Iran says it shot down an approaching US spy drone on Today. The US says the drone was flying in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz.
The move is likely to increase friction between Washington and Tehran. Trump announced Monday he would send 1,000 more troops to the Middle East. And last week, US officials blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi confirmed that there is an briefing this morning on Capitol Hill on Iran.
Members of the Gang of 20 – leaders from both the House and Senate and senior members — will be there. They will “learn more” about the ongoing situation in Iran during the briefing, she said. It is unclear who is briefing today.
There will also be a broader Iran briefing for more members between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., according to Pelosi.
“I think it’s a dangerous situation,” said Pelosi in today’s press conference when talking about Iran. “The high-tension wires are up in the region. We have to be strong and strategic about how we protect our interests. We also cannot be reckless in what we do.”
However, she doesn’t believe President Trump wants to go to war, she said.
“There’s no appetite for going to war in our country,” Pelosi said. “I don’t think the President wants to go to war.”
Trump will be at the White House Iran meeting
The White House is holding a meeting today to discuss a response to Iran shooting down a US military drone, a person familiar with the plans tells CNN.
An official now says that President Trump is attending the meeting alongside defense officials. Earlier CNN reported that Trump wasn’t expected to attend.
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, incoming Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are all expected to be at the meeting.
