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The Herald Scotland

19 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

Will US attack Iran? Trump's Truth Social feed offers clues

In precarious moments like the one we are in now, as the world wonders if the United States will join Israel in attacking Iran, that's a problem. Trump's social media posts, and even his interviews with traditional news outlets, are often unserious and haphazard. He taunts his foes like an NBA point guard and relies on a stream of consciousness communication style that is both cringeworthy and dangerous in a world where wars are a constant threat. Please, Mr. President, stop. For the love of all that is peaceful and for the sake of the men and women who serve in our nation's military, would you close the app and put down the phone? Hey Trump, maybe log off Truth Social for a bit? Trump's social media page on Truth Social is a cacophony of thoughts that I'm loathe to read. He frequently posts messages to world leaders that ought to be conveyed, if at all, behind closed doors. Opinion: Trump must back Israel against Iran. 'Kooky' Carlson is wrong about nuclear threat. On June 17, Trump posted: "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Reading that makes me nauseous. Trump is, after all, our nation's commander in chief and the stakes for Israel, the United States and the world couldn't be higher. On June 18, Trump responded to a reporter's question about a potential American strike on Iranian nuclear sites in his typical manner: "I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do. I can tell you this that Iran's got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate. And I said, why didn't you negotiate with me before? All this death, and destruction." He spoke about missile strikes like they were a casual game of checkers with a friend. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter on conservative values, family and religion from columnist Nicole Russell. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter on conservative values, family and religion from columnist Nicole Russell. Get it delivered to your inbox Trump has been like this for years, of course, but he's once again the president. What he says and how he says it, even where he says it, matters. A lot. In May, Trump described Russian President Vladimir Putin on social media as "absolutely CRAZY!" The United States was at the same time trying to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Not surprisingly, the carnage continues in that war. He is never shy about picking a fight. In February, Trump posted, "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!" That successfully goaded progressives into the "No Kings" protests we saw recently. His supporters love that kind of drama. But now we're talking about war, not domestic politics and all of the silliness it entails. Opinion: Israel's successful attack on Iran is proof American support is worth the money Whatever happened to speak softly and carry a big stick? I'm not arguing that the president doesn't have the right to express himself on social media. He has often used his vast following to his advantage. However, when it comes to handling enemies like Iran and the terrible dangers of nuclear weapons, the world doesn't need the American president's half-baked thoughts served up at 3 a.m. Trump would do well to channel Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy adage, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." He also would do well to negotiate quietly, talk less, listen more and stop posting on social media every random thought that floats into his head. Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.

The Herald Scotland

19 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

Live updates: Israel says Iran will pay for hospital attack

The conflict has killed hundreds of Iranians and scores of Israelis since Israel launched a surprise attack on nuclear and military targets on June 13. Israeli warplanes struck three nuclear sites in Iran on June 18, while a military spokesman walked back an earlier Israeli claim to have bombed Iran's only functioning nuclear power plant. Follow along with USA TODAY for live updates. More: 40,000 reasons to worry: U.S. troops in Middle East could face Iran blowback Iran's state-owned IRNA news outlet said its ballistic missiles were aimed at Israeli Defense Forces and intelligence targets located in the same area. "The claim of an attack on an intelligence base or the presence of military equipment under the hospital is another lie. We are not so despicable as to endanger civilians," the IDF said in a Persian-language statement, the Times of Israel reported. "Attacking hospitals is a crime. Fabricating a reason does not justify it." No deaths were reported in the attack. Six people were seriously injured, emergency workers said. Trump supporter will back an Iran strike, Steve Bannon says The "vast majority" of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement "will get on board" with strikes on Iran, if he goes ahead with military action, his former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon says. Should he decide there's no diplomatic solution to be had, Trump will need to walk the American people and MAGA through his thinking, Bannon told reporters at a June 18 breakfast hosted by Christian Science Monitor. But Trump is also likely to win ove most of his naysaying supporters. "There will be some, but the vast majority of the MAGA movement will go, 'look, we trust your judgement, you've walked us through this, we don't like it, in fact maybe we hate it, but we'll get on board,'" Bannon said. -Francesca Chambers

The Independent

32 minutes ago

• The Independent

Israel-Iran latest: Trump to decide on US action over conflict within two weeks, White House says

US president Donald Trump has said he will make a decision on whether to strike Iranian nuclear facilities within the next two weeks. Mr Trump said he would make the call on whether to order US warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear sites depending on whether Tehran engages in talks over ending its nuclear weapons programme. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' he said. It comes after Israel 's defence minister Israel Katz vowed that Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei 'cannot continue to exist' said after the latest wave of Iranian missiles struck an Israeli hospital. Mr Katz said the military "has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist". US officials said this week that Mr Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Mr Khamenei. Iran held direct talks with US after Israeli strikes US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken by phone several times since Israel began its strikes on Iran last week, in a bid to find a diplomatic end to the crisis. Three diplomats told Reuters that Mr Araqchi said Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks, which began last Friday. They said the talks included a brief discussion of a US proposal given to Iran at the end of May that aims to create a regional consortium that would enrich uranium outside of Iran, an offer Tehran has so far rejected. A regional diplomat close to Tehran said Mr Araqchi had told Mr Witkoff that Tehran "could show flexibility in the nuclear issue" if Washington pressured Israel to end the war. A European diplomat said: "Araqchi told Witkoff Iran was ready to come back to nuclear talks, but it could not if Israel continued its bombing." Mr Araghchi was due today in Geneva to negotiate with European diplomats, the country's first face-to-face talks in the crisis. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 June 2025 04:08 Israeli airstrikes reach city of Rasht Israeli airstrikes reached the city of Rasht in Northern Iran, according to the Associated Press. It's unclear what the Israeli military is targeting in the city, the AP reports. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 03:03 Trump relying on small group of advisers for Iran strategy: report President Donald Trump is increasingly relying on a small group of advisers to decide whether or not to strike Iran, NBC News reports. He's also crowdsourcing opinions from various allies who don't have formal positions in his administration, according to the outlet. Earlier today, the president said he would make the call on whether to order US warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear sites depending on whether Tehran engages in talks over ending its nuclear weapons program. 'I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' he said. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 02:01 IDF intercepts Iranian drone: report The Israeli military intercepted an Iranian drone over the Dead Sea, according to a report from The Guardian. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 01:21 Iran says Israel struck industrial complex in north Iranian state media said Israeli strikes hit an industrial complex in the Sefid-Rud area in Northern Iran, The New York Times reports. State media also reported strikes around Rasht, a city in northern Iran. 20 June 2025 01:10 Netanyahu faces backlash for describing 'personal cost' of war Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing backlash after describing the 'personal cost' his family has paid for the war. 'There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I really appreciate that,' he said in a television interview at the site of a hospital destroyed by an Iranian missile strike. 'Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt,' he added. 'This is the second time that my son Avner, due to missile threats and rocket fire, has cancelled a wedding. It is a personal cost for his fiancee as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero, and she bears a personal cost.' Knesset member Gilad Kariv called the prime minister a 'narcissist' following his remarks. 'I know many families who were not forced to postpone a wedding, but who will now never celebrate the weddings that were once meant to take place,' the lawmaker said, according to The Guardian. Yehuda Cohen, whose son is being held hostage in Gaza, also criticized Netanyahu's remarks, according to The New York Times. He said his son 'can't breathe, he can't see daylight and has been in danger of death for more than 20 months.' Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 00:30 German chancellor urges Israel to use restraint: report German Chancellor Friedrich Merz privately urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use restraint in the campaign against Iran, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The German chancellor said he supports Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities while emphasizing the importance of a diplomatic solution, according to Reuters. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 00:10 Lammy calls for de-escalation over Iran-Israel conflict The Foreign Secretary said he will join European leaders in Geneva on Friday for talks with the Iranian foreign minister as the UK continues to call for de-escalation over the Iran-Israel conflict. David Lammy met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Thursday and said they discussed a deal to find a diplomatic solution. Mr Lammy said: 'The situation in the Middle East remains perilous. We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. 'Meeting with Secretary of State Rubio and special envoy to the Middle East Witkoff in the White House today, we discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict. 'A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution. 'Tomorrow, I will be heading to Geneva to meet with the Iranian foreign minister alongside my French, German and EU counterparts. 'Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.' 19 June 2025 23:45 White House: Trump to decide on Iran action 'within two weeks' Alexander Butler19 June 2025 23:30 Ukrainians who fled from war to Israel facing new conflict 'I don't stop seeing dreams that I'm hiding somewhere, running from Shahed drones, bombs, and looking for shelter somewhere,' said a Ukrainian woman whose new life has been shattered: Jane Dalton19 June 2025 22:45