US Commerce Secretary Retracts Statement, Confirms 18 US Military Deaths in Conflict with Iran

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has withdrawn his previous assertions that no American citizens or military personnel were killed during the war with Iran, and has apologized for those statements. Data published by Mehr News Agency indicates Lutnick had controversially claimed no Americans lost their lives in the conflict against Iran. However, following widespread criticism, he amended his remarks, stating his intention was to refer to U.S. military operations in Venezuela, during which he asserted no U.S. service members were killed.

The U.S. Commerce Secretary further emphasized that 18 American military personnel were killed during the war with Iran. He attributed his earlier statements to an error and confusion between the two military operations. Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump had contradicted the U.S. Commerce Secretary’s claim that no U.S. service members had been killed in the Iran conflict. Trump posted a message on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, “Lutnick (U.S. Commerce Secretary) had Venezuela in mind when commenting on ‘no one being killed in the Iran war.'” He added in his message, “18 people were killed in (the war against) Iran.”