US House blocks Hegseth impeachment over Iran operations

The US House of Representatives voted 211-204 to block an impeachment effort against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over military operations in Iran, Yemen, Venezuela, and the Caribbean, effectively ending the measure for the current Congress. President Donald Trump called the outcome an "exoneration." The procedural vote referred Republican Rep. Thomas Massie's impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, with Massie as the sole Republican opposing the move. The articles accused Hegseth of abusing his office, including launching the Iran war without congressional approval and ignoring civilian-casualty safeguards, though Republican critics said his conduct did not meet the constitutional standard for impeachment. Separately, Iran's Revolutionary Guard unveiled a new underground "missile city" displaying ballistic and cruise missiles, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent moved to a military base following Iranian threats. Crude prices edged lower as traders bet the US-Iran standoff is easing.