The United States has completed its eleventh consecutive night of attacks against Iran, in a new operation that struck military operations centers, drone and aircraft facilities, maritime capabilities, and military logistics.
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The American side assured that the Strait of Hormuz remains “open” to the transit of commercial vessels despite Iranian attacks against more than 30 vessels in the last three months, and despite Trump’s statements assuring that the intensity of the bombings would increase.
In parallel, the Pentagon leader, Pete Hegseth, appeared for the first time before Congress to explain the development of the conflict to legislators. The Secretary of Defense put the cost of the war at 37.5 billion dollars, while urging congressmen to approve the supplementary funding requested by the White House, which would amount to 90 billion dollars in additional funding.
U.S. confirms death of a sergeant and raises its casualties in the Iran war to 18
Furthermore, in a context marked by legislators increasingly frustrated by the conflict and concerned about the November elections, Hegseth requested a budget of 1.5 trillion dollars for fiscal year 2027. “Not funding this department with 1.5 trillion dollars is, in my opinion, the greatest threat our country faces,” he stated.
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For his part, United States President Donald Trump denied his interest in holding immediate talks with Iran and continued with threats against the Islamic Republic and its allies, promising a response against Yemen’s Houthis if they threatened maritime traffic in the Red Sea. “They desperately want to meet, and until they are willing to do so in a meaningful way, we have no interest,” Trump said during a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart at the White House.
Trump’s hawkish statements contrast with his mediators’ intention to try to reactivate the diplomatic path and revive a provisional peace agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington remains willing to negotiate a solution to the crisis with Iran, but that Tehran is not showing a serious attitude towards the talks. From the Iranian side, they reject Rubio’s claims that Washington is seeking new talks.
Oil prices have risen by about 20% in July since hostilities resumed in the war, which has already lasted almost five months. In addition, the human cost of the conflict has increased for the United States after confirming the death of a missing sergeant and raising its casualties in the war to 18 since February 28.
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