Donald Trump has claimed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will do whatever is asked of him, insisting the pair are on the same page over negotiations to end the Iran war.
"He's fine, he'll do whatever I want him to do,” the US president told reporters at an airbase in Maryland, according to American media.
The comments came after a report by Israel’s Channel 12 of a “lengthy and dramatic” phone call about Trump’s decision to call off a return to military attacks.
“He's a very- very good man. He'll do whatever I want him to do. And he's a great guy," he added.
Earlier in the day, the US president declared that he is in no hurry to bring the war with Iran to an end.
The US leader told reporters on Wednesday that achieving the mission’s objectives was more important than setting a timeline for its conclusion.
Iran, meanwhile, said it will not surrender if the US restarts attacks.
Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Galibaf said on Wednesday that “obvious and hidden moves by the enemy" showed that they were seeking a new round of war”.
Key Points
- Trump: Netanyahu will do whatever I want him to
- China's Xi calls for end of hostilities in Middle East
- Donald Trump says Iran war will end 'very quickly'
- Trump says he was 'an hour away' from launching strikes
- Russia ready to 'help with US-Iran talks'
- Iran warns of 'many more surprises' if US renews attack
Watch: Israeli minister filmed taunting international activists detained in Israel
23:26 , Alex Croft
Iran seeking mechanism with Oman for security in Strait of Hormuz
22:53 , Alex Croft
Iran is seeking to ensure sustainable security in the Strait of Hormuz alongside Oman, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state TV on Wednesday.
He said Iran was ready to develop protocols for safe shipping traffic in cooperation with other coastal states, without providing further details.
Iran has largely shut the Strait of Hormuz to all ships apart from its own since the war with the US and Israel began in late February, causing the biggest disruption to global energy supplies in history.
The United States responded last month with its own blockade of Iran's ports.
Why Iran wants to charge world’s largest tech companies for using Strait of Hormuz undersea cables
22:21 , Maira Butt
Iran has threatened to impose tariffs on Strait of Hormuz submarine cables, which are crucial for the region's digital economy.
After a sustained blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and leaving the world scrambling for oil and energy supplies, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) demanded “protection fees” from foreign cable operators to provide them with permits to maintain seabed infrastructure.
The narrow waterway, already a chokepoint for global oil shipments, is equally vital for the digital world. Several fibre-optic cables snake across the seabed of the strait, connecting countries from India and Southeast Asia to Europe via the Gulf states and Egypt.
Namita Singh reports:
Why Iran wants to charge tech companies for using Strait of Hormuz undersea cables
New UAE oil pipeline bypassing Hormuz 50 per cent complete ahead of 2027 start
21:49 , Maira Butt
The UAE's new crude pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz is about 50 per cent complete, the head of ADNOC said on Wednesday, adding that global oil flows may take at least four months to recover to 80 per cent of pre-conflict levels after the Iran war ends.
Tehran has largely kept the waterway critical for global oil and gas supplies shut to all ships other than its own since U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, sending energy prices and inflation surging and fanning fears of an economic downturn.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office revealed the existence of the new West-East Pipeline project last week, saying Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed directed state-owned oil giant ADNOC to fast-track its construction in order to double export capacity via the port of Fujairah by 2027.
"Today, it's already almost 50 per cent complete, and we are accelerating its delivery toward 2027," Sultan Al Jaber said during a live-streamed Atlantic Council event, among his most extensive public remarks since the war began.
Trump says US willing to wait a few days for 'right answer' from Iran
21:17 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump has said the United States was willing to wait a few days for the "right answer" from Iran.
It comes amid his repeated threats to resume the war on Iran if it does not agree to a deal.
The US leader also told reporters on Wednesday that achieving the mission’s objectives was more important than setting a timeline for its conclusion.
But Iran says it will not surrender if the US restarts attacks.
US test fires a dozen rockets near Mount Fuji in rapid ‘shoot and scoot’ drill
20:45 , Maira Butt
US Marines have conducted a test-firing of a dozen rockets from a mobile launcher at a range nestled in the foothills of Japan's iconic Mount Fuji.
The exercise aimed to maintain proficiency with a weapon system that is increasingly vital to the American military's arsenal.
The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a truck-mounted launcher designed for rapid deployment. Its "shoot and scoot" tactics allow it to quickly emerge from concealment, fire its rockets, and then relocate swiftly to evade counter-battery fire.
James C Reynolds reports:
US test fires a dozen rockets near Mount Fuji in rapid ‘shoot and scoot’ drill
Turkish president welcomes extension of Iran-US truce
20:24 , Alex Croft
Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan told Donald Trump he welcomed the extension of a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
In a call on Wednesday, Erdogan added that he believed contested issues between the sides could be resolved, according to the Turkish Presidency.
"During the meeting, our President stated that he viewed the decision to extend the ceasefire in the conflict zone in our region as a positive development (and) that he believed a reasonable solution to the disputed issues was possible," the presidency said in a statement.
Watch: Trump says he may give Iran "another big hit"
20:00 , Maira Butt
Trump: Netanyahu will do whatever I want him to
19:36 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump has claimed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will do whatever is asked for him, as he insisted the pair were on the same page over negotiations to end the Iran war.
"He's fine, he'll do whatever I want him to do,” the US president told reporters at an airbase in Maryland, according to American media.
“He's a very- very good man. He'll do whatever I want him to do. And he's a great guy," he added.
Trump’s comments followed a report by Israel’s Channel 12 of a “lengthy and dramatic” phone call about Trump’s decision to call off a return to military attacks.
'Do we go and finish it up?' asks Trump of Iran in familiar military threats
19:15 , Alex Croft
We’ve heard more military threats from Donald Trump, who once again has been warning he will resume strikes on Iran if a deal is not agreed.
The US president’s threats have become routine as officials in Washington and Tehran look to come together on a deal. How close he truly is to ordering fresh attacks on the country is is impossible to know.
"Everything's gone. Their navy's gone. Their air force is gone. Just about everything. The only question is, do we go and finish it up?” he said in a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
“Are they going to be signing a document? Let's see what happens," Trump added.
US military boards Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker
18:47 , Alex Croft
The US military boarded Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker M/T Celestial Sea in the Gulf of Oman, it announced on Wednesday.
The tanker was boarded after the military suspected it had violated a blockade, US Central Command said in a statement.
American forces released the ship, which was headed toward an Iranian port, after searching it and directing its crew to alter course.
Iran and US still discussing 14-point proposal, says Tehran
18:18 , Alex Croft
The exchange of messages between Iran and the United States has continued based on Tehran's 14-point proposal, Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson has said.
Pakistan's interior minister in Iran to help facilitate it, they added.
We’ll continue to bring you the latest from ongoing peace talks.
Group behind viral Trump-Epstein monument targets administration’s Iran policy in pop-up near Mar-a-Lago
18:00 , Maira Butt
An anonymous art collective behind a controversial statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has opened a new exhibition mocking the administration's foreign policy just miles from Mar-a-Lago.
The group, known as The Secret Handshake, has launched a weeklong pop-up exhibition at Mtn Space, a gallery in Lake Worth Beach. Running through Friday, May 22, the interactive display features a functional, retro-style arcade cabinet that parodies the Trump administration’s communications surrounding the conflict with Iran.
The piece, titled “Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell,” was originally unveiled as a three-cabinet installation at the D.C. War Memorial in Washington.
Creators of viral Trump-Epstein statue set up satirical arcade game near Mar-a-Lago
US and Israel planned to install Iran’s hardline former president as new leader after war: report
17:00 , Maira Butt
The United States and Israel entered the war in Iran with the aim of installing former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the country’s leader, according to reports.
The plan, developed by the Israelis with Mr Ahmadinejad’s consultation, fell apart following the outbreak of war, US officials briefed on the discussions told the New York Times.
President Donald Trump had been open about the US-Israeli plan to initiate “regime change” in Iran, replacing the old establishment with “someone from within”.
US and Israel ‘planned to install hardline former president as new leader of Iran’
Watch: US military enforces total Iran blockade, reroutes 89 commercial vessels
16:30 , Maira Butt
Demand soars for Israel's battle-tested weapons tech despite global criticism of its wartime conduc
16:00 , Maira Butt
When Israeli defense officials approached Massivit last year about using its unique 3D printers to make military drone parts, CEO Yossi Azarzar jumped at the chance.
Although the Israeli company had been producing large set pieces and other designs for the likes of Disney, DreamWorks and Netflix, the opportunity to instead quickly churn out large drone parts for the military was too good to ignore.
“I stopped thinking about Hollywood sets,” Azarzar said. “The entertainment industry is a nice customer — defense is a necessity."
Demand soars for Israel's battle-tested weapons tech despite global criticism of its wartime conduct
Satellite photos show Iran war oil spill on Persian Gulf island
15:31 , Maira Butt
A mysterious attack on an Iranian oil refinery during the Iran war caused an oil spill that affected a nearby Persian Gulf island that’s a protected breeding ground for wildlife, videos and satellite photos show.
The oil-soaked waves lapping onto Shidvar Island, an uninhabited island, represent yet another sign of the ecological damage wrought by the war.
Oily rain has also fallen on the Iranian capital, Tehran, after airstrikes targeted oil facilities there. Iranian attacks on ships passing through the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman also caused environmental damage.
Mobile phone footage shot on 9 April by an Iranian named Ehsan Jalali shows thick black smoke rising after the strike on an oil refinery on Lavan, an island just off mainland Iran near Shidvar.
This image from an Airbus Defence and Space's Pléiades Neo satellite shows a fire at an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island, left, and an oil slick in the waters of the Persian Gulf around Shidvar Island
The footage corresponds with known features of both islands and only was posted by Jalali to Instagram in the last few days as Iran’s theocratic government has shut off access to the wider internet for weeks.
Trump 'not in hurry' to end Iran war
15:07 , Maira Butt
President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he was in no hurry to bring the conflict with Iran to an end, saying achieving the mission’s objectives was more important than setting a timeline for its conclusion.
All 430 Gaza flotilla activists being taken to Israel
15:00 , Maira Butt
All 430 activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were en route to Israel after their vessels were intercepted at sea, Tel Aviv said.
Fifty Global Sumud Flotilla vessels set sail from Turkey last week in their latest bid to breach Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.
"Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives," an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said.
“This flotilla has once again proved to be nothing more than a PR stunt at the service of Hamas," he added.
Starmer under fire after UK quietly eases strict sanctions on Russian oil
14:30 , Maira Butt
British prime minister Keir Starmer has been accused of of “letting down” Ukraine after the UK quietly relaxed sanctions on Russian crude oil in a move which critics fear will be a major boost to Vladimir Putin.
The move was condemned by senior Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and branded “insane” by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch – coming at a time when Sir Keir’s energy secretary Ed Miliband is blocking the UK from drilling for its own oil and gas reserves.
The government previously said it would block Russian oil refined in third countries in a bid to “further restrict the flow of funds to the Kremlin”.
Athena Stavrou and David Maddox report:
Starmer under fire after UK quietly eases strict sanctions on Russian oil
In pictures: Aftermath of Israeli strikes on Lebanon
14:00 , Maira Butt
Watch: Vance says president Trump has asked team to 'aggressively negotiate with Iran'
13:30 , Maira Butt
Trump’s Iran War headache grows as new poll shows approval tanking
13:00 , Maira Butt
Republican voters are expressing increased dissatisfaction with Donald Trump’s economic stewardship, yet their support for him largely endures amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that approximately 60% of Republicans now approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.
This marks a notable decline from roughly 80 per cent in February, prior to the escalation of the war. The economic unease coincides with rising gasoline prices fueled by the Iran conflict, even as the US and Iran navigate towards a potential permanent ceasefire.
Read the full story below.
Trump’s Iran War headache grows as new poll shows approval tanking
Iran hits out at US accusations about Minab school as 'baseless fabrication and an appalling lie'
12:35 , Maira Butt
Iran has hit out at US Central Command claims that a school in Minab where at least 175 people died, mostly children, was an active missile base.
“The claim by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) that the targeted #Shajareh_Tayyebeh Elementary School in #Minab was located within a ‘missile launch facility’ is a baseless fabrication and an appalling lie,” wrote Esmail Baqaei, the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson in a post on X on Wednesday.
“This shameless distortion is a clear attempt to obscure the severe reality of the 28 February missile attacks, which resulted in the tragic slaughtering of over 170 school children and their teachers.
“Targetting an active educational institution during school hours constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and is a clear war crime. The civilian nature of the site cannot be obscured by technical misrepresentations. The military commanders and United States authorities responsible for ordering and executing this catastrophic assault must be held fully accountable under international law.”
Israel takes step toward snap election as Knesset votes to dissolve
12:10 , Maira Butt
Israel moved closer on Wednesday to a snap election after lawmakers gave an initial nod to dissolve parliament, with opinion polls showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lose the first national vote since the 2023 Hamas attacks.
Lawmakers voted almost unanimously for an early ballot in a preliminary reading of a bill to disband the 120-seat Knesset. If it receives final approval, a process that could take weeks, Israel could hold an election several weeks ahead of an October 27 deadline.
Netanyahu's own coalition submitted the bill to dissolve parliament after an ultra-Orthodox faction traditionally close to the Israeli leader accused him of failing to deliver on a promise to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service.
In Iran's capital, weapons demonstrations send a signal at home and abroad as threat of war remains
11:40 , Maira Butt
Iranian Revolutionary Guard members now regularly show the public in Tehran how to handle Kalashnikov-style assault rifles. Parades through the capital feature military vehicles mounted with belt-fed Soviet-era machine guns. And at one mass wedding, a ballistic missile, like the one that rained down cluster munitions on Israel, adorned the stage.
Weapons are now regularly brandished in Tehran, an increasing show of defiance as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens he could restart the war with Iran should negotiations break down and the Islamic Republic refuses to release its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
In Iran's capital, weapons demonstrations send a signal at home and abroad as threat of war remains
Watch: US military enforces total Iran blockade, reroutes 89 commercial vessels
11:10 , Maira Butt
Pakistani interior minister headed to Tehran to meet officials, says Tasnim agency
10:33 , Maira Butt
Pakistan’s interior minister is on his way to Tehran, Iran’s capital, to meet with officials, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
The trip will be a bid to continue discussions about the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel, which appear to have reached a deadlock.
Iran warns conflict will 'extend beyond the region' if war starts up again
10:18 , Maira Butt
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have warned that the war will extend “beyond the region” if the US and Israel launch attacks on Iran again in a statement released on Wednesday.
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon kill 19, including children and women, officials say
09:45 , Maira Butt
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed at least 19 people, including four women and three children, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said, the latest in near-daily attacks from both sides that have not stopped despite the fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the casualties or specific incidents, but said that between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon, it had targeted more than 25 sites of Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
The Israel-Hezbollah latest fighting began on March 2 with the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group firing rockets at Israel, two days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon kill 19, including children and women, officials say
Senate advances measure to end Iran war as Bill Cassidy flips vote
09:37 , Maira Butt
A growing number of Republicans defied President Donald Trump on Tuesday as the Senate advanced legislation seeking to compel his administration to withdraw from the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Since President Trump ordered an attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on war powers resolutions. These measures would require him to either gain congressional approval for the military engagement or withdraw troops. Republicans had previously managed to block such proposals.
However, a crucial shift occurred when Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, fresh from a primary election loss in which President Trump endorsed his opponent, switched his vote.
Senate advances measure to end Iran war as Bill Cassidy flips vote
UK quietly eases Russian oil sanctions as fuel costs surge amid Iran war
09:21 , Maira Butt
The UK government has been accused of leaving Ukrainians “very let down” after it relaxed its sanctions on Russian crude oil.
The UK had previously announced that it would block Russian oil refined in other nations in a bid to “further restrict the flow of funds to the Kremlin”.
But the government has now shifted its stance, announcing on Wednesday that it will permit the import of jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries amid surging fuel costs.
The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
UK quietly eases Russian oil sanctions as fuel costs surge
US forces continue 'total enforcement' of blockade against Iran
08:55 , Maira Butt
As peace talks appear deadlocked, the United States Central Command has reiterated that a blockade of Iranian ports continues.
It claimed that 89 commercial vessels have been redirected as a result.
“CENTCOM forces continue total enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran, stopping the flow of commerce into and out of Iranian ports,” read a statement on X on Wednesday.
“89 commercial vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance.”
CENTCOM forces continue total enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran, stopping the flow of commerce into and out of Iranian ports. 89 commercial vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance. pic.twitter.com/0MWwUvkDgS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 19, 2026
Analysis: Trump called a sudden, urgent press conference. What followed was a fever dream
08:34 , Maira Butt
Every president addresses a crisis differently. While mired deep in the Vietnam War escalation, Lyndon B. Johnson spoke about America being “guardians at the gate” with a sense of reluctant obligation. After 9/11, George W Bush spoke of terrorists shaking the foundations of buildings but never “shaking the foundation of America.”
Both of those leaders used their rhetoric to justify doing very bad, wrong things, but they at least did the very bad, wrong things while pretending to have a sense of decorum. People hearing their speeches felt that they were taking a situation seriously and attempting to make sense of it.
And then there’s Donald J Trump, who today — just as he issued more threats to Iran — called an impromptu press conference that played out more like the world’s worst fever dream. Was it about the Middle East, or Cuba, or perhaps developments with China after last week’s state visit with Xi Jinping? Like hell it was! It was, of course, about the ballroom.
Holly Baxter reports:
Trump called a sudden, urgent press conference. What followed was a fever dream
South Korea accuses Israel of ‘abducting’ citizens
08:07 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
South Korean president Lee Jae Myung has criticised Israel this morning after Tel Aviv intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla vessels carrying South Korean nationals and took them to Israel.
Lee told his cabinet today that Israel’s actions were “way out of line” and questioned whether South Korea could allow Tel Aviv to arrest Koreans without protest.
All 430 Gaza flotilla activists being taken to Israel
07:46 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
All 430 activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were en route to Israel after their vessels were intercepted at sea, Tel Aviv said.
Fifty Global Sumud Flotilla vessels set sail from Turkey last week in their latest bid to breach Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.
"Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives," an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said.
“This flotilla has once again proved to be nothing more than a PR stunt at the service of Hamas," he added.
Majority of voters say Trump is using his office for personal gain
07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A majority of voters have said Donald Trump is using his office for personal gain, as the president promised that “America is thriving.”
In typical fashion, Trump boasted about what he called the “hottest country anywhere in the world” under his leadership at the White House Congressional Picnic Tuesday night, which included a food tent and Ferris wheel on the South Lawn.
“America is thriving, America is winning, and America is respected, perhaps like it has never been respected before,” he told members of Congress as their constituents deal with soaring gas prices and high grocery bills.
More here.
Majority of voters say Trump is using his office for personal gain
Satellite photos show Iran war oil spill on Persian Gulf island
07:17 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A mysterious attack on an Iranian oil refinery during the Iran war caused an oil spill that affected a nearby Persian Gulf island that’s a protected breeding ground for wildlife, videos and satellite photos show.
The oil-soaked waves lapping onto Shidvar Island, an uninhabited island, represent yet another sign of the ecological damage wrought by the war.
Oily rain has also fallen on the Iranian capital, Tehran, after airstrikes targeted oil facilities there. Iranian attacks on ships passing through the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman also caused environmental damage.
Mobile phone footage shot on 9 April by an Iranian named Ehsan Jalali shows thick black smoke rising after the strike on an oil refinery on Lavan, an island just off mainland Iran near Shidvar.
The footage corresponds with known features of both islands and only was posted by Jalali to Instagram in the last few days as Iran’s theocratic government has shut off access to the wider internet for weeks.
India vows to keep purchasing Russian oil, US ‘waiver or no waiver’
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
India will continue purchasing Russian crude oil irrespective of whether the US extends sanctions waiver, a senior official said on Monday.
"Regarding the American waiver on Russia, I would like to emphasise that we have been purchasing from Russia earlier, before waiver also, during waiver also, and now also," Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in India's Petroleum Ministry, told reporters.
"It is basically the commercial sense which should be there for us to purchase. There is no shortage of crude. Whatever waiver or no waiver, it will not affect," she said.
More here.
India vows to keep purchasing Russian oil, US ‘waiver or no waiver’
South Korean supertanker attempts to cross Hormuz
06:52 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A South Korean-flagged supertanker is attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz this morning, ship tracking data showed.
The Universal Winner, carrying Kuwaiti crude, began signaling this morning that it was in the strait.
The very large crude carrier is owned by HMM Co. and was signaling Ulsan as its destination, Bloomberg reported.
China's Xi calls for end of hostilities in Middle East
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Chinese president Xi Jinping has called for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East and urged a "comprehensive" ceasefire during his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
“A comprehensive ceasefire is of utmost urgency, resuming hostilities is even more inadvisable and maintaining negotiations is particularly important,” Xi told Putin, according to Xinhua.
Admiral says help from UK in Strait of Hormuz ‘appreciated at appropriate time’
06:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Help from Britain and other European allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz “would be appreciated at the appropriate time”, a top US commander has said.
Admiral Brad Cooper, who heads American forces in the Middle East, made his comments as he was pressed over a proposed UK and France-led defensive mission to safeguard shipping in the strategic waterway once the Iran conflict is over.
While he made clear its operation was a matter for the respective governments, he told Congress there had been talks at a military level in relation to planning.
Admiral Cooper appeared before a hearing on Capitol Hill as Donald Trump said he had given Tehran “a limited period of time” to reach a deal to end the war after calling off fresh strikes in the face of “serious negotiations”.
Repeating Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, the US president said: “Whether it’s popular or not popular, I have to do it – because I’m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch. It’s not going to happen.”
Group behind viral Trump-Epstein monument targets administration’s Iran policy
05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
An anonymous art collective behind a controversial statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has opened a new exhibition mocking the administration's foreign policy just miles from Mar-a-Lago.
The group, known as The Secret Handshake, has launched a weeklong pop-up exhibition at Mtn Space, a gallery in Lake Worth Beach. Running through Friday, the interactive display features a functional, retro-style arcade cabinet that parodies the Trump administration’s communications surrounding the conflict with Iran.
The piece, titled “Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell,” was originally unveiled as a three-cabinet installation at the D.C. War Memorial in Washington.
More here.
Creators of viral Trump-Epstein statue set up satirical arcade game near Mar-a-Lago
Two Chinese tankers carrying Iraqi crude exit Strait of Hormuz
05:32 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Two Chinese tankers laden with oil exited the Strait of Hormuz this morning, shipping data showed, brightening hopes that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran may soon be resolved.
The Chinese ships, among a handful of supertankers carrying Iraqi crude, exiting the Gulf this month, passed through the narrow strait carrying around 4 million barrels of crude, according to data from LSEG and Kpler.
Oil prices eased on the positive signals from the White House and in the Gulf, with Brent crude falling to as low as $110.16 a barrel, before regaining much of its losses.
Watch: UN security council discusses attack on UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant
05:17 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran warns of 'many more surprises' if US renews attack
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Tehran has gained military knowledge from previous attacks and a renewed war will "feature many more surprises".
"Months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions," he said, referring to the downing of an American F-35 fighter jet.
"With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises," he added.
Earthquake strikes war-torn Iran
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck near Southern Iran this morning, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
The quake was at a depth of 14km, EMSC said.
The quake struck parts of Hormozgan province and was felt by residents of Qeshm and Hormoz cities, as well as in rural areas in Bandar Abbas. Fars news said the epicentre was near Bandar Laft at a depth of 20km.
The director general of crisis management at the Hormozgan governorate told Iranian media that no damage had been reported so far from the earthquake, but assessments were ongoing.
Oil prices fall to $110 after Trump says war will end 'very quickly
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
'Oil prices eased today after president Donald Trump again asserted the war with Iran will end "very quickly", though investors remain wary about the outcome of peace talks amid continued disruptions to Middle East supply from the conflict.
Brent crude oil futures fell 45 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $110.83 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 27 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $103.88.
Senate advances measure to end Iran war
04:21 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A growing number of Republicans defied president Donald Trump as the Senate advanced legislation seeking to compel his administration to withdraw from the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Since President Trump ordered an attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on war powers resolutions. These measures would require him to either gain congressional approval for the military engagement or withdraw troops. Republicans had previously managed to block such proposals.
However, a crucial shift occurred when Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, fresh from a primary election loss in which President Trump endorsed his opponent, switched his vote.
More here.
Senate advances measure to end Iran war as Bill Cassidy flips vote
Russia ready to 'help with US-Iran talks'
04:18 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russia's deputy foreign minister has claimed that Moscow was ready to help out with talks between the US and Iran over their ongoing conflict.
"Russia is ready to provide all possible assistance in resolving this conflict, and the parties involved are well aware of this," Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by TASS as saying.
Trump says he was 'an hour away' from launching strikes
04:12 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Donald Trump has expressed his hopes that the Iran conflict will not continue but said that the US may have to order “another big hit” on the Islamic Republic.
The US president said he was “an hour away” from launching fresh attacks before allies in the Middle East asked him to postpone them, due to the possibility of a peace deal being agreed.
He said that America’s decision would be known “very soon”.
“I hope we don't have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit... I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon,” he told reporters.
Trump says Iran war will end 'very quickly'
04:12 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Donald Trump has said that the Iran war will end “very quickly” while attending a Congressional picnic Tuesday night, Washington time.
“We're blowing everything away, and we're going to end that war very quickly. They want to make a deal so badly, they're tired of this,” he said of the Iranians.
He reassured Americans struggling with high gas prices that they will see “oil prices plummet.”
“They're going to come down. There's so much oil out there, they're going to come plummeting down,” he said.
Iran war briefing:
04:11 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
- President Donald Trump has said that the Iran war will end “very quickly” and that Tehran wanted to "make a deal so badly, they're tired of this"
- Trump also claimed that he was "an hour away" from launching fresh strikes on Iran before his Gulf allies asked him to postpone them
- Russia's deputy foreign ministry has offered Moscow's help with talks between the US and Iran over their ongoing military conflict
- Oil prices eased on Wednesday as Brent crude oil futures fell 45 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $110.83 a barrel. The US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 27 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $103.88
