President Donald Trump said Friday that new pipelines and overland transportation routes across the Middle East could reduce the world's reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the strategic waterway is becoming less critical to global energy supplies.
"A lot of alternatives are being made to the Hormuz Strait. The Hormuz Strait is not what it used to be," Trump told reporters after signing executive orders at the White House.
Trump said new pipelines are being developed across the region to move oil without relying on the strait and pointed to an overland route through Syria that he said is already being used by trucks transporting crude.
"Iran is going to end up, if they don't get smart, really smart, with a Hormuz Strait that's not very necessary anymore," Trump said.
His comments come as governments and energy companies explore alternative export routes that could bypass the strategic waterway amid ongoing tensions with Iran.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., criticized Vice President JD Vance on Friday after Vance said he "wouldn't call" the U.S. conflict with Iran a war, arguing the description does not reflect the human toll of the fighting.
"JD Vance said what's happening in Iran is not a 'war,'" Sanders wrote on X. "Please explain that to the families of the 19 U.S. service members who lost their lives or the thousands of people who have been killed across the region."
Sanders was responding to Vance's remarks during a White House briefing Thursday, when the vice president said, "I wouldn't call it a war," adding that there was "no active shooting" at the time.
President Donald Trump echoed that characterization Friday, describing the fighting as a "military conflict" rather than a war while defending Vance's comments.
The exchange highlights the differing ways elected officials are describing the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran as the conflict continues.
Record-high diesel prices are expected to push up the cost of groceries and other everyday goods as businesses absorb higher transportation expenses, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Diesel reached a record national average of $5.85 per gallon Friday as the six-month conflict with Iran continued to disrupt global fuel supplies and drive up crude oil prices.
The Associated Press reported that higher diesel costs are already increasing expenses for freight companies, farmers and delivery networks, with some businesses passing those costs on to consumers through shipping surcharges and higher prices.
Produce, meat and other perishable foods are among the first items likely to become more expensive because they rely heavily on diesel-powered transportation and farm equipment, the report said.
Analysts told the AP that the economic effects could deepen if diesel supplies remain tight and fuel prices stay elevated, placing additional pressure on supply chains and household budgets.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
{{#rendered}}More than 120 people have been killed in Yemen after Iran-backed Houthi forces launched an offensive aimed at advancing toward the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to AFP.
Fighting erupted Thursday after the Houthis launched a ground assault supported by rocket and drone attacks near Yemen's Red Sea coast, where the group is seeking to strengthen its position near one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints.
AFP, citing Yemeni military and Houthi sources, reported that at least 66 government troops and 62 Houthi fighters were killed in the clashes, along with one civilian.
Military sources told AFP the Houthis are attempting to cut off the government-held port city of Mokha and seize elevated positions overlooking the Bab al-Mandab, from which they could threaten commercial shipping.
The offensive comes as the Bab al-Mandab has taken on increased strategic importance following disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and continued Houthi attacks targeting vessels in the Red Sea.
Syria is positioning itself as a potential energy corridor to the Mediterranean as regional governments and international energy companies explore alternatives to shipping oil through the Strait of Hormuz, according to an analysis by The Jerusalem Post.
The report points to Iraq's proposal to build a new pipeline through Syria to the Mediterranean, citing a Reuters report that estimated the project would take about four years to complete and cost at least $15 billion. The proposed pipeline has reportedly received initial support for feasibility studies from a consortium that includes Chevron.
The analysis also noted that Syria has signed new energy agreements in recent months, including a deal with ConocoPhillips and Novaterra to rehabilitate gas fields, while ConocoPhillips has announced plans to acquire a stake in oil operations in Iraq's Kirkuk region.
An existing pipeline linking Iraq's Kirkuk oil fields with Syria's Baniyas terminal dates back to the 1950s but would require significant repairs before becoming operational again. Until then, oil shipments would continue moving overland by truck.
The report comes after President Donald Trump said Friday that new pipelines and overland routes across the Middle East could reduce the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing Iran's leverage over the waterway could diminish over time.
The United States on Friday approved a potential $5 billion sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) bombs and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, the State Department said the proposed sale would improve Saudi Arabia's airborne defense capabilities, strengthen interoperability with U.S. forces and other Gulf partners, and support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.
The State Department also approved a separate potential $750 million sale of AGT-1500 tank engines and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported.
The proposed arms sales have been submitted to Congress for review and still require lawmakers' approval before they can move forward.
Saudi Arabia has faced repeated drone and missile attacks from Iran and the Iran-backed Houthis since the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran escalated earlier this year.
{{#rendered}}Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Turkey will continue pursuing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran during a phone call with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to the Turkish presidency, Erdogan said Ankara's "peace-oriented diplomatic initiatives will continue" and added that Turkey does not approve of attacks on countries in the region.
"We never approve of attacks on the brotherly countries in our region," Erdogan said, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.
The leaders also discussed bilateral ties between Turkey and the UAE, including cooperation in the defense industry, economic relations and other regional issues, the presidency said.
Erdogan's comments came hours after the U.S. sanctioned Turkey-based Golden Global Bank and two subsidiaries, accusing the financial institution of helping facilitate transactions for Iran as part of the Trump administration's Operation Economic Outcast.
Iran is increasingly relying on sea mines after repeated missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping failed to achieve their intended effect, according to Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute.
Nadimi said Tehran appears to be shifting tactics as it seeks to disrupt maritime traffic and pressure the United States and its regional partners.
Retired Gen. Joseph Votel, a former commander of U.S. Central Command, said Iran's strategy is to combine missiles, drones and naval mines to broaden the conflict.
"Their objective is to make this painful" for the U.S. and its regional partners, Votel said.
The assessment comes as tensions remain high across key Middle East waterways, with U.S. and allied forces continuing operations to secure commercial shipping routes.
Lebanese lawmaker and businessman Fouad Makhzoumi said Friday that Hezbollah must be disarmed and Lebanon must reach a peace agreement with Israel before the country's large diaspora will return and invest in its economy.
In an interview with MiddleEast_24, Makhzoumi said decades of instability have prevented many Lebanese living abroad from bringing their assets back home despite succeeding elsewhere in the world.
According to the interview, Makhzoumi said two conditions are necessary to encourage that investment: "The disarmament of Hezbollah" and "a peace deal with Israel."
Makhzoumi, a Sunni political leader, has previously called for the Lebanese state to exercise full control over the country's security and for Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons.
His comments come as the future of Hezbollah and broader regional diplomacy remain in focus following months of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
{{#rendered}}Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi said Friday that his government will not allow Iran or the Iran-backed Houthis to take control of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to Al Arabiya.
Al-Alimi said the internationally recognized Yemeni government remains committed to preventing the Houthis from dominating the vital waterway linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
He also accused the Houthis of putting civilians at risk in pursuit of their military objectives.
"The Houthis have no qualms about sacrificing civilians to advance their reckless adventures," al-Alimi said.
His remarks come as the Trump administration continues to pressure Iran and its regional proxies while seeking to secure key maritime routes across the Middle East.
Israeli opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met last weekend to discuss a possible merger ahead of next week's election filing deadline, but have decided against moving forward for now, according to a Channel 12 report.
The network reported the two leaders remain in contact and could revisit the idea before Tuesday's deadline, though a merger is currently viewed as unlikely.
Channel 12 said Eisenkot is weighing whether leading a larger opposition party would strengthen his position after the election, but is also mindful that Bennett's earlier merger with Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid has underperformed in recent polling.
Separately, the report said Benny Gantz's Blue and White party plans to stay in the race despite polling below the electoral threshold, hoping to pick up support after Gilad Erdan's Unity Party announced it was dropping out.
The network also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party offered former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon a reserved spot on its electoral slate, but Kahlon declined and intends to remain out of politics for now.
President Donald Trump on Friday described the U.S. campaign against Iran as a "military conflict" rather than a war while taking questions from reporters after signing executive orders at the White House.
"A lot of people don't call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing," Trump said, adding that U.S. operations have become "very intermittent" even as American forces continue carrying out strikes.
Trump said the U.S. has destroyed Iranian radar systems, aircraft and other military assets near the Strait of Hormuz, claiming American forces now control the strategic waterway and are allowing commercial shipping to continue transiting the strait.
The president also suggested the U.S. could target Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground site near Iran's Natanz nuclear complex, saying American intelligence is closely monitoring activity there.
"We may hit Pickaxe very soon," Trump said. "If anything goes bad, we hit them. We hit them hard."
{{#rendered}}The Trump administration is developing a postwar strategy aimed at strengthening regional alliances against Iran and expanding the Abraham Accords after the conflict ends, according to a report from Axios.
The report said the plan remains in its early stages and is not expected to be implemented until after Israel's Oct. 27 election and the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3.
According to Axios, the strategy would include creating a regional alliance backed by the United States, expanding the Abraham Accords, advancing a security agreement between Israel and Syria, and further implementing the U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The report also said the administration envisions a regional effort to implement the Board of Peace's Hamas disarmament plan, though that initiative has stalled amid opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
Axios reported the administration intends to move forward with the broader strategy regardless of who wins Israel's upcoming election, though officials acknowledged the outcome could affect the initiative's chances of success.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that Iran has been unable to move crude oil shipments to China through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. reinstated its blockade, describing the development as evidence of mounting economic pressure on Tehran.
"Since the U.S. reinstated its blockade, no Iranian crude cargoes have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz to China," Bessent wrote in a post on X.
Bessent said crude oil is piling up aboard vessels trapped inside the strait, preventing Iran from replenishing inventory and further squeezing the regime's finances.
"Iran's export lifeline is being cut off: stranded oil, finite storage, and rapidly shrinking revenue," he wrote.
The post comes as the Trump administration expands Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign of sanctions and other economic measures aimed at cutting off the Iranian regime's financial networks and revenue streams.
The State Department on Friday said the Trump administration's latest sanctions targeting Turkey-based Golden Global Bank are intended to further isolate Iran from the international financial system and cut off funding for the regime's regional activities.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the Treasury Department's action is the latest step in "Operation Economic Outcast," a government-wide effort to dismantle the networks Iran uses to launder funds, evade sanctions and finance terrorist proxies across the Middle East.
"This action sends a clear message to financial institutions worldwide: facilitating Iran's illicit financial activity carries serious consequences," Pigott said in a statement.
The State Department said the sanctions underscore the administration's commitment to eliminating the resources Iran uses to "threaten regional stability, support terrorism, and advance its military capabilities."
The department added that the U.S. will continue using "every diplomatic and economic tool at its disposal" to isolate Iran until it abandons its support for terrorism and other destabilizing activities, while urging other countries to ensure no financial institution serves as a financial lifeline for the regime.
{{#rendered}}The U.S. Embassy Beirut is praising Israel on Friday after the country released four prisoners as part of a deal with Lebanon.
In exchange, Lebanon has agreed to search for the bodies of Jewish Lebanese citizens missing since the civil war decades ago.
“We welcome Israel’s release of prisoners as part of the Lebanon-Israel Trilateral Framework. This is a positive step,” U.S. Embassy Beirut posted on X. “We urge both sides to continue to build on this momentum ahead of the next round of talks.”
Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, Israel has been pushing back against provocations from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group based in Lebanon.
“President General Joseph Aoun expressed his thanks for all the efforts and endeavors exerted, especially from the side of the United States of America under the leadership of its President Donald Trump, and the international parties, chief among them the International Red Cross, which today led to the release of the first batch of Lebanese detainees by the Israeli government,” the office of Lebanon’s President wrote on X.
“Reaffirming the pledge to continue the struggle to achieve all the national demands and goals in full. So that all Lebanese may live in dignity in a free homeland, with no weapons on its soil except for their legitimate forces alone, and no sovereignty over its sons except for their protective, guaranteeing, capable, and just state,” it added.
Dozens of Lebanese prisoners are believed to be held in Israeli detention centers, including civilians as well as Hezbollah militants captured during fighting in southern Lebanon. A total of five detainees were released under the deal, all civilians.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
An Iranian Army spokesperson called on U.S. forces to depart the Middle East Friday, claiming that America must “accept realities” and “pay the costs.”
“The dilemmas facing the United States military in the region and the problems afflicting the people of this country stem from the mistakes made by American officials in aggressing against an independent and civilized nation,” Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia wrote on X.
“The appropriate solution for America is to accept realities, pay the costs, and withdraw from the region. This action would secure the region and bring the American people closer to prosperity,” he added.
U.S. Central Command, after striking Iranian military targets on Tuesday, said "More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to continue executing operations directed by the Commander in Chief."
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday that “the Radical Left Lunatics, Dumocrats, and Communists would rather have us LOSE the War in Iran, than have President Donald J. Trump WIN the War for America.”
“These are very sick people who suffer from serious TDS, sometimes referred to as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,” he added.
"Iran is officially a Failed Nation. IT IS DEAD!" Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week. "They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency, they are not paying their soldiers or police."
{{#rendered}}U.S. Central Command released a photo Friday showing U.S. Army paratroopers setting up communications equipment “at a remote site in the Middle East.”
American forces remain deployed in the region during Operation Epic Fury, which was launched against Iran more than six months ago.
As part of the mission, CENTCOM has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports.
By Thursday, the forces have “have redirected 87 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance,” according to CENTCOM.
The Treasury Department announced Friday that it is expanding Operation Economic Outcast against Iran by severing the “regime’s critical financial lifelines” in Turkey.
“The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Turkey-based financial institution Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi (Golden Global Bank) and its subsidiaries, which have facilitated tens of millions of dollars’ worth of transactions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and provide the Iranian regime with key correspondent banking access that allows it to move its funds internationally,” the Treasury Department said.
“Financial institutions continue to find out the hard way that we are serious about Operation Economic Outcast," added Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement. “While we hope no more banks will need to be sanctioned, that ultimately depends on how quickly the international community comes to its senses and ceases support of the murderous Iranian regime. We know who you are, we know where you are, and we will continue to take action together with our allies and partners until we have buried the head of the Iranian snake.”
The Treasury Department said it is working with partners around the globe to target “any source of the regime’s illicit revenue, as well as its sanctions evasion schemes to move funds.”
Iranian air defense commander Brig. Gen. Shamkhal Jafari claimed Friday that Iran’s military can surprise enemies on the battlefield, a report said.
"We will have things to say on the battlefield in the future and will take actions that will leave the enemy completely confused, stunned and surprised," Jafari was quoted as saying by Iran International.
The remarks come as U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said “the Iranians are in an incredibly weakened position, militarily,” as a result of Operation Epic Fury.
{{#rendered}}The White House said Friday that President Donald Trump is committed to slashing energy costs after diesel prices hit $5.85 a gallon in the U.S., a new record.
“President Trump remains committed to unleashing American energy dominance, cutting costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News.
“This week the President met with nearly a dozen refiners to discuss ways to expand our refining capacity, which will lower prices at the pump,” she added. “As the U.S. continues to maintain full control of the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas prices will fall back to pre-conflict levels.”
Fox News’ Pat Ward contributed to this post.
The Israel Defense Forces announced Friday that it has eliminated Muhammad Mahmoud Marshad Al-Qadi, “a Nukhba company commander in Hamas' military wing, who infiltrated the Sufa outpost during the October 7 Massacre and commanded the infiltration of the outpost.”
“Throughout the war, he took part in holding hostages in Hamas captivity in the Rafah area,” the IDF added.
Al-Qadi also “led training for Hamas terrorists, operated to rehabilitate the terrorist organization's capabilities and advanced terror attacks,” according to the IDF.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Iran has been forced into a “very difficult position” by the Trump administration.
Huckabee told Israel’s KAN broadcaster that “they may pretend that they’re doing just fine, but I don’t think anybody who looks at their situation honestly believes that,” according to The Times of Israel.
“The Iranians are in an incredibly weakened position, militarily, and absolutely they’re weakened economically,” he reportedly added. “The president’s actions, both militarily and economically, have put them in a very difficult position.”
Huckabee said Thursday that Iran could face additional U.S. pressure if it continues refusing to abandon its nuclear ambitions and regional aggression.
Fox News Digital’s Brittany Miller contributed to this post.
{{#rendered}}The average price of diesel hit $5.85 a gallon in the U.S. on Friday, a new record.
The last time U.S. businesses and drivers saw a similar figure was in June 2022, when diesel reached as high as nearly $5.82 a gallon on average, months after the Ukraine war began and world leaders imposed sanctions against Russia, a leading oil producer, according to The Associated Press.
Oil also has renewed its climb as fighting is escalating between the U.S. and Iran.
Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at more than $95 a barrel Friday, up from roughly $70 before the war.
The average price for a gallon of gas across the U.S. is now at $4.15, up from $4.09 a week ago, according to AAA.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
The Israeli military said Thursday it has established operational control of the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon following an offensive against Hezbollah positions.
The Israel Defense Forces said troops secured the area through ambushes, mortar fire, grenades and drone strikes. It said Hezbollah's Badr Unit built two tunnel complexes at the site with Iranian funding and planning and used them to direct attacks against Israel over recent decades.
An Israeli military official said forces targeted tunnel entrances during the operation but found no Iranian advisers or officers inside.
The announcement came hours after Reuters reported that Iran warned Washington a full-scale Israeli offensive on the Ali al-Taher ridge would trigger a large-scale Iranian response.
The ridge has been one of the most strategically contested areas in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict because of its elevated position overlooking southern Lebanon.
Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the war with Iran.
Vice President JD Vance revealed Thursday that the Trump administration is doing “a lot of things” to pressure Iran to stop firing at ships in the Middle East.
“There are a lot of things that we're doing, a lot of things that we're doing, of course, to try to apply pressure on the Iranians to get them to stop shooting at commercial shipping, accepting that they're still going to try to shoot at commercial shipping. Obviously, we're protecting a lot of ships, which is why we have not had a worldwide energy crisis,” Vance said at the White House press briefing.
“I can't repeat this enough. But for the leadership of President Trump and the hard work of our troops, we would have had an energy crisis because the Iranians refused to stop acting like terrorists in the Strait of Hormuz,” he continued.
“Now, that said, there are a lot of, of course, additional tools that we have at our disposal, some of those the president will use and some of them he won't. But I'm not going to advertise exactly how we're going to engage with the Iranians in the months and years to come, because, it frankly would take away the president's decision space,” Vance added.
“But everything that could happen is on the table. Economic pressure, military pressure, diplomatic pressure, covert pressure. Of course, these are things, these are tools in the president's toolkit,” he also said. “But part of the reason they're tools in the toolkit is because the vice president, hopefully is not dumb enough to stand up before, you know, all of you and a million Americans watching at home and say exactly what it is that we plan on doing.”
{{#rendered}}Coverage for this event has ended.