Three takeaways from Hegseth's clash with lawmakers over Iran war

The hours-long hearing was the first time the US defence secretary had faced questions under oath since the conflict began. Three takeaways from Hegseth's clash with lawmakers over Iran war Hegseth: Talk of Iran war as a quagmire 'undermines the mission' Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. A close photo of Pete Hegseth pointing his finger and speaking into a mic at a congressional hearing Hegseth: Talk of Iran war as a quagmire "undermines the mission" Hegseth points his finger during the House hearing. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sparred with Democratic lawmakers over the Iran war during a nearly six-hour-long hearing, in which one of his officials also revealed that American operations had cost the country $25bn (£18.5bn) so far. Hegseth, who faced questions under oath for the first time since the war started, appeared on Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee, alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine and the defence department's chief financial officer Jules Hurst. The defence secretary faced questions over the cost of the war, and said the "biggest adversary we face" was the "defeatist words" of Democrats and some Republicans. Here are three key takeaways from Wednesday's hearing. The group will also appear before the equivalent Senate committee on Thursday. Money was a major talking point during the hearing. Hurst revealed that the war had cost the US $25bn (£18.5bn) so far, and that most of the expenses had been for munitions and to replace equipment. He said a full assessment of the cost would be provided at a later time. The US and Iran have agreed on a ceasefire to allow for peace talks, but the conflict has not officially ended. Democratic lawmakers on the committee criticised how federal money was being used. A female petrol station attendant refuels a white car Oil price hits highest since 2022 after report Trump to be briefed on new Iran options The White House has asked Congress to boost the US defence budget to $1.5tn (£1.1tn), a sweeping rise that would mark the largest expansion in military spending since World War Two. Hegseth told the committee the budget request "reflects the urgency of the moment". Gen Caine said the $1.5tn "represents a historic down payment for future security" that would allow the US to get ahead of fast-evolving technology. Support for war divides down party lines Democrats on the committee often characterised the US military action in Iran as an expensive "war of choice" that had been waged without the approval of Congress. "You have been lying to the American public about this war from day one, and so has the president," California Democrat John Garamendi said. He told Hegseth that President Donald Trump was "stuck in a quagmire" of another war in the Middle East. Hegseth called Garamendi's statement "reckless", and denied Trump was in a "quagmire". "Your hatred for President Trump blinds you," Hegseth said. Many Republicans on the committee were largely supportive of the Pentagon, with congressman Carlos Gimenez of Florida saying he believed Iran was an existential threat to the US. "When someone tells me for 47 years that they want to kill us, I think I am going to take them at their word," he said. "I support our efforts to make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon." The often-combative hearing also discussed the international economic ramifications of the war such as the rise in global oil prices, and its knock-on impacts for the price of other goods. At one point, Hegseth hit back with a defiant tone, telling a congressman: "Shame on you." Some lawmakers also demanded accountability for an air strike on a school in Iran early in the conflict. According to Iranian officials, that Minab strike killed 168 people, including about 110 children, during the opening stages of the joint US and Israel attack on Iran. US media reported in early March that US military investigators believed American forces were likely responsible for hitting the school unintentionally, but had not reached a final conclusion. "We made a mistake and that happens in war... two months after it happened we refused to say anything about it, giving the world the impression that we just don't care," Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the committee, said. California representative Ro Khanna pressed Hegseth on the cost of the school strike. The defence secretary said "that unfortunate situation remains under investigation" and that he "wouldn't tie a cost to that". Women react during the funeral of the victims following a reported strike on a school, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Former US officials criticise Pentagon silence on deadly Iran school attack The state is the latest to act in a national redistricting war that could shape what political party controls the US House of Representatives. During the White House state dinner, the King gifted the US president a bell from his WW2 submarine namesake, 'HMS Trump'. The measure now requires approval from the House if lawmakers are to succeed at fully reopening the government. UK petrol and diesel prices have started to fall after 46 consecutive days of rises at the pump. Axios reported that US Central Command has prepared a plan for a wave of "short and powerful" strikes on Iran. Before the fragile ceasefire in the region, this was one of the most heavily targeted US and UK military bases in the Middle East. The price of crude oil has swung sharply as uncertainty over the war in the Middle East continues. In the two months since the deadly strike, the US defence department has said only that the incident is under investigation.