All posts tagged: @LCO26Q

Trump says U.S. and Iran to hold fresh talks in Qatar on Tuesday

Trump says U.S. and Iran to hold fresh talks in Qatar on Tuesday

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s 2026 Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on June 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images The U.S. and Iran are poised to hold fresh talks on Tuesday in Qatar’s capital, President Donald Trump said via social media on Monday, following a weekend of hostilities in the Middle East. “IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. There was no immediate reaction from Iran. CNBC has contacted Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is awaiting a response. Trump’s post comes after the U.S. and Iran exchanged a series of strikes over the weekend that threatened to derail negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel for the meeting. “As far as we’re concerned, we’re holding up our end of the ceasefire. Violence will be met …

Putin says Russia faces fuel shortages after Ukraine strikes

Putin says Russia faces fuel shortages after Ukraine strikes

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s Vladimir Putin addresses the audience at the 23rd Congress of the United Russia party in Moscow on June 28, 2026. Yekaterina Shtukina | Afp | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin has conceded that the country is facing fuel shortages following a barrage of long-range Ukrainian drone strikes on key energy infrastructure, although he insisted the Kremlin was dealing with them. The Russian president’s comments during an interview with a state TV reporter on Sunday mark the first time he has detailed the extent to which Ukraine’s deep-strike success has hampered Russia’s fuel production. Putin said Russia would import more fuel and expedite repairs of oil facilities to end what he described as the “temporary deficit,” according to The Associated Press. “All damaged facilities are being restored quite quickly, and the issues that arise are not critical,” Putin said. He also pledged to bolster Russia’s air defense capacity to tackle Ukraine’s mid- to long-range drone capabilities. Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil …

U.S. strikes Iran after Trump accuses Tehran of ceasefire violation

U.S. strikes Iran after Trump accuses Tehran of ceasefire violation

An F-35B Lighting II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 13, 2026. Courtesy: U.S. Navy The U.S. military struck Iran on Friday after President Donald Trump accused the Islamic Republic of “foolish violation” of a ceasefire agreement by launching drone attacks at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s military later said it had retaliated for the strikes. U.S. Central Command said its aircraft “struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites.” A one-way attack drone launched by Iran on Thursday struck the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely in the strait off the coast of Oman, Central Command said in a post on X. The vessel was able to continue on its way through the strait, which is a major thoroughfare for the shipment of oil. Trump said the U.S. military “knocked down” three other attack drones aimed at ships in the strait. “The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated …

Trump eases pressure on Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh as inflation tops 4%

Trump eases pressure on Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh as inflation tops 4%

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives with incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh for Warsh’s swearing-in ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 22, 2026. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters With inflation topping 4%, the Trump administration is easing off its long-standing calls for the Federal Reserve to immediately cut interest rates. That is giving new Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh an extended political grace period as he deals with a challenging economic environment, but underscores the depth of the pushback he could face if the mercurial president changes his mind.  President Donald Trump said as recently as Wednesday that he wants the Fed to cut rates. Meanwhile several of the president’s top economic advisors have in recent interviews and writing stopped short of calling for near-term rate cuts, as they had before the Iran war sent some prices surging and Trump installed Warsh as the new Fed chairman. What might look like division is really an indication that the Trump-Warsh relationship has shifted the political gravity of the Trump administration, a White House official …

Iran behind attack on cargo vessel near Oman in Strait of Hormuz

Iran behind attack on cargo vessel near Oman in Strait of Hormuz

A view of commercial cargo vessels and crude oil tankers are anchored in the Gulf of Oman, off the coast of Muscat, Oman, on June 21, 2026, as they prepare to transit through the critical Strait of Hormuz. Shady Alassar | Anadolu | Getty Images Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf speaks at a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 2, 2025. Shadati | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images The retort by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf came after days of statements by President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that a temporary peace deal that will lead to unfreezing Iranian assets will be a boon to U.S. farmers. The comment came as Trump is facing criticism from some Republican lawmakers over his handling of the war against Iran and the memorandum of understanding. “America falsely claims our unfrozen assets will buy their agriculture. Interesting,” Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X. “The only crop we’re harvesting is what you planted: decades of mistrust,” Ghalibaf wrote. “It’s organic, abundant, and homegrown. But apparently the US …

Iran has assured U.S. there won’t be tolls on Strait of Hormuz

Iran has assured U.S. there won’t be tolls on Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Chateau de Versailles as French President Emmanuel Macron hosts a dinner at Chateau de Versailles on June 17, 2026 in Versailles, France. Marc Piasecki | Getty Images President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran had informed him there would be no tolls, insurance costs, or charges of any kind for ships looking to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. “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,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Food is desperately needed in Iran, and we will be purchasing it for them exclusively from the United States,” he added. Iran has not yet commented on Trump’s post. The president’s remarks come shortly after the U.S. and Iran signed an interim peace deal to bring an end to the conflict, although Washington and …

Iran should not use oil profits to rebuild military

Iran should not use oil profits to rebuild military

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on the day he signs an executive order regarding Quantum Computing, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 22, 2026. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters President Donald Trump on Monday hedged when asked if he could guarantee that Iran would not use profits from oil sales to rebuild its military in the wake of the war with the U.S. and Israel. Trump said the money was expected to be used to buy American agricultural products. However, an Iranian central banker said the country is under no obligation to buy agricultural products from the U.S. “Well, they’re not supposed to be doing that, so we’ll see,” Trump told CNBC’s Eamon Javers at the White House during an executive order signing event when asked if he could ensure Iran would not use oil money for that purpose. “But they’re supposed to use money to buy food for their people, because right now their people are very hungry, and they’re buying it exclusively from us: corn, soybeans,” Trump …

U.S., Iran agree on roadmap for final deal and plan to end military operations in Lebanon

U.S., Iran agree on roadmap for final deal and plan to end military operations in Lebanon

The U.S. and Iran made progress during talks in Switzerland on Monday toward reaching a final deal within 60 days, including the agreement to establish a committee and a mechanism to end hostilities in Lebanon. “The Lake Lucerne Summit was conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Encouraging progress has been made, including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks,” according to a joint statement by mediating parties Qatar and Pakistan. Building on a memorandum of understanding signed last week, the parties agreed to establish a “High Level Committee” that will provide political oversight of the mediation. Chief negotiators will report regularly to the committee and lead working groups on nuclear, sanctions, and dispute resolution, according to the joint statement. The parties also agreed to establish a “de-confliction” cell between the U.S., Iran and Lebanon, facilitated by the mediating countries, to ensure full termination of military hostilities in Lebanon. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as having delivered “major progress,” saying Tehran had secured what he described as waivers for oil …

Russia vows escalation after Ukraine hits Moscow with drone attack

Russia vows escalation after Ukraine hits Moscow with drone attack

Black smoke rises from the area of the Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft’s Moscow oil refinery on the south-eastern outskirts of Moscow on June 18, 2026. – | Afp | Getty Images Russia has pledged to carry out frequent and “massive group strikes” against Ukraine shortly after Kyiv launched a barrage of drones on Moscow, triggering a huge explosion in one of the Russian capital’s key oil refineries. Ukrainian forces conducted a large-scale attack against Moscow on Wednesday evening and Thursday, heavily targeting a major oil refinery located on the south-eastern outskirts of the city. Nearly 200 drones were reportedly used in the attack, marking Ukraine’s biggest-ever air raid on Russia’s capital. Authorities said 16 people had been injured, while four Moscow airports temporarily grounded flights. Columns of black smoke were seen billowing from Gazprom’s Moscow Refinery on Thursday, a facility that has been targeted by Ukrainian forces multiple times in recent weeks. “It is no coincidence that the president announced some time ago, after yet another Kyiv terrorist attack, that we will now conduct …

shipping resumes as fragile peace takes hold

shipping resumes as fragile peace takes hold

The first signs of a post-war recovery are emerging across the Middle East after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum aimed at ending the conflict. Oil tankers are once again transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and daily routines are returning to the streets of Tehran. Here are some images related to the deal: Strait of Hormuz The U.S. Navy ended its blockade of Iranian ports and coastal waters following the signing of a U.S.-Iran memorandum aimed at ending the conflict, with U.S. Central Command saying all enforcement operations related to the blockade have ceased. Under the agreement, Iran is required to allow commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for 60 days. As of Thursday, three supertankers from Saudi Arabia loaded with 6 million barrels of oil have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from the global trade intelligence firm Kpler. In this picture obtained from Iran’s ISNA news agency on June 18, 2026, vessels are seen anchored in Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz. Amirhossein Khorgooei | Afp …