Vance acknowledges ‘failures’ in US handling of Iran war

US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged “a lot of mistakes and a lot of fundamental failures” in the handling of the Iran war, as he faced questions over the conflict’s rising human and economic costs during a CBS News town hall on Sunday.

Vance made the remarks in response to Joey Amor, whose wife, Master Sgt Nicole Amor, was among six US Army Reserve soldiers killed in an Iranian strike on a military site in Kuwait in the opening hours of the war that began in late February. At least 21 US service members have been killed and hundreds wounded so far.

Amor questioned reports that the facility had not been adequately secured, demanding accountability from the Trump administration.

“Though the Iranian drone was the weapon that killed my wife, there were a lot of mistakes and a lot of fundamental failures that led up to that,” Amor said.

Vance acknowledged that there were shortcomings. “Sometimes information doesn’t filter up to me,” he said, pledging to “take every single failure extremely seriously.”

The vice president also admitted that the positioning of US troops exposed weaknesses in the military’s approach. “I know that there are some issues with, for example … where troops were located that we realised was a huge mistake and that we could do better on. And we have changed that,” he said.

Vance pointed to the growing threat posed by inexpensive drones, saying the US military had altered its tactics to better protect troops and prevent further casualties.

Asked why Washington had still not secured a decisive victory despite President Donald Trump’s initial expectations, Vance argued that the US had “in some ways … won decisively,” but acknowledged the outcome also depended on Iran’s actions. “The enemy gets a vote here,” he said.

Vance defended the administration’s strategy, saying Washington was seeking a “final firm commitment from the Iranians that they’re not going to rebuild their nuclear program.”

Iran’s president hopes defence minister nominee can ‘survive,’ cites US ‘assassination list’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that he hopes his US-sanctioned defence minister nominee can “survive,” claiming that he is also on a US “assassination list.”

Pezeshkian made the remarks in a virtual address to parliament during a session considering Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi’s nomination as minister of defence, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Pezeshkian said Akhlaqi is under US sanctions and claimed that he is also on a US “assassination list.” He expressed hope that the nominee would “take care of himself” and, with support from the country’s institutions, “remain alive” and continue working to strengthen Iran’s defence capabilities.

Pezeshkian urged lawmakers to give Akhlaqi a strong vote of confidence, saying he enjoys support across Iran’s armed forces, including the army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the defence ministry and security institutions.

Akhlaqi, a longtime senior defence ministry official, previously headed Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organisation and the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG), which has been linked to the country’s ballistic missile program.

He has been subject to US sanctions over his involvement in Iran’s missile-related activities.

Akhlaqi was nominated to replace former Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed during US-Israeli attacks on Iran earlier this year.

Pezeshkian said Iran does not seek to attack other countries but would respond strongly to any attack against its territory.

“Our defence is not only missiles; our defence is the people and the unity and cohesion we have in the country,” he said.

He added that Tehran would not back down in the face of what he described as pressure and “bullying” by countries that attack Iran.

Iranian parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as new defence minister

Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the country’s new defence minister on Sunday, the state broadcaster IRIB reported.

Akhlaqi received 237 votes in favor and 15 against, with no abstentions, out of 277 votes cast during a parliamentary session held via video conference.

Lawmakers voted after hearing arguments from supporters and opponents of Akhlaqi and reviewing his plans for the Defence Ministry.

In his first remarks after securing parliamentary approval, Akhlaqi said Iran had taken measures to counter the possible use by the US of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” against the country.

“We have taken the necessary measures to counter such an action and are continuing our work with confidence,” he told reporters.

Akhlaqi also warned that US President Donald Trump should be concerned about getting American forces out of the region safely.

“If he drops one bomb, he should see how many of his forces he will have to take out of the region horizontally,” he said, apparently referring to potential US military casualties.

He claimed Iran’s preparations were among the reasons Washington had so far refrained from using the bomb, adding that the situation would be different if US threats were turned into action.

Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Akhlaqi warned that Iran would deliver a “surprising and extensive” response if the US and Israel launched another attack against the country.

“If the American-Zionist enemy once again makes a miscalculation, the response of the Iranian nation and the fighters of Islam will be surprising and extensive,” he said, adding that Washington and its allies would bear responsibility for any regional and international consequences.

Akhlaqi also said he had been on what he called his enemies’ “assassination list” for 35 years and pledged to further strengthen what Iran calls the “resistance front.”

He said his priorities would include expanding defence production across Iran’s industrial network, boosting research and adapting the Defence Ministry’s structure to current security threats.

Iran urges US to accept proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s offer to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days is still on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian media outlets on Sunday.

If Washington accepts Tehran’s conditions, the strategic waterway would be open within six days, and US-Iran talks would resume on the seventh day, he added.

Iran accuses US of breaking agreements and derailing peace efforts

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi that the US had “repeatedly disrupted” diplomatic efforts to end the war by violating agreements and resorting to force, Al Jazeera reported.

JD Vance says petrol prices would be “three times as high” without US Navy

US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that “gas prices are too high right now” but said prices would fall once the US-Israel war on Iran “is over”, Al Jazeera reported.

He blamed Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on tankers for driving up fuel costs, saying, “We’ve never had a situation like this” in which one country was “trying to completely choke off world energy supply”.

Vance claimed petrol prices would be “three times as high if it weren’t for the US Navy keeping oil and gas moving out of the Strait of Hormuz”.

He added that letting Iran control shipping through the strategic waterway would raise fuel costs for consumers. “If we just … left and we let the Iranians control shipping out of the Strait of Hormuz, what that would mean is you would pay a lot more for gasoline,” he said.

Tugboat struck by 2 unknown projectiles off UAE, 1 injured: UK maritime agency

A tugboat traveling southbound was struck by two unknown projectiles northeast of Khor Fakkan in the UAE on Sunday, leaving one person with minor injuries, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The UKMTO said the vessel sustained damage but was able to continue on its route.

“One minor casualty has been reported,” it said, without providing further details about the injured person or the extent of the damage.

The exact time of the incident has yet to be confirmed.

Iran’s IRGC says two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines in Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers, each carrying around two million barrels of crude oil, caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.

It also reported that Iranian state television aired footage that purportedly showed an oil tanker exploding after hitting a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.

The footage emerged as the US guided ships along a route off Oman’s coast, despite Iran’s warnings against unauthorised transit.

Trump says war on Iran will end “very quickly” at Kentucky rally

US President Donald Trump said the war on Iran would end “very quickly” while speaking at a rally in Kentucky ahead of the US midterm elections the following month, Al Jazeera reported.

He also claimed that Washington’s “excursion” in Iran had “knocked out their nuclear capacity.”