1 Iran Conflict: President Calls Iran's Response To US Peace Proposal "Totally Unacceptable"
Iran submitted its formal response to a U.S. peace proposal yesterday, and President Trump rejected it almost immediately on Truth Social, calling it "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE." Iran's counter-proposal, transmitted through Pakistani mediators, demanded recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to the U.S. blockade, unrestricted oil exports, sanctions relief, release of frozen assets, a ceasefire in Lebanon, and compensation for war damages. The U.S. proposal, submitted last week through the same Pakistani channel, had called for a decades-long nuclear moratorium, full and unconditional reopening of the strait, and a negotiated end to the war. The rejection came as Energy Secretary Chris Wright appeared on Sunday morning news programs, warning that if diplomacy fails, "we'll go back to the military method to open the strait." Oil prices rose on the news, with Brent crude topping $104 a barrel, reversing gains made earlier in the week.
2 Energy Secretary Says Administration Open To Suspending The Gas Tax
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said yesterday that the Trump administration is open to temporarily suspending the federal gas tax to give Americans some relief at the pump, where the national average has hit $4.52 a gallon, up more than 50 percent since the start of the Iran war. Wright, appearing on "Meet the Press," said the administration is "open to all ideas" when asked about the 18-cent-per-gallon federal tax. Democrats introduced a bill in March to suspend it through October. Wright earlier this year predicted gas prices could fall below $3 by summer. He said if peace talks fail "in the next few days," the U.S. will "go back to the military method to open the strait."
3 Americans Evacuated From Hantavirus Cruise Ship, Headed To Nebraska Facility
The hantavirus-stricken polar cruise ship MV Hondius docked in the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Spain, early yesterday, and the carefully managed evacuation of its 147 passengers and crew got underway. By day's end, 94 people of 19 nationalities had disembarked. The 17 Americans aboard were flown to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for monitoring, so far showing no symptoms. A French passenger did begin showing symptoms on the repatriation flight, prompting all five French nationals on that plane to be placed in strict isolation. Three people have died in the outbreak, with six confirmed cases and at least two additional suspected cases. WHO Director-General Tedros stressed, "This is not another COVID. The risk to the public is low."
