The Senate voted Thursday on Department of Homeland Security funding at nearly the one-month mark of a potential government shutdown, as Iran's new supreme leader issued his first statement threatening to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and activate additional military capabilities.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) blocked a Democratic effort to fund agencies within DHS that do not conduct immigration enforcement, complicating efforts to avoid a partial shutdown of the department.
In his first public statement since assuming the role, Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Thursday that 'The Strait of Hormuz must remain closed. American bases in the Middle East must be closed. Iran’s other military and regional capabilities will be activated if necessary.' The statement was read on Iranian state media.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and national security analysts have raised concerns about the escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf. Representative Barbara Lee, a longtime voice on foreign policy issues, has called for diplomatic pathways to de-escalation, arguing that continued military posturing risks broader regional conflict. Some Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether the administration has a clear endgame strategy for the ongoing tensions with Iran.
Progressive groups have also emphasized that Khamenei's statement underscores the need for international diplomatic engagement. The Center for a Responsible Foreign Policy has noted that threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil passes, could have catastrophic economic consequences worldwide.
On the DHS funding battle, Democrats have pushed for continuing resolutions that would fund agencies not involved in immigration enforcement, arguing that a partial shutdown would harm critical functions including cybersecurity and emergency management.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative lawmakers have largely supported the administration's firm posture toward Iran. Senator Tom Cotton and other foreign policy hawks have argued that maximum pressure on Tehran is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and destabilizing the region.
Regarding DHS funding, Senate Republicans have insisted that any continuing resolution must fully fund immigration enforcement operations. Britt's block of the Democratic effort aligns with party leadership's position that border security cannot be separated from homeland security funding.
The White House has framed the Iran stance as essential to regional stability. President Trump said Thursday that stopping 'an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons' was of greater importance than short-term oil price fluctuations.
What the Numbers Show
Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, was trading at $99 per barrel around 9:45 a.m. EDT Thursday, a day after topping $100 for the second time since U.S. military operations against Iran began 13 days ago.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of global oil supply, making it one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. Oil prices have seesawed amid fears that Iran may attack ships in the region.
The conflict has now lasted 13 days, marking one of the longest U.S. military engagements in the Middle East in recent decades.
The Bottom Line
The dual developments Thursday — the Senate DHS funding battle and Khamenei's inaugural statement — highlight escalating tensions on multiple fronts. The Iranian leader's vow to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed signals Tehran intends to maintain its hardline posture despite U.S. military operations. Meanwhile, Congress remains deadlocked on DHS funding with no clear path to avoiding a partial shutdown. Energy markets continue to react nervously to the uncertainty, with oil prices remaining elevated despite releases from strategic petroleum reserves. What to watch: whether diplomatic channels can open amid the military escalation, and whether Congress can reach a DHS funding compromise before the one-month deadline passes.