US Iran War News Live Updates: Iran Maintains Hormuz Chokehold, Trump Mulls Next Steps

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the inability of ships to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz is severely damaging the global economy, disrupting critical sectors including energy, transportation, manufacturing, and food supplies.

In a message posted on social media, Guterres said the fallout from the escalating Middle East crisis is intensifying by the hour. He urged all parties to prioritize dialogue and pursue solutions that would ease tensions and prevent the situation from spiraling further out of control.

I’m deeply concerned about the curtailment of navigational rights & freedoms in the area of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting energy, transport, manufacturing & food markets & strangling the global economy.

All of humanity is paying the price.

Consider these three scenarios:

1:…

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 30, 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader has vowed to safeguard the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities, directly challenging efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to limit them through airstrikes and as part of broader negotiations aimed at shoring up a fragile ceasefire.

In comments delivered by a state television presenter, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a hostile warning to Washington, saying Americans have no place in the Persian Gulf and belong “at the bottom of its waters.” He added that the region is entering what he described as a “new chapter” in its history. The remarks come at a moment of acute economic strain for Iran. The country’s oil sector is under growing pressure from a U.S. Navy blockade that has prevented Iranian tankers from leaving port. 

The Trump administration says U.S. military involvement related to Iran no longer qualifies as an active war, citing a ceasefire that took effect in early April. By declaring the conflict effectively concluded, the White House argues it is not required to seek congressional authorization for continued military action.

That position echoes testimony given Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who told the Senate that the ceasefire had halted hostilities. Under this interpretation, the administration maintains it has not crossed the 60‑day threshold that would trigger the need for formal approval under existing law.

The timeline is governed by the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which limits a president’s ability to engage U.S. forces in prolonged military operations without congressional consent. Under the statute, President Donald Trump faced a Friday deadline to either obtain authorization or end U.S. involvement, with an option to extend the period by an additional 30 days. The administration’s argument hinges on the claim that the ceasefire removed the conflict from those requirements.