Mission in Iran war has pivoted toward ensuring oil flow, Trump official says

Key Points:

• US Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended the Trump administration's ongoing military campaign against Iran, stating the mission has shifted to ensuring the safe flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz after failed diplomatic efforts.
• The conflict has resulted in the deaths of 16 American military members, including two more troops killed in Jordan, as fighting around the Strait of Hormuz intensified with US retaliatory strikes against Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
• Senator Mark Warner criticized the administration’s handling of the nearly five-month conflict, calling it a "war of choice" with unmet objectives, including failure to remove enriched uranium from Iran or eliminate its missile and drone capabilities.
• President Trump escalated pressure on Iran by urging Congress to include Iran in Russia sanctions legislation, potentially undermining the June memorandum of understanding aimed at resolving the conflict and lifting sanctions on Iran.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to continue the military campaign, emphasizing that the sacrifice of fallen US troops "only stiffens our resolve" to maintain pressure on Iran.