Trump Warns

President’s remarks indicate the two countries remain far apart over initial deal to end warAfter 88 days of near-total internet blackout in Iran, long-delayed messages, images and poems flooded phones and social media feeds at about 5pm on Tuesday, when still-limited connectivity flickered back to life.The first reactions, however, were not celebratory. Many new posts were threaded with scepticism, anxiety and anger.The Israeli military declared a new swathe of southern Lebanon a combat zone and said residents in the area should move north, warning it would act “with great force” against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in the zone. The statement on Wednesday appeared to signal a further escalation after more than 120 strikes hit Lebanon’s south and east on Tuesday, despite a ceasefire.The major Lebanese city of Tyre has come under constant Israeli bombardment, according to local media. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it is hitting Hezbollah targets in the ancient coastal city in southern Lebanon, a day after issuing a warning forcing thousands of people to leave Tyre and surrounding areas. Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported two people were killed in Tyre in an Israeli drone strike on Thursday morning. Continue reading...

• Global markets moved sharply after Donald Trump said Iran negotiations were “going nicely,” while warning attacks could resume if no deal is reached, according to Moneycontrol’s live market coverage. • Oil prices jumped and gold rose more than 1% as traders reacted to the renewed geopolitical risk, while Indian equities also responded with Nifty breaking above its consolidation range. • The move matters because energy-price spikes and safe-haven buying can quickly spill into U.S. inflation expectations, equities, and Treasury markets.

Ousted Republican congressman says his party is facing ‘Trump disappointment syndrome’ over president’s agendaDonald Trump’s Republican party is on course for a damaging rejection at the ballot box in November, according to a maverick US congressman ousted by a challenger handpicked by the president.Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, became the latest of Trump’s targets to be defeated in the party’s primaries this week. He had repeatedly broken with the president over military action against Iran, government spending and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Continue reading...

US president says there ‘won’t be anything left’ of country if it does not reach agreement. Plus, how to become emotionally mature at any ageGood morning.Donald Trump has voiced impatience at the deadlock over peace talks with Iran, posting on social media: “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”What else is happening in the region? The United Arab Emirates has blamed a fire near its nuclear power plant on a drone launched by Iran or one of its proxies, describing the incident as a “dangerous escalation”.Why is Massie Trump’s nemesis? Massie has been a consistent thorn in Trump’s side, voting against his signature tax and spending cuts bill, helping to force the justice department to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, and insisting on congressional oversight over the military actions in Venezuela and Iran. Now he faces a bruising primary against his Trump-endorsed challenger, Ed Gallrein. Continue reading...

US president says there ‘won’t be anything left’ of country if it doesn’t come to an agreementUAE blames Iran or its proxies for drone strike fire near nuclear plantWe are restarting our coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran and Israel’s war on Lebanon. Donald Trump has issued an extreme warning to Iran to quickly agree to a peace deal with the US or face devastation.As Washington struggles to break an impasse on ending the war, the US president said on his Truth Social platform on Sunday: “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”Iranian media said the US had failed to make any concrete concessions in its latest response to Iran’s proposed agenda for negotiations to end the war. The Fars news agency said on Sunday that Washington had presented a five-point list that included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US.Islamic Jihad commander Wael Abdel Halim and his 17-year-old daughter were killed in an Israeli missile strike on an apartment in eastern Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanese state media said. Israeli strikes on towns in southern Lebanon earlier killed five people, including two children, and left at least 15 people injured, the Lebanese health ministry said, despite Israel and Lebanon agreeing to extend their ceasefire by 45 days.Hezbollah had fired about 200 projectiles at Israel and its troops over the weekend, an Israeli military official said on Sunday.Israel’s cabinet approved a plan to build a defence compound on the site of the recently demolished premises of the UN Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) in East Jerusalem. Israel seized the site last year in an act the agency condemned as a violation of international law. Continue reading...

Union representative concerned about safety as workers rush to finish repainting DC pool before 250th celebrationsWorkers renovating one of Washington DC’s most historically symbolic sites in a project ordered by Donald Trump may be risking their safety as they race to finish on time for the US’s 250th anniversary celebrations, a union monitoring the site has warned.Trade union scrutiny has focused on the reflecting pool on the US capital’s National Mall – scene of Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I have a dream speech” – after it was drained of water and fenced off from the public to allow contractors the chance to upgrade it by 4 July. Continue reading...

Chinese president’s comments published after two-hour meeting with Trump. Plus, Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the Voting Rights Act is ‘evil incarnate’Good morning.On the western edge of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, in the imposing Mao-era Great Hall of the People, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping sat down this morning for two hours of talks.What else was on the agenda? The Chinese government said the two leaders discussed the war in the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict and issues on the Korean peninsula. As my colleagues Amy Hawkins and David Smith have written, the US is entering into talks with its superpower rival from a vulnerable position.What is unlikely to be discussed? Unlike under previous US administrations, the visit is not expected to focus on human rights or US-China cooperation to tackle the climate crisis.Follow our live coverage of the summit here.What is Stateside with Kai and Carter? It’s the new flagship video podcast for Guardian US, hosted by the journalists Kai Wright and Carter Sherman. With new episodes three times a week, the show will bring the Guardian’s global perspective and unique lens on America to life. Watch and listen now! Continue reading...

US president calls Iranian response ‘totally unacceptable’ while Tehran says it will retaliate against any new US strikes or foreign warships in strait of HormuzTrump calls Iran’s response to peace plan ‘totally unacceptable’ as ceasefire fraysThe US parameters for nuclear talks reportedly included a moratorium on Iranian nuclear enrichment for up to 20 years; the transfer overseas, possibly to the US, of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which could be used to make nuclear warheads; and the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities.According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iranian counter-proposal suggested a shorter moratorium, the export of part of the HEU stockpile and the dilution of the rest, and refusal to accept the dismantling of facilities. Continue reading...

Oil markets spooked as Donald Trump appears willing to maintain the US Navy blockade and Iran keeps strait of Hormuz all but shutThe price of Brent oil soared above $126 a barrel on Wednesday, its highest level since 2022, after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months and peace talks remained stalled.Surging more than 13% in 24 hours, Brent crude hit a record price since the war began on 28 February. Not since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has Brent topped $120, with the price then peaking at $139. Continue reading...

President says he gave Britain ‘better deal than I had to’ but ally was ‘not there when we needed them’ on IranMiddle East crisis – live updatesBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump has threatened to row back on the trade deal the US signed with the UK last year, in his latest salvo against the British government over sharp differences about the US’s approach to the Middle East.The US president said the economic deal struck with the UK, which cut some of his tariffs on cars, aluminium and steel, was “better than I had to” and that it could “always be changed”. Continue reading...

President threatens in Truth Social post to annihilate Iran if government ignores deadline to reopen strait of HormuzUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump on Tuesday morning threatened to completely annihilate the entirety of Iranian civilization should their government ignore his 8pm ET deadline to reopen the strait of Hormuz.“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” he US president posted on Truth Social about the country with more than 90 million people. “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” Continue reading...

Threat comes after US president said he would bomb power plants and bridges if Iran did not reopen strait of HormuzMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael warned Iranians this morning that their lives would be at risk if they use the country’s railways on Tuesday before the end of a negotiating deadline imposed by Donald Trump with a threat to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants.Israel’s military, writing in Farsi, said in a social media post that “from this moment” – 8.50am Iran time – and “until 21:00 Iran time” Iranians should refrain from “traveling by train throughout Iran” for the sake of their own security. Continue reading...

Iran’s parliamentary speaker decries US president’s ‘reckless moves’ after expletive-ridden threat; Israeli PM says Trump ‘expressed his appreciation for Israel’s help’Trump warns Iran to reopen strait of Hormuz by Tuesday or face ‘hell’‘Unhinged madman’: US politicians react to Trump Iran threatIran’s central military command has warned of “much more devastating” retaliation if the US hits civilian targets.If attacks on civilian targets are repeated, the next stages of our offensive and retaliatory operations will be much more devastating and widespread.” Continue reading...

President shifts deadline again for attacking power plants and bridges in expletive-ridden social media postMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump issued an expletive-laden warning on Sunday that Tehran had until Tuesday night to reopen the strait of Hormuz or the US would obliterate Iran’s power plants and bridges.Iran’s powerful parliament speaker responded with a warning that the US president’s “reckless moves” would mean “our whole region is going to burn”. Continue reading...

Two people reported killed in attack on newly completed suspension bridge after strike splits structure in halfMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump claimed responsibility for destroying Iran’s largest bridge, a day after he threatened to bomb the country “back to the stone ages” if a deal to end the five-week-long war he started was not reached.The US president shared footage of part of the newly built 136 metre-high $400m B1 suspension bridge between Tehran and Karaj collapsing dramatically on to the causeway below amid a rising plume of black smoke. Continue reading...

• President Trump announced in a White House speech that U.S. involvement in the Iran war will extend two to three more weeks, with objectives nearly met. • Trump vowed continued strikes on Iran, threatening energy and water sites, while claiming Iran's offensive capabilities are 'essentially decimated.' • Oil prices surged 6% to $108 per barrel for Brent crude, pushing U.S. gas prices over $4 a gallon and impacting motorists and food costs.

• Israel launched strikes on central Tehran and warned of expanding its campaign against Iran, which continues firing missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states, as U.S. strikes persist. • President Trump extended the deadline to April 6 for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating talks are 'going very well' after Iran requested a grace period despite public denials. • Israel moved thousands of troops into Lebanon to control the area south of the Litani River, 20 miles north of the border.

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on March 25, 2026, that President Trump will hit Iran harder if Tehran does not accept military defeat. • The US is closely tracking efforts to secure oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian threats. • This escalation threat underscores Trump's strategy to force Iran into capitulation, potentially prolonging the conflict without regime change.

• President Trump has warned NATO and China amid an ongoing Iran war that reached its 17th day, with the conflict affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and creating economic ripple effects. • Trump told the Financial Times the U.S. "may delay" a scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in less than three weeks if the strait situation is not resolved, potentially impacting trade negotiations led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. • Middle East experts indicate the war is progressing favorably for the U.S. militarily but facing challenges in other dimensions, with the shipping bottleneck threatening to disrupt global trade during a critical period of U.S.-China relations.

• President Trump issued a stark warning to NATO allies on March 16, stating they face a "very bad future" if they do not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. • The warning came as the US and Israel work to secure the strategic waterway, which has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict with Iran. • Trump's ultimatum reflects growing pressure on international allies to support US-led efforts to restore normal shipping operations and stabilize global energy markets.

President Donald Trump threatened severe retaliation against Iran on March 13, 2026, following multiple drone strikes on Saudi Arabia and related terror incidents in the US. In a Fox News interview, Trump commented on Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, stating, "I think he's damaged, but I think he's probably alive in some form." The US military reported four crew members killed in a refueling aircraft crash amid heightened tensions. These developments raise alarms about IRGC influence and potential escalation in the region.

President Donald Trump threatened severe retaliation against Iran on March 13, 2026, following multiple drone strikes on Saudi Arabia and related terror incidents in the US. In a Fox News interview, Trump stated Iran's new Supreme Leader is 'damaged, but probably alive in some form' amid reports of internal regime messages with errors possibly dictated by the Revolutionary Guard. The US military reported four crew members killed in a refueling aircraft crash linked to the tensions. These developments heighten fears of escalation as Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as leader against his father's wishes, with experts citing regime assets as key to their fight.

The United States and Israel have conducted the largest attacks yet against Iran on the 14th day of the conflict, hitting approximately 15,000 targets since the war began. President Donald Trump announced that American forces executed "one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East," destroying military targets on Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, while threatening to target Iranian oil infrastructure if Tehran continues blocking energy flows. Trump stated the U.S. would continue its campaign "as long as necessary" and indicated the Navy would begin escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz "very soon," signaling further escalation of the two-week regional conflict. The joint international decision to release record oil reserves this week appeared to have minimal impact on crude prices, while the U.S. simultaneously moved to ease Russian oil sanctions over a 30-day period to alleviate rapidly rising energy costs.