The Latest: Iran war reaches its six-month mark as Trump tries increasing economic pressure

President Donald Trump marked six months of the ongoing U.S.-Iran war on Friday by announcing a new agreement with Venezuela to take control of 65 billion barrels of the South American country's oil reserves. According to the President, the deal was negotiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

Trump's announcement came amid a legal battle over his mail voting order, which a federal judge in Boston blocked from taking effect for two weeks. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the legality of the plan.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council met behind closed doors to discuss extending the mandate of the 8,100-member UNIFIL peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. While there was strong support for the extension, it was not unanimous among the 15 council members. Israel has long pushed for the force's closure, but the United States, its closest ally, previously ensured its continuation.

Calls for an independent investigation into the Biden administration's response to the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, gained momentum with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and representative Scott Perry requesting the EPA Office of Inspector General to conduct the probe.