'He would like to see it end', Trump says of Xi on Iran war: Updates
An end to the Iran war remains elusive for President Donald Trump on Friday but he struck a hopeful tone amid his visit to Beijing, China, indicating he believes President Xi Jinping could help resolve the conflict.
"He would like to see it end," Trump said in a Fox News interview of Xi’s stance on the war, adding that the Chinese president "probably" could influence Iran to make a deal. The president said Iran’s leaders are "much more reasonable" than those in charge at the outset of the war.
Trump said Xi agreed China would not give Iran military equipment and that the Chinese president shared his view on restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the critical channel through which about a fifth of the world’s oil was delivered before the war.
Trump brushed aside questions about whether Xi agreed Iran should not obtain a nuclear weapon. Chinese officials did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation of Xi’s comments relayed by Trump.
Trump’s China visit comes as the Iran war stretches past the 75-day mark. The fighting is an increasing drag on the global economy, driving up fuel prices and inflation to levels not seen in years.
The average price for a gallon of gas in the United States on Friday morning was almost $4.53. Average prices were over $5 in Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The average in California was $6.14. Trump celebrated Xi agreeing to buy oil and gas from the United States, though it’s unclear how that would drive down global prices.
Meanwhile, the war is costing the United States tens of billions of dollars. The Pentagon estimated earlier in the week that the war has cost $29 billion. Critics suggest the actual toll is far higher, costing over $80 billion.
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire by 45 days
Michael Loria
Israel and Lebanon will extend their ceasefire by 45 days, the U.S. State Department announced Friday afternoon following talks between the two sides in Washington, D.C.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the extension is aimed at giving the two sides time to establish a lasting peace deal. Further talks are scheduled at the State Department on June 2 and 3, and also at the Pentagon on May 29.
"We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border," Pigott said in a statement.
Hezbollah did not participate in peace talks. It’s unclear what lasting peace will be formed without addressing the issue of hostilities between Israel and Iran's Lebanon-based ally.
Over the course of the ceasefire announced April 16, Israel and Hezbollah have traded near daily strikes. Many civilians have died under Israeli attacks on Lebanon during that time.
Trump says he rejected Iran's last offer after reading its 'first sentence'
Joey Garrison
President Donald Trump said he rejected the latest offer from Iran after reading the first sentence of the proposal, adding he wants to see a true "guarantee" from the Iranian regime that it won't pursue the production of a nuclear weapon.
"I looked at it, and if I don't like the first sentence I just throw it away," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his return from China, declining to read out the sentence but calling it an "unacceptable sentence."
"If they have nuclear in any form, I don't read the rest of it," the president added.
Trump said Iran agreeing to a 20-year moratorium on its nuclear program would satisfy his concerns in a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuzbut he expressed doubt whether Iran would adhere to such an agreement.
"Twenty years is enough but the level of guarantee from them is a ‒ in other words, it's got to be a real 20 years," Trump said.
Trump wants Iran to remove enriched uranium used to produce a nuclear weapon, but he said Iranian leaders have claimed their country lacks the equipment and technology to do so.
"I want to get it. And they agreed to it, but then they took it back. But they'll agree to it eventually," Trump said.
Trump says US bombing hit Iran's missiles 'like pinatas'
Bart Jansen
Trump denied a report in the New York Times that Iran retained substantial missile capabilities, despite the U.S.-Israeli war.
Trump told reporters while flying back from China that 80 to 85% of Iran’s missiles and missile launchers were destroyed during the bombing that began on Feb. 28 to a ceasefire on April 7, and the rest could be destroyed if fighting resumes.
“We were hitting them like piñatas," Trump said. “If we go in, we’ll take that out very early."
Trump declines to say when US might resume bombing Iran
Bart Jansen
Trump said he would like to tell reporters the hour and minute that he plans to resume bombing Iran, but he can’t.
“I don’t want to say that. I’d like to tell you,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from China. “I can say this with very, very strong conviction: Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. Not gonna happen. No chance.”
He said if bombing resumes, the damage could be staggering.
“We could knock out their bridges and their electrical capacity within two days,” Trump said. “We could knock out the whole thing.”
Trump considers lifting sanctions on China buying oil from Iran
Bart Jansen
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would consider lifting the sanctions on Chinese oil companies buying Iran’s oil.
China depends on Iran for a majority of its imported oil, but shipping has been bottled up during the U.S-Israeli war on Iran that began Feb. 28.
“We talked about that,” Trump said of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “I’m going to make a decision over the next few days. We did talk about that.”
Officials searching for ex-Air Force officer accused of spying for Iran
Natalie Neysa Alund
The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of a former United States military officer accused of spying for Iran.
Monica Witt, a former defense contractor and intelligence technical sergeant of the U.S Air Force, was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019 on charges of espionage, including transmitting national defense information to the Middle Eastern country's government. Read more about Monica Witt.
Israel, Lebanon peace talks in Washington
Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials are meeting in Washington, DC, on Friday to continue peace talks started the day before.
The talks at the U.S. State Department come as the two sides are engaged in an ostensible ceasefire. But they have not stopped trading strikes.
Hezbollah, Iran’s ally in Lebanon, has continued attacking Israel and is not participating in the talks. Meanwhile Israel continues to bomb Lebanon, with local authorities reporting numerous civilian deaths.
Trump dismisses plan to take Iran’s uranium
Michael Loria
President Trump in a Fox News interview aired Thursday evening appeared to dismiss the idea of taking Iran’s highly enriched uranium, saying it was buried underground during U.S. strikes last summer.
Trump indicated it would not be feasible to retrieve the nuclear material, saying it would take about a week and a half to remove the debris from on top of the material.
"That’s a long time to be in enemy territory," said Trump. "I don’t think it’s necessary… but I’d still rather have it."
The president’s comments come months into the conflict the administration has said was aimed at eliminating Iran’s nuclear program.