US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Washington currently has no interest in pursuing talks with Iran, signaling a hardening stance as the conflict continues to escalate. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump remarked that while the Iranian leadership may be desperate to meet, the US will not engage until they are ready to do so in a meaningful way. He further suggested that US forces could soon target sites near Iran’s main uranium enrichment facilities.
This declaration comes as the US military completed its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military assets early Wednesday. According to a statement from US Central Command on X, the operations targeted Iranian military logistics infrastructure, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, maritime capabilities, and operations centers. These actions are intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway where more than 30 commercial vessels have been attacked by Iran over the past three months.
The situation in the region remains volatile, with Iranian state media reporting explosions and air defense activity near Tehran on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Iran continues its offensive against US allies, including strikes in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also claimed responsibility for an attack on a tanker on Tuesday that forced the crew to abandon the vessel. Amid the ongoing tensions, Iranian officials have warned that they would rather bomb their own territory than allow a US occupation.
The economic impact of the conflict is mounting, particularly regarding global energy supplies. With the Strait of Hormuz carrying approximately one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas, the price of Brent crude rose to $92 per barrel on Wednesday. Domestically, the war is placing significant financial and political pressure on the Trump administration. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate on Tuesday, revealing that the conflict has now cost the United States $37.5 billion, a sharp increase from the $29 billion estimate provided in mid-May.
Hegseth defended the administration's request for $67 billion in supplemental funding to cover the ongoing war effort, describing the expenditure as urgent and necessary. The testimony was briefly interrupted by protesters, and several Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns that the prolonged conflict could become a major political liability for the President and the party ahead of the midterm elections. In response to the collapse of the interim agreement between the two nations, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a call for restraint, urging all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Senate on Tuesday that the Iran war cost the United States $37.5 billion (€32.9bn), an increase from the previous estimate of nearly $29 (€25.4bn) billion in mid-May.
Hegseth defended the Trump administration's request request for $67 billion (€58.7bn) in supplemental funding to cover the costs of the Iran war, calling the request "urgent" and "necessary."
