Good morning! Today is Friday, June 5th 2026, and this is The American Conservative's Morning Brief. Anik Joshi traces how America's war with Iran is rippling through fragile economies from Indonesia to Pakistan, warning that even nations who opposed the conflict may quietly recalibrate their ties with Washington. The House passes the first successful war powers measure of the conflict, with four Republicans crossing the aisle to demand an end to a war Congress never authorized. Hezbollah rejects a U.S.-brokered Lebanon ceasefire as "shameful," even as oil markets cling to hopes that the Beirut track could crack open a path to ending the wider war. and now for the details. We begin this morning with the global fallout from the war with Iran, a conflict now well into its third month and rippling far beyond the Middle East. In the United States, the most visible impact has been higher gas prices and inflation. But abroad, the picture is darker. European economies, already battered by Covid and the Russia–Ukraine war, are straining under fresh energy shocks. Australia's prime minister has been publicly touting the acquisition of an extra hundred million liters of diesel, roughly one day's worth of national consumption. Indonesia is rationing fuel. Indian gas delivery workers fear for their safety amid shortages. Pakistan, now leading the push for a negotiated end to the war, is suffering blackouts. Across Africa and Latin America, subsidies are buckling under the price spike. Writing for The American Conservative, Anik Joshi argues that none of these nations supported America's war of choice, yet all are paying for it. Joshi notes that Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has badly damaged its standing. But he warns that Washington and its allies should not assume they will escape blame. The traditional blowback from Middle Eastern adventures—refugee flows, regional instability—has now expanded to disrupting commodity flows that sustain the entire developing world. Joshi suggests this may quietly strain American relationships across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and raises a pointed question: what does it mean when the United States prioritizes Middle East entanglements over the commodity flows the rest of the world depends on? On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to direct President Trump to end the war on Iran—the first successful passage of a war powers measure in either chamber since the conflict began more than three months ago. The final tally was 215 to 208. Four Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania—joined Democrats in support. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it a "reckless and costly war of choice" that has cost everyday Americans hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back, warning the resolution would undermine ongoing negotiations with Tehran by stripping the president of leverage. As Joseph Addington reports for TAC, the measure is a concurrent resolution, meaning it expresses the sentiment of Congress but does not require the president's signature and does not carry the force of law. Still, Addington notes the vote marks a significant political milestone, increasing pressure on an administration prosecuting a war that Congress never formally authorized. Staying with the region, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework for Lebanon, agreed to Wednesday by Israel and the Lebanese government, has been rejected by Hezbollah. The militant group called the deal "shameful" and a "submission to the Greater Israel project." Tehran continues to insist that any ceasefire to the broader U.S.–Iran war must cover the entire region, including the Lebanese front. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the agreement grants Israel the freedom of action, with U.S. backing, to strike Beirut if Hezbollah attacks Israeli communities. Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said his group would continue fighting until Israel withdraws and halts its bombing of Lebanon. Lebanon's Health Ministry now puts the death toll from Israeli strikes at more than 3,500 since early March. Harrison Berger reports that oil markets responded with cautious optimism. Brent crude fell more than three percent Thursday on hopes the Lebanese track could open a path to ending the war with Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. AAA reports the national average for regular gasoline at $4.24 a gallon—elevated, though below recent peaks. Those are today's highlights. For the full stories and more, visit theamericanconservative.com. Thank you for starting your morning with us.
