live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin plan to meet in the future, likely in Saudi Arabia, Trump said on Wednesday following a phone conversation with the Russian leader. MAIN:
U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin expect to hold a meeting soon, with Saudi Arabia being the most likely location. The announcement came after the two leaders spoke by phone on Wednesday.
Trump described the call as a "good conversation" and said it lasted over an hour. He did not specify when the meeting might take place but confirmed that both sides were open to the idea.
During the call, Trump also reiterated his stance on Ukraine, saying he did not think it was practical for Kyiv to join NATO. His comments align with recent statements from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine as part of a potential settlement with Russia.
Background on U.S.-Russia Talks
This was the second confirmed phone call between Trump and Putin in recent weeks. In their previous conversation, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, the two leaders discussed Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and a potential prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Putin had also invited Trump to visit Moscow, with both leaders agreeing to continue personal contacts. Trump later followed up with a call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to inform him about his discussion with Putin.
The planned meeting between Trump and Putin would mark their first face-to-face talks since Trump’s return to office.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Millions of people across Spain and Iceland are preparing on Wednesday to witness a rare total solar eclipse, when the moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun, briefly turning daylight into darkness along a narrow path.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.
Washington’s counter-narcotics push is expanding as Colombia’s new conservative government backs deeper security cooperation.
Meta said it had removed more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the country’s internet regulator weighs enforcement action over its teen social media ban.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has used Pacific Fleet drills to criticise Japan, NATO and possible Western moves against Russian commercial ships. He made the comments during his first visit to Iturup, a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido.
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