Iran’s new leader issues his first statement
Iran’s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed to shipping and urged Iran’s neighbors to close down U.S. military bases on their territory. Khamenei also pledged to seek revenge for the U.S. having killed Iranian citizens during the war that started Feb. 28. His message was read on Iranian state TV. Khamenei did not appear himself. It has been reported that he suffered minor injuries in one of the U.S. attacks.
Trump denies knowing about Pentagon report on Iranian school
President Trump has denied knowing anything about a Pentagon report that concludes the U.S. hit the school in Iran in which 168 children and 14 teachers were killed. The report summarizes results of an investigation that so far has revealed the school was struck by a U.S. Tomahawk missile. The report found that the missile was fired using outdated targeting information. The school was next to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard military base. Trump, meanwhile said in a speech yesterday that the U.S. has won the war and that it was over in the first hour.
Newsom discounts FBI warning about Iran attack
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says there is no “imminent threat” to the state following reports that the FBI had alerted state officials of unverified claims that agents of Iran are planning drone attacks in the state. Several officials who have seen the FBI memo sent to local law enforcement and officials in California said it contained unverified information. Federal investigators often share information of questioned credibility with local law enforcement partners out of an abundance of caution. Newsom posted on social media that he is “in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials” over potential threats to California, “including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East.” Newsom said California state officials were not aware of any imminent threats at this time.
Oil prices rise again
Oil prices rose again today despite a pledge by western nations to release 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic petroleum reserves. Iran continues to choke off shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Two foreign oil tankers in Iraqi waters were set ablaze by an Iranian attack, killing at least one person, with 38 other crew members rescued. Iraq’s oil ports have shut down their operations. An Iranian drone apparently hit fuel storage tanks in Oman, setting them on fire. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it carried out a joint attack with the militant group Hezbollah on Israel, striking more than 50 targets across five hours of sustained fire on Wednesday. Israel later carried out a wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon. One strike in the capital Beirut killed eight people. Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the conflict with Israel and the U.S. began on Feb. 28, according to the United Nations’ refugee agency. Kuwait’s international airport was damaged in a drone attack Thursday morning, the country’s civil aviation authority said.
Pentagon goes on spending spree
With the war President Trump launched against Iran on Feb. 28 having cost more than $11 billion so far, and Republicans having cut Medicaid, federal jobs, food assistance and other aid for low-income Americans, it has been discovered that Defense Secretary Hegseth went on a $93.4 billion spending spree last September for items ranging from furniture to steaks, lobster tails and ice cream machines. The spending included $225.6 million for new furniture, $12,540 for fruit basket stands, $2 million for Alaskan king crab, $15.1 million for ribeye steak, $1 million for salmon, $26,000 for sushi preparation tables and $139,224 for donuts. The Department of Defense also spent almost $100,000 to buy a grand piano for the home of the Air Force chief of staff.
Weather winds down over central and eastern U.S.
A multi-day rash of dangerous storms in the central and eastern U.S. is winding down after producing several tornadoes, one of which killed two people, and destructive giant hail and winds across more than 20 states. The final round of storms barreled across the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Georgia Wednesday evening into early Thursday. A married couple in their 80s died in Lake Village, Indiana, after a tornado hit the rural community around an hour south of Chicago. The storms produced more than 20 tornadoes in six states: Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas and Louisiana. The storms also produced softball-sized or larger hail.
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