All articles tagged with #iran war
Democrats argue that President Trump's Iran war is hurting everyday Americans through higher fertilizer and gas prices, making the conflict an economic issue in the 2026 elections. Polls show broad concern over rising costs, and campaign ads reflect the shift from foreign policy to affordability, with both parties framing the war through its economic consequences as November approaches.
Iran announced the discovery of more than 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas in Fars province, with over 160 bcm potentially recoverable, but any new production would likely take years amid disruptions to the energy infrastructure from US-Israeli strikes.
South Korea says the large Ssangyong amphibious drill with the United States was canceled due to force-availability constraints caused by the Iran war, following President Trump's order to scale down Ulchi Freedom Shield; Seoul and Washington are still in talks to resume the exercise, with the Pentagon not commenting.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is returning to San Diego after a roughly nine-month deployment tied to the Trump administration’s Iran conflict, having spent about 272 days at sea and been replaced by the USS George Washington. Crew of roughly 5,000 faced deteriorating conditions—moldy showers, shortages of food and essentials, and mounting mental-health strain—with reports of suicide attempts; Democrats are demanding accountability while the Navy says conditions remain under management. The Lincoln’s voyage covers about 13,000 miles and is expected to take four to five weeks more, prompting scrutiny over whether such deployments can be sustained at this tempo.
Amid the Iran‑led conflict, Middle Eastern producers backed by the US and regional partners are using escorted nighttime ‘dark’ transits with AIS turned off to move crude from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, shifting risk away from shippers and onto governments. This tactic, along with rerouting flows via pipelines and a ramp-up in global production, has kept crude moving and prices elevated while stocks fall and refining hubs face strain, buying time for a broader political solution to the war and the strait’s chokepoint.
The U.S. moved its last Asia-based aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, from Japan to the Middle East to support operations in Iran, part of a broader drawdown that has alarmed Asian allies about reduced regional deterrence and flexibility; analysts say the shift accelerates burden-sharing with partners like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, prompts higher regional defense spending, and coincides with increased Chinese coast guard activity near Taiwan and nearby EEZs.
The Defense Department says more than 750 U.S. service members have been wounded since the Iran conflict began on Feb. 28, with the latest totals showing 18 killed and 757 wounded when combining the DCAS Overseas Operations and Operation Epic Fury data. The Pentagon created the Overseas Operations category on July 7 to capture such casualties, and past reporting disruptions had briefly altered tallies. The update comes as talks with Tehran stall and President Trump pauses negotiations while tensions remain high.
Yemen’s conflict has barely moved since the 2022 truce, but missiles and drones are widening the war and government forces are replying more forcefully, signaling that the era of 'no war, no peace' may be ending. The Mokha port episode shows strikes can inflict economic and civilian damage without changing control, with dozens killed and the port closed. Saudi-backed government forces are sharpening readiness on fronts like Taiz, while Houthis aligned with Iran seek to deter a broader push. Politically, the leadership vows to impose a cost for aggression, which could raise the risk of escalation if misread. The war may re-center on logistics, ports, and multi-front defense rather than rapid territorial gains.
President Trump tours extensive White House renovations—grenite driveway upgrades, refurbished columns, and a newly laid grass-covered helipad—boasting about his “builder-in-chief” skills while the nation faces rising debt past $40 trillion and ongoing tensions with Iran; critics argue the tour shows a focus on personal projects over governance.
Former Trump official Joe Kent, who resigned in protest of the Iran war, is pushing a MAGA anti-war coalition to potentially hijack the GOP or back a new political vehicle, gathering Carlson, Massie and Greene to map a path—though the viability of any third-party or GOP-reset option remains uncertain as the war drags on and polls show mixed support for Trump.
The Pentagon says the US can defeat any threat and is accelerating missiles production to replenish munitions amid rising demand from the Iran conflict, while critics blame the Biden administration for lagging in rebuilding the defense industrial base; in parallel, the Trump administration sanctioned ICC officials as part of a campaign against the court, and the UAE suspended trade with Iran after missile incidents, underscoring growing regional tensions.
The National reports UAE residents received a security alert about a possible missile threat amid escalating US–Iran tensions; officials said the danger was temporarily assessed as safe minutes later, while the live blog continues to track related Gulf developments (Strait of Hormuz incidents, drone/missile claims, and regional escalation).
New polling shows Trump losing support within his own party ahead of the midterms, with about 79% of Republicans approving of his performance (down from earlier levels) and a growing share of non-MAGA Republicans turning away; analysts say GOP voters are tuning him out, driven by concerns over the Iran war and rising gas prices, which could complicate Republicans' path to November.
Trump's approval falls to 33% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll—the lowest of his presidency—while a large majority expect the U.S.–Iran war to last longer, with fuel prices rising and broad public concern about the conflict and leadership.
Sen. Jon Ossoff attacked President Trump for mismanaging the Iran situation, golfing, trading stocks, and sleeping through meetings, then spotlighted Trump’s close aide Natalie Harp with a line about traveling with her on a purportedly “flying palace” gifted by Qatar—an quip that sparked social-media chatter and underscored questions about Trump’s inner circle.