Published on: 04/29/2026 - 04:18 Modified on: 04/30/2026 - 09:37

US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth defended the war in Iran before Congress on Wednesday, saying it was not a "quagmire" and calling elected Democrats "irresponsible" for criticizing the conflict. The Iranians “had better become smart, and quickly!”, threatened President Donald Trump. Here is the thread for April 29, 2026.

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The Gaza flotilla surrounded by the Israeli army according to its organizers

The organizers of a new flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists seeking to break the blockade of Gaza said Thursday that their boats had been surrounded by the Israeli navy in international waters and that contact had been lost with some of them.

“Israeli military vessels illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and issued threats of kidnapping and use of violence,” the Sumud Global Flotilla said in a statement released overnight. “Contact with 11 ships was lost,” the organization added.

This flotilla is made up of more than 50 boats that have left in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy. They are currently located west of Crete (Greece), according to live tracking on the organization's website.

"Our boats were boarded by military launches that identified themselves as 'Israeli,'" the organization said on

Donald Trump says he is considering a reduction in US armed forces stationed in Germany

Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was considering a reduction in US armed forces stationed in Germany, after vindictive remarks against the German chancellor over the war in Iran.

“The United States is currently studying and reviewing the possibility of a reduction in military personnel in Germany, and a decision will be made very soon,” the American president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

More than 35,000 U.S. military personnel were stationed in Germany in 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service, but German media estimates the number today is closer to 50,000.

Donald Trump demanded that Israel carry out only "surgical" strikes in Lebanon

Donald Trump told the Axios news site that he had asked Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel only carry out "surgical" strikes in Lebanon, where a ceasefire overseen by Washington is supposed to be respected in parallel with its negotiations with Iran.

FIFA Congress: Iranian Revolutionary Guards have “no place” in Canada, says Ottawa

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have "no place" in Canada, Ottawa said Wednesday, after leaders of the Iranian Football Federation canceled their participation in the FIFA congress citing "insults" from Canadian immigration police.

According to Iranian media, the president and secretary general of the federation left Canada due to the insulting behavior of the immigration police upon their arrival at the Toronto airport.

Ottawa said it could not comment on specific cases, but added: "Revolutionary Guard officials are not accepted in Canada."

Oman and the UN wish to intensify international efforts to restore maritime security

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman and the Secretary-General of the United Nations underline the importance of intensifying international efforts to restore maritime security and freedom of navigation,” says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman.

Vladimir Putin warns Donald Trump of "damaging consequences" of new military action against Iran

During a telephone conversation with his American counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin "underlined the inevitable and extremely damaging consequences not only for Iran and its neighbors, but also for the entire international community, if the United States and Israel were to resort once again to military action" against Iran, diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov told the press.

The Kremlin also assured that Russia is "firmly determined to provide all possible assistance to diplomatic efforts" regarding the war in the Middle East.

Donald Trump welcomes the departure of the United Arab Emirates from OPEC

US President Donald Trump hails the United Arab Emirates' plan to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as "great", saying the move could help calm an unstable oil market shaken by the war in Iran.

Iranian crew members of container ship Touska released after US seizes ship (Tasnim)

According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, six crew members of the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska were released after the vessel was seized by the United States. 22 Iranians are still detained, according to Tasnim.

“Donald Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran is the right one,” judges Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone with his American counterpart Donald Trump, the Russian president's diplomatic adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told the press on Wednesday, specifying that the two leaders had mainly discussed the war in the Middle East.

“The presidents paid particular attention to the situation in Iran and the Persian Gulf,” Yuri Ushakov said.

“Vladimir Putin considers that Donald Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran is the right one, because it should give negotiations a chance and, overall, help stabilize the situation,” he added.

Iranian delegation cancels presence at FIFA congress after 'insults' at Toronto airport

Leaders of the Iranian Football Federation have canceled their participation in the FIFA congress in Vancouver, citing insulting behavior by immigration police upon their arrival at Toronto airport, according to Iranian media.

The president and secretary general of the federation carrying "official visas" "returned to Turkey on the first available flight due to the inappropriate behavior of immigration agents (...) and an insult to one of the most honorable organs of the Iranian armed forces", indicated a press release from their organization, cited by the media.

In 2024, Canada classified the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group.

📸 In pictures: in Seoul, demonstrators protest against the war in the Middle East in front of the American embassy

South Korean protesters hold banners during a rally denouncing the United States and Israel's attack on Iran, near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. © Ahn Young-joon, AP

© Ahn Young-joon, AP

Cost of oil: at more than $119, Brent is at its highest since 2022

The price of a barrel of Brent from the North Sea, an international benchmark for oil, jumped above $119 on Wednesday, reaching a level not seen since 2022 and the first months of the war in Ukraine.

Fear of a prolonged blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz caused Brent to rise by 7.58% around 5:15 p.m. GMT, to $119.69. Its American equivalent, a barrel of WTI, rose 7.60% to $107.52.

Israeli army chief threatens to strike Lebanon 'beyond the yellow line'

The chief of staff of the Israeli army, Eyal Zamir, threatened Wednesday from southern Lebanon to strike Hezbollah "beyond the yellow line", which demarcates an area controlled by its troops in the border area, according to a military statement.

“Any threat anywhere, against our communities or our forces, even beyond the Yellow Line and north of the Litani River, will be eliminated,” he said during this visit to Israeli troops in what Israel refers to as a “security zone” set up in southern Lebanon.

🎥 Donald Trump gets annoyed at Truth Social, while discussions between Washington and Tehran are at a standstill

Algeria says it remains loyal to OPEC after the withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates

Algeria said on Wednesday it remained committed to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) after the United Arab Emirates' decision to leave the group of oil-producing countries.

Gas-rich OPEC member Algeria has reaffirmed its commitment to OPEC and the wider OPEC+ group, "in favor of the lasting stability of the global oil market", the Energy Ministry said in a statement.

Pete Hegseth defends Iran war, says it's not a 'quagmire'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to defend the war in Iran in fiery remarks to Congress on Wednesday, saying it was not a "quagmire" and calling Democratic lawmakers "irresponsible" for criticizing the unpopular conflict.

"You call this a quagmire, providing propaganda to our enemies? You should be ashamed of that statement," Pete Hegseth told the House Armed Services Committee, lambasting congressional Democrats whom he called "reckless, irresponsible and defeatist."

🎥 in video: what does the head of the Pentagon's hearing in Congress consist of?

“This hearing is a moment of political confrontation, between the Pentagon and the legislative power,” explains France 24 correspondent in Washington, Matthieu Mabin. “The parliamentarians contest the way in which military operations and engagement in Iran were decided, without prior and explicit consultation of Congress, even if this is not a constitutional obligation,” he explains.

Democrats' doubts are 'the biggest challenge' facing the United States, says Pete Hegseth

Democratic lawmakers in Congress questioned US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth on Wednesday for the first time since the Trump administration went to war with Iran. The tense discussions focused on the cost of the conflict, carried out without the agreement of Congress according to certain elected officials.

“The greatest challenge, the greatest adversary we face today is the reckless, irresponsible and defeatist comments of Congressional Democrats and certain Republicans,” defended the Pentagon chief.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, U.S., April 29, 2026. © Elizabeth Frantz, Reuters

US-led war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, Pentagon says

The Pentagon estimates the cost of the war in Iran so far at $25 billion, its finance chief said during a parliamentary hearing Wednesday, alongside Defense Minister Pete Hegseth.

"We're spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury. Most of it on munitions," said Jules Hurst, an order of magnitude later reused by Pete Hegseth during this hearing, his first since the start of the war at the end of February.

With AFP and Reuters

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