U.S. strikes – The U.S. launched new strikes inside Iran, with Iran retaliating against U.S. regional assets and airspace disruptions reported across the Gulf. At home, the future of FISA Section 702 hangs on a Friday expiration as President Donald Trump appoints Bill Pulte
For the second night, the air campaign moved deeper into Iran.
The U.S. military said it fired Tomahawk cruise missiles and carried out a second round of attacks inside Iran overnight, targeting surveillance sites, communications systems and air defense positions. Explosions were reported across several parts of Iran, including near the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command said USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) launched Tomahawk cruise missiles from an unknown location. The strikes come just days after President Donald Trump said a peace deal could be within reach. with officials insisting the military action is intended to raise pressure—not soften it.
In remarks from Cuba on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made that message blunt. He said President Trump “has given Iran an open hand to make this deal. ” and accused Tehran of “choos[ing] to play games.” Hegseth added that if negotiations require force. “we’ll negotiate with bombs. ” and said the targets “tonight are meant to do that.”.
Iran responded with its own claims, saying it targeted U.S. military assets across the region, including in Bahrain and Kuwait. Bahrain said its air defenses intercepted multiple drones overnight. and Jordan said it shot down missiles headed toward an area that houses U.S. troops. The attacks also briefly shut down Kuwaiti airspace, forcing commercial flights to reroute across the region.
The diplomatic track is still moving, but it is not moving fast enough for Washington. Trump accused Iran of taking too long to reach a deal and warned Tehran it would “pay the price” if negotiations continue to stall. Iran said it remains open to talks while continuing to refuse U.S. demands that it give up its stockpile of enriched uranium.
The other deadline is on the home front, and it is not measured in days—it is measured in hours.
With a key surveillance program set to expire Friday. Trump has doubled down on the decision to appoint federal housing chief Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence. Trump pushed back on criticism in both parties on Wednesday. accusing Democrats of holding national security “hostage. ” and confirmed that Pulte will take over next week while a search continues for a permanent nominee. Trump also said. in a Truth Social post. he wants Pulte to begin downsizing the Director of National Intelligence’s office and to return staff to their home agencies.
The fight over who leads intelligence—especially right as Section 702 is due to expire—has put the program itself in jeopardy. Section 702 is part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications from foreign targets overseas. Congressional leaders from both parties have warned that if the law expires Friday. investigators could lose access to a tool they argue has helped disrupt terrorist plots and track foreign threats.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise urged lawmakers not to let it lapse. “It’s important that that program does not go dark on Friday when it expires,” he said, adding that FISA “has been used time and time again to stop terrorist attacks” and “to prevent terrorist attacks” on American soil.
Democrats, though, argue the problem isn’t FISA. It’s Pulte. House intelligence Democrats are demanding a full security review of Pulte. writing to Trump on Wednesday in a letter that attacked his experience and character. The letter said. “Never has a person with so little experience or understanding had at their fingertips the sources and methods of the intelligence community. ” before saying Trump “tosses a hand grenade” into negotiations by elevating Bill Pule as Director of National Intelligence. The letter further described Pule as “a political hack. ” “a malignant clown. ” and “woefully unqualified to serve in any position in the federal government.”.
Republican leaders are trying to keep the program alive while Trump selects a permanent intelligence chief, seeking a short-term extension.
Put side by side, the sequence of events is stark: the U.S. is escalating pressure overseas while trying to prevent a surveillance tool from expiring at home. In both cases, the timing is decisive—the next U.S. moves in the region are already happening overnight. and the national security architecture at issue in Washington is due to change by Friday.
As the air campaign continues, negotiations still hang on Iran’s stance on enriched uranium. And as lawmakers count down to FISA’s expiration. the question facing Congress is just as immediate: whether the intelligence program built under Section 702 stays operational. or whether it shuts down as the leadership battle over the Director of National Intelligence intensifies.
United States Iran Tomahawk Strait of Hormuz Pete Hegseth Trump Bill Pulte Director of National Intelligence FISA Section 702 encryption surveillance Steve Scalise Bahrain Kuwait Jordan
So they’re negotiating with bombs? That feels insane.
I read “FISA deadline” and thought this was about spying in the US, not like… missiles. But also if the 702 thing expires Friday then maybe they’re trying to force a deal before it changes? idk.
Bill Pulte appointed?? Like the Pulte guy from the news? How does that even connect to Iran strikes. Feels like all this is just politics and distraction. Also Tomahawks from a “unknown location” is convenient because nobody can fact check it.
Strait of Hormuz explosions again… you know what I hate? The “raise pressure not soften it” line. Like pressure is still the same thing. Bahrain intercepted drones but Jordan shot down missiles right? So who’s lying, Iran or US? And if Kuwaiti airspace got shut down that means it was serious. Still, I’m not convinced any “peace deal” is actually coming… sounds like they’re just doing the thing until the FISA stuff passes or whatever.