FMT:
Trump says considering ‘winding down’ Iran war but rules out ceasefire
US president Donald Trump said the Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed by other nations that use it, since the US does not
kt notes: Pariah nak cabut liao
US president Donald Trump said he does not plan to send US ground troops into combat with Iran. (EPA Images pic)
TEHRAN: President Donald Trump said yesterday that the US was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran but was not seeking a ceasefire with the Islamic republic.
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, meanwhile, claimed in a message to mark the first day of the Persian New Year to have delivered a “dizzying blow” to enemies in the three-week-old Middle East war.
Fresh blasts hit Tehran on Friday and Israel accused Iran of attacking holy sites in Jerusalem after a strike left a crater in the Old City near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
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| Shailok cry babies |
On Wall Street, stocks ended sharply lower after oil prices shot up on fears that lengthy supply disruptions could lead to a global economic downturn.
All three major indices were firmly in the red, with the broad-based S&P 500 down 1.5% and the price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, rising 3.3% to US$112.19 per barrel.
Turkey lashed out at Israel, meanwhile, for striking Syrian army camps in southern Syria, calling it a “dangerous escalation” and urging the international community to intervene.
Syria has so far avoided being dragged into the regional war that began on Feb 28 when Israel and the US began striking Iran, which has hit back by firing ballistic missiles and drones at countries across the region.
Lebanon has also been targeted by Israeli airstrikes against Iranian ally Hezbollah which have left more than 1,000 people dead according to the Lebanese health ministry.
‘We have won’
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the US was “getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East”.
The social media post was the strongest indication yet from the US president that he may be prepared to soon end hostilities.
It came shortly after Trump told reporters at the White House that he was not looking for a truce.
“I think we have won,” Trump said. “I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” he added.
In his post, Trump said other nations will have to take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, which has effectively been blockaded by Iran and which sees a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas pass through it in peacetime.
“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it – The US does not!” he said. 😂😂😂
“If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated,” he added.
Trump also said the US wants to talk to Iran but “there’s nobody to talk to” because of the killing of Iran’s former supreme leader and other top officials.
Iran’s new supreme leader has not appeared in public since being named to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei.
In a written statement to mark Nowruz, the Persian New Year, Mojtaba Khamenei said Iranians have “dealt him (the enemy) a dizzying blow so that he now starts uttering contradictory words and nonsense”.
“At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots – despite all the differences in religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins – the enemy has been defeated,” Khamenei said.
The statement of defiance came as Iranians marked a muted Nowruz punctuated by the sound of loud blasts in eastern and northern Tehran.
Shoppers were out in force buying new clothes and gifts, although pavements were less packed than usual for this time of year, with many people having fled north.
Gulf nations targeted
Trump has repeatedly said he does not plan to send US ground troops into combat with Iran, but The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that an additional 2,200-2,500 US Marines were headed to the region.
Trump would not confirm a report by the Axios news outlet that he was considering an occupation or blockade of Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait.
“I may have a plan or I may not,” Trump said when asked by an AFP reporter.
US forces hit Kharg with strikes that Trump said had “totally obliterated” all military targets on the island, but Washington has so far avoided hitting its oil infrastructure.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli military blamed “Iranian missile fragments” for a blast that hit the Old City.
kt notes: Satanyahu wants to build the Jewish 3rd temple on top so the destruction of al Aqsa mosque (by "whoever") will be gnam gnam for his needs
👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿
It was not immediately clear if the missile had been intercepted or what its intended target was.
Iranian attacks continued meanwhile on energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
Yesterday, drone attacks hit Kuwait’s giant Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, causing a fire that was later brought under control, a day after a direct hit on Qatar’s vital Ras Laffan natural gas facility.
The attack caused “extensive damage” that Qatar’s state energy company said could cost US$20 billion a year in lost revenue and take five years to repair.
That could lead to high energy prices worldwide that outlast the conflict, increasing inflation and lowering economic growth.
That is our modus operandi during your time and it remains our modus operandi now too.
Please.
He should focus on his earlier stance of asking for a RCI on Azam rather than diverting towards Chow. He should stop rocking the boat and leave Chow alone.
Lets wait and see how your sister will fare as CM.100% worse.
He moved to the finance minister post in 2018 and thought that he will be in this position for a long time. He did not foresee the Sheraton Move, which was successful partly due to the arrogance of some new ministers that did not go down well with the Malay majority.
LGE got a DNAA from his corruption case but was later recharged and is still fighting in court for this. He was bypassed and overlooked after GE-15 and is in the political wilderness now. He did not perform too well in his recent party's election and has been made an advisor ( basically told to retire and a face saving gesture).
He is now trying very hard to be relevant again and perhaps wrangle a DNAA leading to a full acquittal, just like a DPM.
When others in the UG speaks out against the government it is labeled as betrayal but when he opposed his own party member that is the CM of Penang it is called democracy. Such is the unbecoming behaviour.
No venture no gain.