Iran has submitted a nuclear proposal as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defends the ongoing war and seeks additional funding from Congress. The move comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, with President Donald Trump describing the American military presence as an occupying force and asserting that Iran needs US approval for decisions regarding its nuclear future.

In a related development, the Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group, claimed to have targeted King Fahd International Airport in the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam with a drone on Thursday. Additionally, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorized routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

When asked about reported missile strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, President Trump declined to confirm the US’s role in the operation. However, he acknowledged that American forces have conducted limited strikes against Iranian air defenses, stating, “We do minor strikes, but they knock out. They built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five.”

The president did not provide specific details about the location of the US operation he described or whether it was connected to the reported strikes on Qeshm Island. Iranian state media had reported that two projectiles struck the Suza area of the island, according to Reuters.

As the situation in the region remains tense, Iran’s submission of a nuclear proposal and the US Defense Secretary’s efforts to secure additional war funding from Congress highlight the ongoing diplomatic and military challenges faced by both nations. The international community will likely continue to monitor developments closely, as the outcome of these events could have significant implications for regional stability and global security.