Trump Says Iran Asked for Meeting in Qatar on Tuesday
Trump Says Iran Asked for Meeting in Qatar on Tuesday
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will send representatives to meet their Iranian counterparts in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday after the Iranian Islamist regime allegedly asked for the resumption of talks.
Trump’s confirmation, posted on his website Truth Social, follows the publication of several anonymously sourced reports that such conversations would take place in Doha this week. It also follows a tumultuous weekend in which the Pentagon’s Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Iranian armed forces exchanged fire, raising concerns about the memorandum of understanding signed nearly two weeks ago to end active hostilities between the two countries. The latest violence began after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, opened fire on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. The IRGC had repeatedly threatened commercial ships, demanding they not use a route carved out of the Strait by the government of Oman and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO, a U.N. agency, shut down the route after the strikes.
President Trump’s confirmation of talks on Tuesday was brief and offered not context as to what issues will be on the table to discuss.
“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” he wrote.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reportedly clarified in comments after the news of the meeting broke that Trump would be sending Special Envoy for the Middle East Witkoff and Jared Kushner to the Qatar talks.
On the sidelines of those high-level talks, there will be the technical talks,” Leavitt reportedly told Fox News. “As far as we’re concerned, we’re holding up our end of the ceasefire. Violence will be met with violence… there were attacks on commercial vessels that the United States of America, directed by President Trump, responded to.”
Leavitt referenced American military action on Saturday in response to the IRGC strikes on international ships in the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, the strikes “targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”
CENTCOM documented Iranian attacks on two ships, the Panamanian-flagged Kiku oil tanker and the Ever Lovely, a Singapore-flagged vessel, on Friday and Saturday.
“After yesterday’s U.S. strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET,” CENTCOM stated. “The Panama-flagged tanker was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz with more than two-million barrels of crude oil.”
Trump confirmed the strikes on Saturday and warned that continued Iranian aggression against the country’s neighbors and random ships could result in the peace agreement signed in mid-June dissolving, triggering a resumption of the war that began with America’s elimination of Iranian dictator Ali Khamenei in February.
“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”
Iran responded to these strikes on Sunday, shooting missiles at the neighboring states of Bahrain and Kuwait, both of which have positive diplomatic relations with America. Reports indicate those missile attacks resulted in no injuries, though videos indicate that at least one building was damaged. Hours later, however, reports surfaced via the Washington, DC, outlet Axios that Tehran and Washington had agreed to end hostilities before further escalation and talks were being scheduled for Tuesday.
The Emirati newspaper The National observed on Monday that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had claimed shortly before Trump confirmed the talks that no “technical meetings” were scheduled this week with the Americans. He claimed that talks were continuing in Qatar, but with the Qatari government, not with the U.S. delegation. The Iranian state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has confirmed Gharibabadi’s comments.
“The first round of technical talks within the framework of the designated working groups will be held after the necessary conditions are met and following agreement on the date and venue, and consultations on these matters are continuing through the mediator countries,” he told reporters on Monday.
IRNA added that “some media outlets had reported and speculated that a technical meeting related to the Islamabad memorandum of understanding on ending the imposed war would be held between Iran, the United States, and the mediators.”
Gharibabadi concluded a visit to neighboring Oman recently, stating on Monday that the Omani government was working with Iran on structuring a plan to handle traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The American memorandum of understanding signed with Iran states that Iran must allow the free traffic of ships through the strait without charging fees or tolls for at least 60 days.
Follow Frances Martel on Facebook and Twitter.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
