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‘Nobody knows what I’m going to do’: Trump embraces ambiguity towards Iran
Donald Trump has remained vague about whether or not the United States would directly intervene in Israel’s ongoing conflict. It has been intensely bombing the country for six days.
The Republican leader set up two enormous flagpoles, each 88 feet or 27 meters high, on the lawn of the White House on Wednesday.
However, he was confronted with the question that was looming over the Middle East conflict: Would the US support Israel in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities?
Trump told a reporter, “You don’t know that I’m going to even do it.” I might do it, please. I’m not sure if I do it. Nobody is aware of my intentions. Iran is in serious trouble, and they want to negotiate, I can tell you.
Trump once more indicated he had not made up his mind and was unlikely to do so until the last possible moment as he posed for photos in the Oval Office with the Juventus football team.
Trump said, “I have ideas for what to do, but I haven’t made a final call.”
One second before it is due, I know, is when I like to make a final decision. because of changes, particularly when there is war. With war, things change. It has the ability to change from one extreme to the other.
Trump’s position on the domestic front has sparked controversy because of the uncertainty surrounding whether the US may enter the conflict.
Military “stand ready”
Trump’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran has been limited by legislation introduced by some Republicans and Democrats. Tucker Carlson, a conservative commentator, recorded a video interview with right-wing Senator Ted Cruz during which they debatted whether to support regime change in Iran.
Trump was asked to speak during the Oval Office debate on Wednesday. Carlson’s desire to prevent the US from a costly foreign conflict was acknowledged by the president, but with a caveat.
“I don’t want to fight either,” he said. Trump stated, “I’m not looking to fight.” However, you must act as required if there is a conflict between them and them possessing nuclear weapons. We might not even have to fight. Remember, there hasn’t been any fighting between us.
The Trump administration referred to Israel’s initial “unilateral action” on June 13 as “unilateral action.” However, the president has already indicated that he was aware of the attack and that he had supported Israel’s military campaign.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified to Congress in front of the audience that the US military would be present when needed.
The phrase “President Trump’s word means something. Hegseth said, “The world understands that. “Our job at the Defense Department is to be ready and prepared with options,” he continued. And we’re doing that right now.
Speculation about nuclear capabilities
If Iran had accepted US guidelines for limiting its nuclear program, Trump has repeatedly argued, the current conflict would never have begun. Iranian counterparts have been meeting with US officials since April to discuss limiting Iran’s uranium enrichment, which is a requirement for the development of nuclear weapons.
Iran has long professed that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, but it has always maintained that its uranium is only used for domestic energy.
Trump attributed the fear that Iran might have gotten close to constructing a bomb to the ongoing conflict with Israel. He warned that “the entire world will blow up” if Iran were to possess nuclear weapons.
“I’ve been saying for 20 years, maybe more,” “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.” Trump said on Wednesday, “I’ve been saying it for a long time, and I believe they were only a few weeks away from having one.”
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence, testified before Congress in March that the US intelligence community had concluded that “Iran is not building a nuclear weapon.” She later refrained from making that assertion and stated that her position matched the president’s.
Trump’s alleged use of uranium enrichment facilities has drawn criticism from critics who believe he is making a case for US involvement in the Israeli-Iranian conflict.
Israel’s initial strike was justified by the possibility of an Iranian nuclear weapon, as has been done before. Israel is widely believed to have an unidentified nuclear arsenal, which is a US ally.
Negotiations stifled
However, negotiations with the US came to an end following Israel’s controversial missile attack on June 13. A planned meeting over the weekend was postponed, and military leaders and scientists were among the initial blasts that resulted in the deaths of some Iranian nuclear negotiators.
Trump blasted the outcome of those discussions on Wednesday, blaming Iran for breaking his April 60-day deadline.
Why didn’t you bargain with me before there was so much destruction and death? Trump posed a question. Why didn’t you negotiate with me two weeks ago, I asked them? You might have been fine. A nation would have existed for you. Watching this is very sad.
Since the recent uprising, he confirmed that Iranian officials have reached out to him for a White House meeting.
Trump responded to reporters by saying, “I said it’s very late to be talking.” There is a significant difference between what happened last week and now.
Fears that the conflict could turn into a regional war have increased as a result of Trump’s own words. Trump made the threat to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a public statement on Tuesday and demanded its “unconditional surrender.”
Since Trump’s comments, Iran has responded. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the country’s deputy foreign minister, refuted reports that his government was attempting to restart US trade talks with Iran in an interview with Christiane Amanpour.
We’re not reaching out to anyone,” the statement read. We are defending our own, Takht-Ravanchi said. “We can negotiate without threats,” he said. Our people are constantly bombarded, so we cannot negotiate. We are not therefore beggars of any kind.
Our hands won’t be tied if Americans interfere directly, he declared. Our country’s people and our interests will be protected by us.
Khamenei himself criticized Trump’s threats and claimed that US involvement in the conflict would have “grave, irreparable consequences.”
repeated requests for “unconditional surrender”
Trump himself made several interpretations of how the conflict was coming to an end on Wednesday when he appeared on the White House lawn and reiterated his call for “unconditional surrender.”
“Unconditional surrender: That indicates that I have it. OK? It’s been given to me. I give up. No longer. Trump once more blamed Iran for the conflict, then proceed to blow up all the nuclear weapons that are scattered all over the place.
They “had bad intentions,” they claimed. They’ve been saying: America’s dead for 40 years! Israel’s death To be put to death for anyone else they disliked. They engaged in bullying. They used to bully kids in the school, but they are no longer bullies.
Trump later made the claim that the conflict could be resolved by making assurances that Iran had no nuclear weapons in the Oval Office.
“We’re not seeking a truce,” he said. We want to win it all over the entire. You are aware of the victory, right? No nuclear weapons
He acknowledged that the upcoming week would “be very big,” but he provided no specifics about what that would mean for the conflict’s future.
Iranian TV shows downing of Israel’s Hermes 900 drone
An Israeli Hermes 900 drone that it claims to Iran’s air defenses was shot down by Iranian TV has been broadcast on Iranian TV. Iran has the first time broadcasting footage of a drone takedown. Near Isfahan, the UAV crashed.
Petro’s labour reform referendum suspended by Colombia’s Council of State
A decree from Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro that sought to hold a vote on a labor reform was suspended by the country’s Council of State, citing a lack of Senate authorization.
Following last week’s defection of the legislative opposition, Petro signed a decree announcing voters’ summons to the polls in August to decide on the labor reform.
Important social policies that the left-wing leader has pushed for are included in the package, which includes an eight-hour workday, higher weekend and holiday pay, and required social security contributions from delivery app drivers.
The majority of Petro’s social and economic reforms, which were promised by him when he won the Andean presidency in 2022, have been rejected by the legislature.
The opposition criticized Petro’s decree, which argued that it violated Colombia’s three branches of government’s separation of powers.
The Senate must make a decision regarding the viability of referendums under Colombian law. Each measure would need to be approved by at least 13.5 million voters, or one-third of Colombia’s electoral roll, in order for the referendum to be held.
Political opponents claimed that Petro’s expensive referendum was actually intended to advance his party in the run-off of 2026.
The Senate on Tuesday approved a revised version of the labor reform bill after extensive discussion, with 57 votes in favor and 31 against.
The reform bill was originally rejected in April, but it was reinstated after Petro warned that he would hold a referendum to pass it in the open.
In a post on X that Petro shared, the presidency dubbed the bill “a historic step toward decent work.”
Advocates of Petro recently staged protests in Bogota and other major cities to show their support for his proposed labor reform.
Real Madrid draw 1-1 with Al Hilal at FIFA Club World Cup
As Xabi Alonso’s managerial debut failed in Florida, Real Madrid fought back to draw 1-1 against spirited Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup.
In the blistering Miami heat at nearly sold-out Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, the 15-time European champions delivered only glimpses of promise.
In the 34th minute, Gonzalo Garcia gave Real the lead thanks to a fine passing move on the right flank followed by a fever-stricken Kylian Mbappe.
As Simone Inzaghi’s men showed defensive grit and enough attacking intent to rattle their illustrious opponents, Portugal international midfielder Ruben Neves levelled from the spot just before halftime.
Federico Valverde’s last-gasp missed penalty sums up a day in which Real’s legs and ideas wilted in the heat and humidity.
Under new coach Simone Inzaghi, defeat would have been difficult for Al Hilal. Before a VAR call, Madrid’s most successful team had its own chance to win at Hard Rock Stadium.
The second half did not perform as well as the first; Alonso praised his team’s performance with DAZN, the official broadcaster of the event, saying, “we improved and had better chances and control.”
We must take the lessons of each game so that we can improve. ”
Alonso continued, “It was a really demanding environment. It was a really hot environment. ”
Al Hilal made an early statement of its potential by standing up for itself against the Spanish power, despite Alonso’s underwhelming debut.
It could have been even better. In front of goal, Leonardo had three chances, but none of them came close. Al Hilal could have won had Aleksandar Mitrovic been healthy and presentable.
Later on Wednesday, RB Salzburg and Pachuca will play in the other Group H game.
On Sunday, Real will next face the Mexican side, while Al Hilal will take on Salzburg in a potential decisive match for knockout status.
Trent Alexander-Arnold started for Los Blancos for the first time since joining from Liverpool, and Alonso’s was not the only debut.
Every player who has made their Real Madrid debut is a dream come true, according to the England international defender, who told DAZN.
There is no denying that winning the game would have caused you to feel disappointed, as a real player does.
Although disappointed not to do that, the second half had many positive aspects.
In the heat of the second half, it’s best to hold on to the ball for as long as possible and let the other side do the running.
We scored crosses in the second half, made them sit deep, and fired shots. The late penalty was given, but it happened in football. ”
Before the end of the season, Alexander-Arnold confirmed his move to Real Madrid, revealing he would not be renewing his contract with his birthplace, Liverpool, the Premier League champion.
The 26-year-old added that the club’s size has already changed since moving to Real, adding that “we dominated the stands today, and the support was amazing. He said, “I felt the support from the moment I signed for the club.”
UN urges ‘immediate’ ceasefire in Israel-Iran war
Antonio Guterres, the UN’s chief executive, warned against an Iran-Israeli conflict that might escalate in a statement read by Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson. He urged caution and diplomacy, as well as cautioned against “increased military interventions.”