Tehran's air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war.

The Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that air defence systems, heard in some parts of the Iranian capital, were activated on Thursday "to counter small aircraft and reconnaissance drones" for around 20 minutes but that the situation had returned to "normal".

US President Donald Trump's administration faced a looming midnight deadline to secure congressional authorisation for the war against Iran, setting up a clash between the White House and Congress.

The Trump administration argued that the 60-day clock to seek authorisation was effectively paused by a ceasefire announced last month.

"For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28 have terminated," a senior administration official said late on Thursday, noting that there has been no exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since the April 7 ceasefire.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran's supreme leader declared that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from Trump that an economically punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come.

Oil prices hit a four-year high, then fell back slightly before Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement read on state television declaring that Iran was now in the driver's seat in the crisis.

"Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world's bullies in the region, and the United States' disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz," he said, hailing Iran's control over shipping in the strait.

He went on to predict a bright future for the Gulf without the United States, saying those who interfere in the region from afar "have no place there except at the bottom of its waters."

Washington is now seeking to assemble an international coalition of allied states and shipping firms to co-ordinate safe passage through Hormuz – while maintaining its blockade of ships serving Iran, a State Department official said.

Trump threatened on Thursday to withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain, extending similar warnings already made against Germany, after lambasting the Nato allies for failing to support US-Israeli operations against Iran, including in the Strait.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned meanwhile that it was "possible that we may soon have to act again" against Iran to achieve the war's objectives.

But the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards aerospace force, Majid Mousavi, said even a "short and tactical" enemy operation would be met "with painful, prolonged, and extensive strikes."

US Central Command said on Wednesday it had redirected a total of 44 commercial vessels to violate the blockade as part of its blockade of Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the blockade of his country's ports was effectively an "extension of military operations" by Washington, despite the ongoing ceasefire.

"Continuation of this oppressive approach is intolerable," he added. (AFP)



Edited by Thomas McAlinden