Hegseth Sidesteps War Powers Deadline as Iran Threatens U.S. Naval Assets

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second day of rigorous questioning from Senate Democrats on April 30, addressing the surging costs of the Iran conflict—now estimated at $25 billion. During his testimony, Hegseth asserted that the 60-day War Powers Resolution deadline, which was set to expire this Friday, is currently 'paused' due to the active ceasefire. The White House is reportedly in talks with lawmakers to secure a 30-day extension to ensure legal authorization for continued operations remains intact. Simultaneously, military tensions have escalated as Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Majid Mousavi threatened 'long and painful strikes' against American warships and regional positions should the U.S. resume offensive actions. These threats coincide with reports that U.S. Central Command is seeking the deployment of 'Dark Eagle' hypersonic missiles to the theater. Commanders are expected to brief President Trump on a range of options to force Iran to the negotiating table, including potential special operations to seize enriched uranium. The conflict continues to ripple through global markets and diplomatic circles. Brent crude oil prices experienced extreme volatility, hitting a four-year high of $126 per barrel before settling near $111 as markets weighed the potential for a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatically, relations with European NATO allies have strained further; the administration is reportedly considering troop reductions in Germany as Berlin and other partners express wariness over deep involvement in the U.S. strategy to reopen critical oil transit lanes.