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Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict

Trump voices

WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump said he is concerned about the large profits oil companies are making amid the conflict with Iran, as rising energy prices continue to fuel inflation and create political challenges ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said oil companies were making “a lot of money” from the surge in crude prices and acknowledged that he was uncomfortable with the situation despite being a strong supporter of free-market principles.

US media reported that Trump hopes oil prices will decline before the November midterm elections, with recent political surveys indicating that Democrats could make gains if inflation remains elevated.

The conflict involving Iran has driven global oil prices sharply higher, boosting earnings across the energy sector. On Tuesday, Saudi Aramco reported a 33% increase in second-quarter profit, reflecting the impact of stronger crude prices.

Higher fuel costs have also weighed on American consumers. Since the outbreak of the conflict, the average price of gasoline in the United States has risen by about 37%, adding to inflationary pressures and increasing the political stakes for the White House.

Trump says Gulf States backed diplomatic path with Iran

Trump says

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he canceled plans for a major military strike on Iran after appeals from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran, saying he preferred diplomacy over conflict.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he decided to halt the operation following requests from countries in the region, adding that the planned attack would have been the largest against Iran since World War II.

“I don’t want to kill people. My preference is to reach an agreement,” Trump said, adding that several U.S. allies in the Middle East also favor a diplomatic solution rather than military action.

The US president said negotiations with Iran were scheduled to begin later in the day and that contacts were taking place under an agreed negotiating framework.

Trump also said an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz was already in place and expressed confidence that a deal on Iran’s nuclear program could also be reached.

He warned, however, that if the negotiations fail, tensions in the region could escalate further.

Trump prepares new import tariffs on dozens of countries this week

Trump prepares

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is preparing to impose new import tariffs on dozens of countries this week as a temporary 10% global tariff is set to expire, according to a report by a British newspaper.

The report said the temporary tariff is due to lapse on Friday, after which the administration could implement a new round of import duties. Most countries are expected to remain subject to the existing 10% tariff initially, while the Trump administration is also working to establish the legal basis for imposing higher tariff rates.

The move follows the administration’s decision a day earlier to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian automobiles and other goods, with the measure scheduled to take effect next month.

The administration’s latest tariff plans come months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 20, 2026, that Trump’s permanent tariff regime was unconstitutional.

The court specifically struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), finding that Congress had not granted the president authority under the law to impose such duties.

Following that ruling, Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act to implement a temporary 15% global tariff. Under the statute, such tariffs may remain in effect for only 150 days, with the current authority set to expire on July 24, 2026.

The administration is now seeking alternative legal mechanisms to maintain or expand its tariff policy as the temporary authority nears its expiration.

Trump shares poll showing majority support for US-Iran peace agreement

Trump shares

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has shared the results of a recent opinion poll indicating that a majority of American voters support a peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict between the United States and Iran.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump highlighted survey findings showing that 60% of registered voters support a peace agreement with Iran, while 23% oppose it and 15% expressed no opinion.

Among likely voters, 62% said they support the agreement, 24% opposed it, and 13% said they were undecided, according to the poll shared by the president.

The survey asked respondents whether they supported or opposed a peace agreement to end the war with Iran. According to the poll summary, the proposed agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing economic sanctions on Iran, allowing two months of additional negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, and reaffirming that Iran would not develop or acquire nuclear weapons.

Trump did not provide additional comment beyond sharing the poll results. The White House has not independently released further details regarding the proposed agreement or the methodology of the survey.

Trump recounts shift in thinking on Iran regime change

Trump recounts

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he initially believed the conflict with Iran could lead to a change in the country’s government but later concluded that such an outcome was unlikely.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he thought at the outset of the conflict that Iran’s government could be overthrown, adding that the situation might have been different if anti-government protesters had been armed.

Trump said he underestimated the extent to which Iranian authorities were prepared to use force to maintain control. He also referenced his earlier public statements urging Iranians to oppose their government, before later acknowledging that government opponents lacked the means to confront state security forces.

The president further claimed that strikes targeting senior Iranian officials had effectively weakened the country’s leadership, although Iran’s governing system remained in place.

Separately, Israeli media reported that Israel had attempted to establish contact with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as part of broader efforts related to potential political change in Iran, though those reported efforts were unsuccessful.

Trump also alleged that Kurdish fighters in Iraq retained weapons that he claimed had been intended for operations against Iranian government forces. The claims have not been independently verified, and no supporting evidence was provided during the interview.

Trump urges senate to pass crypto clarity act to keep US ahead of China

Trump urges

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump urged the US Senate to pass the Clarity Act, saying the proposed cryptocurrency legislation is essential to maintaining America’s technological and financial edge over China.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called on senators to approve the bill, saying it would serve as a tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom he described as a strong supporter.

Trump argued that China and other countries are seeking to dominate the cryptocurrency industry and are also competing aggressively with the United States in the field of artificial intelligence.

“We must not let China succeed in either of these sectors,” Trump said, urging lawmakers to move the legislation forward.

The appeal comes after the death of Graham, a Republican ally of Trump, which could complicate the bill’s prospects in the Senate by reducing the Republican majority. The legislation would require 60 votes to pass the Senate before it could become law.

The Clarity Act is among the first comprehensive proposals to establish a federal regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry. It has received support from major U.S. crypto companies and the White House, with backers arguing that clear regulations would strengthen investor confidence and encourage further investment.

Some Democratic lawmakers, however, have called for stricter ethics provisions in the bill, including additional restrictions on elected officials, arguing that public officeholders should face tighter oversight over their involvement in digital assets.

Trump announces new Strait of Hormuz security policy

Trump announces

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said that the United States would assume responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz and seek compensation by imposing a 20% transit fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway, while reinstating restrictions targeting Iranian shipping.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States would become the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that countries benefiting from the route should help pay for its protection.

Trump accused Iran of violating a previous agreement and said Washington would restore what he described as an Iranian shipping blockade.

Under the proposed policy, he said, only Iranian vessels and their customers would be barred from using the strait, while ships from all other countries would continue to enjoy free passage.

In a subsequent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open “with or without Iran” and reiterated that the United States would protect the vital maritime corridor. He also said all cargo transiting the waterway would be subject to a 20% fee to help cover the costs of providing maritime security.

Trump further claimed that Iran’s naval, air and missile capabilities had been severely degraded in recent hostilities, warning that Tehran would face serious consequences for violating agreements.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil exports. Any changes to access or security arrangements could have major implications for international energy markets and global trade.

Trump warns Iran of more military strikes

Trump warns

ANKARA:US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened fresh military strikes against Iran, saying the United States could launch another attack “tonight” while renewing his insistence that Tehran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.

Speaking alongside Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a news conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the United States had carried out heavy strikes against Iran the previous night and warned that additional military action remained possible.

Trump accused Iran of deception during nuclear talks, saying Tehran had repeatedly misled U.S. negotiators.

He also criticized the nuclear agreement reached under former President Barack Obama, calling it a bad deal and repeating his longstanding claim that it provided Iran with significant financial benefits.

The US president said Washington’s objective remained preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding that he believed progress had been made toward that goal.

Trump also accused Iranian leaders of making contradictory public statements after negotiations, alleging they denied discussions that had taken place.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Donald Trump criticizes Italian PM Meloni in fresh social media post

Donald Trump

WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump has once again drawn attention after issuing sharp and sarcastic remarks targeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in comments that some global leaders have described as inappropriate.

In a social media post, Trump claimed that during the G7 summit in France, Meloni repeatedly sought to take photos with him. He suggested that declining popularity in Italy was pushing her to seek closer ties with the United States.

He also alleged that Meloni did not support the U.S. position on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and further claimed that Italy refused to allow U.S. forces access to its airbases and runways, creating logistical challenges for military operations.

Trump additionally criticized NATO, arguing that the alliance did not fully support the United States despite Washington’s substantial financial contributions to European defense.

He further asserted that the United States had already “defeated Iran militarily” and suggested that Meloni was now seeking renewed engagement with Washington for domestic political gain.

Concluding his post, Trump wrote a blunt message: “It’s too late now. Thank you, no.”

Trump jokes about being ‘Boss’ after arriving late at G7 summit

Trump jokes

PARIS: US President Donald Trump joked about being the “boss” after arriving late to a meeting with world leaders during the G7 summit in France, adopting a lighthearted tone as he greeted journalists at the venue.

As he arrived at the summit site, Trump quipped to reporters, “Would you like to be in the meeting? I don’t mind,” drawing attention for his informal remarks.

The meeting came at a time when G7 leaders expressed support for a potential peace agreement with Iran, describing it as a significant diplomatic development.

In a joint statement, the leaders praised Trump’s role in advancing negotiations, calling the agreement a major step forward.

The G7 leaders said the proposed deal represents a historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and emphasized the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement.