SerpApi.Org
LIVE – Updated at 06:00
Donald Trump has threatened to renew strikes on Iran's heavily fortified "Pickaxe Mountain" nuclear site, as the staggering human and financial toll of the five-month war between the US and Iran came into focus.
Trump said the US would target the Pickaxe Mountain area, located near Iran's heavily damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, "pretty soon."
The site – known in Iran as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La – hosts two deeply buried tunnel complexes that experts assess as beyond the reach of the most powerful bunker buster bombs in the US arsenal.
Appearing at the Senate on Tuesday, Trump's defence secretary Pete Hegseth unraveled over questions about the growing cost of the Trump administration’s war in Iran, estimating the financial toll has now reached $37.5bn. At the same time, he suggested Trump should be praised for starting the war.
Hegseth is asking for another $67 billion from Congress to cover mounting costs for the war, among other demands.
In terms of personnel costs, US officials say at least 18 American troops have died since the beginning of the war, and more than 400 others have been injured.
Key Points
- Pentagon identifies third soldier killed in Friday's Jordan attack
- US completes latest round of strikes against Iran
- Hegseth's new estimate for the cost of the war: Nearly $38 billion
- Protesters interrupt Hegseth testimony moments into opening statements
- Hegseth says not supporting funding request 'is the greatest threat our nation faces'
- Top Dem pushes for 'quick' end to war, not billions in more funds
WATCH: Hegseth accuses US senator of having 'Trump derangement syndrome'
06:00 , Rachel DobkinHegseth's new estimate for the cost of the war: Nearly $38 billion
05:58 , Shweta SharmaPete Hegseth’s latest estimate for the growing costs of the Iran war has now reached $37.5 billion.
That’s likely a low-end estimate, according to analysts.
Before the last week of attacks, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimated total costs to have reached between $34 billion and $42 billion. Other estimates place the true cost of the war at more than $100 billion.
Trump warns Iran the US ‘has been nice’ so far in attacks as threat of full-blown war grows
05:32 , Andrew FeinbergDonald Trump warned Iran that the US has been “nice” so far in its attacks against the Middle East nation as tensions continue to rise and the threat of full-blown war remains.
Speaking in the Oval Office Tuesday alongside Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, Trump said Iran was once again being “decimated” and disclaimed any interest in new ceasefire negotiations after a wave of attacks on US bases and allies.
But he cautioned the US could escalate attacks on Iran in ways that would leave the country’s infrastructure so devastated it could take “decades” for Tehran to rebuild as the renewed conflict heads into a third full week.
“They want to desperately meet, and until they're ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest”, the US president said.
“If we left today, it would take them decades to rebuild, and I don't believe they'd ever rebuild. And honestly, they haven't seen anything yet — we've been nice”.
Read on...
Iran claims strikes in Kuwait and Amazon data centre in Bahrain
05:20 , Shweta SharmaIran’s military claims it struck US military targets at Camp Doha in western Kuwait and Amazon’s central data infrastructure in Bahrain in Tuesday’s attacks.
In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Iranian military said its forces destroyed “a US long-range radar site, a communications center, satellite receiving systems, a missile defense radar, and a MQ-9 drone hangar”.
“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran – with sacred unity – stand ready to decisively counter any new conspiracy and adventurism by the enemy,” the statement added, calling Camp Doha a major support hub for US personnel and equipment in the region.
“An MQ-9 drone hangar was also hit at the Ali al-Salem base, and a number of drones were destroyed or completely damaged,” it added.
It also said that it destroyed the central data infrastructure of the American company Amazon in Bahrain with several cruise missiles.
It said the attack was in response to the US’s alleged attack on the "civilian facilities of Darkhovey" – an under-construction nuclear power plant in Iran.
WATCH: Hegseth says 'inability' to fund Pentagon is 'single greatest threat' to US
05:04 , Rachel DobkinUS military says 11th successive night of strikes on Iran has ended
04:47 , Shweta SharmaThe US military says it has concluded its latest round of strikes on Iran, marking the 11th consecutive night of American attacks.
Centcom said the 75-minute operation targeted Iranian military operations centres, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and logistics infrastructure to further degrade Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington said Iran had attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway over the past three months.
MAGA congressman shrugs off Americans killed in Iran as the ‘nature of warfare’
04:29 , Ariana BaioA Republican US congressman and close ally of Donald Trump dismissed the deaths of American military members in the Iran war as “the nature of warfare”.
Rep. Carlos Giménez, who sits on the House’s Armed Services Committee, made the remark while discussing the escalating conflict with CNN Monday.
“You know my condolences go out to the families of our servicemen and women that are killed – have been killed – in Iran. That’s the nature of warfare; we will have some casualties,” Giménez told “The Lead”.
Read on...
MAGA congressman shrugs off Americans killed in Iran as the ‘nature of warfare’
US military shares promo-style video of blockade as 8 ships redirected and 1 disabled
04:02 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command has shared a promo-style video of American troops enforcing its blockade of Iranian ports as eight ships have been redirected and one disabled as of Tuesday.
Rubio says US open-minded on Middle East, but Iran not serious about talks
04:01 , Shweta SharmaUS state secretary Marco Rubio said on Wednesday the United States is open-minded on the Middle East conflict and willing to engage, negotiate and settle differences with Iran, but Tehran was not serious about talks.
"If they're serious, we're serious. If they're not, then we will do what's necessary to protect our interests, and also the interests of our allies," Rubio said in remarks in a meeting with Southeast Asian counterparts in Manila, who have expressed serious concern about the renewed hostilities.
Three tankers carrying Saudi crude make U-turns in Red Sea
03:59 , Shweta SharmaThree oil tankers loaded with Saudi crude for China and India made U-turns in the Red Sea following a warning from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia.
The three tankers – Xin Long Yang, the Rodos and the Amazon – made turns towards the Suez Canal to skil the Yemeni coast andswitched off their transponders on Tuesday.
The Houthis on Monday declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front in the US-Israeli war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf.
The group, in an email sent to shipping companies, warned them not to load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports and said such activity may result in being targeted "in any location".
"Vessels calling at Saudi Arabian ports are advised to reconsider transiting the Red Sea and to consider implementing enhanced mitigation measures," British maritime security company Ambrey said, adding that it assessed vessels calling at Saudi Arabian ports "were at high risk".
WATCH: Hegseth says Trump is not fighting 'stupid wars' as Iran conflict drags on
03:33 , Rachel DobkinRECAP: Trump meets with Lebanese president
03:01 , Rachel DobkinUS President Donald Trump met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House Tuesday, where the two leaders discussed the Middle Eastern country's security and economic priorities.
Aoun “emphasized the urgent need for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories” during the meeting, according to a statement from his office shared on X.
As Trump continues his war with Iran, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Israeli military have been trading fire.
“President Aoun also outlined before President Trump the catastrophic repercussions of the recent war on Lebanon, and the human and economic losses it left behind, along with severe damage to infrastructure across Lebanese territories”, the statement continued.
Following their meeting, Trump announced on Truth Social that he will allow all US airlines to “fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land”.
US senator bashes spending on Iran war: 'But they can’t help you afford health care'
02:29 , Rachel DobkinUS Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, has bashed the Trump administration’s spending on the Iran war.
“They want you to pay $37.5 billion for Trump's war in Iran, which is tragically turning into another forever war. But they can’t help you afford health care”, Schiff wrote on X.
The affordability of health care and other basic needs has been a major concern among Democrats in Congress ahead of the midterm elections in November.
Pentagon identifies third soldier killed in Friday's Jordan attack
02:00 , Rachel DobkinThe Pentagon has identified the third soldier killed in an Iranian attack at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Friday.
Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, a 28-year-old from New York, was killed in the attack, as was Tyler James Feehan, a 25-year-old from Hawaii, and Isabella Gonzales, a 19-year-old from Texas.
The Pentagon identified Feehan and Gonzales on Monday.
US completes latest round of strikes that targeted Iranian military infrastructure
01:51 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command has announced that its latest round of strikes that targeted Iranian military infrastructure has been completed.
The strikes, which concluded at 8:15 p.m. ET Tuesday/12:15 a.m. GMT Wednesday, “targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”, CENTCOM wrote on X.
“Over the past three months, Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the international waterway vital for regional and global trade. The unwarranted attacks have endangered hundreds of innocent mariners and undermined freedom of navigation.
“Despite Iranian aggression, the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil”, the US military said.
Despite CENTCOM proclaiming that the strait is open, maritime traffic through the key oil waterway in the Middle East remains diminished.
Just 11 ships have transited the strait in the past 24 hours, according to the Hormuz Strait Monitor.
Number of US troops injured in Iran war higher than publicly reported: official
01:26 , Rachel DobkinThe number of American forces injured in the Iran war is higher than publicly reported, a US official told the Associated Press.
The official said well over 500 troops have been injured, despite the Pentagon’s tally on its Defense Casualty Analysis System currently showing 482 wounded.
