported figure of 200 billion dollars could change and emphasized that ensuring proper funding for future needs was essential. He remarked that 'it takes money to kill bad people,' defending the financial demands tied to ongoing military operations.

The briefing followed reports that the United States had coordinated attacks on Iran’s gas fields, which former President Trump had denied. Hegseth asserted that U.S. military capability had increased while Iran’s had declined. The broader Middle East conflict has also raised concerns about oil prices potentially surpassing 200 dollars per barrel, while damage to Qatar’s LNG facilities from Iranian strikes could take five years to repair.

The Pentagon’s statements highlight Washington’s focus on maintaining operational readiness amid escalating regional tensions and economic risks linked to energy markets.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Washington’s objectives in its ongoing attacks on Iran remain unchanged. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, he said the United States continues to monitor various aspects of the war closely and is briefing the President and the national security team. Hegseth emphasized that the US mission is on the right track and proceeding according to plan.

He reiterated that the United States is preparing to launch its largest-ever strike on Iran, claiming that Iran’s ballistic missile production capabilities have been severely damaged. Several world leaders and observers criticized Washington’s actions, arguing that the United States was not under any direct threat from Iran.

The situation has heightened concerns about regional stability, with reports suggesting that the conflict has already affected energy markets and could further escalate tensions in the Middle East.

The United States may ease restrictions on Iranian oil to stabilize global energy supply following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran. The attack, which targeted Iran’s gas fields and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, has significantly affected global oil prices. US Treasury Secretary Scott Basent told Fox Business that the move aims to restore balance in the energy market, according to Al Jazeera.

Basent also said the US could unilaterally release oil from its own reserves to support market stability. Earlier this week, he noted that Iranian oil tankers had already begun leaving the Strait of Hormuz with US awareness, helping to normalize global supply. Further details on Basent’s comments are expected soon.

The developments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and concerns that oil prices could rise sharply if disruptions continue.

A United States District Court has ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to effectively shut down Voice of America (VOA) was illegal. Judge Royce Lamberth issued the order on Tuesday, directing authorities to restart the international broadcaster within one week. The court also ordered the reinstatement of journalists who had been dismissed as part of the shutdown.

Voice of America was originally established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda. After returning to the presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order to close the broadcaster, accusing it of left-leaning bias. His administration also sought to dismantle other U.S.-funded media outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia “as far as legally possible.”

The ruling marks a judicial pushback against the administration’s attempt to curtail government-funded international media operations, requiring the immediate restoration of VOA’s services and staff.

On the 20th day of the US-Israeli offensive in Iran, US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the country is facing rising fuel prices linked to the conflict. Speaking at a manufacturing plant in Michigan on Wednesday, Vance said Americans are struggling with higher gas costs and noted that measures are being prepared for announcement within 24 to 48 hours, though he declined to provide details before President Donald Trump’s statement.

The conflict, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes, has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route previously handling about one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG exports. Iran has warned that vessels from the US, Israel, and their allies will be attacked if they attempt passage. At least 16 ships and tankers have been hit since the war began, though some from India, Turkey, and Pakistan reportedly crossed with Iranian permission.

Global crude prices have surged past $108 per barrel, intensifying domestic and international pressure on Washington. Despite repeated calls from Trump, NATO and Asian allies have largely refused to send warships to secure the strait, leaving the US increasingly isolated in the conflict.

Mohammad Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies stated that Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field has intensified debate over who controls U.S. foreign policy. Former U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was unaware of the strike. Elmasry, however, suggested it is unlikely Trump was uninformed, arguing that Israel would not have acted without his approval.

Elmasry further claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have influenced Trump to authorize the move, pointing to growing unease in Washington. He asserted that Israel controls many aspects of U.S. foreign policy and noted that even Trump’s supporters are beginning to question the relationship. According to him, Israel’s goal is to create instability, bring down the Iranian state, and spread chaos across the Gulf and the wider Middle East.

Elmasry warned that the consequences of such actions could be disastrous for Gulf countries, Europe, and the United States.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a congressional hearing that Iran’s governing system remains intact but has been severely weakened following recent US and Israeli attacks. The hearing, lasting over two hours, marked the first public intelligence briefing since the Iran war began in late February. Gabbard testified alongside the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA, and Defense Intelligence Agency, stating that US intelligence had anticipated tensions in the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict.

The session followed the resignation of National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who argued that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States. President Donald Trump, however, defended the strikes, claiming Iran was developing nuclear weapons that endangered the US and Israel. CIA Director John Ratcliffe disagreed with Kent, asserting that Iran remains an immediate threat. Gabbard’s written statement indicated that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was devastated by the 12-day war in June 2025, though she omitted that section during her oral testimony.

Lawmakers questioned whether intelligence officials were present when Trump decided to attack Iran and whether the administration had prior warnings about possible Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Department of Defense has requested more than $200 billion from the White House to finance the ongoing war with Iran, according to a senior American official cited in the report. The proposal, submitted for approval, is expected to face resistance from anti-war lawmakers. The requested amount far exceeds the costs of previous airstrike operations conducted by the administration.

White House officials reportedly remain uncertain whether Congress will approve such a large allocation, as war expenditures have already been rising at an unusually rapid pace. The report notes that spending surpassed $11 billion within the first week of the conflict. Analysts attribute the escalating costs to the use of advanced technology, missile defense systems, drone operations, and long-range strikes.

The conflict has intensified amid a three-way confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks inside Iran, Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Gulf states and Israel, prompting heightened military readiness across the region.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has told lawmakers that Pakistan’s advancing missile program could eventually bring the US mainland within its strike range. Speaking at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on global threats, she said Islamabad’s efforts to develop long-range ballistic missiles may evolve into intercontinental systems capable of targeting the United States.

Gabbard highlighted the expanding scope of strategic risks, noting that Pakistan’s long-range missile development could include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking US soil. She grouped Pakistan with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as nations actively developing advanced missile technologies alongside cyber and kinetic warfare capabilities.

The remarks underscore growing US concern over the proliferation of long-range missile systems and the potential emergence of Pakistan as a new strategic threat if its program continues to advance.

Lionel Messi achieved a major career milestone by scoring his 900th goal in professional football, becoming the second player in history to reach this mark. The milestone came after a two-match break, during Inter Miami’s home leg against Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Despite Messi’s early goal in the seventh minute, the match ended 1-1, resulting in Miami’s elimination from the tournament’s round of 16.

The first leg between the teams in Nashville had ended goalless. In the return leg, Messi’s strike gave Miami a lead that lasted until the 74th minute, when Argentine forward Cristian Espinoza equalized for Nashville. Due to the away-goal rule, Nashville advanced to the next round while Inter Miami were knocked out.

Messi’s 900th goal places him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who first reached the milestone in September 2024. However, the achievement was overshadowed by Miami’s tournament exit on home soil.

The United States has come under widespread criticism following its recent military offensive against Iran, initiated under President Donald Trump. The conflict, which began without a clear justification or defined objectives, has caused severe humanitarian and economic fallout across the Middle East and beyond. Reports from The New York Times and CNN indicate that the war has disrupted global trade, driven up oil and gas prices, and intensified inflationary pressures worldwide.

Regional governments, particularly Gulf monarchies, have expressed frustration at being drawn into a conflict they did not support. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi condemned Washington’s actions, accusing the US of seeking to reshape the region and block the creation of a Palestinian state. He announced that Oman would reject diplomatic ties with Israel and withdraw from the so-called “Board of Peace” overseeing Gaza. His remarks reflect growing disillusionment among traditional US allies.

Analysts suggest that while these alliances may not collapse immediately, the war has prompted many partners to question whether continued alignment with Washington remains in their national interest.