News Desk

WASHINGTON: Vice President J.D. Vance has declared that the United States will continue “applying pressure” on Iran after renewed attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Washington cannot allow Tehran to dictate global energy flows. The Trump administration has already ordered consecutive strikes on Iranian missile sites, drone facilities, and maritime forces, while deploying more than 50,000 troops across the Middle East. A temporary memorandum of understanding had paused hostilities, but Iran quickly resumed ship attacks, prompting Vance to warn that America would “punch back harder than ever.”

At the same time, the administration has directed the U.S. defense industry to escalate production and delivery of weapons to sustain operations. Analysts caution that inventories of specialized interceptors and long‑range missiles have been cut by more than half in just over a month of fighting, with replenishment expected to take between one and four years. The war has already cost $37.5 billion, and the White House is seeking nearly $90 billion in supplemental funding to cover the mounting expenses.