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Iran says coastal attack will lead to full Gulf closure and mine-laying

An attack on Iran's southern coast and islands will lead to Gulf routes being cut with the laying of sea mines, the country's Defence Council said on Monday, according to state media. The US is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub, to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping, according to Axios. "Any attempt to attack Iran's coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulf (...) to be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast," the statement read. "In this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long time (...) One should not forget the failure of more than 100 minesweepers in the 1980s in removing a few sea mines." The Defence Council recalled that non-belligerent states can only pass through the Strait of Hormuz by coordinating passage with Iran...

Trump White House leaks trade deal insights to Wall Street, as per Gasparino

Fox Business senior correspondent Charles Gasparino reported on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s administration has been privately discussing trade tariff negotiations with Wall Street executives, providing them with information not otherwise made public. The reports suggest that a trade deal with India is nearing agreement, a potential template for other international agreements. Senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration have been, according to Gasparino's report, engaging in private discussions with Wall Street executives, sharing insights into the status of trade tariff deals. The revelations come amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade policies and the impact on global markets. According to Gasparino, the White House has been in contact with business leaders about a potential trade agreement with India, which could serve as a model for other deals, including those with Japan and other countries. Breaking: The White House is playing a spin game with trade, seeing how talks of progress moves stocks and stabilizes bonds and the dollar. In other words be careful. There will be more announcements about pending deals aside from the ones we have been discussing (India and… — Charles Gasparino (@CGasparino) April 24, 2025 Sources within Wall Street who are reportedly linked to the White House disclosed that the US is nearing an "agreement in principle" with India. However, details regarding the timing of the deal remain unclear, and past negotiations with Japan have been subject to last-minute changes. Gasparino’s report further highlighted that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s press team did not comment on the story but also did not deny its validity. The revelation of these private discussions sparked a debate, with Gasparino emphasising that the key issue is not the trade deals themselves but rather the White House's communication of sensitive information to Wall Street executives. In response to scepticism from Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal, Gasparino defended his reporting, pointing out that the significant aspect of the story was the advance notice given to Wall Street regarding trade negotiations. Gasparino, who has reported extensively on Wall Street and previous financial crises, argued that this practice is not unusual in the industry and should be scrutinised. Despite the controversy, Gasparino maintained that the situation was not an instance of insider trading, a point he reiterated in his social media posts. He also raised questions about the lack of outrage over other leaks from government officials, particularly regarding national security matters. The revelation has raised eyebrows, with critics questioning the transparency of the White House’s interactions with Wall Street amid ongoing trade negotiations. As the Trump administration moves forward with its tariff strategy, the broader implications for both the US economy and international relations remain to be seen.

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