Iran War Update

·       6 dead in Iraq plane crash: Six Americans were killed when a US military refueling plane crashed over Iraq. It was not shot down. That brings the total killed in action in Operation Epic Fury to thirteen.

·       More US forces heading to the region: The Pentagon is now moving a Marine expeditionary unit and more warships to the Middle East as Iran intensifies attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

·       Trump has no real endgame: Trump now says it’s unlikely Iranians will rise up against the regime and says he’ll know the war should end when he can “feel it in my bones.”

·       Iran’s leader reportedly wounded: Iran’s supreme leader is now reported wounded and possibly disfigured, according to the US defense secretary.

·       Hegseth’s claims don’t match reality: Hegseth says Iran’s leadership is desperate and hiding underground. In reality, Iran’s leadership appeared publicly today.

·       Trump eases Russian oil sanctions: The US is expanding relief on Russian oil sanctions to calm markets, even as Russia is reportedly helping Iran better target American troops.

·       Trump officials didn’t plan for Hormuz closure: CNN reports top Trump officials admitted to lawmakers they did not plan for Iran potentially closing the Strait of Hormuz after US strikes.

·       NATO intercepts Iranian missile: NATO defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran over Turkey, the third such case since the war began.

·       JD Vance leaking dissent: JD Vance is reportedly leaking to the press that he was skeptical of attacking Iran and made his opposition known.

·       Trump falsely claimed Iran was surrendering: Trump told G7 leaders Iran was about to surrender. Twenty-four hours later, Iran’s new supreme leader publicly vowed to keep fighting.

·       Oil keeps getting more expensive: A Bloomberg energy columnist says the war could add $3 to $6 a barrel to oil prices every single day it continues.

·       Airline prices are jumping: US airline tickets are already surging because of oil prices, with some fares doubling and others up sharply.

·       Saudi Arabia looking to Ukrainian drones: The Wall Street Journal reports Saudi Aramco is in talks to buy Ukrainian drones to protect oil fields.

·       Trump used a dead servicemember in fundraising: Trump used the photo of one of our dead servicemembers’ coffins from the Iran war in a fundraising email.