#middle-east

Republican Rep. Mike Turner acknowledged bipartisan frustration with the US-Iran war while Democrat Sen. Van Hollen called for immediate withdrawal. Four US troops were killed in the past week as the Pentagon seeks $67 billion in supplemental war funding.

President Trump has approved a 30-year, multi-billion-dollar nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia that could eventually allow the Kingdom to enrich uranium domestically — a prospect raising proliferation concerns as the US-Iran conflict continues.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vow to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut until US ends strikes, while Trump threatens to hit Iran's bridges and power plants.

The US has launched new military strikes against Iran after an attack on a Cyprus-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has now closed.

Tehran is organising a six-day, multi-city state funeral for late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed months ago, amid tight security and fragile US-Iran talks over Hormuz, nuclear issues, and sanctions.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed inspectors will visit Iran's nuclear sites under the US-Iran interim deal, but Tehran insists access comes only after a final agreement.

President Trump announced he is halting further US military strikes against Iran and declared a peace agreement will be announced 'soon,' reversing course after two days of airstrikes triggered by Iran shooting down a US helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.