BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Fears of a global energy crisis persist as the war in the Middle East rages on. More U.S.-Israeli strikes hit the Iranian capital Monday and Israel again bombarded Lebanon. An Iranian drone strike temporarily shut Dubai’s airport. That’s a crucial global travel hub and the attack underscored the threats to the world economy. Since the United States and Israel attacked Iran more than two weeks ago, Tehran has regularly fired on Israel, American bases in the region, and Gulf Arab countries’ energy infrastructure. It has also effectively stopped shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. That has dramatically increased the price of oil and put pressure on Washington to do something to ease the pain consumers are feeling.
Republicans resist calls for Iran war hearings, creating a new standoff with Democrats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States’ war with Iran is entering its third week, but Congress has yet to publicly test the Trump administration’s case for the conflict. Republicans in Congress have so far side-stepped public debate over the war. But Senate Democrats are reaching for every tool at their disposal to demand hearings with Trump administration officials. Some Democrats are threatening this week to force a series of votes on the war, hoping that the efforts to gum up the Senate’s voting schedule will prod Republicans to action.
Trump side-stepped diplomacy on his way to war in Iran. Now, he’s asking China and others for help
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump relied on his gut and largely side-stepped diplomatic coordination as he made the decision to launch strikes on Iran with Israel. But now with the Iran war’s economic and geopolitical consequences unfurling rapidly, the Republican president is cajoling allies and other global powers to help mop up the mess. Trump says he’s asked roughly a half-dozen other countries to send warships to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic. So far, none has committed. Trump even indicated he’d use his long-planned trip to China to pressure Beijing to help with the coalition — a notion his Treasury secretary later downplayed.
