War Costs and Diplomatic Blocks | Albany News

Senators are sounding the alarm over lackluster transparency on U.S. military costs in Iran, with a top Pentagon nominee admitting he can’t provide updated figures after stepping down from his prior role. Meanwhile, the President pivots in talks with Iraq, downplaying promised shipping fees in the Strait of Hormuz while criticizing Iran’s recent moves there. Complicating matters, local officials in New York tried to meet Iran’s UN rep — only to be blocked by the State Department, which called the effort “unconscionable,” echoing its recent shutdown of a NYC mayor’s planned meeting with Colombia’s president after a visa revocation over a controversial speech. The tension? Domestic lawmakers scramble for fiscal clarity while federal agencies tightly control diplomatic outreach — all amid a volatile global chess game. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/46be0da825f10a41