Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the Trump administration facing a legal hurdle in its Iran war, Israel intercepting a Gaza aid flotilla, and Pakistan commissioning advanced Chinese submarines.

Running Out the Clock

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second round of intense congressional scrutiny on Thursday over the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran war. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth defended the $25 billion that the Pentagon estimates it has already spent on the conflict while refusing to specify how much longer the war might last or how much more money it could cost.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the Trump administration facing a legal hurdle in its Iran war, Israel intercepting a Gaza aid flotilla, and Pakistan commissioning advanced Chinese submarines.

Running Out the Clock

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second round of intense congressional scrutiny on Thursday over the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran war. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth defended the $25 billion that the Pentagon estimates it has already spent on the conflict while refusing to specify how much longer the war might last or how much more money it could cost.

Notably, Hegseth argued on Thursday that the U.S.-Iran cease-fire, which President Donald Trump extended last week indefinitely, has stopped the clock on the 1973 War Powers Resolution’s 60-day rule. “We are in a cease-fire now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a cease-fire,” the defense secretary said.

Under the War Powers law, the U.S. president has 60 days from when Congress first received formal notice of the conflict to terminate offensive operations or have Congress either declare war or authorize the continued use of military force. Trump informed congressional leadership of hostilities with Iran in a March 2 letter, meaning the 60-day countdown expires on Friday.

The president can extend the period for an additional 30 days to withdraw U.S. forces. However, this extension does not grant the White House authority to continue an offensive........

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