U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to intensify economic pressure on Iran, with a particular focus on curbing Tehran’s oil exports to China. The understanding was reached during their meeting at the White House last Wednesday, according to a report published Saturday by Axios and cited by Anadolu Agency. Two U.S. officials briefed on the meeting confirmed the consensus on applying maximum pressure against Iran.

Despite the agreement on overall strategy, the two leaders reportedly differed on how to achieve their goals. Netanyahu argued that a reliable deal with Iran was impossible and that Tehran would likely violate any agreement. Trump, however, expressed belief in the possibility of a diplomatic solution, saying efforts should be made to test that path. U.S. officials added that Washington would keep military options open if diplomacy failed, maintaining both nuclear talks and a strong military presence in the Middle East.

Analysts noted that since over 80 percent of Iran’s oil exports go to China, reducing Chinese purchases could significantly increase economic pressure on Tehran. A recent executive order signed by Trump also allows the U.S. to recommend tariffs of up to 25 percent on countries maintaining trade with Iran, potentially deepening Iran’s international isolation.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that the US military used the artificial intelligence model Claude, developed by Anthropic, during an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to unnamed sources cited in the report, the AI system was integrated into the mission through a partnership between Anthropic and Palantir Technologies, a contractor for the US Department of Defense and federal law enforcement agencies.

Following the operation, an Anthropic employee reportedly asked a Palantir official how Claude had been used in the mission. This marks the first known instance of Anthropic’s technology being deployed in a classified US defense operation. However, the exact role of Claude—capable of tasks ranging from PDF analysis to autonomous drone control—remains unclear.

An Anthropic spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied Claude’s involvement but stated that all uses of the model, whether in private or government sectors, must comply with the company’s usage policies. The report has sparked renewed debate over the ethics of using AI technologies in military operations.

The United States House of Representatives has passed the 'Brave Burma Act' to increase pressure on Myanmar’s military junta and strengthen support for pro-democracy movements. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Michigan Republican lawmaker Bill Huizenga in May of the previous year, was approved on Monday, according to Myanmar-based media. The bill will now move to the Senate for approval before being sent to the President for signature.

If enacted, the law will authorize the President to decide annually whether to tighten sanctions on Myanmar’s oil and gas enterprises, the Myanmar Economic Bank, and the jet fuel sector for the next seven years. It will also extend existing sanctions on state-owned entities, officials, their families, and foreign associates until December 23, 2032, with provisions for stricter enforcement.

The act would allow the appointment of a special envoy with ambassadorial rank to coordinate sanctions, arms restrictions, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic engagement. It also directs the US Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to oppose any effort to expand Myanmar’s participation while the State Administrative Council, formed after the 2021 military coup, remains in power.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has sharply criticized the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids conducted in Minnesota, comparing them to behavior typical of authoritarian regimes. The raids, carried out over several weeks by thousands of federal agents, led to numerous arrests. The Trump administration claimed the operation targeted criminals, but it was halted earlier this week following widespread protests.

In an interview on Saturday, Obama described the conduct of federal officials as reckless, deeply concerning, and dangerous, citing two fatal shootings during the operation. He praised the organized resistance of ordinary citizens, saying their peaceful protests and use of truth and cameras represented hope for the nation. According to him, continued civic resistance, even in harsh winter conditions, signals the possibility of overcoming the current situation.

Trump administration immigration official Tom Homan announced the suspension of the Minnesota raids on Thursday after they sparked major demonstrations and national outrage. In the same interview, Obama also criticized the lack of civility in U.S. political discourse and responded to controversial social media posts by Trump about him and the former First Lady.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that President Donald Trump is ready to hold talks with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking to Bloomberg, Rubio stated that the president is willing to meet anyone if it helps resolve global issues, adding that Trump is interested in reaching an agreement with Tehran.

Rubio explained that Trump believes dialogue is the best way to solve the world’s problems. The statement comes as the United States and Iran recently held discussions over Iran’s nuclear program and are preparing for a second round of talks. Despite this diplomatic engagement, Washington continues to strengthen its military presence in the Middle East.

President Trump also announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States’ largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, will soon move from the Caribbean to the Middle East, signaling continued strategic focus on the region.

The United States military has prepared for potential weeks-long strikes against Iran if President Donald Trump issues the order, according to two unnamed US officials cited by Reuters. The officials said the plan would allow sustained attacks over several weeks, though they declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. The preparations come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent US troop deployments.

The report noted that the Pentagon is sending another aircraft carrier to the region, equipped with warplanes, military equipment, and thousands of troops. Last week, US and Iranian diplomats met in Oman to revive diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear program. During a visit to a North Carolina base, Trump remarked that reaching a deal with Iran had become difficult and suggested that creating fear was sometimes necessary to manage the situation. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said all options remain open for the president regarding Iran.

Analysts suggest that if the strikes begin, the conflict between the two nations could escalate significantly across the Middle East.

An Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, has pleaded guilty in the Southern District Federal Court of New York to attempting to assassinate US citizen and Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The 54-year-old admitted before Judge Sarah Netburn that he hired a hitman in 2023 to kill Pannun, who resides in New York. Gupta told the court he paid $15,000 to someone he believed was a contract killer, who was actually linked to the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Pannun leads the US-based group Sikhs for Justice, which campaigns for an independent Khalistan state in India’s Punjab region.

According to the US Attorney’s Office, Gupta was arrested in June 2023 at Prague Airport in the Czech Republic and extradited to the United States. He has been convicted of conspiring to murder Pannun, with sentencing scheduled for May 29. Under US law, he faces 20 to 24 years in prison. FBI officials said Pannun was targeted for exercising his freedom of expression. The FBI also alleged Gupta worked with Indian intelligence officer Vikas Yadav, who remains at large.

The case has strained relations between Washington, Ottawa, and New Delhi, as the US and Canada accuse India of targeting their citizens of Indian origin. Indian officials deny the allegations, calling such actions contrary to national policy.

US Congress member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated that Israel was able to carry out genocide in Gaza because of American military assistance. She made the remarks on Friday during the Munich Security Conference, calling the idea of unconditional support meaningless. Ocasio-Cortez said she believed thousands of women and children had been killed in Gaza, deaths she described as entirely avoidable.

Responding to a question from a journalist of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Ocasio-Cortez said the Democratic nominee in the next US election should reconsider providing military aid to Israel. She emphasized that the issue was not only about the presidential race but also about the United States’ obligation to follow its own laws.

She added that under US law, when serious human rights violations are observed, assistance should be conditional. The remarks were reported by The Guardian and highlighted growing debate over the legality and morality of US support for Israel.

The United States military is preparing for a potential long-term operation against Iran, according to two US officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the planning. The operation would begin if President Donald Trump orders an attack on Iran. The Pentagon has already deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East under Trump’s directive, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided missile destroyer in the Arabian Sea.

The report states that US forces could target not only Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but also its state and security installations. However, officials declined to provide specific details. The preparations come as US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly warned of possible military action if no agreement is reached, cautioning that the alternative to diplomacy would be “very tragic.”

Iran has vowed to retaliate if attacked, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Analysts warn that Iran’s large missile arsenal could pose significant risks to US forces and bases across the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to issue a new voting law through executive order if Congress fails to pass legislation mandating photo identification for voters. He indicated that such an order could be enacted before the upcoming midterm elections in November. Trump made the remarks on Friday and reiterated on his social media platform Truth Social that voter ID would be required regardless of congressional approval.

The report notes that many U.S. states already require photo ID to vote, but not all. Trump and his supporters claim that the absence of such requirements has led to widespread voter fraud, though no evidence supports this claim. His proposed “Save America” election reform bill has passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives but faces slim chances in the Senate, where Republicans lack a strong majority. The bill also seeks to require proof of citizenship during voter registration.

Critics argue that these measures could disenfranchise millions of voters who lack passports or birth certificates. Legal experts suggest any executive order on national voter ID could face court challenges, as U.S. states hold broad constitutional authority over election administration.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to visit Venezuela, revealing the decision while speaking to reporters on Friday en route from the White House to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The announcement comes more than a month after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were taken away. Trump said he intends to meet with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, with whom he claims to have a very good relationship.

Trump stated that under Rodríguez’s leadership, the United States is working closely with Venezuela in oil extraction and marketing. He described current U.S.-Venezuela relations as “ten out of ten.” When asked whether Washington recognizes Rodríguez’s government, Trump confirmed that the United States has already done so and maintains regular communication with her administration.

The planned visit signals a continuation of U.S. engagement with Venezuela’s interim leadership following recent political changes in the country.

An Indian national has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to conspiring to kill a Khalistan movement leader who is an Indian-origin American citizen. The U.S. Department of Justice said that 54-year-old Nikhil Gupta admitted before a federal magistrate judge in Manhattan to charges of murder-for-hire conspiracy, hiring a hitman, and money laundering. His sentencing is scheduled for May 29 this year, and he faces up to 40 years in prison.

According to U.S. prosecutors, Gupta acted under instructions from an Indian government employee to target a U.S.-based Indian-origin individual, widely believed to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Khalistan activist. Court documents identify the official as Vikas Yadav, an employee of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, under which the foreign intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) operates. Gupta allegedly sought to hire a hitman, negotiated a payment of $100,000, and provided detailed information about the target’s residence and movements.

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and extradited to the United States in 2024. The Indian government has not yet commented on his guilty plea.

US President Donald Trump said that changing Iran’s governing system would be the “best solution.” Speaking at the White House on Friday, he remarked that for 47 years Iran had only made promises while many lives were lost. Trump did not specify who the United States would like to see in power if such a change occurred, but said there were people in Iran capable of taking leadership. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not yet responded to Trump’s comments.

Trump also indicated that the United States remains firm in its plan to strengthen military presence in the Middle East, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions with Iran. He announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, would soon move from the Caribbean to the Middle East.

Additionally, Trump shared a Wall Street Journal report on his social media platform Truth Social about the Pentagon preparing a second aircraft carrier for Middle East deployment, though he made no personal comment on it.

The United States military has carried out another strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people. According to the US Southern Command (Southcom), which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, the attack took place early Friday. The operation is part of a series of US military actions in the region since September 2025, which have reportedly left at least 133 people dead, according to Al Jazeera.

Washington has maintained that its forces are targeting individuals suspected of drug trafficking, describing those killed as 'narco-terrorists.' However, international law and human rights experts have repeatedly criticized such operations, calling them extrajudicial killings. Earlier in the same week, the US also conducted a strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean, in which two people were reported killed, Southcom said.

The continued US military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific regions have drawn scrutiny over their legality and humanitarian impact, as questions persist about accountability and adherence to international law.

U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked a key scientific ruling from former President Barack Obama that declared greenhouse gases dangerous to public health. The announcement was made Thursday at the Oval Office, according to a BBC report. The reversal nullifies federal measures introduced under the Obama administration to curb emissions of gases linked to global warming.

During his Oval Office address, Trump described the 2009 ruling as a disastrous Obama-era policy that harmed the American auto industry and made cars unaffordable for consumers. The White House called the move the largest deregulation in U.S. history, claiming it would reduce vehicle prices by about $2,400 for manufacturers.

Former President Obama criticized the decision, warning it would increase health risks for Americans and weaken the nation’s ability to combat climate change. Environmental groups also condemned the move, calling it one of the most damaging setbacks for climate action and vowing to challenge it in court.