White House divided over Iran as Hegseth faces impeachment threat

Pete Hegseth resists calls to resign, while Trump wavers between war and diplomacy with Iran.

White House divided over Iran as Hegseth faces impeachment threat — U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faces a possible impeachment vote in Congress over his management of the war in Iran, but has told allies he will not resign, planning to use the platform for a frontal confrontation if impeached. [^1] The Pentagon drama unfolds against a backdrop of internal White House divisions: Hegseth and others push to renew the war against Iran, while Vice President Vance, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff strongly oppose and prefer the diplomatic channel. [^3] Trump continues to support Hegseth, contrary to precedents such as the firing of Donald Rumsfeld after 2006. [^1] Meanwhile, an Iraqi delegation visited Tehran and held an eight-hour meeting with senior Iranian officials, delivering an American message. [^2] This indirect channel suggests Washington is exploring multiple avenues simultaneously. Trump has signaled to Iran that the likelihood of war is very low, according to a Maariv report. [^2] The president also claimed that only 10% of Iran's missile capabilities and 15% of its drone capabilities remain, and revealed that 38 bridges in Iran are in the crosshairs. [^2] In Tehran, a group of women from the extremist camp protested outside Revolutionary Guards headquarters, dressed in white shrouds. One issued an ultimatum: if the threat to Khamenei's life is not avenged within 24 hours, they will turn the place into the 'House of Grief of Fatima.' [^4] A Guards representative asked them to disperse, claiming the area is not safe and that the enemy might exploit the situation. [^4] The protest underscores the internal pressure on Iran's leadership as external threats mount. Are the Iraqi-mediated talks a genuine diplomatic opening, or a stalling tactic while both sides prepare for further escalation? A day of violent crime and institutional friction in Israel — A resident of Petah Tikva died today (Sunday) of wounds sustained in a robbery and brutal attack on November 5, as Israeli police and prosecutors juggled a sprawling array of criminal cases from money laundering to yeshiva burglaries.[^2] At the top end of the scale, a draft indictment in the '