They're calling. They're saying, how do we make a deal? I said, you're being a little bit late.
In a week that tested the boundaries of democratic war-making, Israel and the United States deepened their military campaign against Iran, while the US Senate declined to reassert congressional authority over the use of force. The conflict, now stretching from the Indian Ocean to the skies above Qatar, has drawn in allies, displaced civilians, and unsettled global energy and air travel in ways that suggest the costs of this confrontation will be borne far beyond its declared combatants. History has seen this pattern before — the moment when a regional confrontation outgrows the intentions of those who began it.
- A US submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 people, while American strikes claimed 30 Iranian naval vessels in a single day — the war at sea is no longer a footnote.
- Iran's generals warn of undisclosed advanced weapons and readiness for ground invasion, even as their missile and drone attacks have been suppressed by over 80 percent — a wounded adversary is not a defeated one.
- Qatar's residents sheltered indoors after explosions rocked Doha, Lebanese villages received evacuation orders, and France scrambled to keep Lebanon from being consumed — the conflict is bleeding into countries that did not choose it.
- Both the Senate and the House rejected war powers resolutions that would have constrained Trump's authority, leaving the constitutional question of who decides war unanswered as operations continue.
- India, facing a crude oil crunch with only 25 days of reserves, turned to Russian suppliers despite US pressure, signaling that the economic fractures of this war are already redrawing global trade alignments.
- The first US government charter flight evacuating American citizens from the region landed at Dulles on Thursday — a quiet but telling admission of how far the situation has escalated.
The war between Israel and Iran crossed into a new operational phase this week, with Israeli strikes hitting military infrastructure in Tehran and the United States Senate voting to preserve President Trump's authority to continue military action without congressional approval. The constitutional tension was stark — the power to declare war belongs to Congress — yet the operations pressed forward.
The human toll sharpened into focus when it emerged that a US submarine had sunk the Iranian frigate Iris Dena in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 people. The ship had been returning from naval exercises hosted by India. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed three of his country's military personnel were aboard the American vessel, though he was careful to note none had taken part in offensive action. US Central Command reported that over the same 24-hour period, Iranian ballistic missile attacks had fallen by 90 percent and drone attacks by 83 percent, while American forces had sunk 30 Iranian ships and set a drone carrier ablaze.
Iran signaled it was not finished. A senior general warned of painful blows to come and spoke of advanced weapons not yet deployed at scale. Foreign Minister Araghchi told American media that Iran was prepared for even a ground invasion. Trump, for his part, dismissed any prospect of negotiation, telling reporters that Iran wanted to make a deal but that it was too late.
The war's edges kept expanding. Qatar issued emergency alerts after explosions were heard in Doha. Israel ordered evacuations in Lebanese villages in the Bekaa Valley. France's Macron called both Israeli and Iranian leaders, urging them not to pull Lebanon into the abyss, and pledged armored vehicles and support to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Air travel across the Middle East fractured as airspace closures forced flights onto circuitous routes through secondary hubs. India, with roughly 25 days of crude oil reserves and 40 percent of its imports flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, began purchasing millions of barrels of Russian oil despite sustained US pressure to avoid doing so. The first US government charter flight evacuating American citizens from the region landed at Dulles Airport on Thursday — the government offering no details on numbers or origin.
Ukraine, still fighting its own war, entered the picture: President Zelenskyy announced Kyiv would send equipment and specialists to help counter Iranian-designed Shahed drones in the region, following a request from Washington. Early discussions were also underway about Ukraine supplying cheaper interceptor drones as an alternative to costly air defense systems. The House narrowly defeated its own war powers resolution 212 to 219, one day after the Senate did the same — leaving the question of accountability suspended, as the fighting continued.
The conflict between Israel and Iran entered a new phase this week as the Israeli military announced fresh strikes on Iranian military infrastructure in Tehran, while back in Washington, the Senate voted down a resolution that would have constrained President Trump's authority to order further military action without congressional approval. The rejection of the war powers measure cleared the way for continued operations, even as the scope of the fighting expanded across the region in ways that caught civilians, allies, and neutral parties in its wake.
The scale of military operations became clearer as details emerged. A US submarine had sunk the Iranian frigate Iris Dena in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka's southern coast, killing at least 87 people aboard. The vessel had been returning home after participating in naval exercises hosted by India. Three Australian military personnel were aboard the American submarine during the operation, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, though he stressed that no Australians had participated in offensive action. The sinking was part of a broader campaign: US Central Command reported that over the previous 24 hours, Iranian ballistic missile attacks had dropped 90 percent and drone attacks 83 percent, while American strikes on the Iranian Navy had sunk 30 ships and set a drone carrier—roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier—on fire.
Iranian officials signaled they were prepared for a prolonged confrontation. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, speaking through Iranian state media, warned that enemies should expect painful blows in the next wave of attacks, adding that Iran possessed advanced weapons not yet deployed on a large scale. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Iran was ready for any potential ground invasion, calling such a move a disaster for its opponents. Yet Trump, in remarks to reporters, dismissed the possibility of negotiations, saying Iran was calling to make a deal but that it was too late—the US wanted to fight now more than Iran did.
The conflict rippled outward. Qatar issued an emergency alert instructing residents to remain indoors and avoid windows after multiple explosions were heard in Doha, though authorities provided no details on casualties or causes. The Israeli military warned residents of three villages in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa region to evacuate immediately, citing Hezbollah activities and the need to target military infrastructure. France's President Emmanuel Macron called on both Israeli and Iranian leaders to prevent Lebanon from being drawn deeper into the war, while pledging to strengthen cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and provide armored vehicles and logistical support.
Air travel across the Middle East fractured under the strain. Flights were cancelled or rerouted through secondary hubs like Fujairah and Dammam as airspace closures created uncertainty. Indian passengers arriving from Fujairah touched down at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after being forced to take circuitous routes. The disruptions extended to energy markets: Indian refiners, facing a crude oil supply crunch and vulnerable to shocks with only about 25 days of crude stocks on hand, began buying millions of barrels of Russian oil despite months of US pressure on New Delhi to avoid such purchases. India sources roughly 40 percent of its oil imports from the Middle East through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US government began evacuating its own citizens. The first charter flight carrying Americans stranded in the Middle East landed at Washington's Dulles International Airport on Thursday afternoon, marking the first organized effort by the US government to bring back citizens affected by the escalating conflict. Officials declined to disclose how many were aboard or the exact location from which the aircraft departed.
Ukraine, itself engaged in a long conflict with Russia, moved to assist. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv would deploy equipment and specialists to help counter Iranian-designed Shahed drones in the Middle East following a request from Washington. The US and Qatar were also in early-stage discussions with Ukraine about acquiring Ukrainian interceptor drones as a cheaper alternative to expensive air defense systems for downing Iranian unmanned aircraft.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives narrowly voted down a war powers resolution on Thursday—212 to 219—that would have halted Trump's military attacks on Iran. The vote came a day after the Senate rejected a similar measure along party lines. Lawmakers faced the political reality of representing a cautious public during wartime, with mounting concerns over casualties, costs, and strained alliances following the president's decision to launch military action without congressional approval. The constitutional authority to declare war rested with Congress, yet the operations continued.
Notable Quotes
Long prepared for this war, Iran's Powerful Armed Forces are ensuring that it becomes a quagmire for whomever chooses to pursue it.— Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi
We are waiting for them. We are confident that we can confront them and that would be a big disaster for them.— Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, on potential ground invasion
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did the Senate reject the war powers resolution? What does that actually mean for what happens next?
It means Trump keeps the authority to order strikes without having to come back to Congress for permission. The resolution would have forced him to stop within 30 days unless Congress voted to authorize continued military action. By voting it down, lawmakers essentially said they won't constrain him—at least not yet.
But Congress has the power to declare war. How is this legal?
That's the tension. Technically, the Constitution gives Congress that power. But presidents have been operating in this gray zone for decades—calling military operations something other than war, acting first and asking permission later. This time, lawmakers had a chance to reassert that power and chose not to. Some voted against it out of party loyalty, others out of genuine belief that the president needed flexibility in a crisis.
What about the Iranian frigate? Why does sinking one ship matter so much in a conflict this size?
It's symbolic and strategic both. Eighty-seven people died. But more than that, it showed the US was willing to strike Iranian naval assets directly, not just air defenses or drone facilities. It escalated the conflict into a new domain. And it happened in international waters, which raised questions about international law—which is why Italy's defense minister said the strikes violated it.
Italy closed its embassy in Tehran. Are other countries pulling out?
Some are repositioning. France is sending weapons to Lebanon and trying to talk both sides down. Qatar issued evacuation alerts. Ukraine is sending drone specialists. Everyone's trying to manage the fallout while staying somewhat neutral or aligned with their interests. It's messy.
India buying Russian oil—that seems like a separate story.
It connects directly. The conflict disrupted Middle Eastern oil supplies. India only has 25 days of crude reserves and gets 40 percent of its oil from that region. The US had been pressuring India to stop buying Russian oil to hurt Moscow's war effort in Ukraine. But when your own energy security is threatened, those pressures weaken. India chose survival over compliance.
What did Trump mean when he said it's too late for negotiations?
He was saying the US had decided to fight rather than talk. But it's worth noting that Iran's foreign minister said they were attacked while negotiations were happening—twice. So there's a dispute about whether diplomacy was actually on the table or already dead.