US President Archives

Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict

August 4, 2026 by Newsdesk

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 3, 2026 by Newsdesk

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

July 15, 2026 by Newsdesk

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

July 13, 2026 by Newsdesk

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

July 8, 2026 by Newsdesk

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

June 17, 2026 by Newsdesk

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

June 10, 2026 by Newsdesk

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.

President Trump announces end of Strait of Hormuz blockade

May 29, 2026 by Newsdesk

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been lifted, while insisting that Iran must agree never to possess nuclear weapons or an atomic bomb.

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz should be fully reopened immediately and remain free of tolls or restrictions to ensure uninterrupted maritime traffic.

The US president stated that any naval mines present in the sea would be eliminated, claiming that American forces had already destroyed several mines using advanced minesweeper technology, while Iran would remove or destroy the remaining explosives.

Trump added that ships delayed due to the blockade could now resume passage through the strategic waterway.

Discussing Iran’s nuclear program, Trump claimed that Iranian nuclear material was buried deep beneath collapsed mountains following B-2 bomber strikes carried out 11 months ago.

He said the United States would extract the Iranian nuclear residue from underground and claimed that both the U.S. and China possess the technical capability to carry out the operation.

According to Trump, the process would be conducted in coordination with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after which the recovered nuclear material would be destroyed.

Trump hints at positive outcome in Iran negotiations

May 25, 2026 by Newsdesk

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said that a proposed agreement with Iran has not yet been finalized, but expressed confidence that positive news will emerge, stating that he does not make “bad deals.”

In an interview with ABC News, Trump said the potential deal with Iran would be “completely different” from the agreement reached during former President Barack Obama’s administration.

He said that no one has seen the details of the agreement yet and urged the public not to rely on criticism from those who are not fully informed.

The US president added that previous leadership should have resolved the issue years ago, noting that ongoing negotiations are being conducted in an organized and constructive manner, with the outcome depending on Iran’s decisions.

Trump emphasized that any final agreement must serve U.S. interests and contribute to regional stability.

According to reports, he also shared an image on social media showing a missile mounted under a military aircraft, which drew attention amid ongoing tensions and negotiations with Iran.

Trump Jr wedding attendance by Trump Jruncertain

May 22, 2026 by Newsdesk

WASHINGTON: Attendance by US President Donald Trump at his son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding remains uncertain, according to American media reports.

The wedding is expected to take place this week on a small island in the Bahamas and will be attended only by close family members and a few friends.

Sources said President Trump is not expected to attend the ceremony.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, President Trump said his son wanted him to be present at the wedding, but current circumstances may prevent his attendance.

He added that his focus is currently on major national and international issues, including Iran, making it difficult for him to participate in the private family event.