Trump says he’ll hit Iran hard economically, will soon declare Hormuz ‘US territory’

Trump says he’ll hit Iran hard economically, will soon declare Hormuz ‘US territory’

TOI STAFF

US President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States will hit Iran hard economically, as Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a deal to end a nearly six month conflict.

His comments to Fox News came a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US was going to apply measures that have “never been seen” on Tehran as soon as next week.

The US leader also said he would “soon” declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory.

“Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. It’s true,” he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state. It was unclear whether he was speaking seriously.

Responding to Trump, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force, adding that Hormuz would only be opened or closed under Iran’s authority.

“As long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade,” Gharibabadi write in a post on X, showing little urgency toward restoring prewar trade. “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet or an aircraft carrier, by issuing an order or by delivering an election speech.”

Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to grind to a near standstill on Friday after two more ships were attacked there and the United States declared it could maintain the naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, with two the countries still locked in a stalemate over control of the key water and the Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Friday that no decision had been made to resume negotiations with the United States, the ​Iranian Student News Agency reported. He added that mediators Qatar and Pakistan were in contact with Iran and exchanging messages, but that this did not amount to negotiations building on a June agreement to end the war.

Amid the drop in the amount of oil being shipped through the strait, Trump on Friday urged Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices as the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The comments underscored the growing political risk for Trump as higher fuel prices collide with his campaign promise to lower energy costs, with Democrats already seeking to make the economic fallout from the Iran war an issue heading into the November midterm elections.

 A day earlier, Vice President JD Vance stated that preventing a nuclear Iran was the administration’s secondary goal, after “keep[ing] oil and gasoline cheap for Americans.”

Oil prices have risen this week, with Brent crude approaching $90 a barrel, while US gasoline prices have climbed to around $4 a gallon.

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Buildings Crumble After Powerful Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Indonesia – Tsunami Warning Issued (VIDEO)

DEVELOPING: Buildings Crumble After Powerful Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Indonesia – Tsunami Warning Issued (VIDEO)

Cristina Laila

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia on Friday, prompting a tsunami warning.

Violent shaking was felt in the Flores region.

The number of casualties is unknown.

Videos posted to social media show people running as buildings crumble during the quake.

NBC News reported:

A magnitude-7.7 earthquake hit off the coast of eastern Indonesia in the Flores region, the United States Geological Survey reported on Friday.

The epicenter was 68 kms (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning and urged residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks. The agency located the shallow undersea quake near Flores island. Residents along affected coastlines were advised to move to higher ground as officials are closely monitoring coastal tide gauges for any changes.

There was no immediate information available from authorities about possible damage from the quake.

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Massive Explosion Shatters Italian Factory South of Rome That Supplies Munitions to Ukraine

WATCH: Massive Explosion Shatters Italian Factory South of Rome That Supplies Munitions to Ukraine

Paul Serran

A blast that reminds us that the war is not so far away.

Yesterday (13), a gigantic explosion shattered through a munitions factory near ​the town of Colleferro, southeast of Rome, with the blast heard for miles around.

The factory produces ammunition and weapons that are transferred to Ukraine through European partners.

Reuters Reported:

“The explosion occurred when firefighters and police were already at the ​site responding to a fire, local media ​reports said.”

So far, no injuries were reported.

The plant is operated ​by the Franco-German ⁠defense group KNDS via KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary ​of the group.

“’It would have been a tragedy’ if the blast had not happened during the summer holiday when the plant was closed, Colleferro mayor Giulio Calamita ​told reporters. He said efforts were underway to put out ‌the ⁠last fires.

‘The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently being investigated and assessed by the teams on site’, KNDS said in a statement.”

The plant produces medium- and large-caliber ​ammunition for ​land and ⁠naval defense systems, as well as solid propellants for aerospace launch vehicles.

Euronews reported:

“Italian media reported that there were no casualties, with the AGI news agency saying employees sheltered in secure areas at the facility.

[…] Videos shared on social media showed a fire at the factory followed by a massive explosion.

‘The fright is great, but right now it is essential to keep calm and, above all, to avoid spreading untrue information, such as that relating to the 2007 accident which is once again circulating. We will update you as soon as possible with verified information’, [the mayor] wrote.”

Russia To Intensify Attacks On Sources Of Western Support In Ukraine:

Russia To Intensify Attacks On Sources Of Western Support In Ukraine: Lavrov

 TYLER DURDEN

At the end of June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an unusual move declared the start of a 40-day intensified pressure campaign against Russia, designed to force Moscow to the negotiating table and agree on terms favorable to Ukraine to end the war.

This was an effort seize on the momentum of repeat drone hits on Russian refinery and energy infrastructure - a reality Russia has suffered over many months, leading to an ongoing fuel crisis spanning dozens of cities and regions, and especially Crimea, which earlier in the summer had to temporarily halt fuel sales to common citizens for a time.

In mid-June, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov proclaimed  "Hell is beginning," for Russia and its military. "Logistics are being cut off. Crimea is being isolated," he said at the time. From there, drone attacks across the Moscow region greatly intensified.

But Russia in turn responded with its own major campaign. In response to major nightly long-range Ukrainian drone attacks deep into its territory, Russia sent more and more ballistic missiles on Kiev - and even the far West areas of Ukraine.

On Friday Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has essentially declared Zelensky's 40-day campaign to be defeated and moot. He described in a fresh media interview that not only will Russian forces implement a tougher response against Ukraine, but will go after the sources of Western support. He specifically raised the issue of the United States and its role.

"We have submitted a series of questions to the State Department requesting comment, including on the matter of intelligence data and the fact that the US is far more deeply involved in organizing and executing strikes deep within Russian territory against civilian targets. We await a response," Lavrov told state television, as quoted in Reuters.

"Russia will intensify its military campaign in Ukraine and seek to destroy every element used by the West to sustain Kiev’s war effort," the top diplomat said.

The Foreign Ministry has of late accused Ukraine of "brazen acts of ​terrorism" against shipping in the Black Sea, amid tit-for-tat ongoing attacks which have disrupted energy and grain shipping.

"We will not sink to their level. Instead, we will adopt much harsher methods to destroy everything that enables the West to fuel Kiev’s war machine. We are already doing this, and they are already moaning," Lavrov asserted.

On the question of initiatives toward peace which Washington once prioritized (but now no longer seems to), Lavrov quoted Putin as saying while alluding back to the Alaska summit:

"Donald, you sent ​us proposals, and I’ve given them some thought. There are matters that require compromise. But I ‌accept ⁠your proposals in the form you sent them to me."

As for Lavrov's questions on Washington's covert targeting support to Ukraine, the Trump administration is unlikely to give a direct response or acknowledgement to the query. 

President Trump at this start of his term vowed repeatedly to find a swift end to the war and a lasting peace, but this has remained elusive, and instead it appears he has kept up US intelligence and weapons support to Kiev - something that many MAGA supporters wanted to see a halt to.

Hormuz Traffic Slows Further

Hormuz traffic slows further after US threatens more economic pressure on Iran

REUTERS

Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to grind to a near standstill on Friday after two more ships were attacked there and the United States said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely.

A senior Iranian source said on Wednesday that there had been no progress in talks to build on a June agreement to end the war. Since the ceasefire renewed in the June deal broke down, Iran has resumed attacks on ships it accuses of trying to transit the strait without its permission.

The United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said two of its vessels were attacked transiting the strait on Thursday evening. The UAE government blamed Iran, which made no immediate comment.

Two vessels passed through the narrow waterway on Friday, according to analysis from ship tracking firm Kpler: a grain ship entering Iranian waters and an empty dry bulk ship going in the other direction.

A separate empty liquefied petroleum products tanker was sailing into the Gulf via the strait, the data showed. There were no crude oil shipments visible on Friday.

Nine vessels passed through the strait on Thursday, up from five on Wednesday but below the average of 12 for August.

Some ships may pass through undetected with their transponders off, but the figures are nowhere near the more than 130 ships that traversed the Strait of Hormuz daily before the war launched by the US and Israel on Iran in February.