Trump rips congressional Iran war powers vote as 'meaningless'; UN nuclear inspectors to visit sites
President Donald Trump said the Senate decided to “have a poorly timed and meaningless War Powers Act Vote” on Tuesday. The Senate voted 50-48 to back legislation aimed at limiting U.S. military involvement in Iran, the same day Trump said nuclear inspectors will visit nuclear sites in Iran “at the appropriate time.”
UN nuclear watchdog chief says inspections of Iranian sites are ‘going to happen’
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Wednesday that inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites are “going to happen.”
The declaration comes after Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday claimed there were no scheduled visits yet.
“I can understand political statements, they are part of the reality, but the fundamental thing I would like to remind you and draw your attention to is that there has been a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by both presidents,” Grossi said Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
The accord “says explicitly that the nuclear activities that are going to be carried out with regards to the nuclear material facilities will be supervised by the IAEA — in all letters,” he said.
“Obviously, to do that, we will have to inspect. Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in 10 days, it’s important, but not essential. This is going to happen,” Grossi added.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
Israel’s military strikes 2 ‘armed Hezbollah terrorists’
The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that it struck two “armed Hezbollah terrorists” in southern Lebanon.
“This morning, Golani Reconnaissance Unit forces operating in the Ali Taher Ridge identified two armed terrorists from the Hezbollah terror organization who posed a threat to our forces operating in the security zone,” the IDF wrote on X.
“Immediately after the identification, the Air Force and ground forces struck the terrorists to remove the threat. The IDF will not allow the Hezbollah terror organization to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and IDF forces and will continue to operate to remove immediate threats,” it added.
On Tuesday, the IDF reported multiple incidents involving “terrorists” in the same area. Hezbollah, a terrorist group in Lebanon, is backed by Iran.
Trump says US inspectors will join UN watchdog during Iranian nuclear site visits
President Donald Trump told Fox News on Wednesday that U.S. inspectors will join the International Atomic Energy Agency when it goes into Iran to review the country’s nuclear sites.
"They'll make a deal, put it in writing, then they'll go out and say it's not true,” Trump said after Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday claimed there were no scheduled visits yet for the U.N. watchdog.
"They've agreed to it, they've agreed to the inspectors,” Trump told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst.
The president also said there is no rush in getting the inspectors in.
Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this post.
Trump: Iran will seek ‘no tolls’ or ‘other charges of any kind’ for ships crossing Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran has informed the U.S. it will seek no tolls or any other charges for ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran has informed the U.S. that, despite troublemaking Fake News reporting to the contrary, there are ‘NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND BEING SOUGHT OR RECEIVED BY IRAN ON SHIPS TRAVELING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!” Trump continued.
“Additionally, no money has been given to Iran, or released from their money to them, by the U.S. We will be releasing some of their money, that is totally controlled by us, to our Farmers and Ranchers, for the purchase of Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, and more. Food is desperately needed in Iran, and we will be purchasing it for them exclusively from the United States,” Trump also said.
US-Iran deal is ‘America’s declaration of defeat,’ Iranian negotiator says
Iran’s hardline parliament speaker and key negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the deal between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending the war is “America’s declaration of defeat,” a report said.
“The Islamabad understanding was not the result of pressure and coercion, but rather the result of the resistance and authority of the brave Iranian nation,” Ghalibaf said on Iranian television, according to The Times of Israel.
“That is why, the Islamabad memorandum of understanding became a declaration of America’s defeat,” he reportedly added.
Rutte says he 'completely backs' Trump on NATO but defends European military support
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday voiced support for President Donald Trump's criticism of NATO but argued that despite some frustrations within the alliance, European members have provided support to U.S.-led military operations.
His remarks came after Trump renewed pressure on NATO allies to increase contributions to collective defense and support alliance missions.
“I completely back him on this when it comes to NATO,” Rutte said during an appearance on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier."
“I know there is disappointment, but let's also see these are isolated cases,” he added.
Rutte pointed to European support for military action against Iran, noting that thousands of flights originated from European bases to assist the mission.
“I totally understand the disappointment, but when you take, for example, Italy, 500 U.S. planes took off from U.S. bases in Italy to support the operation. So this is massive.”
He also highlighted logistical assistance provided by other allies.
“When you look at all of Europe, again, it's between 4,000 and 5,000 sorties,” Rutte said. “A country like Romania — in its capital, Bucharest — had to cut down on commercial air traffic because the airport was being used as a tanker facility. So all this is taking place," he said.
Trump slams congressional Iran war powers vote as 'meaningless'
President Donald Trump ripped the Senate for holding a war powers resolution vote on Tuesday, saying the measure was “poorly timed and meaningless.”
The Senate voted 50-48 to back legislation aimed at limiting U.S. military involvement in Iran. The measure, which previously passed the House, received support from four Republicans: Sens. Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Bill Cassidy. Sen. John Fetterman was the lone Democrat to vote against it.
“So, I have Iran on the ‘ropes,’ ready to go down for the fall, willing to give us practically anything, and for the first time in decades, respecting the hell out of the United States and its President, ME, and the U.S. Senate decides to have a poorly timed and meaningless War Powers Act Vote, telling the Number One Sponsor of Terror in the World that the United States doesn’t like what I am doing to them, and I must stop, and by so doing has provided aid and comfort the Enemy,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Four Republican Losers voted with the Dumocrats, and Iran asked my people, ‘what does that all mean?’ These Senators have just made my job more difficult, but I will get it done, one way or the other, because I always get it done!” Trump added.
Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the conflict with Iran.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this post.
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