Mark Warner, the committee’s top Democrat, pressed for clarity, pointing to Trump’s past remarks suggesting he did not expect Iran to retaliate against Gulf states or disrupt the critical oil transit route.

In a phone call with President Trump this weekend, the emir of Qatar said the current escalation in the Gulf region “will have dangerous repercussions on international security and peace,” according to a Qatari state-media readout.

US President Donald Trump had said Saturday he would order the bombardment of Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully open to shipping within 48 hours. Follow for live updates.

Iran escalated strikes on energy sites in neighboring Gulf states, including a key facility in Qatar, in response to an Israeli attack on South Pa