U.S. confirms troop deaths: All the latest news on Middle East conflict
The widening war between Iran, U.S. and Israel is leaving civilians and soldiers caught in its wake. Thousands are stranded across the Gulf, flight...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his global tariff campaign, warning China, the pharmaceutical industry, and foreign manufacturers of steep levies unless they strike new trade deals with the United States.
Speaking at a Republican fundraiser in Washington, Trump accused China of manipulating its currency to soften the blow of the 104% tariffs his administration has imposed on Chinese imports. He called the move "a trick in the book" and said it would backfire as China remains energy-dependent. "They have to buy oil. We don’t,” Trump said. “That’s where it hurts them.”
The president also signalled new tariffs are coming for another major sector: pharmaceuticals.
“We’re going to tariff our pharmaceuticals,” Trump declared. “Once we do that, they’ll come rushing back. We are the big market.”
He highlighted Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) as an example of economic leverage, claiming the firm agreed to invest $200 billion in Arizona without receiving U.S. subsidies. “All I said was, if you don’t build here, you’ll pay up to 100% tax,” Trump said. “No handouts.”
The remarks also included political overtones. Trump claimed all 50 U.S. states have shifted Republican and predicted a strong showing in the 2026 midterms. “They’re terrified our strategy will succeed,” he said, framing opposition to his policies as “treason.”
The comments come amid worsening market jitters over Trump’s sweeping tariffs, which have impacted global trade and driven Wall Street losses. Despite the backlash, the president maintains his stance: “We’re making $2 billion a day. They used to call that peanuts. Not anymore.”
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
Türkiye raised its security level for Turkish-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to Level 3 on Sunday (2 March). The development follows Iranian restrictions on shipping after U.S. and Israeli strikes and confirmation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death.
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions to shut their doors.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 3rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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