Trump says naval blockade more effective than bombing - Axios

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Iran war before Congress on Wednesday, rejecting criticism that the conflict had become a quagmire.

“You call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for that statement,” Hegseth told the House Armed Services Committee.

He accused Democratic lawmakers critical of the war, of being “reckless, feckless, and defeatist.”

At least six ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, a fraction of normal traffic, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing shipping data.

The traffic was mainly through Iranian waters and included the Vast Plus chemical tanker, which is under US sanctions, according to the report.

Most of the vessels were dry bulk carriers, it said, citing Kpler ship-tracking data and satellite analysis from SynMax.

The crossings came as the United States and Iran remained deadlocked over terms to reopen the key waterway.

Iran’s parliament speaker said on Wednesday that maintaining unity was the only way to counter what he described as pressure from the United States.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in an audio message released by state media that the US strategy aimed to create economic strain and internal divisions through measures such as the naval blockade.

“The only solution to counter the new enemy plot is one thing: preserving unity,” he said.

He added that cohesion among the public had been key to overcoming previous challenges and remained essential as pressures evolved.

The United States has spent $25 billion on the war with Iran so far, according to Reuters citing a senior Pentagon official.

The figure highlights the rapidly rising cost of a conflict that has stretched military resources and added to economic pressure at home.

The financial toll comes as the Pentagon moves to replenish depleted stocks of missiles and other munitions after weeks of heavy military operations in the region.

Canada’s immigration ministry said on Wednesday that IRGC officials are inadmissible to the country, responding to Iran International regarding Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s football federation.

“The government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” it said.

The ministry said it could not comment on individual cases because of privacy laws, but added that visa applications for FIFA World Cup-related events are assessed case by case by trained officers.

“We have taken strong action to hold the IRGC to account and will continue to do so, while protecting the safety of Canadians and upholding the integrity of our immigration system,” it added.