US lawmakers question Trump's Iran talks

According to The Hill, President Trump is set to open direct talks with Iran this weekend in a high-stakes push for Tehran to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions, raising a chorus of questions and concerns from lawmakers in both parties. 

Iran on Monday said the “high-level talks,” set to start in Oman on Saturday, would be indirect, seeming to contradict Trump, who said earlier Monday, “We’re having direct talks with Iran.”

It’s also unclear if the president is looking to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities — similar to the Obama-era agreement he trashed in 2018 — or demand the full destruction of its facilities.

Rep. August Pfluger, chair of the influential Republican Study Committee, said anything short of a nuclear disbandment was unacceptable. 

“A full commitment that they, not just when Trump is president, but whoever follows President Trump is there, that there is a firm commitment, and we know, we can verify, and there’s a complete dismantlement of their nuclear enterprises,” he told The Hill.

The uncertainty over Trump’s endgame has strained relations with Israel, which is wary of any US engagement with Iran, a sentiment shared by many on Capitol Hill. 

“I worry a little bit that this seems to be done, almost going around Israel,” said Sen. Mark Warner , the ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“I just worry that with the complete disruption of most of our alliances, I think our negotiating position is weakened,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program while sitting next to Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, saying he wants to see the “Libya model” applied to Israel’s top adversary.  

Trump has warned, “Iran is going to be in great danger” if the talks fail. And Netanyahu has long been mulling an assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities — though such a major move would be unlikely without some level of US backing.

The fact the talks are happening at all signals that pragmatic voices in Trump’s ear are winning out over Iran hawks, at least for the moment. 

 

Europeans sidelined in US-Iran nuclear talks

Washington's decision not to coordinate with European nations about its negotiations with Iran on Saturday will reduce its leverage and make US and Israeli military action against Tehran ultimately more likely, reports Reuters.

The United States did not tell European countries about the nuclear talks in Oman before President Donald Trump announced them on Tuesday, even though they hold a key card on the possible reimposition of U.N. sanctions on Tehran, three European diplomats said.

"The United States is going to need a coordinated diplomatic strategy with its European allies going into these negotiations with Iran," said Blaise Misztal, vice president for policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

That coordination is "crucial to making sure that there is maximum pressure and any diplomatic option has a chance of success," Misztal said.

Trump, who restored a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran in February, on Wednesday repeated threats to use military force against Iran if it didn't halt its nuclear program and said Israel would be "the leader of that."

The West suspects Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, which it denies. The threat of renewed sanctions is intended to pressure Tehran into concessions, but detailed discussions on strategy have yet to take place with the Americans, the diplomats said.

Because the United States quit a 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, it cannot initiate its mechanism for reimposing sanctions, called snapback, at the United Nations Security Council.

That makes Britain, Germany and France, known as the E3, the only deal participants capable of and interested in pursuing snapback, so it is crucial that Washington align with these allies, analysts said. Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, has already lobbied the E3 to initiate it.

According to the three diplomats, the E3 told Iran they would trigger the snapback mechanism by the end of June. Iran responded that doing so would mean harsh consequences and a review of its nuclear doctrine, the diplomats said.

"The E3 do not trust the United States because it is taking initiatives without them being consulted," said a senior European diplomat.

Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from the nuclear deal with Iran also signed by Russia and China. The accord curbed Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. Russia opposes restoring sanctions.

Under the nuclear accord, participants can initiate the 30-day snapback process if they are unable to resolve accusations of Iranian violations through a dispute-resolution mechanism. But that opportunity expires on October 18 when the accord ends.

Since the US exited the deal in 2018, Iran has far surpassed its uranium enrichment limits, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tehran is producing stocks of fissile purity well above what Western powers say is justifiable for a civilian energy program and close to weapons grade.

The US administration's approach echoes Trump's first term in office, when he also prioritized unilateral talks with Iran, and with his stance on the war in Ukraine, where Washington has begun direct talks with Moscow, sidelining Europeans.

European officials have held some meetings with US counterparts but said they were not sufficiently in-depth.

Even a meeting on Iran with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers meeting a week before Trump's announcement was difficult to arrange, three E3 officials said.

The British, French and German foreign ministries did not respond directly when asked if they had been made aware of the Oman talks ahead of time.

"We remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, including through snapback if necessary," a British foreign ministry spokesperson said.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said tersely on Wednesday that the French "take note with interest" the talks.

Having negotiated with Iran as a trio as far back as 2003 on the nuclear issue, the European countries consider their role essential to a solution. In the 2015 deal, a key carrot for Iran was being able to trade with Europe.

The Europeans have helped the United States pressure Iran in recent months, including at the UN atomic watchdog and with new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program, detention of foreign citizens and support for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

During the US policy vacuum after Trump won the election but before he took office, the Europeans tried to take the initiative by holding exploratory talks with Iran that began in September and have continued.

The E3 said that was necessary because time was running out before the 2015 deal expires on October 18, 2025. They have tried to sound out whether new restrictions, albeit narrower than those agreed in 2015, could be negotiated before then.

Diplomats said that in those talks, Iranian officials have often quizzed their counterparts on the new US administration.

"Iran believes that talks with the E3 and other parties to the nuclear deal can help defuse tensions over its nuclear program and can be complementary to talks with the US," said an Iranian official.

 

 

 

Iran Talks Spark Bipartisan Concerns on Capitol Hill

US President Donald Trump’s decision to engage in high stakes talks with Iran this weekend has raised concerns across party lines on Capitol Hill. The talks, reportedly set to begin in Oman, are framed as direct by Trump, but Iran claims they’ll be indirect. Uncertainty surrounds Trump’s objectives—whether he seeks full nuclear dismantlement or limitations similar to the Obama-era JCPOA, which he withdrew from in 2018.

Rep. August Pfluger insists that anything short of a complete nuclear disbandment is unacceptable. Lawmakers also question the potential sidelining of Israel, a key US ally, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has called for the “Libya model” of total dismantlement. Tensions rise as Netanyahu considers action against Iran’s facilities, though such a move would likely need US backing.

Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has taken over the Iran file and advocates for a robust verification program to ensure Iran’s compliance. However, skepticism remains high among lawmakers. Sen. Tommy Tuberville supports a verifiable deal but doubts its feasibility, while Sen. Roger Wicker warns against trusting Iran.

Iran's nuclear capability has advanced significantly since the JCPOA. Experts now say Iran could fuel a bomb within weeks. However, US intelligence maintains Iran has not yet chosen to weaponize its nuclear material.

Despite its nuclear progress, Iran has lost leverage. Its regional influence has waned due to conflicts with Israel and economic decline under US sanctions. The Iranian currency has plummeted, inflation is high, and the government struggles to provide basic services.

Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi views the upcoming talks as a genuine diplomatic opening, citing recent communication with the US. He also appealed to Trump’s business instincts, suggesting a potential “trillion-dollar” opportunity through cooperation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons or threaten regional stability. Yet Iran signals it may accept JCPOA-like terms for sanctions relief, though it rejects broader US demands. As both sides lower expectations, Iran insists military threats must be removed for diplomacy to succeed.

Iran Deal Must Include Blowing Up and Dismantling Nuclear Sites, demands Netanyahu

According to media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a firm warning regarding any future nuclear agreement with Iran, stating that only a Libya-style disarmament approach would be acceptable. Speaking Tuesday just before departing Washington, Netanyahu emphasized that Iran’s nuclear program must be physically dismantled and destroyed under direct American supervision.

“We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu declared. “This can be done by agreement, but only if this agreement is Libyan-style: They go in, blow up the installations, dismantle all of the equipment under American supervision and carried out by America this would be good.”

The remarks come ahead of renewed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Muscat, Oman. While President Trump described the negotiations as “direct,” Iran insists they will be indirect, facilitated through mediators.

Trump, speaking alongside Netanyahu in the Oval Office on Monday, underscored his administration’s uncompromising stance, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If it can be done diplomatically in a full way, the way it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing.”

Netanyahu also highlighted several other strategic discussions held with Trump, including the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. He reiterated Israel’s dual objectives, “We are determined to eliminate Hamas, and at the same time, we are determined to return all of our hostages.”

Addressing critics, Netanyahu said, “The president looked at me and told the journalists who were present ‘This man is working constantly to free the hostages.’ I hope that this shatters the lie… that I don’t care. I do care, and we will be successful.”

Netanyahu also disclosed discussions on the future of the Gaza Strip, revealing that Israel is in dialogue with several countries about accepting Palestinian civilians. “In the end, this is what needs to happen,” he said.

The prime minister voiced concern about Turkey’s intentions to establish military bases in Syria, which he warned would threaten Israel. “We oppose this and are working against it,” he told Trump.

Finally, Netanyahu praised Trump’s economic diplomacy, stating that Israel would work to eliminate its trade deficit with the United States. “This is the little that we can do for the US and its president, who does so much for us.”

Describing the visit as “very warm,” Netanyahu hinted that more developments are forthcoming, “There were additional things that you will hear about later.”

 

 

Southeast Asian rice farmers struggle against Indian exports

According to Nikkei Asia, prices in Southeast Asian rice markets are plunging because of oversupply after India resumed exports of the staple grain. White rice export prices in Thailand were US$412 a ton this month, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, down 31% from US$599 per ton a year ago. This is the largest price drop in 11 years for the month of April.

In September 2024, New Delhi lifted export restrictions on white rice other than basmati that had been in place since July 2023. India last month also started allowing exports of cheaper broken rice, used in processed food. Most analysts say the international price of white rice will continue to drop.

Thailand is the world's second-largest rice exporter by volume, according to data from the 2022-2023 season. Agriculture accounts for less than 10% of gross domestic product, but a lack of willingness by Thai rice farmers to grow the crop will affect food security at home and abroad.

Last month about 300 farmers demonstrated in Bangkok, calling on the government to act on cratering prices. "If the rice fields die, the country dies," read a sign at the gathering.

A woman in her 50s who was demonstrating demanded the resignation of Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan, whose ministry is in charge of exports.

"The government doesn't care about the plight of farmers," she said.

In Vietnam, the world's third-largest rice exporter, prices have fallen steeply as well. Export prices are currently around US$400 a ton, about 40% lower as compared with the end of 2023, according to the Vietnam Food Association.

Vietnamese media report prices are at the lowest point in nine years. In some cases, Vietnamese rice is cheaper than Thai or Indian varieties. Some expect this year's export volume to be 20% lower than last year.

India is the world's leading exporter, accounting for 40% of the global share, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Exports from India surpass those of Thailand and Vietnam combined.

Measures taken by importing nations are also hurting farmers in Thailand and Vietnam.

Indonesia, the world's fourth-largest rice consumer, will halt imports this year. President Prabowo Subianto, who took office in October 2024, is promoting more agriculture to make good on a pledge to attain food self-sufficiency by early 2026.

The Philippines declared a food security emergency in February 2025 in an attempt to control inflation. The government released rice stockpiles into the market, lowering prices.

In recent weeks, there appears to be an increasing number of rice importers in the Philippines attempting to negotiate lower prices.

"Because rice is the staple food in Southeast Asia, rice prices are an issue that directly affects people's lives," said Tetsuya Kaneko, chief analyst at the Marubeni Research Institute. "With importing countries trending toward improving self-sufficiency rates, export volumes from countries such as Thailand and Vietnam will face downward pressure in the medium to long term."

Rice exporters are taking steps to mitigate the fallout. Last month, the Thai government said it held talks with India and Vietnam to stabilize export prices by adjusting export volumes and avoiding excess competition.

No concrete agreement has been reached, but the parties intend to continue discussions.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on financial institutions to support farmers by easing interest rates. The Ministry of Finance is set to provide tax relief for rice producers.

Japan, which is facing a historic rice shortage, hosted an international food expo in March 2025 where the government of Thailand promoted its rice. Vietnam has also identified Japan as a promising export destination on par with the United States and Africa.

Unlike Thailand and Vietnam where long-grain rice is the norm, Japan consumes mostly short-grain varieties. This wrinkle explains much of the discrepancies between the three markets.

Kenichi Shimomura, head of the Asia Japan desk at the German consultancy Roland Berger, says Japan rice demand is greater than what was witnessed during the rice shortage in the early 1990s. Japan imported Thai rice on an emergency basis back then.

"The key is how much cheaper imports can be compared to Japanese rice," said Shimomura.

 

 

US imposes China centric global trade war

US President Donald Trump's stunning decision to pause the hefty duties he had just imposed on dozens of countries sent battered global stock markets surging on Thursday, even as he ratcheted up a trade war with China.

Trump's turnabout on Wednesday, which came less than 24 hours after steep new tariffs kicked in on most trading partners, followed the most intense episode of financial market volatility since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upheaval erased trillions of dollars from stock markets and led to an unsettling surge in US government bond yields that appeared to catch Trump's attention.

"I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line, they were getting yippy, you know," Trump told reporters after the announcement, referring to jitters sportspeople sometimes get.

US stock indexes shot higher on the news, with the benchmark S&P 500, opens new tab index closing 9.5% higher, and the relief continued into Asian trading on Thursday with Japan's Nikkei index surging 8%.

European futures also pointed to big gains, but there were already signs the rally may be short-lived with US stock futures trading lower. Oil prices also fell around 1%, extending a grim spell fuelled by fears that the trade tensions could push the global economy towards recession

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly threatened an array of punitive measures on trading partners, only to revoke some of them at the last minute. The on-again, off-again approach has baffled world leaders and spooked business executives.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asserted that the pullback had been the plan all along to bring countries to the bargaining table. Trump, though, later indicated that the near-panic in markets that had unfolded since his April 02 announcements had factored in to his thinking.

Despite insisting for days that his policies would never change, he told reporters on Wednesday، "You have to be flexible."

But he kept the pressure on China, the world's second economy and second biggest provider of US imports. Trump immediately hiked the tariff on Chinese imports to 125% from the 104% level that kicked in on Wednesday.

Chinese companies that sell products on Amazon are preparing to hike prices for the US or quit that market due to the "unprecedented blow" from the tariffs, the head of China's largest e-commerce association said.

Beijing may again respond in kind after slapping 84% tariffs on US imports on Wednesday to match Trump's earlier tariff salvo. It has repeatedly vowed to "fight to the end" in the escalating trade war between the world's top two economies.

"The US and China are currently in a powerplay game of brinkmanship," said ING global head of markets Chris Turner.

Beijing said it had held talks with the European Union and Malaysia on strengthening trade in response to the tensions, although Australia said it had rebuffed an offer from China, its top trading partner, to work together to counter the tariffs.

"We are not going to be holding hands with China in respect of any contest that is going on in the world," Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News.

Hopes of state support helped prop up Chinese stocks on Thursday, even as its yuan currency fell to its weakest level since the global financial crisis.

 

 

 

 

China calls for world to unite against Trump's trade tyranny

According to a BBC report, China has called for the world to unite against US President Donald Trump's tariffs as the country's exporter reel from crippling new US levies that have risen to 104%.

"Global unity can triumph over trade tyranny," declared an editorial in the state-run newspaper China Daily, noting Beijing's collaborations with Japan, South Korea and other Asian economies. A separate piece called for the European Union to work with it to "uphold free trade and multilateralism".

Beijing "firmly opposes and will never accept such hegemonic and bullying practices," foregin ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Wednesday.

The tariffs come at a difficult time for China's sluggish economy: domestic consumption remains weak and exports are still a major driver of growth.

The sweeping nature of Trump's tariffs has also left Chinese businesses scrambling to adjust their supply chains — with most countries affected, firms say it's hard to find a way out of this uncertainty.

The tariffs will shrink "already razor-thin profit margins", said the owner of a Chinese business that handles cross-border logistics for e-commerce, as well as air and sea freight.

"Higher tariffs raise costs for freight forwarders like us, as well as for factories, companies, and sellers. It just means everyone earns less."

Any tariff upwards of 35% will wipe out all the profits that Chinese businesses make when exporting to the US or South East Asia, said Dan Wang from the Eurasia Group consultancy.

"Growth is going to be much lower since exports contributed to 20% to 50% of growth since the Covid pandemic," she added.

The Chinese government has not announced retaliatory measures but Beijing is reportedly considering banning Hollywood films and suspending fentanyl cooperation with the US, according to Chinese blogger Liu Hong, who is a senior editor at state-run Xinhua news.

But that would offer little comfort to firms like Fuling, a firm that sells disposable tableware to US fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Wendy's, said the additional tariffs will "significantly impact" its business. It noted that nearly two-thirds of the company's revenue in 2023 and the first half of last year came from the US.

To mitigate the impact of tariffs, Fuling, which is headquartered in China's Zhejiang province, started a new factory in Indonesia late last year.

But Trump's new tariffs have introduced more uncertainty for Chinese exports from Indonesia are now subject to a 32% levy, the company said in a corporate filing.

Indonesia was hit along with much of the world in President Trump's announcement of expansive tariffs last week, which he claimed would allow the US economy to flourish.

But economists have warned of a US and global recession. The tariffs have also shaken global markets and drawn criticism from billionaire CEOs, including Trump's ally Elon Musk.

Trump's import taxes include a 10% baseline tariff on almost all foreign imports to the US, and higher custom tariffs for what he calls the "worst offenders". These include Cambodia (49%), Vietnam (46%) and Thailand (36%), developing economies that have benefited from strong exports.

After Beijing announced tit-for-tat tariffs, Trump raised the levies on Chinese imports, more than doubling them to 104%.

Emo told the BBC he is holding out hope that China will be able to negotiate away some of these taxes: "Only when a final decision is made can we plan our next steps."

While China has left the door open for talks, Trump has not spoken to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since returning to the White House.

Such broad, sweeping tariffs will cause more harm than good, the American Chamber of Commerce in China said in a note to its member companies on Wednesday.

"This level of upheaval is unprecedented, and it remains unclear how the current measures will benefit consumers in either nation or the broader economy," read the note signed by Chair Alvin Liu and President Michael Hart.

Some analysts believe the levies will force China to restructure its economy and rely heavily on domestic consumption, which it has been struggling to boost.

Otherwise, the tariffs will not be sustainable for China in the longer term, Tim Waterer from brokerage KCM Trade said.

"The tariffs are aimed at suppressing China," said the manager of a Chinese freight company.

Wu Changchun added that many of the South East Asian countries that have been hit with steep tariffs are "exactly where many Chinese businesses have relocated", such as Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Tianjin-based company plans to negotiate with some of its American clients to share the burden of the tariffs. "Every case is different, but overall, the impact has been quite substantial," he said.

Wu, whose company operates mainly on shipping routes between China and Cambodia, said he is already seeing a fall in freight volume.

Several construction projects in Cambodia have also come to a halt after Trump's tariffs announcement, he said.

"If the tariffs were at 10% or 20%, businesses might still be able to absorb the cost by optimizing supply chains, cutting margins and sharing the burden. Trade could still go on... [But at 104%] that's no longer something trade-offs can fix," said Wu, a general manager at Maritima Maruba.

"That's full-on decoupling. Trade would basically come to a standstill."