US President Donald Trump told Fox News Thursday he didn’t have any regrets about launching the US-Israeli war against Iran, insisting he would do “exactly” as he had done again if given another chance. The rising cost of living fuelled by the war is expected to take a toll on support for Trump’s right-wing Republican Party in the November midterm elections. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Trump declines Saudi crown prince’s call for US strikes on Houthis, Axios reports
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called US President Donald Trump twice on Thursday and urged him to launch strikes against the Houthis, Axios reported, citing two US officials.
Trump rejected the request, and US officials said the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, the report said.
According to Axios, Washington is increasingly concerned about the rapidly escalating conflict in Yemen and is stepping up support for Saudi Arabia while seeking to avoid direct military involvement.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command, travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination talks, according to the report.
US military and civilian officials have also told their Saudi counterparts in recent weeks that Trump’s directive is to keep American forces focused on Iran and safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, while avoiding the opening of another military front, Axios added.
Iran and Gulf states to meet in push for Hormuz deal, FT reports
Gulf foreign ministers plan to meet their Iranian counterpart in a push by Oman and Iran to secure buy-in for a temporary deal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported.
The gathering is scheduled to be held on Monday in the Omani coastal city of Salalah, the report said, citing two people briefed on the matter.
Hormuz shipping traffic falls to single digits, data shows
Vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell to seven on Thursday from 11 the previous day, preliminary shiptracking data showed on Friday, well below the 10-day average of 15.
Of the seven, two vessels exited and five entered, according to the data.
The figures exclude any vessels that might have crossed the strait with their Automatic Identification System transponders turned off to avoid detection.
Before the US-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28, the strait typically handled about 125 large, commercial vessels per day, including tankers, gas carriers, bulkers and container vessels, accounting for some 20 percent of the world’s daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
Trump says he does not regret Iran war despite impact it may have on midterm elections
US President Donald Trump said he did not regret going to war against Iran despite the impact the conflict may have on the November US midterm elections.
“I don’t believe in the word ‘regret’. You can always question yourself a little bit,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham when asked if he regretted the Iran war due to the impact it may have on the elections.
“If I had it do again, I would do exactly as I did,” Trump said in the interview broadcast on Thursday on “The Ingraham Angle” show.
Trump dismissed suggestions that some of his supporters were upset and demoralised about the war.
Saudi authorities issued brief alerts warning of potential danger in two areas near the border with Yemen, after the Iran-backed Houthis said Riyadh launched dozens of airstrikes on Yemen.
A 4.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in southern Lebanon by the US Geological Survey (USGS) after the Israeli military announced that it had blown up tunnels belonging to Hezbollah.
Iran‘s Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday its navy targeted a US unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
