Iran-US war latest: White House accuses Tehran of ‘acting like bunch of pirates’ after attack on ships as Trump hints peace talks may be imminent

The US Senate has again rejected a Democratic-led attempt to curb Donald Trump’s power in the Iran war.

In a 46 to 51 vote Wednesday, lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Senate rejected a resolution to require the US president to get congressional approval for further attacks against Iran.

It was the fifth time this year that the Senate failed to restrict Trump’s war powers in the growing Middle East conflict.

Just as Donald Trump was supposed to rain more fire and fury down on Iran by destroying its bridges and power plants, killing its civilians, and – though it seems immaterial to him – thus explicitly committing war crimes, the president has done another “Taco”. He has proved, once again, the value of the conventional wisdom that he always chickens out.

For an unpredictable man, the pattern of behaviour first identified by Wall Street investors has proved a reliable enough guide in the context of US foreign policy. This is a strategic weakness for the United States, because its enemies – in this case Iran – are able to exploit it.

On balance, and provided it’s not upset by some early-hours social media tantrum by the president, the announcement of an extension to the ceasefire in the Iran war is encouraging. This time, as they say, it’s different. Or at least, it should be.

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US Navy Secretary John Phelan has departed the Trump administration, the Pentagon announced. The shakeup comes just weeks after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted the Army’s top general during the ongoing Iran war.

Phelan is leaving “effective immediately”, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X on Wednesday, giving no reason for the sudden exit.

“We are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy. We wish him well in his future endeavors,” Parnell said, adding that Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will now serve as the acting secretary of the Navy.

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed a journalist and wounded another.

Journalist Amal Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were covering developments near the town ⁠of al-Tayri when an Israeli strike hit the vehicle ​in ⁠front of them.

They ran into a nearby house, which was then also targeted by an Israeli strike, Lebanon’s health ministry, a Lebanese military official and press advocates said.

Rescuers were able to retrieve Faraj, who had suffered a head wound, according to Elsy ​Moufarrej, who ⁠runs the Union of Journalists in Lebanon.

When ‌rescuers returned to help Khalil, the Israeli military dropped a sound grenade, blocking their access to the damaged building, Moufarrej and the senior military official said.

Local media say Khalil was found dead.

The health ministry said Israel’s military had “prevented ‌the completion of the humanitarian mission by firing a sound grenade and ‌live ammunition at the ambulance”.

Israel’s military said it had received reports that two journalists were injured as a result of its strikes, and denied it was preventing rescue teams from reaching the area.

US president Donald Trump says Iran has ​agreed not to execute eight women protesters in a sign of respect for him, but officials in Tehran denied the executions had been planned and accused the president of spreading falsehoods.

“Very ⁠good news,” Mr Trump said in a social media post.

Iran called the whole issue a ​fabrication ⁠and said he was trying to ‌save face.

In case you missed it: ​Iran has executed yet another man convicted of spying for ⁠Israel’s intelligence service and passing sensitive information, the judiciary’s ⁠news ​outlet Mizan has reported.

Mizan identified the ⁠man as ​Mehdi Farid, ⁠saying he ‌had held a position in a ‌civil defence unit ‌within a sensitive organisation and had ⁠used his access to gather and transmit information to Israel’s Mossad.

His death sentence was upheld ‌by the ​Supreme Court ‌and carried out ⁠after legal ⁠procedures were completed, Mizan ‌said.

President Trump tested Nato and its member countries failed, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt has claimed.

“We hear a lot of talk from the Europeans,” she said. “Unfortunately, we don’t see enough action, as far as President Trump is concerned.

“In his view, he tested Nato and they failed. They failed to come to the defence and to join forces with the United States as the president engaged in this very bold and courageous operation to take out the number one state sponsor of terrorism in this world – the Iranian regime.

“Again, through Operation Epic Fury, the United States on its own, of course, with the help of our partner and friend, Israel, but on its own, irrespective of the European nations and our Nato allies, has completely degraded Iran’s military.

“We have completely confused and obliterated their regime. They are in a very weak position thanks to the actions taken by President Trump and our great United States Armed Forces.

“And so we will continue this important mission on our own. And again, we’ve seen a lot of talk but very little action. And the President is well aware of that.”