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Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth defended the war against Iran before Congress, saying it was not a "quagmire" and calling Democrats "irresponsible" for criticizing the conflict. This was his first appearance before the Legislature since the start of the war. Meanwhile, Donald Trump threatened that the Iranians: "You better wake up... and quickly!"

The essentials:

The Pentagon's top finance official told lawmakers that the estimated cost of the war with Iran is $25 billion to date.

This minute by minute has been closed. Below, the main news from the Middle East this Wednesday, April 29:

Bulk carrier says it was attacked by several small boats off the coast of Iran

A bulk carrier reported being attacked by several small vessels while transiting north about 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, on Sunday, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations agency said, adding that all crew were safe and no environmental impact was reported.

Later on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said the ship had not been seized and that the Iranian navy had detained it to review documents as part of monitoring procedures.

UAE leaves OPEC and shakes oil market amid tensions in Hormuz

A surprise announcement that generates uncertainty among its partners. On April 28, the United Arab Emirates announced its departure from OPEC and OPEC+.

With a production of about 3.5 million barrels per day before the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, the country was positioned as the group's fourth producer, so its departure raises questions about how the organization will continue. Meanwhile, oil prices rise due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the UAE's decision raises new questions.

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier will leave the Middle East to return to the US.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will leave the Middle East in the coming days to return to the United States, after having been one of three ships used by the armed forces for the naval blockade against Iranian ports.

The ship, which has remained outside the United States since June 10, 2025, carrying out various missions in Europe and finally off the coast of Iran, will return in the coming weeks, according to local media.

The Flotilla heading to Gaza reports having been intercepted by Israeli ships

The Sumud Global Flotilla, which seeks to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, reported having been intercepted by vessels that identified themselves as Israeli while sailing near the coast of Greece.

"Military boats approached our boats, identifying themselves as Israeli, pointing lasers and semi-automatic weapons at us and ordering the participants to go to the front of the boats and get on their knees," the Flotilla explained on its X account.

Israeli ambassador to Spain assures that Iran uses negotiations to buy time

The Israeli ambassador to Spain, Dana Erlich, assured this Wednesday that the negotiations between the United States and Iran "only have to continue if they are real," but the Islamic Republic "what it does is take advantage to buy time."

In a colloquium held in Madrid, the Israeli diplomat did not want to make predictions about the possibility of success of contacts seeking peace in the Middle East, but she distrusts the Iranian Government, "a fanatical regime that does not mind dying while killing Israelis."

Texas oil rises 6.95% to $106.8 due to lack of progress in Iran

Brent soars 6.08% above $118 amid stagnation in Iran

Welcome to this minute by minute with the main news from the Middle East this Wednesday, April 29.

Kremlin warns of "serious consequences" if attacks against Iran resume

During his telephone conversation this Wednesday with Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the "serious consequences" that the resumption of hostilities against the Islamic Republic would have, according to the Kremlin.

Speaking to reporters, presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov also asserted that Putin had told Trump that a ground operation on Iranian soil would be completely "unacceptable and dangerous."

Hegseth refuses to say how much longer the war against Iran could last or cost

Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan asked Hegseth: "How many more months, generally speaking, do you think you'll need to be able to successfully complete operations? And how many more billions of dollars do you think you're going to ask of this body?"

Hegseth declined to answer the question, stating that the US military would never reveal to an adversary how long it would be committed to the mission.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth appears before the House Armed Services Committee at a hearing on the Department of Defense's fiscal year 2027 budget request on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 29, 2026. Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz.

Trump affirms that he rejects Tehran's latest proposal and that he will maintain the blockade of Iranian ports

US President Donald Trump declared this Wednesday to the American news portal 'Axios' that he rejects Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the US blockade. Tehran's proposal, shared with U.S. leaders this week, sought to postpone talks on Iran's nuclear program.

But Trump assured 'Axios' that he does not want to lift the blockade until Iran resolves its nuclear ambitions. "The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombings (...) And it will be worse for them. They cannot have a nuclear weapon," said the Republican leader.

Congressman harshly criticizes Hegseth for the deaths of soldiers and demands his resignation

Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan criticized Hegseth for the deaths of six U.S. soldiers stationed in Kuwait who were killed by an Iranian drone. Ryan pressed Hegseth to clarify whether intelligence information indicated that the site was one of Tehran's main targets and that it was indefensible against an airstrike.

"Yet, you sent our 103rd Support Command soldiers there anyway. Is that true or false?" Ryan asked.

Hegseth noted that the Army took proactive steps to protect U.S. forces and that fallen soldiers are remembered every day.

Ryan cited survivors of the attack, who told CBS that they were not prepared to defend themselves against a drone attack. The congressman also accused Hegseth of downplaying what happened and said the Defense Secretary should resign.

Trump and Putin had a telephone conversation about Iran and Ukraine: the Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, held a telephone conversation this Wednesday, April 29, in which the Kremlin leader presented ideas to resolve the conflict over the Iranian nuclear program and proposed a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II next month, according to an advisor to the Russian Presidency.

Hegseth says the US military considered the possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz

This statement came after Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if he believes “Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be a victory.”

“I would say that the blockade we maintain prevents anything from entering or leaving Iranian ports,” Hegseth responded. So, “we have blocked your blockade,” Moulton replied.

US Army Chief of Staff Dan Caine declined to say whether the risk of Iran closing this crucial sea lane was considered, but said the Army always offers “a full range of military options that are carefully analyzed along with the associated risks.”

The heated exchange was the latest between Hegseth and Democrats, who used the hearing to raise broader questions about the strategy behind the war in Iran and the Trump Administration's use of the military. Meanwhile, House Republicans spent most of their time asking very specific and detailed questions about the Pentagon's budget and spending.

The Iranian currency falls to a historic low and triggers inflation

The rial, the Iranian currency, fell to a record low of 1,810,000 rials per US dollar on Wednesday, April 29, as reported by the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA), due to the increasing demand for foreign currency after six weeks of confrontations with the United States and Israel, the losses are manifesting in the open market.

According to ISNA, the rial has lost almost 15% of its value in the last two days, after weeks of stability due to lower demand for other currencies caused by the war and the Iranian New Year holidays.

A ceasefire has been in force between the United States and Iran since April 8, but Washington has resumed its policy of economic pressure by imposing a blockade on maritime transport to and from Iranian ports in the Gulf, making it difficult for Iran to obtain foreign currency through exports.

US and Israeli attacks on Iranian infrastructure have also severely affected the economy, forcing Tehran to suspend exports of steel and petrochemical products, important sources of foreign currency for the country, subject to heavy sanctions.

File: A money changer holds hundred-dollar bills as the value of the Iranian rial falls, in Tehran, Iran, December 20, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asian News Agency)/Via Reuters.

War against Iran is not a "quagmire" and criticism from Democratic lawmakers represents a "propaganda victory" for Iran: Hegseth

The war against Iran has cost approximately $25 billion to date, mostly in munitions, a Pentagon official testified before Congress.

Republican House Armed Services Committee Chairman Praises Trump's Historic Military Budget

Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, praised Trump's $1.5 trillion plan to fund the Armed Forces by 2027, saying it "reflects the true cost of American deterrence."

"This will allow us to truly catch up in our modernization efforts by rapidly bringing into service new munitions, aircraft, ships, ground, space and autonomous systems to replenish and expand our arsenal," Rogers stressed.

'Where is this going?': Democratic lawmakers ask Hegseth to explain goals of war against Iran

Rep. Adam Smith, top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he finds it "absurd" to say the Pentagon's strategy is based on realism.

"We started a full-scale war in the Middle East against Iran to try to reshape the region," Smith declared, adding that this is the exact opposite of realism.

Smith stated that Hegseth must provide an explanation of what the Trump Administration's objectives are in the Middle East.

"Where is this going? What is the plan to achieve our objectives? We have seen the cost, and the cost is very, very high," the legislator noted.

Hegseth calls critics of the war against Iran "the biggest adversary we face"

"The greatest challenge, the greatest adversary we face right now, is the reckless, irresponsible and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans," the US defense secretary told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee.

Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat, told Hegseth that he finds it "absurd" to claim that the Pentagon's strategy is based on realism when the war in Iran seems "the exact opposite of realism." Smith also maintained that Hegseth must explain what the Donald Trump Administration's objectives are for the conflict. "We have seen the cost, and the cost is very, very high," he stressed.

Hegseth argued that the Pentagon's budget request, the highest in history, will maintain "the most powerful and capable Army in the world as we face a complex threat environment in multiple theaters of operations."

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