Strait of Hormuz shut until Tehran's conditions met, Ghalibaf says

The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint with peace talks stalled.

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.

Those talks broke down as the U.S. and Iran continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz as the primary flashpoint. Trump then said in August that the U.S. would launch a "crushing economic operation" to force Tehran into submission.

Sep 15, 2026, 11:06 PM EDT

7 Republicans rebuke Trump as House adopts Iran war powers resolution

The Republican-led House adopted a resolution to curb President Donald Trump’s Iran war powers by a vote of 220-204 late Tuesday -- dealing a significant blow to the administration for the third time since the start of the conflict.

Seven Republicans -- Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Tom Barrett of Michigan, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Zach Nunn of Iowa -- voted in favor of the resolution along with all Democrats present.

The last time the House adopted a similar resolution with bipartisan support was on July 23, when only four Republicans backed the effort. Notably, two Iowa Republicans voted to withdraw U.S. military forces in Iran.

The concurrent resolution, led by Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., calls on the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces in hostilities against Iran. The resolution, which is symbolic in nature and expresses the sentiment of the House, now heads to the Senate for consideration. Even if the upper chamber follows suit, a concurrent resolution does not carry the weight of law and is not subject to veto or presented to the president.

This is the sixth time the House has taken up a Democratic-led Iran war powers resolution in recent months.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

Sep 15, 2026, 5:57 PM EDT

Iran war will move to a 'much different phase in a couple of months': Vance

Vice President JD Vance said the war with Iran will "enter a much different phase in a couple of months," and asserted the president and U.S. are in control of the fighting in an interview with the New York Post published Tuesday.

“We can’t predict the future, but I think the president is right to say that this thing will enter a much different phase in a couple of months," the vice president said. "He’s also the commander in chief, so he’s the person who determines … when conflicts start and when they stop.

Vice President JD Vance speaks during an event at the FBI Field Office in Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 14, 2026.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

During a news conference on Sept. 3, reporters asked the vice president when the war would end, to which he responded, "You would have to ask the Iranians, when will the Iranians shooting at ships stop having an effect on world energy markets."

But in the interview with the Post, Vance noted some of the frustration from Americans.

“I certainly understand there’s some impatience from the American people, but fundamentally what’s happening right now is that the United States is not engaged in aggressive operations. We’re just not," he said.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Sep 15, 2026, 4:28 PM EDT

Crude loading stopped at key Red Sea port: Sources

Crude loadings at Yanbu, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port, have stopped, two sources with knowledge of the action told ABC News Tuesday.

The Yasref oil refinery is a 400,000 barrel per day operation and one of the Red Sea's largest diesel exporters. This is a port that served as Saudi Arabia's main bypass for Hormuz disruptions.

Andy Lipow, the president of Lipow Oil Associates, a Houston based consultant, told ABC News the impact of these disruptions can be catastrophic for the average U.S. consumer.

"You would be really concerned if you are a heating oil customer up in the New England area, the Northeast, because you're going to have absolute sticker shock," he told ABC News.

-ABC News' Desiree Adib

Sep 15, 2026, 3:01 PM EDT

Iran war cost US $38B: CBO

The war with Iran has cost the United States at least $38 billion through the end of July and is expected to further push inflation higher for American households, according to a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessment released Tuesday.

The CBO also warned that depleted weapon stocks could take a half decade or longer to rebuild, crippling the Pentagon’s ability to respond to another major conflict.

An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 147, lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington, Sept. 4, 2026.
US Navy

The assessment describes the financial and military consequences that will persist beyond the fighting, leaving the Pentagon with fewer weapons available for another major conflict while skyrocketing energy prices put pressure on household budgets.

The report notes that the Pentagon did not cooperate with the analysis or provide information requested by the Congressional Budget Office. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment on the report.

Read more here.

-ABC News' Steven Beynon and Lauren Peller

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