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Monday, April 6, 2026

Iran war left mark on NATO, rift began with Greenland: Trump

Washington, Apr 7 (PTI): US President Donald Trump has lashed out at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), accusing the alliance and other friendly nations such as South Korea, Japan and Australia of failing to help the US in the Iran war. Trump's remarks at a press conference at the White House on Monday came days ahead of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Washington to meet the US President, who has dismissed the alliance as a "paper tiger". Trump said the war with Iran had left a mark on NATO "that will never disappear in my mind." The US President made it clear that the differences with NATO began when it spurned his move to take Greenland. "NATO is a paper tiger that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's not afraid of," Trump told reporters here. On the Iran war, Trump said NATO members actually "went out of their way not to help". "Look, we went to NATO. I didn't ask very strongly, I just said, 'Hey, if you want to help, great'," the US President said. "'No, no, no, we will not help,'" Trump said he was told, while not saying who he spoke to. Trump said NATO members were now trying to engage with him and offer support only after the United States had already won the war. "They're coming to see me on Wednesday," he said, adding that "all of a sudden" they now wanted to send help. "Japan didn't help us, Australia didn't help us, South Korea didn't help us, and then you get to NATO - NATO didn't help us," Trump said. "We've got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea; we have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un," Trump said. Trump said he gets along "very well" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "You know who else didn't help us? South Korea didn't help us. You know who else didn't help us? Australia didn't help us. You know who else didn't help us? Japan," Trump said. "But we have 45,000 people, soldiers in harm's way, right next to Kim Jong-un with a lot of nuclear weapons—45,000—what should have never happened," he said. "If a certain president, I'm not going to mention this president, I happen to like him, believe it or not, but if a certain president did his job, Kim Jong-un would not have nuclear weapons, but they're all afraid to do their job properly," Trump said. He also suggested that the widening rift between the United States and NATO began earlier, when he first proposed taking over Greenland. "It all began with, if you want to know the truth, Greenland," Trump said. "We want Greenland. They don't want to give it to us. And I said, 'bye, bye'," the US President said. PTI SKU SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-war-left-mark-on-nato-rift-began-with-greenland-trump-1834992

US President Trump threatens to decimate Iran in four hours

Washington, Apr 6 (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to decimate Iran within four hours if it did not agree to a deal by Tuesday night, while brushing aside allegations of possible war crimes in case of attacks on power plants and bridges. “We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow (Tuesday) night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again, I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock, and it'll happen over a period of four hours, if we wanted to,” Trump told a press conference here.He asked Iran to make a deal with the US and open the Hormuz Strait for free movement of oil by 8 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday.When asked about allegations of carrying out possible war crimes if the US attacks Iran's bridges and power plants, Trump said: “No, not at all.” Trump insisted that Iranians want him to conduct more strikes and they are “willing to suffer” for freedom. Trump said the US may even help Iran in rebuilding the country if it agreed to a deal.“We may even get involved with helping them rebuild their nation,” Trump said.Iran has rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wants a permanent end to the war.The US stepped up threats against Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face a barrage of attacks on civilian targets. Today will be the largest volume of strikes since day one, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said. “Tomorrow, even more than today. And then Iran has a choice. Choose wisely, because this president does not play around. You can ask Soleimani, you can ask Maduro. You can ask Khamenei,” Hegseth said, with Trump by his side. PTI SKU RD RD RD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-president-trump-threatens-to-decimate-iran-in-four-hours-1834990

'Entire Iran Can Be Taken Out In One Night': Trump Issues Stark Warning

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the entire country could be “taken out in one night” as tensions escalate. He also hailed the US operation to rescue stranded airmen as “historic”, underlining Washington’s military reach. Speaking to reporters, Trump highlighted both the scale of recent missions and the intensity of ongoing operations, while signalling a tougher stance amid rising conflict and continued strategic pressure on Tehran. <h2>US Rescue Mission</h2> Trump said he had authorised US forces to act decisively in securing stranded personnel, stating that he ordered the military to do “whatever was necessary” to bring American airmen back. He added that 21 aircraft were deployed in the initial operation, while calling the mission a demonstration of US capability in high-risk conditions and its ability to respond swiftly in hostile environments. Trump reinforced his "warning" about the scale of force available if required. <h2>Massive Deployment And Combat Scale</h2> Detailing the second rescue mission, Trump said it involved four bombers, 64 fighter jets, 48 refuelling tankers and 13 rescue aircraft, pointing to a large-scale and highly coordinated operation. He added that over the past 37 days, US forces have carried out more than 10,000 combat flights over Iran, calling the figure “unheard of”. Trump also noted that the F-15 downed last week marked the first manned US aircraft lost to enemy action during the operation. <h2>Leak Hunt And Media Warning</h2> Trump said US authorities are trying to identify the individual who leaked information about a second stranded pilot, claiming the disclosure made the rescue mission significantly more difficult. He said Iran had not been aware of the pilot’s status before the report emerged. Warning of possible legal action, Trump added that the US could demand the media organisation reveal the source’s identity or face prosecution, stressing that the matter involved national security and vowing to pursue the leaker aggressively. He added that efforts to trace the leak are ongoing and expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-us-conflict-entire-iran-can-be-taken-out-in-one-night-trump-issues-stark-warning-1834975

Sunday, April 5, 2026

‘Tuesday, 8 PM’: Trump Extends Iran Deadline Again After 'Open The Strait' Warning

As tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, President Donald Trump appears to have pushed back the deadline for Tehran again, turning high-stakes diplomacy into a ticking clock—underscored by a cryptic post that adds fresh drama to an already volatile standoff. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”  <iframe class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://ift.tt/paGCiJh" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <script src="https://ift.tt/JknYC2u" async="async"></script> The timings (5:30 AM IST on Wednesday), which seemed like a revised deadline, gives Tehran a little more time to ease tensions with the unpredictable US President, who is very capable of making a decision to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges, which Tehran has condemned as a “war crime”. It is pertinent to mention that Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route for oil and gas, since the US-Israeli bombing campaign began on 28 February. The disruption has triggered fuel shortages in several countries, pushing up global oil prices and adding pressure on the Trump administration in a key midterm election year. <h2>'Make A deal Or Reopen Strait'</h2> Earlier, in a post in which Trump used unusually harsh language to press his demands, reminding Tehran of his deadline to “make a deal” or reopen the Strait, warning that Tuesday could see sweeping strikes on Iran’s energy and civilian infrastructure. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran… Open the F****n’ Strait… or you’ll be living in Hell — just watch,” he wrote. Trump first issued the ultimatum late last month, giving Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The deadline has since been extended multiple times, most recently to Monday, 6 April, at 8 pm ET, according to reports. <h2>'we're Blowing Up Iran'</h2> Earlier, on Sunday, Trump warned that if no peace deal is reached with Iran within 48 hours, “we’re blowing up the entire country.” Speaking to ABC, Trump responded to a question about whether his earlier two-to-three-week timeline for a deal still stood. “It should be days, not weeks,” he said, adding that Iran “has been decimated, decimated. And every day is going to get worse.” Trump emphasised the scale of potential destruction: “Every day they’re gonna have to build more bridges, and they’re gonna have to build more power plants and more everything else. There’s been no country that’s ever taken a pounding like that.” He reiterated that Iran had 48 hours to strike a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or make peace. “If it happens, it happens. And if it doesn’t, we’re blowing up the whole country… it’s going to be bridge day and it’s going to be power plant day in the country of Iran.”

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/donald-trump-extends-deadline-again-strait-of-hormuz-crisis-us-iran-war-1834796

F-15 Airman Sent 3 Word Message Before Rescue; US Almost Left It Unanswered-Here’s Why

A three-word distress message from a stranded US F-15E airman was nearly dismissed by American officials as a possible Iranian trap, raising the risk that a critical rescue operation deep inside hostile territory might never have been launched. US President Donald Trump told Axios that the weapons systems officer sent a brief and unusual radio message after ejecting from his aircraft. "He said: 'Power be to God,'" Trump said. The phrasing immediately raised alarm within US agencies. "What he said on the radio sounded like something a Muslim would say," Trump told Axios, explaining that officials initially feared the message could be part of an Iranian deception. Concerns grew that the airman might already have been captured and that Iran was "sending false signals" to lure US forces into a trap. However, people who knew the officer later clarified that he was deeply religious, making the message consistent with his personal beliefs. A US defence official confirmed the account but said the exact phrase used was "God is good." US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also posted the same words on X. <h3>US F-15 Jet Shot Down Over Iran</h3> The incident dates back to April 3, when an F-15E Strike Eagle — a twin-engine, two-seat interdiction fighter — was shot down over southwestern Iran. The pilot was rescued shortly after ejecting, but the weapons systems officer remained missing, triggering a search that lasted more than 24 hours. The downing marked the first confirmed loss of a US combat aircraft inside Iran since the conflict began on February 28. Trump claimed Iran used a shoulder-fired missile to hit the jet, adding, "They got lucky." <h3>Missing Crew's Survival In Iranian Mountains</h3> Injured and alone, the airman survived in rugged mountainous terrain while carrying a communication device, a tracking beacon, and a handgun. He hid in a mountain crevice, kept moving to avoid detection, and at one point climbed a 7,000-foot ridgeline to stay ahead of search teams. Despite US efforts, his precise location remained unknown for more than a day. Speaking after the rescue, Trump said, "thousands of these savages were hunting him down." "Even the population was looking for him. They offered people a bonus if they captured him," he added. <h3>CIA’s Race To Find Him</h3> The Central Intelligence Agency eventually tracked the airman using what The New York Times described as "unique capabilities" as he moved across mountainous terrain while evading locals. Before confirming his location, the CIA also ran a deception campaign, spreading information within Iran that US forces had already found him and were attempting a ground extraction. The aim was to buy time and divert Iranian search teams. Once his exact position was identified, the intelligence was shared with the White House, the Pentagon and US military leadership. <h3>High-Stakes Rescue Operation</h3> A special forces team led by Navy SEAL Team 6 was inserted into the area on Saturday night to carry out the rescue mission. Around 200 special operations personnel were involved, according to Trump. US aircraft reportedly struck Iranian convoys to prevent them from reaching the airman’s location during the operation. Announcing the mission, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "This brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour." The airman, though injured, is expected to recover. No US personnel were killed or wounded during the operation. Trump described the mission as "the first time in military memory that two US pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory." <h3>Iran Denies Rescue Claim</h3> Iran’s military, however, rejected the US account. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam Al-Anbiya central command, said the operation had failed. "The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled," he said in a televised statement.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/f-15-airman-sent-3-word-message-before-rescue-us-almost-left-it-unanswered-iranian-trap-trump-iran-war-1834794

France Sees Anti-Racism Rally As New Mayor Bally Bagayoko Faces Attacks

Edited by: Sean Sinico Saint-Denis, the largest suburb of the French capital Paris, played host to a major rally against racism on Saturday, in support of the town's newly elected Black mayor. Bally Bagayoko was elected in the first round of municipal elections on March 15. The 52-year-old was standing for the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party. Organizers of the protest said some 20,000 people showed up in front of the Saint-Denis town hall. <h2>Why were people protesting in France against racism?</h2> Bagayoko was targeted almost immediately with racist attacks and fake news stories, including on French national TV. "We come to state firmly and definitively our visceral attachment to the values of the republic embodied by those who are heirs of immigration," Bagayoko said in front of the protesters, condemning what he said were "failing, sometimes even complicit institutions." Born in France to parents from Mali, a former French colony, Bagayoko grew up in Saint-Denis, one of the most diverse towns in the country with a large immigrant community. The protest drew trade unions, civil associations and music bands. LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon was also present. He spoke to the crowd, denouncing "a sickening wave of racism coming from the political and media elites who, without reservation, without restraint, have displayed their contempt for a part of our people." <h2>Prosecutors to investigate racist comments</h2> The most prominent racist comments were made by a guest on the CNews channel, owned by the ultraconservative Vincent Bollore and commonly referred to as France's Fox News. Bagayoko has filed a complaint against the network, while Paris prosecutors said they were opening an investigation into possible public insults of a racist nature. Another investigation is being opened into racist comments made on the social media platform X. French Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu has also spoken out against the "normalisation of evil and racism" following the far-right campaign against the elected mayor. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/france-thousands-join-paris-suburb-mayor-to-protest-racism-1834788

Saturday, April 4, 2026

‘48 Hours Or Hell’: Trump Issues Fresh Ultimatum To Iran To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said Iran has 48 hours to reach a deal with Washington or face severe military action, referring to the April 6 deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” Trump said on the Truth Social platform. <h2>Earlier Threats And Shifting Stance</h2> Trump had earlier warned on March 21 that the US would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants, starting with the country’s largest, if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait by April 6. Two days later, he said “very good and productive conversations” were underway with Iranian authorities and postponed any strikes on power plants for five days. <h2>‘We’re In A War’</h2> The latest remarks come amid escalating tensions, including reports that Iran downed at least two American fighter jets, including an F-15E over Iranian territory, with one pilot still missing. Responding to the developments, Trump ruled out any impact on negotiations. When asked whether the downing of jets would affect talks, he told NBC News: “No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in a war.” Iran’s military is also reported to have downed a US A-10 ground attack aircraft in the Gulf, with US media stating that the pilot was rescued. <h2>War Rhetoric Intensifies</h2> Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf mocked the Trump administration, saying the “war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots?’” Earlier, Trump had issued a warning while announcing US-Israeli strikes on the B1 Bridge in Iran’s Karaj area, urging Tehran to agree to a deal. <h2>Threats To Infrastructure, Iran Defiant</h2> Trump has alternated between describing diplomatic efforts as productive and threatening further attacks, including on civilian and energy infrastructure. He has warned of targeting Iran’s energy facilities and water desalination plants if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Iran, however, has maintained its stance, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying strikes on civilian structures “will not compel Iranians to surrender.”

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/48-hours-or-hell-trump-issues-fresh-ultimatum-to-iran-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-1834631