Washington, May 28 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said he will not rush into a deal with Iran because of midterm political concerns, warning that Washington remained prepared to resume military action if ongoing negotiations fail to produce an agreement favoured by the United States.Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday (local time), Trump said Iran had hoped political pressure tied to the upcoming midterm elections would weaken his negotiating position.”They th…
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Tehran, May 28 (IANS) The US military carried out fresh overnight strikes in Iran, targeting a military site that Washington said posed a threat to US forces and commercial vessels in the region, multiple US media outlets reported.US forces also intercepted drones launched from Iran, according to CBS News, citing a US official.The official described the strikes as defensive, asserting the US-Iran ceasefire is still considered to be holding, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting CBS News. Meanwhile…
Tehran, May 11 (IANS) Iran’s latest draft proposal for talks with the United States calls for an immediate cessation of conflict on all fronts, a guarantee for no more “aggression” against Iran, and the lifting of US sanctions and naval blockade, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.”The proposal highlights the need to immediately end the war, provide guarantees for the non-repetition of the aggression against Iran, and certain other issues within a political agreement,” Tasnim cited an…
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 1 (IANS) President Donald Trump on Friday said that negotiations with the Iranians remain uncertain, warning he is “not satisfied” with current proposals while keeping both diplomacy and military action on the table. “They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters before departing on Marine One.He described Iran’s leadership as fragmented and unable to reach a consensus. “They all want to make a deal, bu…
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) The US Navy’s blockade of Iran has built economic pressure on Tehran that continues even though the ceasefire has led to a temporary pause in fighting, according to a new report.The blockade has also hit China’s purchases of Iran’s oil, at discounted prices, deals for which were being carried out through a covert financial system and a fleet of ghost tankers.According to an article in Sky News Australia, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has sustained …
Washington, April 30 (IANS) The White House is asking other countries to join a US-led international coalition aimed at enabling ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, American media has reported. The so-called “Maritime Freedom Construct” (MFC) was spelt out in an internal State Department cable sent to US embassies on Tuesday, urging US diplomats to press foreign governments into signing up, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on Wednesday (local time).The MFC would be a joint e…
Washington, April 25 (IANS) US Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Jonathan Burke has told lawmakers that sanctions remain a central tool to cut off adversaries from the American financial system and disrupt illicit activity.“Sanctions can be useful to isolate those sanctions targets and make sure they don’t have access to the US financial system,” Burke told lawmakers.Testifying before a House subcommittee, Burke said sanctions serve both as a direct enforcement tool and …
Washington, April 23 (IANS) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended a temporary sanctions waiver affecting Russian oil, saying it helped prevent a sharper spike in global prices, even as Democrats warned it could boost Moscow’s war finances and keep fuel costs high.Testifying before a Senate panel, Bessent said the move was aimed at stabilising supply during a volatile period.“Treasury was able to create the more than 250 million barrels on the water,” he said.He added that without th…
Tehran, April 12 (IANS) Iran has taken a firm stance amid ongoing negotiations with the US, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei declaring that the country “has not forgotten and will not forget” past breaches of promise by the United States, underscoring deep mistrust even as talks continue in Islamabad.In a detailed post on X, Baqaei stated, “Diplomacy for us is the continuation of the sacred jihad of the defenders of the Iranian land. We have not forgotten and will not forg…