The U.S. military shot down multiple Iranian drones and missiles over the weekend while regional partners stood firm, and Treasury officials are reportedly weighing whether Tehran’s frozen assets could be tapped to help Gulf states repair damage caused by those attacks.
Iran tried to strike at neighbors and U.S. positions and ended up losing aircraft and having missiles intercepted. CENTCOM said American forces downed several one-way attack drones and intercepted inbound missiles, stopping threats to shipping and local bases. The strikes and interceptions show U.S. forces ready and capable to defend maritime traffic and allies in the Gulf.
Iran fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain — six were shot down and one fell short — hours after U.S. forces downed four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the strait, Central Command said on social media.
U.S. forces also engaged coastal radar sites and neutralized drones that threatened commercial shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz. When Tehran fires into the neighborhood, it risks both escalation and concrete losses to its military capability. The message from American commanders was straightforward: we will defend international navigation and partner states against Iranian aggression.
On Saturday, CENTCOM confirmed two additional Iranian attack drones were shot down after they posed a threat to maritime traffic. The command made clear American forces remain postured to defend against further actions and will continue to protect international waters and allied assets. These defensive moves were executed with precision to limit collateral damage while denying Iran operational success.
“Earlier today, U.S. forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted to X.
“American forces remain postured and ready to continue defending against Iranian aggression,” the command added.
Beyond the kinetic response, Washington is reportedly exploring economic countermeasures. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has directed a review into whether frozen Iranian assets could be used to help Gulf allies pay for repairs from damage linked to Iranian actions. Officials are said to be compiling cost estimates and assessing what tools are legally and practically available to support reconstruction if Tehran continues to attack regional partners.
https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2063424127508037983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has directed his team to assess whether Iranian assets could be used to help Gulf allies rebuild and repair damage caused by Iran during the ongoing conflict, according to a source familiar with the secretary’s thinking.
“Treasury will utilize all tools available to allow Iranian assets to be made available to our Gulf allies to support rebuilding and repairs for any future damage caused by Iran,” the source said on background to FOX Business.
The source added that Bessent also directed Treasury officials to assess conditions among Gulf allies and request “comprehensive estimates” of costs associated with repairing damage Iran has inflicted since the conflict began.
Treasury is also considering whether Iranian assets could be used to support repairs for past damages tied to Iran, the source said.
That approach fits a no-nonsense Republican view: aggression should have consequences, not lectures. If Tehran damages ports, facilities, or civilian infrastructure, it makes sense to consider using frozen assets to hold them accountable and help victims recover. This signals to partners that deterrence includes not only bullets and missiles but also economic leverage when it produces better security outcomes.
Iran’s leadership continues to traffic in bravado, but the reality on the ground is different. Their one-way drones and missiles are being intercepted, infrastructure targeted for retaliation is being identified, and international sympathy for Gulf states has only hardened. Rather than driving a wedge between the U.S. and its partners, Iran’s attacks have pushed those countries closer to American security guarantees.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces are staying deliberate and disciplined: stop the immediate threat, protect shipping lanes, and limit escalation while signaling readiness to act again. If Treasury follows through, Iran could face tangible economic consequences that directly tie to its hostile behavior. That combined mix of defense and economic pressure aims to shape Tehran’s calculus and protect American interests and allies in the region.
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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