EU Frets Over US Demands in Trade Talks It Sees as Unbalanced
The US is demanding the European Union make what the bloc's officials see as unbalanced, unilateral concessions as part of ongoing trade talks, setting up a tough decision over whether to move ahead with countermeasures if the terms of any deal don't improve.
The best-case scenario remains an agreement on principles that would allow the negotiations to continue beyond an early July deadline, according to people familiar with the matter.
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CNN
29 minutes ago
- CNN
Negotiations are ‘meaningless' unless Israel stops attacks, Iran government spokesperson tells CNN
The prospect of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program is 'meaningless' unless Israel stops striking her country, Iran's government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told CNN Saturday at her office in northern Tehran. The streets were fairly quiet in the Iranian capital, usually a bustling metropolis of over 9 million people. Over the past few days, traffic has increased as more Iranians return to the city after fleeing Israel's bombing during earlier days of the conflict. Despite being the voice of a government exchanging blows with a nuclear power (and waiting on whether to expect fire from the United States), Mohajerani was relaxed. The first woman to serve as Iranian government spokesperson, she came into her role less than a year ago, appointed by President Masoud Pezeshkian last August. She noted that Iran has endured numerous cycles of negotiations about its nuclear activities, yet none have resulted in a sustained long-term deal. 'These past years we've been through a painful experience twice,' Mohajerani said, pointing to US President Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA agreement in 2018. No matter how eager Trump might be to bring Iran to the negotiating table, Mohajerani said Iran does not want to be left empty-handed again. And before talks begin, Israel's bombing must stop, she said, emphasizing a point made by multiple Iranian officials in recent days. 'This time we were in the middle of negotiations again when this attack took place,' Mohajerani said. 'Therefore, as our officials have already stated, as long as there are attacks, negotiations will be meaningless. When the attacks stop, we will think about it.' Israel's initial, wide-ranging operation on June 13 killed some of the most powerful commanders in the Iranian military and damaged Iranian uranium enrichment sites. Since then, daily strikes have damaged its nuclear power plants, set its largest natural gas field aflame and obliterated the newsroom of one of the country's state-run media channels. Still, Mohajerani insists that Iran is ready for whatever the Israelis throw at them next. 'Both the government and the nation of Iran are totally robust in defense,' she said. 'Our military force is completely ready to prevent such attacks from happening again, and in case the need arises to practice legitimate defense.' So far, at least 430 civilians in Iran have been killed in the strikes, and thousands of others wounded, according to the Iranian government. At a hospital in Tehran, one woman named Nisrine told CNN that she 'barely made it to the door' after being injured in an Israeli strike. One of her neighbors called emergency services, who brought her to a hospital. 'I've had five operations,' she said from her hospital bed. 'In my abdomen area, my kidney, my liver.' Iran's missile-and-UAV-driven response, meanwhile, has killed 24 in Israel, wounding over 1,200 others, according to figures from the Israeli government. Iranian missiles have struck deep within Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, with one missile hitting a hospital. At the heart of the conflict is the future of Iran's nuclear program. Israel and the United States have long accused Iran of working towards a nuclear bomb. Speaking with CNN, Mohajerani repeated what Iranian officials have maintained for years: that Iran's nuclear enrichment program is not for weapons-making, but rather for energy production. 'Nuclear energy does not mean war to us,' Mohajerani said. 'It means life to us. Therefore, since the subject of enrichment and the subject of life are the same path to us, not leading to war, we believe enrichment is our right.' Nonetheless, Israeli officials have cast their bombing campaign in existential terms, going so far as to say that Iran's nuclear program poses a threat to the entire planet. 'We act to prevent a huge threat—primarily to the existence of Israel, but also to the entire region, Europe, and the world order,' declared Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Rishon Lezion. It remains unclear whether Washington will join the fray. Trump has said he will decide whether to intervene within the next two weeks, but has already joined Israeli officials in publicly pondering the benefits of assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on June 17. 'He is an easy target but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' Mohajerani was blunt when asked about the possibility that Israel or the US might take direct aim at her country's head of state. 'This shows that Israel does not understand the unity of the Iranian people,' Mohajerani said. 'Israel better not do something for which it can't pay the damage. The Iranian people are backing their leader.' 'We should not forget that for all of us Iranians today, Iran is a united concept, which we will certainly defend.'
Bloomberg
33 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Trump's Twists and Turns Over Iran Leave Oil Traders Hanging
The oil market is wrestling with Donald Trump's next act in the conflict between Iran and Israel, with the US president's every utterance over the fighting seemingly capable of spiking or crashing prices. In a wild week, Brent futures have surged 11% from before Israel attacked its nemesis, but with sharp moves up and down from one day to the next.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Net Worth More Important Than A High Salary? Some Say Yes, Others Argue A High Salary With Low Net Worth Is 'Much Easier To Fix'
When a Reddit user recently posted a rant claiming that net worth is more important than salary, it sparked a heated debate. The post criticized people who flaunt six-figure incomes but have little to show for it. The author questioned the value of a high paycheck if it all disappears to debt and lifestyle costs. 'Who cares what you make if you are still broke,' they wrote. The poster argued that plenty of six-figure earners live paycheck to paycheck and flex their income despite being buried in debt. 'I would rather make 50k a year and have 250k NW, than 150k a year and be in debt,' they wrote, adding, 'Having high NW displays financial discipline and competence.' Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Peter Thiel turned $1,700 into $5 billion—now accredited investors are eyeing this software company with similar breakout potential. Learn how you can Some people agreed, pointing out that income is only one part of the story. 'I worked with a guy who made over 100k,' one commenter wrote. 'Refused to save anything, not even 401(k). He bought anything and everything he wanted. He's still doing it.' Others pushed back, saying a high salary gives you more options and flexibility. 'Give me the high salary and low net worth. Much easier to fix,' one person said. Another argued, 'That 150k [salary] can erase debt and build a 250k NW a hell of a lot faster than the 50k / 250k one can increase.' A more detailed reply laid out how someone earning $150,000 could contribute aggressively to retirement, get employer matches, and outpace someone with a smaller income within a few years. 'You could waste ALL of your 126.5K minus taxes and end up with a quarter mill in 5 years,' the commenter explained. Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Despite disagreements, one consistent theme emerged: discipline matters more than raw numbers. 'If you have an uncontrollable spending problem, it doesn't matter how much you make,' a user wrote. 'You can make 1 million a year and if you still spend 1.2 million you're an idiot.' Another summed it up this way: 'Net worth isn't always a sign of discipline but your post is well taken. If I made a million dollars per year for one year it doesn't make you rich.' Several pointed out that net worth often includes illiquid assets like homes, which can inflate the numbers without improving someone's day-to-day finances. 'You can't access your 401(k) without paying a penalty... unless your net worth is mostly comprised of cash in a mattress, a low salary and high net worth won't increase your buying power,' one user the end, some people argued that the best position is to have both: a strong income and disciplined saving habits. Consistent contributions to your retirement—while increasing the percentage over time— and positive cash flow are even more important, as those will build your net worth over time. A high income can fuel savings and investment, while net worth provides security when income slows down. Building both and understanding how they support each other is what creates lasting financial stability. Read Next: Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Is Net Worth More Important Than A High Salary? Some Say Yes, Others Argue A High Salary With Low Net Worth Is 'Much Easier To Fix' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
