US President Archives

Trump calls Shehbaz Sharif a ‘terrific man’ in UN speech

September 22, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

UNITED NATIONS: US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a “terrific man” during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, while again claiming credit for helping end the 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India.

Trump said Sharif had thanked him for his role in helping halt the fighting and credited him with saving 30 million lives. Trump has repeatedly made similar claims about his role in de-escalating the conflict.

“I saved 30 million lives,” Trump said, recounting what he described as Sharif’s comments following the cease-fire. He also praised Pakistan as a “great country” and described Sharif as a “terrific man.”

Trump said he had helped bring an end to eight conflicts and that leaders of the countries involved had thanked him for his efforts.

The U.S. president also discussed the conflict in Gaza, saying efforts to end the fighting had saved civilian lives and resulted in the release of hostages.

He said 30 countries had joined what he referred to as the Gaza Peace Board and thanked the U.N. Security Council for supporting the initiative.

Turning to the war between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said thousands of people were being killed each month and pledged to work toward resolving the conflict.

Trump’s remarks came as Sharif was in New York for the 81st U.N. General Assembly. The Pakistani prime minister is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Sept. 25, according to Pakistan’s government.

Trump warns he could ‘annihilate’ Iran if no deal is reached

September 22, 2026 by World Desk

UNITED NATIONS: US President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that he could “annihilate” Iran if Tehran does not reach a peace agreement with Washington, while saying he believes a deal could be reached after the U.S. midterm elections.

Addressing the U.N. General Assembly, Trump said he faced a major decision over whether to allow Iran to rebuild or destroy the Islamic Republic to prevent it from threatening other countries.

Trump said his primary objective was to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He accused Tehran of supporting terrorism and said Iran had previously sought to exert influence across the Middle East.

The U.S. president said he believed Iran was waiting to see the outcome of the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections before deciding whether to reach an agreement with Washington. He said he expected a deal could be reached after the elections.

Trump also defended his administration’s actions against Iran and argued that the conflict had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. His remarks came as the war with Iran remained a central issue at the U.N. gathering.

He said the United States was stronger than in the past and highlighted what he described as gains in the economy, border security and crime reduction.

Trump also criticized international institutions, including the International Criminal Court, saying the United States would not accept international jurisdiction over its citizens or military personnel. He called on countries that are members of the ICC to withdraw from the court.

The president also referred to the conflict between Pakistan and India, citing his administration’s role in efforts to end the fighting.

Trump’s speech came amid continuing diplomatic efforts surrounding the Iran conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington was open to discussions with Iranian representatives at the U.N., although no meeting had been scheduled.

Trump approval rating falls to career-low 33%, Reuters poll finds

September 1, 2026 by World Desk

US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33%, its lowest level of his political career, according to a Reuters poll.

The survey found that 36% of independent voters said they would vote for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections, compared with 22% who said they would support Republican candidates.

The poll indicated that the war with Iran and Trump’s economic policies were among the main factors contributing to the decline in his approval rating.

Meanwhile, 71% of Americans said they were dissatisfied with Trump’s handling of inflation and the rising cost of everyday expenses.

Trump’s declining popularity ahead of the November midterm elections has welcomed news for Democrats, who are seeking to capitalize on growing public dissatisfaction with the administration.

Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict

August 13, 2026August 4, 2026 by World Desk

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

August 13, 2026August 3, 2026 by World Desk

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 recounts shift in thinking on Iran regime change

August 13, 2026July 15, 2026 by World Desk

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 announces new Strait of Hormuz security policy

August 13, 2026July 13, 2026 by World Desk

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

August 13, 2026July 8, 2026 by World Desk

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.

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

August 13, 2026June 17, 2026 by World Desk

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.

“I’m the boss.”

President Trump walked into the first session on the final day of the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, and dropped the line as cameras were rolling.

Fellow world leaders laughed as the moment cut through a summit focused on Ukraine, Iran, trade and global… pic.twitter.com/iHpxDMB4tc
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 17, 2026

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.

US considering new strikes on Iran infrastructure

August 13, 2026June 10, 2026 by World Desk

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said he is considering new strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, amid ongoing tensions with Tehran.

According to comments cited by Fox News in a telephone interview, Trump suggested that further military action could be ordered if Iran continues to delay reaching an agreement.

He also posted on his Truth Social platform that Iran’s military had been “completely devastated,” claiming that key branches such as its navy and air force were effectively destroyed.

Trump further said Iran “only talks and does nothing,” describing the country as having been “defeated” and warning that it would “pay the price” for delaying negotiations on what he called a potentially beneficial deal.

Iranian officials have not yet publicly responded to the latest remarks.

Earlier, Iran’s military has claimed it carried out retaliatory operations targeting multiple US military bases and installations across the region following recent American strikes.

In a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-linked Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, Iran said the actions were conducted in response to “US aggression” and warned of a stronger reaction if attacks continue.

Iranian officials claimed that several US positions in the region were targeted, including alleged drone and missile strikes on military sites. They said a telecommunications tower and water tanks in southern Iran’s Sirik area were also damaged in earlier strikes.

The IRGC further claimed that US Fifth Fleet positions in Bahrain were hit by drones, while separate reports in Iranian and Russian media suggested additional attacks on US installations, including bases in Jordan and Kuwait. These claims have not been independently verified.

US and regional authorities have not yet confirmed most of the reported attacks.

Kuwaiti military officials said their air defense systems were actively responding to threats and monitoring national airspace amid heightened tensions.

The developments come as escalating hostilities in the Middle East raise international concern, with global actors urging restraint and de-escalation to avoid further conflict.