‘We don't trust Russia...': Zelenskyy ‘skeptical' of Trump proposed ceasefire
In a significant diplomatic development aimed at ending the three-year-long Ukraine conflict. US Prez Donald Trump held a two-hour telephonic convo with Russian Prez Vladimir Putin on May 19. The important call between the ended on a good note with Prez Trump describing the conversation as 'excellent'. Taking to Truthsocial, Donald Trump announced that, 'Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire'. 'Not sure they're ready, we don't trust Russia', Zelenskyy 'skeptical' of Trump proposed ceasefire'.
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India Today
39 minutes ago
- India Today
US strikes may delay Iran's nuclear program by just a few months, Pentagon says
A new US intelligence report claims that the airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump on Iran's nuclear sites did not fully destroy two of the facilities. However, the strikes likely set back Iran's nuclear program by just a few months, reported The New York report, prepared by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), says two of the main nuclear sites -- Fordow and Natanz -- were not completely destroyed. The DIA is the intelligence branch of the Pentagon and worked with US Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, to assess the damage after the to the report, key equipment like centrifuges -- which are used to enrich uranium -- can be restarted within a few months. This means Iran could resume its nuclear program sooner than expected. The report also says Iran moved much of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the strikes. Some of this material may have been relocated to other hidden nuclear facilities that Iran maintains in secret contradicts President Trump's claim that Iran's nuclear program was completely CALLS OPERATION A SPECTACULAR SUCCESSAs the claims surfaced, Trump posted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's statement on Truth Social. advertisement Ealier, in his televised address on Saturday night, President Trump praised the mission as a huge success."The strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace," Trump said from the White said the US had wiped out the nuclear enrichment facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan -- three of Iran's most important nuclear the Pentagon's internal report paints a different picture. The report also claimed that Fordow, in particular, showed signs of surviving the strikes. This is one of Iran's most protected facilities, built deep beneath the Zagros mountains under about 45 to 90 meters (roughly 150 to 300 feet) of hard underground location was already a concern for the Pentagon earlier this year. In a January briefing, top Pentagon officials were warned that even the US's strongest non-nuclear bomb -- the 30,000-pound GBU-57 "bunker buster" -- might not fully destroy the last weekend's attack, B-2 bombers dropped 12 of these GBU-57 bombs on Fordow and two more on Natanz. Meanwhile, a US Navy submarine launched around 30 Tomahawk missiles at HOUSE PUSHES BACK AGAINST REPORTadvertisementThe White House has refuted the intelligence assessment and called the report Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement, "The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran's nuclear program." At a Sunday news conference, General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who helped lead the mission, offered a more cautious said the sites had "sustained severe damage and destruction" but pointed out that the final damage assessment had not yet been completed.- EndsMust Watch
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Here's New Delhi's game plan to solve the Hormuz riddle
New Delhi is activating an emergency playbook to safeguard its oil supplies, as a fragile truce prevails in West Asia after 10 days of conflict. The strategy involves bypassing the critical Strait of Hormuz in Iranian waters via two pipelines; tapping into the global reserves and portfolios of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (Adnoc) and Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco); and significantly increasing imports from the US. The two pipelines, which run east to west across the Arabian peninsula, may be tapped if Iran closes the Strait, a choke point vital for global energy supplies. The first is Adnoc-operated 360-km Habshan-Fujairah strategic oil pipeline with a 1.5 million barrels per day (mbpd) capacity that opens to the Gulf of Oman; and the Saudi Aramco-operated 1,200-km East-West crude oil pipeline with a 5 mbpd capacity that offers access to the Red Sea. State-run refiners Indian Oil Corp. (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd (HPCL) are in touch with suppliers Adnoc and Saudi Aramco to use the pipeline route in case of an emergency, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. The shaky ceasefire between Israel and Iran is keeping markets on edge, even as Indian officials express confidence in securing supplies, albeit with potential pricing shifts. After US president Donald Trump declared a ceasefire, Israel accused Iran of breaking it, a claim denied by the latter. Also read | Mint Primer: Oil shock looms as Iran threatens to shut Strait of Hormuz. What it means for India Queries sent to the spokespersons of India's petroleum and natural gas ministry, Adnoc, Saudi Aramco, Embassies of UAE and Saudi Arabia in New Delhi, Indian Oil Corp., BPCL, and HPCL on Tuesday early morning remained unanswered. A US Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi directed questions to the Indian government. Strategic importance The plan is of strategic importance to India, given that out of the 5.5 million barrels of crude oil that India consumes daily, about 1.5-2 mbpd crosses the Strait of Hormuz. To be sure, the Strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil cargoes passes, remained open even during the years-long Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. 'Given that India gets a significant portion of its imported oil through the Strait of Hormuz, getting a Plan B is of utmost importance. It needs to be seen what quantum the pipelines would be able to transport, as the quantum supplied on vessels through the sea route is huge. India will have to look at a host of options." said C. Uday Bhaskar, director, Society for Policy Studies. Given India's dependence on imported crude and the fact that oil comprises about 30% of its total imports (import bill), volatility and elevated prices impact the trade deficit, current deficit and eventually, economic growth. Last week, an Icra report said that for every $10/bbl increase in the average crude oil price in afiscal, net oil imports will rise by $13-14 billion in that year. Read this | US attack on Iranian nuclear sites roils oil market, India braces for possible price surge Kabir Taneja, deputy director, strategic studies at Observer Research Foundation said: "India has good relations with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and securing more oil would not be a problem; however, transportation is key. And such talks are of strategic importance given that India is heavily dependent on hydrocarbon imports and needs to ensure energy security. India has handled such situations well in the past and should be able to navigate any supply crunch scenario." Price changes Indian stock markets ended marginally higher on Tuesday after an initial surge. The BSE Sensex closed at 82,055.11 points higher by 158.32 points or 0.19% from its previous close. 'We are sorted on supplies and there might be some displacement in pricing. Supplies can also come through the Suez Canal and Cape of Good Hope. Then, there are the opportunistic cargoes on the high seas. Iran also needs to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as they don't have any other exit for supplying to China, its main and only buyer," one of the two people cited above said. Iran currently produces about 3.3 mbpd of crude oil, and exports 1.8-2.0 mbpd. It is yet to act on its threat of closing the strait, a development that could block a fifth of the world's oil cargoes and send oil prices into a spiral. 'A worst-case scenario would be Iran disrupting shipping lanes along the Strait. However, Iran is heavily dependent on the Strait, and this act could impact neighbouring oil producers and global consumers," J.P. Morgan Asset Management wrote in a 16 June report. Also read | US strike on Iran raises oil shock, capital flow risks for India's economy However, while India is sorted on supplies, there are concerns on pricing. Crude oil surged to nearly $80 per barrel amid the latest Israel-Iran conflict, before easing on Tuesday after the ceasefire news. At the time of writing the story, the August contract of Brent on the Intercontinental Exchange was trading at $68.96 per barrel, lower by 3.55% from its previous close. Similarly, the August contract of West Texas Intermediate on the NYMEX fell 3.37% to $66.20 per barrel. 'Presently, none of India's crude oil supplies comes through Fujairah located on the Gulf of Oman. It's (Habshan-Fujairah) a strategic pipeline that they will open. Our state-run refiners have already spoken to Adnoc," said one of the two government officials cited above, requesting anonymity. New options Experts said discussions to use the pipelines may open up new options for India. Gaurav Moda, partner and leader for energy with EY-Pantheon India said: "Such engagements will open up avenues for strategic and closure partnership of India with major oil suppliers like Saudi Aramco and Adnoc. Both these companies will see India, not just as a buyer of oil but also as a strategic partner." With a growing presence in India's energy security architecture, Adnoc is the only company to commit to India's strategic crude oil reserve programme to date, and supplied oil worth $13.86 billion in FY25 to India. Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco is India's third largest crude oil supplier, and sold oil worth $20 billion in FY25 to India. Saudi Aramco also has plans to collaborate on establishing two oil refineries in India; with Saudi Arabia's plan to invest $100 billion in India in sectors including energy, petrochemicals, infrastructure, technology, and fintech. Also read | Aramco's VC arm in talks for India team 'Saudi Aramco will get it through the Red Sea. Our Russian oil supplies also come through the Red Sea route. Our state-run companies have already spoken to them, and a plan is already in place in case the worst-case scenario of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz ever plays out," one of the two people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. India imports around 244 million tonne of crude oil annually, accounting for over 85% of its total crude oil imports. These imports are split between long term oil crude oil contracts and spot cargoes in a 60:40 ratio. Global reserves 'Most of these companies including Saudi Aramco have their petroleum reserves all over the world including in Japan, Singapore and South Korea. In the event of the Strait of Hormuz getting closed; the replacement barrels will come from there," the official said, adding talks to access them in emergency have already take place. On Tuesday, India welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, adding it is ready to play its part in the efforts to bring peace and stability in West Asia. "While we remain deeply concerned about the prospects for overall and sustained regional security and stability, we welcome reports of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel and the role played by the US and Qatar in bringing it about," a statement from the external affairs ministry said. "We wish to reiterate that there is no alternative to dialogue and diplomacy in order to address and resolve the multiple conflicts in the region. India stands ready to play its part in these efforts and hopes that all concerned parties will work towards sustained peace and stability," it added. Also read | Spot freight rates could surge further if Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz India has been working on Plan B for energy security since Israel's attack on Iran on 13 June. India's top crude oil suppliers from the region are Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, which account for about half of India's total supplies. 'This planning has taken place since Israel's the first set of attacks on Iran. The contingency measures were put in place immediately when Israelis struck Iran," the person cited above said. Eyes on America The rest of the supplies that India needs will come from the US, the official said, as India buys more oil from the US. India imported 3.7 million metric tonnes (mmt) of crude oil from the US in the April-June quarter (as of 24 June), against 2.7 mmt a year earlier. India's total energy imports from the US was 10.5 mmt in 2024-25, with energy security gaining importance in the India-US relations matrix. 'Crude oil imports from the US will reach almost 4 mmt in the first quarter, given that some cargoes are still on the way and the month of June is yet to end. And these volumes will go up," the person added. Analysts say diversifying import sources after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which at its peak in 2022 led to multi-year high prices of oil, will help India mitigate a crisis situation. India has the option of sourcing crude oil from 39 countries. War premiums Meanwhile, shipping freight spot rates are up 150% since the start of the Israel-Iran war, and war risk premiums are expected to increase further. The daily freight rates of each tanker and vessel from West Asia to Japan and South Korea have increased to $50,000 from $20,000 about 10 days ago. 'The war premium will go up. Generally, insurance used to be 0.01% of the cargo, and technically, doesn't cover force majeure and war. There will be an extra charge and a fee of escorting the vessels through the Red Sea crisis, given the danger of Houthi attacks. The costing can go up," the official added. 'The Israel-Iran conflict poses risks to global energy supply disruptions and has led to a modest jump in oil prices thus far. If the situation escalates, such as blockades around the Strait of Hormuz, the risk premium in oil prices could rise further," the J.P. Morgan Asset Management report said. For now, the sentiments in the market have eased with the announcement of ceasefire. And read | Israel-Iran ceasefire takes the pressure off crude prices, but not Indian OMCs
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tehran, Tel Aviv, & Trump: An uneasy calm after 12 days of war
A shaky ceasefire began to take hold between Israel and Iran on Tuesday under pressure from US President Donald Trump, raising hopes of an end to the biggest ever military confrontation between the arch-foes. Trump scolded both sides for early violations of the truce, but directed especially stinging criticism at ally Israel, telling it to 'calm down now'. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed a 'great victory' while announcing the 'end of the 12-day war'. Iran willing to return to talks Iran said it was ready to return to negotiations with the US. Israel also signalled the conflict was over — at least for now. Its military said all regions of the country had moved to full activity level without restrictions from 8 pm local time (1700 GMT). Its airport authority said Ben Gurion Airport had reopened. Iran's airspace will be 'reopened tonight after 12 days,' state-affiliated Nour News reported without giving a timeline. Israeli armed forces chief of staff Eyal Zamir said the military was at 'the conclusion of a significant chapter but the campaign against Iran is not over,' though he added the military was refocusing on its war against Hamas in Gaza. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Would you like to know more? Undo Whether the Israel-Iran truce can hold is a major question. Signalling a difficult path ahead, it took hours for Israel and Iran to even acknowledge that they had accepted the ceasefire that Trump said he had brokered. Still, oil prices plunged and stock markets rallied worldwide in a sign of confidence arising from the ceasefire pact, which was taken to mean there would be no threat of disruption to critical oil supplies from the Gulf. Live Events Ceasefire violations? Iran and Israel earlier on Tuesday accused each other of violating the truce. Trump, en route to a NATO summit in Europe, admonished Israel with an obscenity in an extraordinary outburst at an ally whose air war he had joined two days before by dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iran's underground nuclear sites. 'All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. That followed a post in which he had said: 'Israel. Do not drop those bombs. If you do it it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!' Before departing the White House, Trump told reporters he was unhappy with both sides for breaching the ceasefire, but particularly frustrated with Israel, which he said had "unloaded" shortly after agreeing to the deal. 'I've got to get Israel to calm down now," Trump said. Iran and Israel had been fighting "so long and so hard that they don't know what the fuck they're doing." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office acknowledged that Israel had bombed a radar site near Tehran in what it said was retaliation for Iranian missiles fired three-and-a-half hours after the ceasefire had been due to begin. It said Israel had decided to refrain from further attacks following a call between Netanyahu and Trump, but did not explicitly say whether the strike on the radar site took place before or after they spoke. The Islamic Republic denied launching any missiles and said Israel's attacks had continued for an hour-and-a-half beyond the time the truce was meant to start. Pezeshkian said later Tehran would not violate the ceasefire unless Israel did so, and that it was prepared to return to the negotiating table, without elaborating, according to state-run Nournews. In both countries there was a palpable sense of relief that a path out of war had been charted, 12 days after Israel launched it with a surprise attack, and two days after Trump joined in with strikes on Iranian nuclear targets. Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One heading to the NATO summit, Trump said he did not want to see Iran's ruling system toppled. 'I don't want it. I'd like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible. Regime change takes chaos and ideally we don't want to see so much chaos," he said. "Iran's not going to have a nuclear weapon, by the way, I think it's the last thing on their mind right now."
