Trump Open to Extending July 8 Trade Deadline if Needed
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would be willing to extend a July 8 deadline for completing trade talks with countries before higher U.S. tariffs take effect, but did not believe that would be necessary.
Trump, speaking to reporters before a performance of "Les Miserables" at the Kennedy Center, said trade negotiations were continuing with about 15 countries, including South Korea, Japan and the European Union.
He said the U.S. would send out letters in one to two weeks outlining the terms of trade deals to dozens of other countries, which they could embrace or reject.
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Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Israel launches preemptive strikes on Iran's nuclear plant, military sites; Tehran vows retaliation
JERUSALEM, June 13 — Israel carried out 'preemptive' strikes against Iran today, targeting its nuclear plant and military sites, after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible 'massive conflict' in the region. Explosions were heard Friday morning in the Iranian capital, state TV reported, adding that Iran's air defence were at '100 per cent operational capacity'. Israel declared a state of emergency, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying that retaliatory action from Tehran was possible following the operation. 'Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,' Katz said. Oil prices surged as much as 6 per cent on the strikes, which came after Trump warned of a possible Iranian attack and said the US was drawing down staff in the region. 'I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen,' Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday when asked if an Israeli attack loomed. Trump said he believed a 'pretty good' deal on Iran's nuclear programme was 'fairly close', but said that an Israeli attack on its arch foe could wreck the chances of an agreement. The US leader did not disclose the details of a conversation on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said: 'I don't want them going in, because I think it would blow it.' Trump quickly added: 'Might help it actually, but it also could blow it.' A US official said there had been no US involvement in the Israeli strikes on Iran. Extremists The United States on Wednesday said it was reducing embassy staff in Iraq—long a zone of proxy conflict with Iran. Israel, which counts on US military and diplomatic support, sees the cleric-run state in Tehran as an existential threat and hit Iranian air defences last year. Netanyahu has vowed less restraint since the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Tehran-backed Hamas, which triggered the massive Israeli offensive in Gaza. The United States and other Western countries, along with Israel, have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which it has repeatedly denied. Israel again called for global action after the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accused Iran on Wednesday of non-compliance with its obligations. The resolution could lay the groundwork for European countries to invoke a 'snapback' mechanism, which expires in October, that would reinstate UN sanctions eased under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by then US president Barack Obama. Trump pulled out of the deal in his first term and slapped Iran with sweeping sanctions. Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, slammed the resolution as 'extremist' and blamed Israeli influence. In response to the resolution, Iran said it would launch a new enrichment centre in a secure location. Iran would also replace 'all of these first-generation machines with sixth-generation advanced machines' at the Fordo uranium enrichment plant, said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 per cent, far above the 3.67-per cent limit set in the 2015 deal and close, though still short, of the 90 per cent needed for a nuclear warhead. — AFP
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Rubio warns Iran against targeting US over Israeli strikes
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran late Thursday not to respond to Israeli strikes by hitting American bases, saying Washington was not involved. 'We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,' Rubio said in a statement. 'Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.' Israel announced strikes on Iran, where loud explosions were heard, hours after US President Donald Trump publicly said they should not do so. Trump had said that Israel would ruin chances for a peacefully negotiated solution, which he said was close. A sixth round of talks over Tehran's nuclear program had been scheduled between the United States and Iran on Sunday in Oman. 'Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,' Rubio said, without offering support or criticism of the strikes by the close US ally. 'President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners,' he said.
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Stocks slide, oil and gold jump after Israel strikes Iran
TOKYO: Stocks dived in early Asian trade on Friday, led by a selloff in US futures, while oil prices jumped after Israel conducted a military strike on Iran, sending investors scurrying to safe havens such as gold and the Swiss franc. The Israeli attack raises the risk of a fresh escalation in tensions in the Middle East, a major oil producing region, and comes at a time of heightened pressure on the global economy and financial markets from US President Donald Trump's shakeup of trade policies. Market reaction was swift, with US S&P E-mini futures slumping 1.5 per cent as of 0055 GMT and Nasdaq futures skidding 1.7 per cent. Japan's Nikkei lost 1.4 per cent and South Korea's KOSPI slipped 1.2 per cent. Brent crude jumped more than 6 per cent to US$73.56 per barrel. Gold climbed 1 per cent to about US$3,419 per ounce. Israel said it was declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of a missile and drone strike by Tehran, after what it called a "preemptive strike" over Iran's nuclear programme. Explosions were heard northeast of Iran's capital Tehran early on Friday, the state-run Nour News said. Two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Israel had begun carrying out strikes on Iran and there was no US assistance or involvement in the operation. CNN reported that Trump was convening a cabinet meeting. "Traders are scurrying for safety as reports of a strike on Iran cross the wires," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto. "But details on the scale and magnitude of the attack remain scarce and moves have been relatively limited thus far." Tensions had been building as Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked. US and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran's escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators. The Swiss franc gained about 0.4 per cent to 0.8072 per US dollar, and fellow safe haven the yen appreciated 0.3 per cent to 143.06 per dollar. The euro eased 0.3 per cent to US$1.1553, giving back a little of its 0.9 per cent overnight jump.
