Republicans defeat move against defence secretary over Iran conflict while Brent crude briefly dips under $90 on signs of easing tensions
WASHINGTON, United States — The United States House of Representatives has rejected a resolution seeking to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the conduct of military operations against Iran, following strong public backing from President Donald Trump.
House Republicans moved in unison to defeat the measure after Trump voiced unequivocal support for the Pentagon chief. The legislative shield comes amid a broader realignment across the administration, which includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent moving his residence to an American military base after receiving direct threats from Tehran.
Diplomatic channels saw movement as Russian and Iranian officials convened in Moscow for high-level consultations. Energy markets reacted to potential de-escalation signals, pushing global benchmark Brent crude briefly below $90 per barrel for the first time since August before stabilizing.
Maritime security remains fragile across key regional waterways. In the Arabian Gulf, a projectile struck the Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier MT Fujairah Energy on November 10, leaving four crew members injured. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations logged a suspicious incident involving a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with damage assessments, crew welfare, and environmental impacts currently unconfirmed.
