President Donald Trump addressed reporters prior to boarding Air Force One, indicating he would update them later regarding discussions he was having. On Truth Social, he expressed skepticism about the acceptability of a proposal being discussed, stating, “[I] can’t imagine that it would be acceptable,” while also asserting that Iran had not yet faced significant consequences for its actions over the past decades.
Two Iranian semi-official news agencies reported that Iran had submitted a 14-point response to a US nine-point proposal, amidst ongoing conversations and a fragile three-week ceasefire. Trump had previously dismissed a different Iranian proposal but was considering a new initiative to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and natural gas trade.
Addressing past comments, Trump clarified that he did not mean to imply that no deal was preferable to an agreement with Iran, asserting that if the US left, it could take Iran 20 years to rebuild. However, he emphasised that the US was not planning to withdraw at this time.
Additionally, President Trump hinted at significant changes to US military presence in Europe, which sparked bipartisan criticism. Senators Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers expressed concern that such changes could undermine deterrence and send negative signals to adversaries like Russia. They insisted that any alterations to US military posture in Europe should involve careful deliberation with Congress.
Despite criticism, Trump authorised the State Department to bypass congressional approval for substantial arms sales to Middle Eastern allies, including Israel, Qatar, and the UAE, amounting to approximately US$8.6 billion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified this decision by describing an emergency that necessitated immediate action for US national security interests, thus waiving the usual requirement for congressional consent.
Overall, the administration’s handling of these international affairs continues to draw scrutiny, with global implications particularly in the context of US-Iran relations and military strategies in Europe.