Marco Rubio blasts China over trade abuses, tech theft, and fentanyl influx
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused China of abusing global trade rules, stealing American technology, and flooding the United States with fentanyl. He made the remarks while announcing a USD 28.5 billion budget proposal for the State Department. Speaking on Tuesday, Rubio said the nation is introducing new tariffs to balance trade and bring in more revenue for the government. He also said that the US is bringing an era to a conclusion where it allowed China to get away with questionable behaviour.advertisement"We are resetting America's trade relationship with the world through pro-growth tariffs to balance trade and raise revenue," Rubio said while speaking to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. "On every continent, except perhaps Antarctica, where the penguins are proving difficult, we are supporting USTR's work to negotiate trade deals that protect American workers and secure investment that will grow our economy."He lashed out at China, saying, "The Department is confronting China's nefarious influence from the Indo-Pacific to Africa to Latin America. The era of indulging the Chinese Communist Party as it abuses trade practices to steal our technology and floods our nation with fentanyl is over."AID FOR ALLIES AND EMERGENCY FUNDRubio also addressed the new State Department budget request for 2026, which amounts to USD 28.5 billion. According to him, the proposal includes eliminating USD 20 billion of what he referred to as "wasteful and ideologically motivated programmes."advertisement"Today, I present the President's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget request for the Department of State. This budget will allow the Department to fulfil its mission while also proposing the recession of USD 20 billion in duplicative, wasteful, and ideologically driven programmes," he said.One of the main components of the budget is a new emergency fund, the America First Opportunity Fund (A1OF). It is valued at USD 2.9 billion and has been designed to enable the US to respond rapidly to foreign crises, support allies like India and Jordan, and counter threats from nations like China.Rubio explained, "A core principle of this reorganisation is the belief that what matters is not the size of budgets but the agility with which they can be deployed. That is reflected in the new America First Opportunity Fund It will allow the Department to respond rapidly to crises, engage proactively with critical partners like India and Jordan, support essential repatriation efforts, and confront strategic threats from near-peer competitors like China."With inputs from ANITune InMust Watch
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Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Midnight Hammer' to Strait of Hormuz: 10 new developments after US bombs Iran's nuclear facilities
Tensions between the United States, Iran, and Israel escalated dramatically on Sunday after US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, which President Donald Trump claimed had 'completely and fully obliterated' key sites. The attacks have triggered a deadly wave of retaliatory strikes, international condemnation, and fears of a wider regional war. On Saturday night, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the US military had struck three of Iran's nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Trump declared the facilities 'completely and fully obliterated." Senior Pentagon officials on Sunday detailed a highly secretive and coordinated military operation against Iran, calling it a demonstration of American air and naval power at its most effective. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both spoke publicly, though neither could confirm whether Iran retained the ability to produce a nuclear weapon. Hegseth reiterated President Trump's claim from the previous night that the nuclear sites had been 'obliterated.' General Caine did not. Caine said a final battle damage assessment was still pending, but initial reports indicated that all three targeted Iranian nuclear sites had sustained 'severe damage and destruction.' A US official has confirmed that B-2 bombers flew non-stop for 37 hours from Missouri to carry out the strikes. The global nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said that there has been 'no radiation leak' from any nuclear facility in Pakistan after the escalated military engagement with India. The Vienna-based global nuclear watchdog's reply, to a query from The Indian Express, ties in with the earlier response by the Indian Air Force that India has not hit any target in Pakistan's Kirana Hills, which is reported to house some nuclear installations. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Sunday that he will travel to Moscow later in the day to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday morning. In a post on X, Araghchi condemned the United States, accusing it of a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. A representative of Iran's Supreme Leader said it is now Iran's turn to respond. He called for missile strikes on US naval forces in Bahrain and closure of the Strait of Hormuz to Western vessels. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned, 'They crossed a very big red line… We have to respond based on our legitimate right for self-defence." Several areas in central and northern Israel, including Nes Ziona, Rishon Lezion, Haifa, and a neighbourhood in Tel Aviv, were struck by Iranian missiles, according to Israeli state media and Fars News Agency. Videos show significant destruction in Tel Aviv. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the US to 'expect regrettable responses' in response to its strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites, state TV reported. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump, calling the strike 'a pivot of history.' UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of 'a dangerous escalation,' and Pakistan condemned the US strike. Oman, previously mediating talks, called the attack a 'serious violation of international law. Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, has also called for an emergency Security Council meeting. In a letter to the UN, he described the US strikes as 'heinous attacks and illegal use of force.' Russia has "strongly condemned" bombings, calling the attacks "irresponsible" and a "gross violation of international law". Iran's Parliament has approved the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, though the final decision will be taken by the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's Press TV reported. The Strait is in the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and accounts for a big bulk of the world's oil trade. Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz on multiple occasions, but has never actually done it. The heightened risk of the closure is bound to raise concerns globally, including in India, particularly with regard to oil and gas supply security, and could lead to a jump in energy prices. India is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 per cent of its requirement. Israel closed its airspace as a precaution after the US strikes, though land crossings into Egypt and Jordan remain open, according to the Israel Airports Authority. Trump, speaking Sunday, said no military 'could have done what the US military has done.' He warned Iran of 'far greater' future attacks if it does not choose peace. 'There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran,' he said, adding that he acted 'as a team' with Netanyahu. The 'bunker buster' MOP is designed to attack 'deeply-buried facilities and hardened bunkers and tunnels' and is meant to destroy targets in well-protected facilities. Israel, or any country other than the US, does not have any non-nuclear weapon systems that can penetrate a site as deep as Fordow. A never-before-used American bomb — the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP — which is extremely heavy and can only be dropped using the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber aircraft of the US Air Force was used for the bombing. The latest strike seems to have achieved that target, even though the extent of damage at Fordow is still under speculation, primarily because of the depth of the enrichment site.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Marco Rubio warns Iran against closing Strait of Hormuz, calls it ‘economic suicide'; urges China to intervene\
US Secretary of State on Sunday cautioned Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz, calling it 'economic suicide,' and urged China to use its influence to dissuade Tehran amid rising tensions in the region. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His remarks followed reports that Iran's parliament had approved a proposal to shut the vital waterway. 'If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it and we retain options to deal with that,' Rubio said on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. He added, 'I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil.' The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, with around 20% of global oil and gas supplies flowing through it. Its closure, Rubio warned, would be a 'massive escalation' and 'would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours.' Iran's Press TV reported earlier that while the parliament has passed the measure, the final decision rests with the Supreme National Security Council. Revolutionary Guards commander and lawmaker Esmail Kosari said, 'The closure of the strait is on the agenda and will be done whenever necessary.' The proposal comes amid heightened hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the US, with Washington recently launching airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Energy analysts warn that any disruption in the strait could trigger a sharp rise in global oil prices and worsen geopolitical instability. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a related comment on Iran's nuclear programme, Rubio said the US is still open to negotiations. 'The Iranian regime should wake up and say 'OK, if we really want nuclear energy in our country, there's a way to do it.' That offer's still there, we're prepared to talk to them tomorrow,' he said. Rubio reiterated that the US is willing to support Iran's civilian nuclear power ambitions, provided it does not enrich its own fuel. 'Ultimately, they have to make a decision... there are many countries that have nuclear reactors without enriching uranium,' he said.
India.com
34 minutes ago
- India.com
Why Netanyahu Thanked Donald Trump in English After US Bombed Irans Nuclear Facilities?
New Delhi: On Sunday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation not in Hebrew but in English. The unusual choice was not accidental. His message was meant for more than just Israelis. Netanyahu was delivering an update on the latest developments in the conflict between Israel and Iran. And during that address, he praised U.S. President Donald Trump for authorising the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. There was a noticeable sense of triumph in Netanyahu's voice. A faint smile lingered on his face. And perhaps it was fitting. He has spent much of his political life warning the world that Iran poses an existential threat to Israel. For over 15 years, he has lobbied U.S. presidents, diplomats and defense chiefs to consider military action as the only real answer to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Now, he stood before cameras as American B-2 bombers struck Iranian facilities. And he called Trump's decision 'historic' and 'bold'. He may as well have congratulated himself. After all, Netanyahu had managed to shift the stance of Trump, who had long campaigned against foreign military entanglements and whose conservative voter base had shown little enthusiasm for any war involving Israel. This moment did not arrive without internal resistance. U.S. intelligence agencies had long questioned Israel's claim that Iran was racing toward a nuclear bomb. They had not seen concrete evidence that Tehran had made that decision. And yet, despite these doubts, American warplanes were now targeting Iranian facilities. From the beginning of this conflict, now entering its second week, Israeli officials repeatedly insisted that they could handle Iran alone. But behind closed doors, it was clear that only American weaponry could breach the kind of hardened underground bunkers where Iran had placed its key nuclear assets. Especially in Fordow, the site buried deep within a mountain. If the sites bombed on June 22 morning are truly out of commission, Netanyahu will feel he has reached a turning point. For him, this may be the closest moment yet to declaring victory in a long battle. However, Iran claims it had already removed its nuclear material from the sites before the strikes. That claim will be hard to verify anytime soon. Without U.S. involvement, Israel would have continued chipping away at targets across Iran, its military leaders, nuclear scientists, infrastructure and enrichment sites. But there was never going to be a moment of closure. Unless, perhaps, regime change happened in Tehran. 'America Will Hit Back With Full Force' The B-2 jets may have changed the shape of this conflict. But whether this becomes an ending or a deeper escalation now depends on Iran and its allies. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had warned last week that any U.S. involvement would trigger retaliation. 'Americans must understand that any interference by their forces will lead to irreparable damage,' he said. His words may soon be tested. On June 21, Yemen's Houthi rebels, staunch allies of Tehran, threatened to attack U.S. vessels in the Red Sea if Washington escalated its role in the war. With that, U.S. troops, embassies and civilians across the Middle East could all become potential targets. Iran has a variety of options. It could strike U.S. bases in the Gulf. It could disrupt oil shipping routes – spiking global fuel prices. Or it could activate proxy groups across Syria, Lebanon, Iraq or beyond. The United States, for now, says its military operation is over. There is no appetite in Washington for toppling the Iranian government. That message could be a quiet invitation for Iran to keep its response limited. Tehran might choose symbolic retaliation – strikes that send a message without triggering a full-scale war. That is how Iran responded back in 2020, when Trump ordered the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. bases, but casualties were minimal. Still, on June 21 night, Trump issued a fresh warning, saying any retaliation from Iran would be met with overwhelming force. And now, on June 22 morning, the Middle East holds its breath – wondering whether this was the beginning of a resolution, or just the calm before a more devastating storm.
