Hegseth Defends Iran War Costs Amid Escalating Naval Blockade and Russian Warnings

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before Congress on Wednesday to provide a justification for the ongoing military campaign against Iran, titled Operation Epic Fury. Hegseth reported that the operation has cost approximately $25 billion since its launch on February 28, primarily driven by munition expenditures. Despite Democratic criticism that strikes have not halted Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Hegseth maintained that the military action is necessary to prevent Iran from using its missile buildup as a shield for nuclear development. Concurrently, President Trump met with oil executives to discuss the global impact of the U.S. naval blockade, which has already diverted 41 tankers and denied the Iranian government over $6 billion in revenue. On the diplomatic front, tensions are rising between Washington and its international counterparts. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly warned President Trump in a phone call of "damaging consequences" should the U.S. and Israel pursue further escalation. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC), a new initiative aimed at recruiting international allies to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which President Trump recently referred to in social media posts as the "Strait of Trump." Regional stability remains precarious as the Lebanese army reported its first fatalities from Israeli strikes since the extension of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. One Lebanese soldier was killed and two others wounded in southern Lebanon. In Washington, President Trump is scheduled to meet with U.S. Central Command leadership on Thursday to review plans for potential "short and powerful" strikes against Iranian infrastructure while Vice President JD Vance’s recent attempts to negotiate via Pakistan remain stalled due to uncertainty regarding the current power structure within the Iranian leadership.