SummaryTrump remarks suggest the fate of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is no longer be the central issue it once was.Hezbollah chief rejects outcome of Lebanon-Israel talks, insisting that a truce must encompass whole country.WSJ reports that the White House intends to maintain a ceasefire with Iran unless American troops are killed; oil drops also after Trump states on TS Trump lashes out after House War Powers votes passes Wednesday evening, attacking especially four Republicans who voted in favor.Trump downplayed Iran's attacks on US bases in Kuwait & Bahrain, saying "they were slightly provoked...so they were reciprocating."US x Iran permanent peace deal by June 30, 2026?
Yes 25% · No 76%View full market & trade on Polymarket * * *Trump Suggests Enriched Uranium No Longer a Central Issue for HimTrump's Thursday late afternoon remarks to reporters suggested that the fate of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium may no longer be the central issue it once was. Asked about reports that the US could attempt to seize or recover Iran's remaining nuclear material, Trump repeatedly downplayed the prospect, saying there was "no reason" to retrieve what he called Iran's nuclear "dust" because it is now effectively "entombed."The president stressed that Washington is "not considering" any covert operation to seize Iran's uranium, adding that the US already has "powerful cameras watching Iran's uranium" and remains confident in its ability to monitor the situation. While Trump at one point boasted that America and China are the only countries capable of recovering the material and suggested "we'll get Iran's nuclear dust," his broader message now seems that the stockpile no longer represents an urgent concern. Instead, Trump framed the dispute around a much simpler objective: ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. He reiterated that the "main part" of any agreement would be that Iran "can't have a nuclear weapon," while adding that a broader deal could also include guarantees regarding the Strait of Hormuz remaining open to global commerce.Expressing optimism about diplomacy, Trump again said talks with Tehran are "going well" and suggested that a successful agreement could even lead to a personal meeting with Iran's supreme leader. "I would be honored to meet the Ayatollah," he remarked, adding that if a deal is reached, Iran "won't have a nuclear weapon."At the same time, Trump declared in an oddly stated reference that the US would ultimately prevail "on paper, or militarily." He warned that any future attack resulting in the deaths of American troops would trigger a rapid return to hostilities, while asserting that Iran's military capabilities have been severely degraded. Trump claimed Tehran has only a handful of missiles remaining, reiterated that Iran effectively has "no navy" and "no air force," and even said the US possesses photographs of sunken Iranian vessels. He further boasted that Washington had "wiped out almost all" of Iran's leadership during the conflict.On regional tensions, Trump linked developments in Lebanon directly to the broader confrontation with Iran, saying the various fronts are "interconnected." He disclosed conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Lebanon and expressed hope that the country could finally enjoy "some peace." Trump also claimed that Hezbollah had contacted the United States during the crisis.IAEA: Iran Nuclear Risk Higher than When War BeganStating the obvious:According to Bloomberg, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published a “restricted” document which reveals that the nuclear risk posed by Iran is now higher today than it was before the war began. Specifically, prior to the war, the IAEA was allowed to inspect Iranian enriched uranium, but such inspections have since largely halted. However, it should be noted that the IAEA was always only inspected where the IRGC told them they were allowed to, and many suspected that nuclear proliferation was happening behind the scenes, in facilities that were not accessible to the IAEA.Hezbollah Rejects Outcome of Lebanon-Israel Talks: Secretary GeneralHezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem in new speech rejects the Washington-mediated conclusion to direct Lebanon-Israel talks:Naim Qassem has warned that Israeli areas across the border will remain under threat as long as the Lebanese people and villages come under attack from the Israeli army.He also rejected attempts to tie the group’s deployment to wider political arrangements, saying the group refuses any link between Hezbollah’s presence and a ceasefire, or Israel’s withdrawal.Some highlights from Qassem's address:'The revolution in Iran was launched from an Islamic background on the principles of resisting injustice and occupation, and it announced that it is neither Eastern nor Western"'The West and America will not accept Iran as a model of righteousness and justice; rather, they want it to be subordinate to their interests and their tyranny."'Thanks to Iran for helping us to regain our land and our right to confront the Israeli-American aggression despite its major confrontations"; describes direct negotiations as "absurd and humiliating" for Lebanon.As long as Israel is in Lebanon, resistance will continue.Northern Israel will remain at risk as long as Lebanese villages are being bombed."We are only concerned with ending the comprehensive aggression—with a ceasefire and the withdrawal of “Israel""As long as the occupation exists, the resistance will continue."We have not given any commitment to anyone not to resist the aggression and respond to it. And as long as the aggression continues, we will confront it with all the power we have.""The main objective must be the withdrawal from Lebanese territories so that the army spreads in the south of the Litani River and the liberation of the detainees""We do not accept any link between the existence of the resistance, the cessation of aggression and the withdrawal of "Israel"Iran's foreign ministry is also still insisting that the broader US-Iran ceasefire must incorporate Lebanon.Oil Prices Fall As Trump to Maintain Iran Ceasefire Unless American Troops Are KilledPresident Trump in an early Thursday morning Truth Social post has said the United States is "in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War" - while blasting the Republicans who voted the night prior to limit war powers "GRANDSTANDERS" and "unpatriotic".Even though Iran is denying that any direct negotiations are taking place, following a big flare-up this week in new tit-for-tat fighting which involved Iran sending more missiles and drones on Gulf states, especially Kuwait, the reference to 'final negotiations' was possibly enough to get oil prices to react, with a drop in crude. There was also a report that the White House intends to maintain a ceasefire with Iran unless American troops are killed.Trump's new apparent strategy to just wait things out with no new planned military attacks has been featured in The Wall Street Journal as follows:President Trump has told aides privately that he would consider ending the ceasefire with Iran if Tehran kills American troops, U.S. officials said, insisting that the weekslong pause in airstrikes remains intact despite a steady stream of violent skirmishes.The president’s reluctance to reignite the war suggests he might be willing to withstand smaller flare-ups for weeks—or even months—to avoid a broader conflict in the Middle East.And Rubio appeared to second this in fielding questions about this week's violence:Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the tit-for-tat attacks as purely defensive in nature and not a renewed outbreak of full-scale war. “They are happening in response to an Iranian action,” Rubio said in a House hearing Wednesday. “If they don’t shoot at those ships, we don’t shoot, but we have to respond.”More evidence of Trump's apparently high tolerance for what he deems a violation of ceasefire:Trump on Iran:
