Iran faces 'punishment unlike anything in modern history' - White House

The Iran war is driving up the cost of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, with reduced flight capacity across the Persian Gulf and disrupted supply routes pushing travel packages to rise “three or four times before departure,” according to reporting by Semafor published on Wednesday.

Several governments, including Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia, have stepped in with subsidies to help offset higher costs for pilgrims ahead of the annual journey to Mecca, the report added.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said in a Fox News interview on Wednesday that the United States “has all the cards” in its standoff with Iran, adding that President Donald Trump is pursuing a strategy of pressure and deterrence and warning that military options remain available if Tehran escalates or threatens US interests.

"President Trump has enforced the non-proliferation principle of the United States with raw American MIGHT, sending a message not only to the Iranian regime, sending a message not only to the IRGC, but to the whole world, anyone who would think of doing the same." "We have killed and eliminated the evil, wicked, corrupt leadership of Iran," Miller said. "At any point in the future, if Iran decides to do something foolish to threaten America or the world, our military is at the ready to deal with that."

EU lawmaker Hannah Neumann said on Wednesday the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains on the EU terror list but warned that its “networks are still up and running” in some member states, calling for efforts to “drain the IRGC’s money, influence and reach inside Europe,” according to remarks made during a European Parliament exchange.

In the exchange, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas responded that the IRGC has been listed as a terrorist organization, while noting ongoing challenges in addressing its influence across Europe. Neumann later urged greater transparency at the European level as a way to strengthen enforcement.

A White House meeting on Wednesday on Iran policy exposed divisions between Vice President JD Vance, who backed continued diplomatic engagement based on Iran’s latest proposal, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who supported increased pressure on Tehran, according to Israel Hayom.

"Two secretaries assessed that at this stage, concessions could not be extracted from Iran without significant pressure while Vance, by contrast, argued that Iran's latest proposal, published by Israel Hayom, showed flexibility that made it possible to move toward an agreement, even an initial one, that would lead to an end to the fighting," the report said. "Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also joined the discussion and backed Vance's position."

Hardline Iranian influencer Ali Gholhaki said on Wednesday the United States proposed a package to Tehran that includes reopening discussions on the Strait of Hormuz, releasing 25% of Iran’s frozen assets - about $25 billion - allowing uranium transfer abroad, and accepting 3.67% enrichment limits, alongside other nuclear and sanctions-related measures, though key disputes remain unresolved.

"Americans, after receiving Iran's feedback, have proposed that the "end of the war across all fronts," "lifting of the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz," "opening of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran with tariffs and the maritime route preferred by Iran," "release of 25% of Iran's frozen assets _approximately $25 billion_," "exemption for Iran's oil sales for 30 days," and the main phase of negotiations—namely "removal of 400 kg of uranium from Iran _in the best case, shipment to a third country_" and "acceptance of Iran's right to 3.67% enrichment (unlikely to be accepted by the U.S. in the final phase)" and "closure of nuclear facilities _excluding the Tehran reactor, solely for medical purposes_"—be signed all at once by Iran!" he posted on X.

"Iran says all phases proposed by the US should be implemented for verification over 30 days, so that Iran can both sell its oil and be persuaded to engage in nuclear negotiations!" Gholhaki added.