Hegseth’s contradictory Iran statements and D4vd arrested in teen’s murder: Morning Rundown

Pete Hegseth acknowledges that Iran still has some missiles and launchers despite saying its defenses were decimated. Trump allies — and foes — unite to oppose a blockbuster television merger. And the singer D4vd is arrested in the murder of a 14-year-old whose remains were found in his abandoned car.

Here’s what to know today.
Pete Hegseth says Iran is digging out missiles and launchers

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Hegseth says U.S. is ‘locked and loaded’ if Iran talks fail
00:47

A week ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Iran’s missile program was “functionally destroyed,” with stockpiles depleted, decimated and ineffective. But yesterday, he acknowledged that there are at least some stockpiles remaining, saying that Iran is “digging out” its remaining missiles and launchers.

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The Trump administration has sought to showcase that its military prowess caused devastation to Iran’s capabilities. Officials, however, have offered conflicting messages on how bad that devastation has been. Roughly half of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers were still intact and thousands of one-way attack drones remained in its arsenal as of earlier this month, NBC News reported. Multiple missile stockpiles buried underground in Iran were undamaged.

Another contradiction: President Donald Trump said that China has agreed not to send arms to Iran and was “very happy” with the U.S. effort to clear the Strait of Hormuz. But U.S. intelligence reporting suggests China was planning to provide new air defense weaponry to Iran in coming weeks, NBC News reported earlier this week.

Read more about the contradictions from U.S. officials.

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Trump announces ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
02:04

While peace talks between the U.S. and Iran have stalled, Trump announced yesterday that Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire. So far, it appears to be holding. Images from southern Lebanon early this morning show displaced people in cars packed with their belongings beginning their journeys home. But Israeli troops still remain in southern Lebanon. Trump said peace talks between the U.S. and Iran could resume “maybe this weekend.” Meanwhile, a House effort to end the war with Iran failed by just one vote.

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