Iran's supreme leader rejects Donald Trump's call for unconditional surrender
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected US calls for surrender and warned that joining the war would lead to 'irreparable damage', as Israel ramped up rhetoric about regime change and ordered civilians to evacuate a district in Tehran
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Trump reveals Tucker Carlson called him to apologize for going 'too far' on anti-war criticisms
Journalist Tucker Carlson called to apologize to President Donald Trump after he criticized him for betraying his America First movement by supporting the Israeli missile strikes on Iran last week. Trump revealed that Carlson had called him after the president called him out as 'kooky' on Monday and taunted him for not being on cable television anymore. 'Tucker's a nice guy. He called and apologized the other day because he thought he said things that were a little bit too strong and I appreciated that,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. Carlson criticized Trump's support for the Israeli strikes in Iran, noting in a newsletter published monday that 'many in Trump's MAGA movement are not happy.' 'US says it was "not involved,"' Carlson wrote. 'That's not true. Trump is complicit in an act of war.' The president has been in the middle of an ideological split among his most loyal MAGA supporters for most of the week as different factions have voiced their support or opposition to the Israeli war in Iran. Both Carlson and former political strategist Steve Bannon appeared on each other's podcasts on Monday sharing their growing alarm that the president was launching another 'forever war' in the Middle East. They agreed that getting the United States involved in another war would be the 'end of his presidency' if the president did not course-correct. Both Bannon and Carlson dialed back their criticisms, however, in an effort to unite both camps. Bannon admitted to reporters on Wednesday at an event that Trump could sway his followers to his position if he made a good case for military action in Iran. 'If President Trump decides to do that, I know, and particularly his skills as a communicator, that he will come and walk people through it and the MAGA movement—look, they'll be some— but the vast majority of the MAGA movement will say, "look, we trust your judgement, you walked us through this… maybe we hate it but you know, we'll get on board,"' he said. The president said Wednesday in the Oval Office that he had not yet made a decision whether he wanted to use U.S. military force against Iran, but said he was headed to the Situation Room for a 'War Room' meeting. Trump also indicated earlier Wednesday that he had run out of patience with the Iranian regime to make a deal. 'It's already run out,' he said. 'They had 60 days … plenty of time, and they made a mistake.'
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fed chief Powell's stubborn defiance on interest rates risks an avoidable downturn, says ALEX BRUMMER
The Federal Reserve's interest rate hold should come as no surprise. Chairman Jay Powell is determined to preserve the US central bank's independence, Trump's tariffs are a threat to domestic prices and the ramping up of American pressure on Iran is nerve-racking. One needs no reminder of how Russia's war on Ukraine caused a major inflation shock as energy costs soared. If it were not for these factors, the Fed, and for that matter the Bank of England, would be wise to get on the front foot by cutting borrowing costs. Former World Bank boss David Malpass, writing in the Wall Street Journal, argues the Fed is behind the curve in lowering rates as the US economy weakens. He points to the loss of 700,000 jobs, strain among small businesses and argues that the prime borrowing rate of 7.5 per cent and credit card costs at 20 per cent are too high. The bunker-buster in the room is the Middle East. The Ukraine war demonstrated how speedily geopolitics can spin off into an economic and fiscal crisis. The reason why so many Western democracies are sitting on unacceptable debt piles, inhibiting capacity for growth, is unmet costs and subsidies which came after energy prices spiralled. Nevertheless, 2025 is not 1973 when an Arab oil embargo started an economic catastrophe which saw inflation rocket, interest rates soar, recession and Britain forced to the IMF for a bail-out. Oil-induced inflation also drove Jimmy Carter out of the White House. Energy production is robust and diversified enough to deal with anything less than a cataclysm which causes energy taps across the Arabian Gulf to be turned off. Saudi Arabia is stepping up production, Guyana has become an oil gusher, Brazil and Canada are major drillers, and US production hit a record 13.5m barrels in March. It has long been a concern that the Fed and the Bank of England would make the same error as inflation tumbles from its peaks as they did when it mounted, and assume the decline is 'transitory'. By holding rates higher than they need to be, they are punishing business, consumers and home-buyers, and risking an avoidable downturn. Should the tumult in the Middle East retreat, interest rate-setters must be alert to the need for bold rate cuts. Drill, baby, drill The hike in Brent crude prices, since Israel's attack on Iran, will come as something of a relief to BP. As it pivots back to oil and gas, after backing a green future, the higher the oil price, the stronger the cashflow. Moreover, with aggressive activist investor Elliott on its case, a volatile oil price offers the opportunity to ramp up trading – a key money-spinner. Fossil fuels are disparaged by green campaigners. But one shouldn't lose sight of the contribution that BP, which began life as the Anglo-Persian oil company, makes to the British economy. As reported today, BP analysis shows that the oil giant made a £7.4billion contribution to UK plc last year. It paid £1.2billion in corporation tax and bolstered the exchequer by a further £2.2billion indirectly in the shape of excise duties, employees' income tax, National Insurance and VAT. There has been speculation that a weakened BP could be swallowed by London-listed Shell or one of the US majors like Chevron or Exxon. Britain would be much better served if it maintained its independence. BP's global reach into markets such as India and Indonesia is invaluable. Given the current dislocation in the Middle East, the Government would be wise to end the daft embargo on new North Sea oil licences. To do so would provide a much-needed fillip to drillers and Aberdeen-based engineering services. Spanish lift Tracking Ocado's business model is tricky as its topsy-turvy share price, 24 per cent down this year, shows. It struggles to be viewed as the Amazon of global grocery, as once hoped. Yet it is encouraging to see that the company's first international customer in 2017, the Catalan supermarket group Bon Preu, is coming back for more of the UK group's robotic systems with a new warehouse in Barcelona.
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
Donald Trump taunts Iran as airstrikes continue
Donald Trump taunted Iran regarding potential US airstrikes, stating he may or may not act, amid growing division within his inner circle. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected demands for unconditional surrender, warning that US intervention would cause irreparable damage, as thousands fled Tehran following aerial bombardment. Israel began striking Iran to neutralise its alleged nuclear weapons program, with the UN's nuclear watchdog expressing serious concern over Iran 's uranium enrichment. Israeli strikes targeted facilities for uranium centrifuges, missile components, and internal security forces, while Iran 's retaliatory barrages have caused casualties and damage in Israel. Sir Keir Starmer chaired an emergency meeting on the Middle East crisis, and Israel has eased some daily life restrictions, signaling confidence in limiting Iran 's missile capabilities.
