Trump expects new Iran talks this week after he rejects latest offer

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran’s “apocalyptic” clerical leadership is driving the country toward “cataclysm” as the Trump administration ramps up economic pressure on Tehran.

“Iran is run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future,” Rubio said on "Hannity."

“They believe that it is their religious calling to trigger the last days of the world and the apocalypse.

“People like that can never possess a nuclear weapon, because they will use it to blackmail the world and to kill people.

“It is an unacceptable risk,” he warned.

Rubio said Tehran is “heading there fast to a cataclysm” as the administration intensifies its sanctions campaign through Operation Economic Outcast.

“At one point, Iran was one of the most prosperous countries in the Middle East before the radical clerics took over.

“So it's a very sad situation. Their economy now is a cataclysm," Rubios said.

He also said President Donald Trump had “saved the world a tremendous amount of trouble” by confronting Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Oil prices rose again in early Asian trading Tuesday morning as fears of potential supply disruptions tied to the U.S.-Iran war outweighed signs that crude exports from the Middle East are recovering, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures gained 63 cents, or 0.6%, to $105.91 a barrel by 0002 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 72 cents, or 0.8%, to $93.32 a barrel.

"A clearer picture is emerging of higher oil export volumes leaving the Gulf, but much of that increase still relies on workarounds such as ship-to-ship transfers," KCM Trade chief market analyst Tim Waterer told the outlet.

"Those methods are less efficient and more costly than normal operations, which is why crude prices remain elevated," he said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Finance Minister Yassine Jaber on Monday to help curb Iranian and Hezbollah financial networks and restore confidence in the country’s banking system.

“Today, I met with Lebanese Prime Minister @nawafsalam and Finance Minister @JaberYassine to discuss the need for decisive action to disrupt Iranian and Hizballah financial networks, and the importance of key financial sector reforms to restore confidence in Lebanon’s banking system.” Bessent said on X.

Cryptocurrency firm Tether and its dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDT, are lifelines for Iran’s shadow banking network, according to a report by Democratic investigators on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Analyzing blockchain activity across hundreds of crypto wallets sanctioned or targeted for seizure over ties to Iran and its proxies, investigators found that 84% transacted almost exclusively in USDT.

The investigation shows how the network was used to bypass financial sanctions, move funds across Iranian borders, stabilize the national currency and support the buying and selling of drones and weapons.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the findings show USDT’s role in facilitating Tehran’s illicit operations and said Tether routinely failed to freeze targeted wallets, particularly before 2024.

Qatari mediators are working with Washington and Tehran on a new proposal aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, officials told The Associated Press on Monday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that mediators are discussing a draft proposal with both sides, the outlet said.

The development comes after President Donald Trump also suggested Monday in the Oval Office that U.S. officials had been in contact with Iranian representatives.

Under the proposal, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen under a separate, toll-free agreement Iran has been negotiating with Oman to regulate shipping through the waterway.

Iran discussed ideas with Qatari mediators that will be presented to the U.S. and expects to receive Washington's final response through Doha, Araghchi said, according to state news agency IRNA, Reuters reported.

Araghchi said the next move rests with Washington, saying, "If the Americans claim they are seeking an agreement or a peaceful solution, we have presented that solution."

U.S. Central Command on Monday highlighted the USS George Washington carrying out flight operations in the Gulf, signaling its presence as Washington enforces its blockade of Iranian ports.

“USS George Washington (CVN 73) conducts flight operations as the aircraft carrier sails in the Arabian Sea,” the command said on X.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, underscoring the ties between the two countries amid the war with Iran.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife visited the United Arab Emirates yesterday at the invitation of the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,” Netanyahu’s office said on X.

"The visit focused on strengthening relations between the two countries and on regional challenges," it said.

Netanyahu was accompanied by the head of the National Security Council, the head of Mossad, the military secretary and the foreign policy adviser.

The Prime Minister’s Office also pushed back on reports claiming Netanyahu had asked the Emirati leader to deny a report alleging the UAE warned Israel of an impending Hamas attack before the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

"Fake news. The visit focused solely on strengthening relations between the two countries and addressing regional challenges," the office said.

Britain's defense secretary said Monday that while Iran poses a threat to the U.K. and its allies, it was too early to link Tehran to the alleged terrorist plot targeting RAF Fairford that was foiled Sunday in Gloucestershire.

Wes Streeting also cautioned against drawing conclusions about the investigation into the alleged plot near the base used by the U.S. Air Force.

"I don't want to draw a link between what's happening in Iran and this incident at this stage," Streeting told reporters.

"It's far too early for me, or indeed anyone else, to speculate on aims and motives," he told Bloomberg.

"What I would say is that there is no doubt that the Iranian regime poses a threat to this country, our interests, and our allies," he said.

"And we will stand together with our friends and allies to deter and repel any attempts by Iranian or Iranian-backed agents who would do us harm."

Streeting also emphasized the close intelligence relationship between London and Washington.

"With the United States of America, we have the closest defense and intelligence relationship of any two sovereign countries anywhere in the world," he said.

"That makes Britain more safe, not less safe."

He also pointed to "the warmth of President Trump's praise of the British police and security services in his remarks yesterday."

Streeting's comments came a day after President Donald Trump praised the U.K. for disrupting the suspected plot, calling its response "amazing."

Trump, however, struck a different tone Monday, telling reporters in the Oval Office he was "surprised" British authorities had released the five suspects on bail while the investigation continued.

Israel’s military announced the arrival of the INS Drakon, a new submarine that officials say will bolster its navy’s stealth capabilities.

“A historic moment for the Israeli Navy: The new submarine ‘Drakon’ has arrived at our ports,” the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said on X.

“A new strategic capability that adds to the Israeli army's readiness to defend our country's borders on every front,” the IDF added.

The INS Drakon is equipped with “innovative and advanced technologies” that will put Israel at the “forefront of global military technology and will enhance the Israeli Navy’s operational flexibility for years to come,” the military said, according to The Times of Israel.

The submarine features an air-independent propulsion system (AIP) which allows its crew to stay underwater for long periods before needing to surface.

“The AIP system is very significant. It increases the level of stealth by orders of magnitude,” Capt. “Yud,” chief of the Navy’s 7th Submarine Flotilla, told the outlet.

A senior Iranian military commander said Monday that Tehran remains intent on avenging itself against its enemies after months of war, with retaliation coming at a time of Iran’s choosing.

Iranian army Deputy Coordinator Habibollah Sayyari made the remarks during an appearance on state television, according to Iran International.

“Our enemies should know that the issue of our revenge remains in place,” Sayyari said.

“We ultimately have to take this revenge, wherever or whenever,” he added.

Rep. Randy Fine criticized British authorities Monday after five men arrested over an alleged terror plot targeting RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom were released on bail, calling the decision “insane.”

“It is insane that the United Kingdom arrests people for mean words but is releasing Muslim terrorists on bail who were arrested for trying to kill American soldiers. It's mind-blowing. How is this possible? The UK has fallen,” Fine told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.

Fine's remarks came after President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he was “surprised” by the decision to release the suspects.

“But over there, I'm surprised that they released them,” Trump said. “I wouldn't have done that. Look, they've been very good. They worked with us very closely. We know everything about them. We would not have released them.”

The British nationals were arrested Sunday after police responded to reports of suspicious vehicles near the military base in Gloucestershire, which is used by the U.S. Air Force and served as a hub for American bomber operations during the Iran war.

Investigators have not announced any charges or publicly attributed responsibility.

Just days after left-wing British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband shook hands with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s top diplomat at the United Nations, U.K. authorities arrested five men with possible links to Tehran who allegedly sought to bomb a military base in Fairford used by American forces.

Armed officers arrested the five suspected terrorists who were traveling in three vans reportedly packed with explosive material.

The authorities seized the five British nationals and the vans a mere 350 yards from the military base, which is used by the U.S. Army to launch air strikes against military targets in Iran.

Speaking from London on Monday, Nile Gardiner, the director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital, "I think it is highly likely it was an Iranian orchestrated attack. It is stunning that they have released terrorist suspects on bail. It strikes me as entirely insane. The suspects appear to be Muslim Islamists, judging by the picture."

Gardiner said, "The British government is on a full appeasement drive toward Tehran. We saw that with Ed Miliband meeting with the Iranian foreign minister at the U.N. General Assembly. The U.K. does not want to get involved in the U.S.-led war against Tehran."

He said the current government is a "socialist appeasement-minded British administration that is incredibly weak on defense and national security."

The United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign on Feb. 28 to knock out Iran's nuclear weapons and missile systems.

A source familiar with the Fairford investigation had previously ⁠told Reuters that an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely, although a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being looked at as possibilities.

This is an excerpt from a report by Fox News Digital's Benjamin Weinthal.

President Donald Trump on Monday issued a blunt warning about Iran, saying its leaders are “crazy” and insisting Tehran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon because of the consequences.

“If you want to see turmoil and a travesty, let them take out a city with a nuclear weapon,” the president said of Iran in the Oval Office.

“I'm not only talking about Israel and big parts of the Middle East, but let them hit us with a nuclear weapon for all those stupid people that think it's okay.”

“I deal with them and they are crazy,” Trump warned.

“There's no question about it. They are very crazy people and I tell them that all the time.”

“But they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he repeated.

Trump also told reporters that if Iran had a nuclear weapon, it would lead to "one of the worst things that could ever happen to the world."

"There would be no Israel, there would be no Middle East and then the rockets and the bombs would start coming our way and Europe's way, and I stopped it," he said.

President Donald Trump on Monday criticized U.K. authorities for releasing on bail five men arrested over an alleged plot targeting RAF Fairford, saying he was "surprised" by the decision while declining to elaborate on any links to Iran.

The men, who were arrested Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses after an alleged plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, were released on bail Monday as the investigation continues.

"But I will tell you, I would have said, don't let them have bail. Cashless bail," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office before asking whether it was "cashless bail."

"I guess that was one of the problems that we had, which started the whole mess of crime," he said. "And we're ending cashless bail. But over there, I'm surprised that they released them."

"I wouldn't have done that. Look, they've been very good. They worked with us very closely. We know everything about them. We would not have released them," Trump added.

When pressed on whether Iran or another actor may have been behind the suspected plot, Trump declined to elaborate but suggested he had additional information.

"Oh, I don't know. I'd rather not," Trump said. "I mean, I know the answer. I can be very specific, but I'd rather not say it. But I would not have released them."

RAF Fairford has served as a key U.S. Air Force hub during the conflict with Iran, supporting U.S. strategic bomber operations from the United Kingdom.

British authorities have not publicly identified who they believe was behind the suspected plot or announced a motive.

President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon as he predicted the war would end soon and gas prices would fall.

“Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

“We're going to win that war very soon,” he added before stating that the war “will be over and the gas and gas prices will come tumbling down.”

“So nobody else could have done that,” Trump added

Qatari mediators are reported to be holding separate discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. representatives in New York on Monday or Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing officials.

The meetings, the outlet said, are a renewed diplomatic effort to end the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Discussions are expected to center on an amended version of a seven-day proposal that Iran initially presented to the U.S. on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last week, the official said.

Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency also confirmed that Araqchi is scheduled to meet with Qatari mediators for further talks in the U.S.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uncovered and destroyed a Hezbollah tunnel beneath a civilian home in southern Lebanon on Monday as part of a wider operation that the military said also demolished hundreds of terrorist sites across the region.

“Troops also dismantled 600+ terrorist infrastructure sites & 7 other underground routes,” the IDF said in a post shared on X.

Israeli troops also found dozens of missile launchers that had been left in the security zone before the ceasefire agreement took effect, the military said. 

National security and military analyst Dr. Rebecca Grant discussed the U.S. economic pressure campaign against Iran and the regime’s demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz on "Fox Report."