Trump calls on Iran leaders “who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives” to free women
President Trump reiterated his conviction on Tuesday that U.S.-Iran peace talks will soon be underway, sharing a post on his Truth Social network initially published by American pro-Israeli commentator Eyal Yakoby, who said Iran was set to execute eight women.
“To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so,” Mr. Trump said in his post. “Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!”
Yakoby’s post said Iran was “preparing to hang eight women,” and it included photos of the women purportedly facing execution.
CBS News has not confirmed the identity of the women or their status in Iran’s opaque judiciary system. Thousands of people, including many students, were arrested as Iranian authorities launched a brutal crackdown to quash massive anti-government protests early this year, and some have already been executed.
Trump says U.S. is open to providing financial lifeline to UAE amid ongoing war
Asked about the prospect of a currency swap with the United Arab Emirates to assist the Gulf nation if it’s needed, Mr. Trump said it was under consideration.
The president noted that the UAE has been hit by Iranian missiles repeatedly during the war and said he was surprised that the Emiratis might need a financial backstop, because “they are so rich.”
“You know they’re very good for this country,” Mr. Trump said of the UAE. “If I could help them I would. I mean we’re helping them much more with what we’re doing with the war.”
The president praised U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, who he said are “much better allies than NATO.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that UAE Central Bank Gov. Khaled Mohamed Balama broached the idea of a currency-swap line with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and officials from the Federal Reserve and Treasury last week.
Trump says he was “a little surprised” that U.S. caught ship suspected to have come from China
The president told CNBC that the U.S. boarded and seized a cargo ship that had material that he believed came from China, though he wasn’t sure if that was accurate.
“We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice, a gift from China, perhaps, I don’t know,” he said. “But I was a little surprised because I have a very good relationship and I thought I had an understanding with President Xi, but that’s all right. That’s the way war goes, right?”
The president announced Sunday that U.S. forces fired on and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel Touska because it tried to bypass the U.S. blockade and ignored multiple warnings. It’s unclear whether Mr. Trump was referring to Touska in his call with CNBC.
The U.S. military said Tuesday that another Iran-linked vessel, which the Pentagon described as a “stateless sanctioned” ship, the oil tanker M/T Tifani, was interdicted in the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.
Trump says he “expects to be bombing” again as two-week ceasefire nears its end
Asked by CNBC’s Joe Kernan whether he would extend the current ceasefire with Iran if peace talks do begin and make some progress, President Trump indicated Tuesday that he would not prefer that option.
“I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” he said, adding that there won’t be much time left for negotiating once U.S. and Iranian representatives arrive in Islamabad before the expiration of the ceasefire.
Iran has not yet committed to attending a second round of talks with the U.S. in Pakistan, but preparations have been underway for the arrival of delegations for days.
The president said Iran can “get themselves on very good footing” if its leaders reach a deal with the U.S.
Pressed again about what he would need in order to stave off a resumption of U.S. bombing, Mr. Trump told CNBC that he “expects to be bombing.”
“I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he said. “But we’re ready to go.”
