THE LATEST | CANADANew York Times: President Trump asserted the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran was “nearing completion” during a prime-time address on Wednesday, even as he offered no clear path out of the war and committed to bombing the nation “back to the Stone Ages where they belong.”
Mr. Trump did not make any revealing announcements in the speech. Instead, he described the military action against Iran as an overwhelming success and seemingly pleaded for concerned Americans uneasy about its costs and open-ended timeline to “keep this conflict in perspective.”…
Trump Tries to Sell Americans on War in Iran
President Trump sought to reassure skeptical Americans that the war in Iran is in the national interest, arguing that the operation was necessary to decimate a regime threatening the U.S. and insisting that economic pain would be short-lived.
In a 20-minute address from the White House, his most direct sales pitch to the nation since the war began a month ago, Trump said the U.S. had succeeded on the battlefield and declared that U.S. military objectives would be completed “very shortly.”…
Trump Stirs Market, Political Angst With Vague Timeline for Iran
The president also did not present any new arguments or explanations for the war, instead reiterating his desire to destroy Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities. Likewise, there was no concrete plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy thoroughfare. While he said diplomatic discussions continue, he shared no breakthroughs on ending the conflict…
Iran Is Skeptical About Diplomacy for Now, U.S. Intelligence Says
The assessments say the Iranian government believes it is in a strong position in the war and does not have to accede to America’s diplomatic demands, the officials said. And while Iran is willing to keep channels open, they said, it does not trust the United States and does not think President Trump is serious about negotiations…
Iran denies Trump’s claim that it wants a ceasefire
“Iran’s New Regime President,” he wrote on Truth Social, apparently referring to Masoud Pezeshkian, though he has had the job since 2024 and there has been no regime change in Iran, “much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!”
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A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry called Trump’s claim “false and baseless.”…
Trump threatened to stop weapons for Ukraine unless Europe joined Hormuz coalition
Three officials familiar with the discussions said that Trump responded by threatening to stop supplies to Purl, Nato’s weapons procurement initiative for Ukraine funded by European countries.
As a result, and at the urging of Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, a group of countries including key alliance members France, Germany and the UK issued a hastily agreed statement on March 19 which said: “We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait [of Hormuz].”…
Trump Raises NATO Withdrawal as Allies Push Back on Iran War
President Trump has raised with his advisers the possibility of withdrawing from NATO if allies don’t help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials said, as growing tensions with Europeans threaten the alliance that has been the foundation of the post-World War II order…
Risky commando plan to seize Iran’s uranium came at Trump’s request
A plan briefed to Trump last week to insert ground forces to remove Iran’s nuclear material would be a very difficult endeavor of a type never before attempted in wartime…
US, Israel Continue Attacks on Iran’s Civilian Infrastructure
Airstrikes are hitting residential areas and industrial facilities, according to reports from inside Iran…
Keir Starmer signals major UK pivot towards EU after Donald Trump’s taunts
The prime minister on Wednesday said building stronger economic and defence ties with Europe would be at the centre of an EU-UK summit in Brussels in the summer, describing the move as “in our long-term national interest”…
Shutting Hormuz is a template for China in Taiwan
Beijing will seek to replicate Tehran’s playbook in the Taiwan Strait — and the global economic impact could be even worse…
Trump Initially Laid Out Five Goals for the Iran War. Here’s Where They Stand.
The United States and Israel have done significant damage to Iran’s military capabilities. But Iran still fires missiles, has nuclear material and coordinates with militias in the region…
Trump learns that not everyone has a price
The great cynic did not expect Iran to fight out of conviction…
One battle after another: Netanyahu’s new security doctrine
In this vision, which some analysts describe as a fledgling “Netanyahu doctrine”, Israel must launch what it describes as “pre-emptive” war against any perceived threats; seize territory from neighbours to create “buffer zones” between enemies and its citizens; and deploy constant force as the only real guarantor of security…
More:
U.A.E. Is Revoking Visas, Stranding Iranian Residents Abroad in a Widening Crackdown
America’s Best New Weapon in Iran Is a Drone Inspired by Iran
The Islands That Give Iran a Stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz