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American Military News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Trump sees Iran deal that allows US to destroy nuclear sites
U.S. President Donald Trump said he envisions a nuclear deal with Iran that would allow the destruction of 'whatever we want' in the country including labs, a version of an inspections regime that is likely to be rejected by Tehran. Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump briefly outlined his vision of a deal that is 'very strong, where we can go in with inspectors. We can take whatever we want. We can blow up whatever we want. But nobody getting killed,' he said. Trump also said he believed a deal with Iran could be completed within 'the next couple of weeks' and that talks had made 'a lot of progress.' But his comments about destroying nuclear facilities highlight a major sticking point between the two over whether Iran should be allowed to produce its own enriched uranium. An adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, dismissed Trump's ideas. 'Accessing Iran's nuclear sites and 'blowing up infrastructure' is a fantasy past U.S. presidents shared. Iran is independent, with strong defenses, resilient people, and clear red lines,' Ali Shamkhani said in a post on X on Thursday. 'Talks serve progress, interests, and dignity, not coercion or surrender,' he added. It's not clear if the ability to dismantle or destroy infrastructure in the event that Iran is found to be weaponizing its enrichment capability is a demand that U.S. negotiators have formally put to Iranian counterparts in their current talks. Trump's comments came in response to questions about reports Israel has revived plans to attack Iran. He said he advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against that idea as it could disrupt ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran. Trump described an alternative that gave the U.S. the option to destroy infrastructure related to a weapons program that would be baked into an agreement with Iran. 'We can blow up a lab, but nobody's going to be in the lab, as opposed to everybody being in the lab and blowing it up, right?' he added. After the 1991 Gulf War, a United Nations-led regime was imposed on Iraq in which inspectors were allowed to destroy nuclear and chemical weapons-related infrastructure. Iran has repeatedly warned the U.S. against threats of military action. Iranian officials insist their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and uranium enrichment is necessary for its nuclear power sector. Earlier on Wednesday officials in Iran said they'd consider allowing Americans to be part of International Atomic Energy Agency inspection teams under a future deal with the U.S., a walkback from a practice of excluding inspectors who are U.S. nationals. Trump's comments about being able to destroy nuclear infrastructure may make officials in Iran rethink the concession. Despite the apparent distance between expectations, Trump sounded optimistic about a deal, which his special envoy Steve Witkoff has been negotiating. 'They still have to agree to the final stages of a document, but I think you could be very well surprised what happens there, and it would be a great thing for them,' Trump said. 'They could have a great country into the future.' After talks in Rome on Friday, the Iranian foreign minister and lead negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, said they could lead to progress toward an agreement in the next couple of meetings. ___ © 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hamas agrees to free 10 hostages alive; says war must end
CAIRO/JERUSALEM: Hamas responded to US-backed ceasefire proposals on Saturday, saying it had agreed to release 28 living and dead hostages but restating its demand for an end to the war and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire. Israel had earlier accepted the US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Israeli officials familiar with the matter said would involve a 60-day pause in fighting and restore United Nations-led aid distribution to the Palestinian territory. The Palestinian militant group said it would release 10 living hostages and hand over the bodies of 18 dead in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli prisons. A Hamas official described the group's response to the proposals from US President Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff as "positive" but said it was seeking some amendments. Arab ministers condemn 'ban' on West Bank visit The foreign ministers of several Arab countries, who had planned to visit the occupied West Bank this weekend, condemned on Saturday Israel's decision to block their trip. The ministers condemned "Israel's decision to ban the delegation's visit to Ramallah (on Sunday) to meet with the president of the State of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas", the Jordanian foreign ministry said. Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain had been expected to take part alongside the secretary-general of Arab League. Israel said Friday it would not cooperate, effectively blocking the visit as it controls the territory's borders and airspace.
NDTV
14 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Totally Unacceptable": US Envoy On Hamas' Answer To Truce Proposal In Gaza
Washington: Hamas said it submitted a response to the US proposal for a truce in Gaza, but Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff quickly dismissed it as "totally unacceptable." "Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward," Witkoff said Saturday in a post on X. He added that further talks on a truce "can begin immediately this coming week." The key differences between the US proposal and Hamas's response appeared to be the duration of any truce and the extent to which Israeli forces withdraw. Hamas responded earlier in the day to the US proposal with changes that aimed "to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Strip." As part of the agreement, Hamas said in a statement it would release 10 living Israeli prisoners and return 18 bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, according to the statement. The group didn't specify whether it was accepting or rejecting the proposal. Israel had earlier accepted the US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Witkoff said on social media involved a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the living hostages and half of the dead ones. Israeli officials familiar with the matter said the proposal would also restore United Nations-led aid distribution to the Palestinian territory. Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US, European Union and many other countries, is seeking amendments to some points, including the timing of the hostage release, delivery of aid and withdrawal of Israeli forces, the Associated Press reported, citing an unidentified official. An earlier ceasefire ended in mid-March and talks over a new truce have stalled as Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while the Israeli government wants the group to disarm and disband. International pressure to halt the protracted war has grown as the humanitarian crisis worsened in Gaza. Relief agencies say more than 2 million civilians in the ruined coastal enclave have been brought to the brink of famine by Israel's 11-week blockade. While food deliveries resumed this week under the auspices of a Swiss-based nonprofit Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the rollout has been dogged by delays and chaos. While it's unclear whether Israel will accept any new conditions or amendments to the US proposal, at least some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government expressed optimism over the prospects for a truce. Speaking to Channel 12 TV on Saturday following reports of the Hamas response, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, said: "I assess that time is not on the side of Hamas, and therefore that it will ultimately agree to the Witkoff proposal."
Mint
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
US Envoy Calls Hamas Answer to Truce Proposal ‘Unacceptable'
Hamas said it submitted a response to the US proposal for a truce in Gaza, but Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff quickly dismissed it as 'totally unacceptable.' 'Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward,' Witkoff said Saturday in a post on X. He added that further talks on a truce 'can begin immediately this coming week.' The key differences between the US proposal and Hamas's response appeared to be the duration of any truce and the extent to which Israeli forces withdraw. Hamas responded earlier in the day to the US proposal with changes that aimed 'to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Strip.' As part of the agreement, Hamas said in a statement it would release 10 living Israeli prisoners and return 18 bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, according to the statement. The group didn't specify whether it was accepting or rejecting the proposal. Israel had earlier accepted the US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Witkoff said on social media involved a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the living hostages and half of the dead ones. Israeli officials familiar with the matter said the proposal would also restore United Nations-led aid distribution to the Palestinian territory. Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US, European Union and many other countries, is seeking amendments to some points, including the timing of the hostage release, delivery of aid and withdrawal of Israeli forces, the Associated Press reported, citing an unidentified official. An earlier ceasefire ended in mid-March and talks over a new truce have stalled as Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while the Israeli government wants the group to disarm and disband. International pressure to halt the protracted war has grown as the humanitarian crisis worsened in Gaza. Relief agencies say more than 2 million civilians in the ruined coastal enclave have been brought to the brink of famine by Israel's 11-week blockade. While food deliveries resumed this week under the auspices of a Swiss-based nonprofit Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the rollout has been dogged by delays and chaos. While it's unclear whether Israel will accept any new conditions or amendments to the US proposal, at least some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government expressed optimism over the prospects for a truce. Speaking to Channel 12 TV on Saturday following reports of the Hamas response, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, said: 'I assess that time is not on the side of Hamas, and therefore that it will ultimately agree to the Witkoff proposal.' With assistance from Dan Williams. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Israel Accepts New US Gaza Truce Plan as Hamas Remains Wary
Israel accepted a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza that Israeli officials familiar with the matter said would involve a 60-day pause in fighting and restore United Nations-led aid distribution to the Palestinian territory. The White House said Thursday that Israel had signed off on the terms of the offer before it was submitted to Hamas, though didn't give details on its contents. Two Israeli officials confirmed that decision. Hamas said Friday that the Iran-backed group is 'consulting with Palestinian factions' regarding the truce proposal received from Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, through mediators. The brief statement via Telegram didn't elaborate on the details. The Israeli officials familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing the issue, said other terms of the truce include Hamas releasing 10 live hostages and returning the remains of 18 who died in captivity. Israel has restarted some aid deliveries to Gaza after an 11-week blockade, while seeking to isolate Hamas by cutting it out of the process. Returning to UN-led distribution would reverse a previous decision by the Israeli government to sideline the organization. Operations by a new nonprofit known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have been dogged by some chaotic scenes, including crowds of Palestinians overrunning one aid site on Tuesday. GHF began distributing limited amounts of aid this week and says it's increasing deliveries. More than 2.1 million meals have been given out in four days, GHF said Friday. The US plan includes negotiations during the truce toward a permanent end to almsot 20 months of fighting, which started when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting about 250. More than 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the enclave's Hamas-run health ministry. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the US, European Union and many other countries. It's unlikely that the Witkoff proposal will meet the ultimate demands of either side. Hamas, which is committed to destroying Israel, has insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Israeli government wants the group to disarm and disband. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas's leadership, said in a Facebook post on Thursday that the latest plan is essentially an Israeli proposal that perpetuates the occupation of Gaza. Even so, Israeli financial assets have risen this week, suggesting some traders think a ceasefire is closer. The shekel is up 2.3% against the dollar, one of the best performances globally. In addition, Israel's credit default swaps — a gauge of a country's risk premium — have dipped since last Friday. With assistance from Fares Akram. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
