Trump live: President says US ‘very close’ to a nuclear deal with Iran
The president also warned that the U.S. could be forced to take a ‘violent course’ with Iran if the friendly course of action does not work
Donald Trump says the U.S. and Iran are “very close” to securing a deal that would see America drop its longstanding sanctions and Iran give up the prospect of developing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking during his three-nation tour of the Middle East, Trump said they were “getting close” to securing a deal as Iran had “sort of” agreed to terms.
"I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal,” he said in Qatar.
Trump has repeatedly said that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and earlier in his Gulf nations tour he warned U.S. could be forced to take a “violent course” with Iran if the friendly course of action does not work.
During his Gulf nations tour Trump has signed billions of dollars worth of economic deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and also taken significant steps towards normalizing relations with Syria after making a surprise announcement that the U.S. would lift all sanctions on the country.
The president will leave the U.A.E later on Friday and hinted he was leaving for “destination unknown”, but will likely return to Washington.
New Pentagon memo reveals how military will screen for transgender troops to purge from service.jpeg?quality=75&width=230&auto=webp)
‘What ever happened to Never Forget?’: 9/11 families blast Trump for warm embrace of Saudi officials
Trump to meet with South African president at White House after claims of ‘genocide’ of Afrikaners
Trump becomes a grandfather for the 11th time as Tiffany gives birth to a son
In pictures: Trump visits UAE
Donald Trump flew to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for the final leg of his Middle East tour.
Trump secures A.I. agreement with U.A.E
During the last stop on his Gulf nations tour, Donald Trump secured deals with the United Arab Emirates worth more than $200 billion and an agreement to enhance cooperation on artificial intelligence.
Following Trump’s meeting with Emirati president, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the White House said the deals included a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 Boeing aircraft powered by engines made by GE Aerospace.
The U.S. Commerce Department said the two countries also agreed to establish a "US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership" framework and Trump and Sheikh Mohamed attended the unveiling of a new 5GW AI campus, which would be the largest outside the United States.
Before making the deals Trump visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, its white minarets and domes, impressive in the late-afternoon light.
"It is so beautiful," Trump told reporters inside the mosque, which he said had been closed for the day.
"First time they closed it. It's in honor of the United States. Better than in honor of me. Let's give it to the country. That's a great tribute."
Trump says U.S. is 'getting close' to a nuclear dea with Iran
Donald Trump says the U.S. and Iran are “very close” to securing a deal that would see America drop its longstanding sanctions and Iran give up the prospect of developing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking at a business leaders summit on Thursday in Qatar, Trump said they were “getting close” to securing a deal as Iran had “sort of” agreed to terms.
“They’re not going to make, I call it, in a friendly way, nuclear dust. We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” he said.
"I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.”
Trump has repeatedly said that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. U.S. and Iranian negotiators have met four times since the start of April in a bid to secure a deal.
Watch live: Trump attends US-UAE Business Council in Abu Dhabi on final day of Middle East tour
Ex-FBI boss investigated over photo claimed to be 'threat' to Trump
U.S. law enforcement is investigating a social media post by former FBI Director James Comey which included a picture with “8647”, which some Donald Trump supporters have interpreted as a threat against the president.
Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017, Comey posted an Instagram photo of the number 8647 formed by seashells on the beach.
"Cool shell formation on my beach walk," Comey said.
But after the uproar from Trump supporters, Comey took the post down, saying he had assumed it was merely a "political message” and was unaware it could have been associated with violence.
In U.S. parlance the number 86 can be used as verb meaning to throw somebody out of a bar for being drunk or disorderly, and 47 is code for Trump, the 47th president. Some Trump supporters interpreted the message as one to violently remove Trump from office, including by assassination.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Secret Service, said on X that DHS and Secret Service were "investigating this threat and will respond appropriately."
Current FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that his agency was in communication with the Secret Service about the post and "will provide all necessary support."
Trump says next destination is 'unknown' after U.A.E. visit
Donald Trump has said after wrapping up his visit in the United Arab Emirates today, it was “almost destination unknown” as to where he goes next.
However, speaking to reporters on Thursday Trump said he would likely return to the White House on Friday.
“So we'll be leaving tomorrow, as you know, almost destination unknown ... But probably going back to Washington, DC tomorrow,” he said.
Trump had previously suggested he could travel to Turkey if it would be aid negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
He is currently attending a business summit in U.A.E.’s capital Abu Dhabi, and will later visit the Abrahamic Family House which is home to a mosque, a church and a synagogue.
Trump said he had a 'little problem' with Apple boss
Donald Trump said he had a “little problem” with Apple boss Tim Cook, following reports the tech company was going to shift iPhone production from China to India.
Trump acknowledged Apple’s promise to spend $500 billion in the U.S., but told a business summit in Qatar on Thursday he had admonished the CEO.
“I said to him: ‘Tim, you’re my friend. You’re coming here with 500bn but now you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India’,” Trump said, the Guardian reports.
“I said to Tim … we’ve treated you really good, we’ve put up with all the plants that you’ve built in China for years, now you got to build [for] us.”
He continued: “We’re not interested in you building in India, India can take care of themselves ... we want you to build here.”
The president also said that India had offered a “basically zero tariff” deal with the U.S. to avoid Trump’s so called “reciprocal” tariffs.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments