We can't even see: Iran's president confirms severe damage to nuclear sites by US
The three facilities -- Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan -- were hit by US B-52 bombers deploying bunker-buster munitions aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear infrastructure. The strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, were part of a broader effort to deter Iran's alleged development of nuclear weapons.His remarks validate Trump's claims that the strikes dealt a devastating blow. "It was obliteration, and you'll see that," Trump had said during the NATO summit in the Netherlands. Pezeshkian's admission that Iran cannot access its own underground nuclear sites has further fuelled debate about the true scale of the US operation's impact.Earlier, a US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) report painted a more cautious picture. First reported by CNN, the assessment concluded that while the strikes did cause "significant damage," Iran's nuclear programme had only been set back by a few months and was not "completely and fully obliterated."Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the leak as "preliminary" and "low confidence," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the leakers as "professional stabbers."- EndsWith inputs from APMust Watch
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Hindustan Times
23 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
More of Trump trade uncertainty
When President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on April 2, he marked the end of an era in global trade where the US was both a vanguard of the rules-based multilateral trade order and the largest market for many exporters. This arrangement did not just help exporters, the US too had access to cheap goods. Before the tariffs could kick in, Trump put them on hold till July 9 during which period bilateral deals were to be negotiated on terms beneficial to the US. A day before the deadline was supposed to expire, the US announced almost identical tariffs on 14 countries — they range from Japan to Myanmar in economic importance and India is yet to get a 'letter' — and threatened significant additional tariffs in case they retaliate. To be sure, Trump has kicked the can of tariff imposition down the road once more, this time to August 1. A few days ago, he announced a differentiated tariff deal with Vietnam: 20% for Vietnamese goods and 40% on trans-shipments (read redirected Chinese exports to the US). A temporary truce with China had been struck even earlier. Is there a larger takeaway from all this? Three observations can be made. One, Trump seems to have overestimated his deal making abilities with other countries. The tariffs are pretty much what they were in April, and the announcements have been unilateral rather than bilateral. Two, the US's approach to trade has now clearly shifted from a 'target China' strategy to 'target everyone'. While Trump has agreed to a 55% tariff on China as part of a temporary truce, tariffs on other countries are also significantly high, even though lower than China. The rest of the world will clearly take note of this. Three, and this is the most important, is the message that in order to negotiate with the US, one has to have a strong bargaining chip now. Trump's détente with China came after the latter held back its critical rare earth mineral supplies, the lack of which would have crippled electronics manufacturing in the US. Countries which do not have such cards against the US are being dealt a much worse deal. To be sure, Trump's ultimate test would be whether the US economy can survive the inflationary impact of these tariffs as and when they kick in. The August 1 deadline might well be extended once again. Uncertainty is the only certainty now.
Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump sends letters to 14 nations, threatens higher tariffs in case of retaliation
WASHINGTON DC: The Trump administration on Monday sent out a series of letters to 14 countries informing them that their goods exports to the United States could face fresh tariffs starting on August 1. Earlier, Trump's 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs was set to expire on July 9. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an Invest America Roundtable in the State Dining room at the White House. (REUTERS) Although the implementation of tariffs has been delayed, the letters addressed to the leaders of each of the 14 nations outlined a separate tariff level for each country. Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand were among those who received tariff letters from the Trump administration. The letters were mostly sent to Asian nations, especially in Southeast Asia. While Japan and South Korea will face a 25% tariff from August 1, Bangladesh will be hit with a 35% tariff. In most cases, the tariff levels outlined by Trump in his letters are broadly similar to those announced by his administration earlier on April 2. 'We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with Bangladesh, and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, trade deficits engendered by Bangladesh's tariff, and non tariff, policies and trade barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Bangladesh a tariff of only 35% on any and all Bangladeshi goods sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs,' Trump said in his letter Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. The letters were posted on Truth Social, Trump's social media website. Similar letters were sent to the 13 other nations on Monday. Some countries such as Japan and South Korea are negotiating with the Trump administration on trade arrangements. Trump also told the 14 countries that they could avoid tariffs by manufacturing goods in the United States and warned that any retaliatory tariffs would simply be added to the tariff levels outlined in the letters. Some countries expressed their concerns about the Trump Administration's latest move. 'This 30% tariff is based on a particular interpretation of the balance of trade between South Africa and the United States. This contested interpretation forms part of the issues under consideration by the negotiating teams from South Africa and the United States. Accordingly, South Africa maintains that the 30% reciprocal tariff is not an accurate representation of available trade data,' said South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement after receiving a letter from Trump. Washington expects that the tariff letters will spur a number of the 14 countries to expedite trade talks with America. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent told the media that he expected a number of trade deals to be signed soon.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Can US President Donald Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize?
The Nobel Peace Prize is a prestigious global honour. Individuals and organisations are awarded for advancing peace. Nominations come from various sources, but self-nominations are not allowed. The Norwegian Nobel Committee decides the winner. The committee considers nominations and expert assessments. The prize includes a medal, diploma, monetary award, and global recognition. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads -The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious honours that can be awarded to individuals and organisations Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the Trump wins, he will be the fifth U.S. president on the list after Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama. Here is a look at how the award works:WHO CAN WIN?According to the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, the prize should go to the person "who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses."In an introduction on the Nobel website, Chair of the Peace Prize Committee Jorgen Watne Frydnes says "in practice anyone can be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The history of the prize shows clearly it's given to people from all layers of society from all over the world."WHO CAN NOMINATE?Thousands of people can propose names: members of governments and parliaments; current heads of state; university professors of history, social sciences, law, and philosophy; and former Nobel Peace Prize laureates, among others. You cannot nominate lists are kept secret for 50 years, though there is nothing to stop those who make nominations from disclosing their DECIDES?The Norwegian Nobel Committee , which consists of five individuals appointed by the Norwegian parliament, is the arbiter. Members are often retired politicians, but not always. The current committee is led by the head of the Norwegian branch of PEN International, a group defending freedom of are all put forward by Norwegian political parties and their appointments reflect the balance of power in Norway's DO THEY DECIDE?Nominations close on January 31, meaning Netanyahu's nomination of Trump would not be considered this year. Members of the committee can make their own nominations no later than the first meeting of the committee in make a shortlist, and each nominee is then assessed by a group of permanent advisers and other committee aims for unanimity but can decide by majority vote. A final decision is often only made a few days before the prize is Nobel Peace Prize has often been seen as having a political message. The Nobel website says some recipients have been "highly controversial political actors," while the prize has also increased public focus on international or national won the award just a few months after taking office. Two members of the committee stepped down over the decision in 1973 to award the Peace Prize to U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Vietnamese politician Le Duc Tho for negotiating an end to the Vietnam member quit in 1994 when Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat shared the prize with Israel's Shimon Peres and Yitzhak DOES THE LAUREATE GET?A medal, a diploma, 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.15 million), and immediate global attention, if they are not already ARE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE CEREMONY?The announcement of this year's prize will be made on October 10 at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in ceremony will take place at the Oslo City Hall on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
