Iran is threatening to expand its nuclear program and enrich uranium to weapons-grade purity as the costs of the war have reached $29 billion overall.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war appear stalled after President Donald J. Trump rejected Tehran’s “garbage” response to a U.S. peace proposal as “unacceptable.” The Pentagon reports the cost of the war has hit at least $29 billion, and, in response to suggestions that the U.S. could resume military operations against Iran, Iranian officials have warned they could begin enriching uranium to nuclear weapons-grade. 📺 DETAIL: Trump, speaking ahead of a major summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, said he did not need China’s help to resolve the Iran war, but acknowledged the issue would likely be discussed during the visit. The conflict has increasingly drawn in China because of its economic ties to Iran and dependence on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing has publicly backed mediation efforts while resisting U.S. pressure to cut ties with Tehran, even as Washington is imposing sanctions on Chinese firms accused of aiding Iran’s military capabilities. Analysts say the summit between Trump and Xi could become a key test of whether the two powers can cooperate on containing the crisis while managing broader tensions over trade, Taiwan, and security in the Indo-Pacific. Iran has continued to reject U.S. demands it views as tantamount to surrender, with officials insisting any agreement must preserve the country’s sovereignty and nuclear ambitions. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “One of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90 percent enrichment. We will review it in the parliament.” – Iranian parliamentary official Ebrahim Rezaei 🎯 IMPACT: The rising financial burden of the Iran war and heightened nuclear threats from Tehran underscore the fragility of the ceasefire, which Trump called “unbelievably weak” on Monday, and raise questions about the U.S. administration’s strategy in the Middle East. |
.@RepPeteAguilar: “On April 29th…you said the Iran war had cost $25B in total…Do you have any other updated costs or projections?”
Defense CFO Jay Hurst: “Now we think it’s closer to 29 [billion.]” pic.twitter.com/W0c6lUuGga
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 12, 2026
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