Washington, May 6 (IANS) The United States has launched a major naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz to escort stranded commercial vessels and restore shipping through one of the world’s most critical oil routes, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing Iran of illegally “holding the global economy hostage”.Speaking at the White House on Monday, Rubio said President Donald Trump had authorised “Project Freedom” to guide trapped civilian ships to safety after weeks of escalating …
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Washington, May 6 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped up pressure on China and Russia over the Strait of Hormuz crisis, warning that countries helping Iran evade sanctions could face economic consequences from the United States.Speaking during a White House briefing, Rubio said the Trump administration was preparing a renewed push at the United Nations while also warning Beijing that its economic interests were being harmed by Iran’s actions in the Gulf.“We’re going to the UN,…
Washington, May 6 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran’s actions could trigger broader economic instability as the increasing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and fears of prolonged disruption to one of the world’s busiest energy corridors are increasing pressure on global oil markets.At the White House news conference , Rubio said Iran’s attempts to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz threatened fuel supplies, global trade and international shipping lanes re…
Washington, May 6 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran without congressional approval, calling the War Powers Act “100 per cent unconstitutional”.The remarks came during a wide-ranging White House briefing on Tuesday in which Rubio defended the administration’s military response in the Strait of Hormuz, broader pressure on Iran and Washington’s Middle East strategy.“The War Powers Act is uncon…
Washington, May 6 (IANS) The United States has proposed a UN Security Council resolution accusing Iran of threatening global shipping and destabilising one of the world’s most critical energy routes, the Strait of Hormuz. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the Trump administration, working with key Gulf allies, had drafted the resolution to defend freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway through which a major share of global oil shipments passes.”The Islamic Republic o…
Washington, April 28 (IANS) US President Donald Trump is not satisfied with Iran’s latest peace proposal, which seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the US naval blockade of Iran’s ports, while leaving its nuclear program for later negotiations, US media reported, citing several White House officials. The president discussed Iran’s proposal with his top national security officials at a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Monday afternoon, said the reports.One of the people atten…
Washington, April 27 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Monday said internal divisions within Iran’s leadership remain the biggest obstacle to any agreement with Washington, even as he indicated Tehran may be under growing pressure to strike a deal. In an interview with Fox News’ Trey Yingst on Monday, Rubio described Iran’s power structure as deeply fragmented, complicating negotiations and limiting what its officials can commit to at the table.“Other than the fact that the …
New York, April 25 (IANS) Iran and the US appeared to be readying for communicating again, if at arm’s length and with secondary-level interlocutors, as a team from Tehran arrived in Pakistan and a US group was set to head there on Saturday. After the second round of talks that was to have taken place this week or over last weekend didn’t take off because Iran refused to join, there has been some delicate manoeuvres by Tehran to reopen contacts.As the stalemate continues, Tehran has closed the S…
Washington, April 24 (IANS) The United States President Donald Trump will dispatch special envoys to Pakistan to engage with Iran, following what White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described as signs of progress, even as she highlighted diplomatic gains in the Middle East. Leavitt said the president has “decided to dispatch special Envoy Woff and Jared Kushner back to Islamabad,” adding that “the Iranians wanna talk, they wanna talk in person.”“So Steve and Jared will b…
Jerusalem, April 20 (IANS) Israeli and Lebanese officials will meet on Thursday for a second round of peace talks, an Israeli official confirmed on Monday. The two sides will meet in Washington for direct talks, the official said on condition of anonymity, without providing further details, reports indicated.”The second round of direct talks between Israel’s Ambassador in Washington, Yechiel Leiter and his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, will take place on Thursday,” an Israeli offi…