White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

TheWhite Houseon Saturday said it is in Iran's "best interest to accept" its proposal on a nuclear deal following a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency saying the country is swiftly increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium. "President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media." The IAEA's reportsaid Iranhad increased its stockpile to 900.8 pounds of uranium enriched by up to 60% as of May 17, a nearly 50% increase since the agency's last report in February, which put the stockpile at 605.8 pounds. The report said Iran is "the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material," which is a "serious concern." Iran Condemns Austria Over Report On Advanced Nuclear Weapons Program The IAEAadded that just 92 pounds of 60% enriched uranium is enough to produce an atomic bomb if it is enriched to 90%. Read On The Fox News App Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but U.S. intelligence agencies say the country has "undertaken activities that better position it to produce anuclear device, if it chooses to do so." Iran's Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a joint statement that the report was based on "unreliable and differing information sources," claiming that it was biased and unprofessional. The statement added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its disappointment about the report, which was prepared by imposing pressure on the agency for political purposes, and expresses its obvious objection about its content." On Thursday, Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that he was unsure a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could be imminently reached. "Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran's nuclear rights — including enrichment," he wrote. Iran Foreign Minister Vows Nuclear Enrichment Will Continue 'With Or Without A Deal' Oman Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi presented the Trump administration's first formal proposal in Tehran Saturday, which calls for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment and for a regional consortium that includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states and the U.S. for producing nuclear power, TheNew York Times reported, citing people familiar with the document. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also put out a rare statement on a Saturday about the IAEA's report, calling it "grave." "The agency presents a stark picture that serves as a clear warning sign: Despite countless warnings by the international community, Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons program," Netanyahu's office said. "The report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years — the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful. This is evident from the alarming scope of Iran's uranium enrichment activity. Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever. "The report clearly indicates that Iran remains in non-compliance of its fundamental commitments and obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and continues to withhold cooperation from IAEA inspectors. The international community must act now to stop Iran." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source:White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

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May 31, 2025

White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike TheWhite Houseon Saturday said it is in Iran's ...

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South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here’s what to know

South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here's what to know

After half a year of political turmoil, uncertainty and division, South Korea will vote for a new president to succeed Yoon Suk Yeol, the disgraced former leader who plunged the democratic nation into chaos by declaring martial law in December. This election feels particularly significant; the country, a US ally andAsian economic and cultural powerhouse, has floundered for months with a revolving door of interim leaders while navigating Yoon's impeachment trial and a multipronged investigation into the fateful night of his short-lived power grab. All the while, South Korea's economy has suffered, with US President Donald Trump's trade war and a potential global recession looming in the background. Two men are each promising to help the country recover if elected – a lawyer turned politician dogged by legal cases who survived an assassination attempt, and a former anti-establishment activist turned conservative minister. Polls open on Tuesday morning and a winner could be declared by Wednesday. Here's what you need to know. The frontrunner is Lee Jae-myung, 60, of the liberal opposition Democratic Party. A former underage factory worker from a poor family, Lee became a human rights lawyer before entering politics. He is a former mayor and governor, and most recently served as a lawmaker after narrowly losing to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election. He survivedan assassination attemptin January 2024 when a man stabbed him in the neck during a public event. He again made headlines on December 3, 2024 – the night Yoon declared martial law and sent troops to parliament. Lee was among the lawmakers who rushed to the legislature and pushed past soldiers to hold an emergency vote to lift martial law. Helive streamed himselfjumping over a fence to enter the building, in a viral video viewed tens of millions of times. On the campaign trail, Lee promised political and economic reforms, including more controls on a president's ability to declare martial law, and revising the constitution to allow two four-year presidential terms instead of the current single five-year term. He has emphasized easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula while holding on to the longtime goal of denuclearizing North Korea; he also supports boosting small businesses and growing the AI industry. But Lee has also been dogged by legal cases, including several ongoing trials for alleged bribery and charges related to a property development scandal. Separately, he was convicted of violating election law in another ongoing case that has been sent to an appeals court. Lee denies all the charges against him. Speaking to CNN in December, he claimed he had been indicted on various charges "without any evidence or basis," and that the allegations are politically motivated. Lee's main rival is Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP). When Yoonleft the party in May,he urged supporters to back Kim – a 73-year-old former labor minister, who had been a prominent labor activist at university, even being expelled and imprisoned for his protests. He eventually joined a conservative party, and stepped into the nomination after several rounds of party infighting. The PPP initially selected Kim as its candidate; then dropped him, eyeing former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instead. The party finally chose Kim after he filed legal challenges. But the PPP remains deeply divided and its candidate trailed Lee in pre-election polling. In a statement after his nomination, Kim vowed to seek unity and build a "big tent" coalition to take on Lee,according to Reuters. Kim has also promised to reform the country's politics, judiciary and election management systems to rebuild public trust. His campaign emphasized making South Korea business-friendly through tax cuts and eased restrictions, and by promoting new technologies and nuclear energy. Several third-party and independent candidates are also running for the presidency. They include Lee Jun-seok, a former PPP leader who founded his own conservative New Reform Party last year. At the forefront of voters' minds is the country's flailing economy and rising cost of living. Youth unemploymenthas surgedand consumption has declined, with the economyunexpectedly contractingin the first quarter of this year. Part of that is due to Trump's trade war – which has hit South Korea's export-reliant economy hard.South Korea's exports to the US fellsharply in the first few weeks of April after US tariffs kicked in, andthe nation's largest airline haswarned the downturn could cost it up to $100 million a year. Though officials from both nations have met for tariff talks, the political turmoil at home is likely slowing progress and hampering a possible trade deal until a new South Korean president is elected. That's why both main candidates have focused on the economy, promising to stabilize the cost of goods and improve opportunities in housing, education and jobs. But there's a host of other problems the next president will have to tackle, too – such as the country'srapidly aging societyandplummeting birth rates, which represent an urgent demographic crisis also seen in other countries in the region likeJapanandChina. Among the common complaints of young couples and singles are the high cost of childcare, gender inequality and discrimination against working parents. Then there are regional tensions. There's the ever-present threat from North Korea, which hasrapidly modernized its armed forces, developingnew weaponsand testing intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach almost anywhere in the United States. Experts have warned in recent years that the country may also be preparing to resume nuclear tests, which it paused in 2018. Across the Yellow Sea lies China, which South Korea has a strong trade relationship with – but historically fraught diplomatic relations. South Korea also maintains a close security alliance with the US, and hosts nearly 30,000 American troops in the country. In recent years, South Korea, Japan and the US have drawn closer together, working to counter Chinese influence in the strategically important Asia-Pacific region. Yoon was removed from office in April following months of legal wrangling, after parliamentvoted to impeach himlate last year. It was a remarkable fall from grace for the former prosecutor turned politician, who rose to prominence for his role in the impeachment of another president – only to eventually meet the same fate. Soon after, Yoon moved out from the presidential residency and into an apartment in the capital Seoul. But his legal battles are ongoing; he faces charges including insurrection, an offense punishable by life imprisonment or death (though South Korea has not executed anyone in decades). Yoon denies all charges against him. CNN's Yoonjung Seo and Gawon Bae contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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May 31, 2025

South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here’s what to know

South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here's what to know After half a year of political turmoi...

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At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine

At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine

At least seven people were killed and 30 hospitalized after "illegal interference" caused a bridge to collapse and a train to derail in Russia's Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, Russian authorities said early on June 1. The train's locomotive and several cars derailed "due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport," Russian Railways said on the Telegram messaging app. Two children were among those hospitalized, one of them in serious condition, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, said on Telegram. Among those killed was the locomotive driver, Russia's state news agencies reported, citing medics. More:'Very disappointed': Trump continues to criticize Putin's war tactics during negotiations Russia's ministry of emergency situations said on Telegram that its main efforts were aimed at finding and rescuing victims, and that some 180 personnel were involved in the operation. Russia's Baza Telegram channel, which often publishes information from sources in the security services and law enforcement, reported, without providing evidence, that according to preliminary information, the bridge was blown up. Reuters could not independently verify the Baza report. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Since the start of the war that Russia launched more than three years ago, there have been continued cross-border shelling, drone strikes, and covert raids from Ukraine into the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions that border Ukraine. The train was going from the town of Klimovo to Moscow, Russian Railways said. It collided with the collapsed bridge in the area of a federal highway in the Vygonichskyi district of the Bryansk region, Bogomaz said. The district lies some 62 miles from the border with Ukraine. More:US and Russia clash over intensifying Ukraine war U.S. PresidentDonald Trumphas urged Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a deal to end the war, and Russia has proposed a second round of face-to-face talks with Ukrainian officials next week in Istanbul. Ukraine is yet to commit to attending the talks on Monday, saying it first needed to see Russian proposals, while a leading U.S. senator warned Moscow it would be "hit hard" by new U.S. sanctions. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Daniel Wallis) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Seven killed, 30 hurt after bridge collapse causes train derailment

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May 31, 2025

At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine

At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine At least seven people were killed and 30 hospit...

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Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP's Midterm Silver Bullet

Encouraging unmotivated Trump voters to cast their ballots in the 2026 midterm elections may be crucial for the Republican Party to maintain control of both chambers of Congress. Recentresearchfrom J.L. Partners —first reportedby Politico on Thursday — found that a large number of Americans who previously voted for President Donald Trump now feel unenthusiastic about voting Republican in 2026. Some analysts told the Daily Caller News Foundation that whether the GOP is able to motivate large voter turnout among low-propensity voters in the upcoming midterms could determine the balance of power in Congress in 2026. "Republicans will have a hard time surviving the 2026 midterms without figuring out how to engage the low-propensity Trump voter," Sam Kay, a pollster at OnMessage Inc., a Republican consulting firm, told the DCNF. "We've seen that these voters are largely apathetic toward politicians who aren't Donald Trump. They believe he's the only one willing to take on the Washington establishment, so they're only interested in showing up for him." "If we want low-propensity Trump voters to turn out in 2026, we need to make this election about protecting President Trump's agenda," Kay added. "Emphasize that the Democrats will do anything to stop him, and drive home the message that he can't finish the job he started unless Republicans keep both the House and Senate."(RELATED: 'Hang It Around Their Neck' — Against Long Odds, GOP Operatives Have A Plan To Win In 2026) US President Donald Trump and US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speak to the press as he arrives for a House GOP Conference Meeting at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on May 20, 2025. (Photo by ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) James Johnson, pollster and co-founder of J.L. Partners, told Politico on Thursday that he believes some Americans may view voting Republican in the 2026 midterms as a way to increase the GOP's chances of winning in the 2028 presidential election. "Most (64%) would still vote GOP if the election were held tomorrow, but lack a clear reason to do so," Johnson told Politico. "We believe they are the critical difference that will settle the House and Senate." "Compared to overall Trump voters, these voters skew younger (18–29) and [are] more likely to be black," Johnson told the outlet. "What motivates these voters is not arguments about Trump, judicial appointments or even the 2027-9 agenda. It is instead the argument that by voting for a Republican-controlled Congress in 2026, they will help the Republicans win the presidency in 2028 … They are thinking through a presidential election prism." The Democratic Party notably suffered significant losses in the 2024 election cycle, with Trump sweeping all seven swing states and the vast majority of counties in the U.S.shiftingto the right. "Pairing the midterm history with the demographic changes in the electorate presents a challenge for Republicans in the context of elections this year and next year, so of course Republicans will want to motivate their electorate as best that they can next year. That's easier said than done," Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, the University of Virginia Center for Politics' nonpartisan newsletter on American campaigns and elections, told the DCNF. Kondik said he believes the 2026 midterm elections should be viewed separately from the2028presidential election, citing the fact that presidential elections historically have higher voter turnout than midterms. "Midterms should be considered separately from presidential elections," Kondik told the DCNF. "The president is not on the midterm ballot and the presidential contest has larger turnout, and midterms don't necessarily predict presidential outcomes. Democrats, for instance, got blown out in the 2010 midterm, but that didn't prevent Obama from winning reelection in 2012. Republicans were on the wrong side of both the 2018 and 2020 elections, but they were clearly more competitive in 2020 than they were in 2018. Even if Republicans do very poorly in 2026, it doesn't necessarily mean anything for 2028, and there are plenty of voters who won't show up in 2026 but will in 2028." "Midterm turnout is always lower than presidential turnout, and it's common for the midterm electorate to be more open to the non-presidential party than the previous cycle's presidential electorate was," Kondik said. "In the Trump era, there also has been a demographic tradeoff occurring, in which Democrats have picked up a smaller number of white college-educated voters from the Republicans while Republicans have picked up a larger number of white and nonwhite working class voters from the Democrats." WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 24: The U.S. Capitol Dome is seen as House Republicans continue to search for a Speaker of the House in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on October 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) "That has made the Republican coalition larger than it was before Trump, but the voters that Republicans have lost — specifically white college-educated voters — are generally more reliable voters in off-years, which may give Democrats a bit of an edge in lower-turnout elections, and every election is lower turnout than a presidential election," Kondik added. Republicans currently have aneight-seatmajority in the House, including vacancies caused by the recent deaths ofthreeHouse Democrats. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in Aprilreleaseda list of 35 "competitive" Republican-held seats it said will determine the House majority, including several congressional districts that Trump won by double digits in the 2024 presidential election. Similarly, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in Marchpublisheda list of 26 Democratic-held seats they view as potential key pickup opportunities for House Republicans to expand their narrow majority. The Democratic Party is also aiming to regain control of the Senate and House in 2026. Though, some Democratic lawmakers have recentlyexpresseddoubtthat their party will be able to retake the Senate in the next midterm election cycle. A spate of recentsurveyshave shown that Americans view Republicans more favorably than Democrats. An Economist/YouGovpollconducted in May found that 41% of Americans viewed Republicans favorably, while just 36% of respondents said they held a favorable view of Democrats. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contactlicensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

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May 31, 2025

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP's Midterm Silver Bullet Encouraging unmotivated Trump voters to cast their ballots in ...

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Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

President Donald Trump at the U.S. Steel Corporation—Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Penn., on Friday, May 30, 2025. Credit - Rebecca Droke—Getty Images President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum—increasing the charge from 25% to 50%. The tariff escalation comes at a precarious time, asTrump's "reciprocal" tariffsare immersed inlegal trouble at the court leveland manyU.S. businessesare struggling to contend with the back-and-forth nature of the levies. Trump's announcement also coincides with the "blockbuster" agreement between U.S. Steel and Japanese steel company Nippon, a deal which he promised will include no layoffs and the steelmaker will be "controlled by the USA." The steepened tariffs could potentially further escalate tensions between the U.S. and its previous top steel partners, which include Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and Vietnam. As theU.S.' number one steel importer, Canada—with whom the U.S. has already escalated tensions due to Trump's other tariffs—stands to feel the pressure of this latest move. Here's what to know about Trump's doubled tariffs and what experts have to say about it. Trump announced his decision during a rally at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant near Pittsburgh in West Mifflin, Penn., surrounded by hardhat-donned steel workers. "We're going to bring it from 25% percent to 50%—the tariffs on steel into the United States of America—which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States," Trump told the crowd, offering his reasoning that the increased charges will ultimately help the domestic industry. "Nobody's going to get around that." He later posted about his decision on social media, revealing that the tariffs would also be raised for aluminum."Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before," Trumpwrote on Truth Social. "This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers." In Trump's announcement post on Truth Social, he said that the doubled tariffs would come into effect on Wednesday, June 4. Although it's worth noting that other tariff threats—such as the proposed50% charge on the E.U.and the majority of Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs that he announced on April 2—have been temporarily paused to allow time for negotiations. It remains to be seen if an extension will be granted for this new June 4 date. The back-and-forth on tariff dates and rates has left many businesses in limbo, though Felix Tintelnot, professor of economics at Duke University, says that with steel and aluminum, the Administration has generally followed through on the timings they've announced. The question, he says, is how long the 50% will stand, as he's seen the rates "flip-flopping all the time." Tintelnot argues that the resulting uncertainty is causing real harm to U.S. businesses and thus, in turn, impacting workers, despite Trump's claims that the tariffs will bring large amounts of money to the U.S. steel industry. "We're talking about expansion of capacity of heavy industry that comes with significant upfront investments, and no business leader should take heavy upfront investments if they don't believe that the same policy is there two, three, or four years from now," Tintelnot says. "Regardless of whether you're in favor [of] or against these tariffs, you don't want the President to just set tax rates arbitrarily, sort of by Executive Order all the time." Though Tintelnot agrees that the escalated tariffs should help the domestic steel industry, he says it will be coinciding with struggles in other U.S. industries as a result of the increase. "So, this is expected to raise the price of aluminum, which is important in inputs for downstream industries like the automotive industry, as well as construction, so there's sort of a distributional conflict here," Tintelnot warns. "Yes, it does help the domestic steel sector, but [it's] hurting these other sectors of the economy, and they are already hard hit by other tariffs." The USW (Unity and Strength for Workers, most commonly referred to as United Steelworkers)—a trade union of steelworkers across North America— saidin a statementthat the increase will have a negative impact on Canada's industries and jobs. "This isn't trade policy—it's a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers," said Marty Warren, United Steelworkers national director for Canada. "Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line and communities that rely on steel and aluminum are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers." Meanwhile, Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress,said that the planto double tariffs is a "direct attack on Canadian workers and a reckless move" and warned that it "could shut Canadian steel and aluminum out of the U.S. market entirely and put thousands of good union jobs at risk." Speaking about the tariffs overall, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carneysaid on Fridaythat he intends to jumpstart and fast track national building projects throughout the country to respond to Trump's trade war, "ensuring that the Canadian government becomes a catalyst for, not an impediment to, nation-building projects that will supercharge growth in communities, both large and small." Other international lawmakers, meanwhile, have voiced their disapproval of Trump's tariffs escalations. Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, saidthat Trump's doubled charges were "unjustified and not the act of a friend." Contact usatletters@time.com.

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May 31, 2025

Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs President Donald Trump at the U.S. Steel Corporation—Irvin Works in West Mifflin,...

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