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.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that any renewed attack on Qatar’s energy facilities would trigger a severe response. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that if Iran refrains from attacking Qatar, Israel will not strike the South Pars gas field. However, he cautioned that if such attacks resume, the entire South Pars field could be destroyed with unprecedented force.

Trump added that he does not wish to authorize such violence due to its long-term impact on Iran’s future, but he would not hesitate if Qatar’s LNG infrastructure is targeted again. He also clarified that neither the United States nor Qatar had prior knowledge of Israel’s earlier strike on the South Pars gas field.

According to Trump, Israel will not conduct further attacks on the field unless Iran decides to assault Qatar. The statements were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect heightened tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States over regional energy security.

Civil rights icon Dolores Huerta has publicly accused her late colleague and labor leader Cesar Chavez of sexual violence, joining several other women who shared similar experiences. In a statement released Wednesday, Huerta said she decided to speak out after being contacted for a New York Times investigation that uncovered allegations of abuse involving minors as young as 12. Huerta, now nearly 96, said she had kept silent for six decades to protect the farmworker movement she helped build with Chavez, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association and died in 1993.

The New York Times report included accounts from multiple women describing sexual abuse by Chavez, including Huerta’s claim that she was manipulated and later raped by him, resulting in pregnancies she kept secret. Other women, including Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Esmeralda Lopez, also described assaults or coercion by Chavez when they were minors or young adults. The United Farm Workers, which evolved from the organization Chavez co-founded, announced it would not participate in Cesar Chavez Day events and pledged to create an independent reporting channel for survivors.

Lawmakers from both parties called for Chavez’s name to be removed from public honors, describing the revelations as shocking and a betrayal of civil rights values.

US President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to any new attacks on Iran’s energy installations following Israel’s strike on the South Pars gas field facilities. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that Trump’s stance became clear after the Israeli operation took place on Wednesday.

According to the report, Trump had initially supported the strike to send a strong message to Tehran after Iran allegedly attempted to disrupt navigation in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. With that objective achieved, he now opposes any further military action against Iranian energy infrastructure.

However, the report noted that Trump’s position is not final. If Tehran again obstructs movement through the Strait of Hormuz, he may authorize renewed targeting of Iran’s energy sites.

The United States Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, described as the world’s largest and most advanced, is en route to Greece for repairs following damage caused by a recent fire. A US official confirmed the information to CBS News, noting that the fire began in a laundry room and injured two sailors who have since received medical treatment.

According to Reuters, citing two US officials, the carrier is currently in the Red Sea and will be taken to Souda Bay port on the Greek island of Crete for maintenance. The BBC reported that it took more than 30 hours to bring the fire under control after it broke out in the ship’s laundry section, leaving at least two sailors injured.

The incident has temporarily sidelined one of the US Navy’s most powerful vessels as it undergoes necessary repairs in Greece.

US President Donald Trump has warned that he could destroy what remains of Iran and hand over responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to the countries that use it. He issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the United States no longer needs the vital waterway for global oil supply.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s key oil transit routes. Trump suggested that transferring its control to other nations would push America’s inactive allies to act faster. Iran has maintained that the strait remains open but has warned that ships from US and Israeli allies will not be allowed to pass if attacks continue. Reports indicate that tankers from India, Turkey, and Pakistan have crossed the strait with Iran’s permission since the conflict began.

Following reports of an attack on one of Iran’s major natural gas facilities, crude oil prices rose above $108 per barrel. Despite Trump’s repeated calls, most NATO and Asian allies have declined to send warships to the area, except South Korea, which said it would consider the request.

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is returning to port for repairs after a fire broke out in its laundry section, injuring at least two sailors. According to Bloomberg, citing U.S. officials, the nuclear-powered carrier is being moved from the Red Sea to Souda Bay in Greece for maintenance. The incident occurred as tensions between the United States and Iran remain high.

The report added that the U.S. Navy spokesperson did not disclose details about the extent of the damage or the current positions of the guided missile destroyers accompanying the carrier. However, one official confirmed that other ships in the Ford Strike Group will continue their operations in the Red Sea. The fire took more than 30 hours to bring under control.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, weighing nearly 100,000 tons and carrying over 4,000 sailors, had previously stopped at Souda Bay before heading to the Red Sea in late February.

US Senator Bernie Sanders stated that the United States has spent a total of 22.8 billion dollars on the ongoing war in Iran. He argued that this amount could have been used for various humanitarian purposes instead of warfare. Sanders shared a brief list outlining potential humanitarian uses for the funds in a post on social media.

The statement highlights Sanders’ continued criticism of US military spending and his emphasis on redirecting resources toward social and humanitarian needs. His post comes amid broader discussions about the human and financial costs of the Iran conflict and the global implications of prolonged military engagement.

The disclosure adds to ongoing debates within the United States about defense expenditures and priorities, particularly as international efforts for ceasefire in the Middle East continue.

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at making Venezuela the 51st state of the United States. The remark came after Venezuela defeated Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Trump made the comment in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he praised Venezuela’s performance and jokingly suggested the idea of statehood.

According to the report, Trump, during his second term in office, has previously threatened to take control of several countries and regions, including Greenland and Canada. His latest comment followed Venezuela’s 4–2 win over Italy, which advanced the team to the semifinals of the tournament.

The post, which appeared celebratory in tone, drew attention for its political undertone, as Trump questioned what was behind Venezuela’s recent success before suggesting it could become the 51st state.