Iran Sets Preconditions for US Talks as Pentagon Defends War Costs
Fars News Agency reports that Iran will not engage in further negotiations with the United States unless five specific trust-building conditions are met, describing them as minimum guarantees. Concurrently, during a US congressional hearing on the fiscal year 2027 military budget, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed ongoing tensions. He confirmed a ceasefire is in effect while negotiations continue and stated that Operation Freedom could restart upon presidential directive. Hegseth defended a $1.5 trillion budget proposal and rejected claims of critical ammunition shortages, attributing industrial capacity issues to previous administrations and aid to Ukraine. Pentagon financial inspector Jules Hurst revealed that the cost of Operation 'Righteous Wrath' has risen to approximately $29 billion. Bipartisan lawmakers expressed concern over the lack of detailed reporting on war expenditures and ammunition levels. The hearing highlighted the financial and logistical strains of the conflict, with Hegseth adopting a milder tone than in previous sessions while maintaining that US military reserves remain sufficient despite Democratic criticisms.
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