U.S.-Iran Conflict: Hegseth Faces Scrutiny Over School Strike and $25B War Cost

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second day of intense congressional testimony as the U.S. military investigates a strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed more than 165 people. The site was reportedly adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base. Hegseth defended the administration's strategy against "reckless naysayers" in the Senate but declined to provide a specific timeline or projected future costs for the conflict, which has already reached $25 billion. The conflict is approaching a critical legal juncture as it nears the 60-day mark mandated by the War Powers Act this Friday. While the administration argues that the current ceasefire pauses the clock, Democratic lawmakers have rejected this claim, noting that the White House has yet to request a formal 30-day extension. At the same time, military officials are considering the deployment of 'Dark Eagle' hypersonic missiles should major combat operations resume. Economic volatility remains high due to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Global oil prices spiked to $126 per barrel overnight before settling at $111. Diplomatically, the Trump administration is pressuring European allies to join a maritime coalition to reopen the strait, though tensions remain high with NATO partners like Germany over the U.S. approach to the regional crisis.