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Iran’s Khamenei warns of ‘strong blow’ as Trump threatens to drop bombs, Putin silent on US ire
Furious comments issued by President Donald Trump over the weekend prompted a swift and aggressive response from Iran, while Russian President Vladimir Putin remains tight-lipped in the face of the U.S. leader’s ire.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, issued a warning on Monday and said it would respond «decisively and immediately» to any threat issued by the U.S. after Trump said there «will be bombing» and likely more tariffs if Tehran does not agree to a nuclear deal with Washington.
«The enmity from the U.S. and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief, they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow,» Khamenei said according to a Reuters report.
TRUMP THREATENS TO BOMB IRAN UNLESS THEY END NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM AND BEGIN TALKS ON NEW DEAL
President Donald Trump speaks to the press aboard Air Force One before arriving at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Mar. 28, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
«And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them,» he added.
Despite Iran’s refusal and warning directed at both the U.S. and Israel, Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iran expert and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Khamenei’s comments are an attempt to «buy time» while balancing growing external and internal pressures on his regime.
«At once, Khamenei sought to both downplay the chances of President Trump or Israel taking military action while also looking to deter such an eventuality due to the regime’s own policies,» he told Fox News Digital. «This is a tightrope Khamenei will increasingly be forced to walk as he plays for time and engages in nuclear escalation.
«U.S. policy should be to keep Khamenei off balance,» he added.
While Iran takes an offensive stance against Trump and his ambitions to finally bring Tehran to heel on its nuclear expansion, Russia is taking a different approach as it refuses to bow to Trump’s plans to see an end to the war in Ukraine.
TRUMP SAYS HE IS ‘PISSED OFF’ WITH PUTIN OVER LACK OF PEACE PROGRESS: REPORT
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, meets with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran. (Dmitry AZAROV / SPUTNIK / AFP)
Over the weekend, Trump said he was «pissed off» over comments made by Putin on Friday when he suggested the work Washington was doing to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia and Ukraine was moot because he believes the government in Kyiv to be illegitimate and therefore cannot sign any deals.
«If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault … I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,» Trump said, noting that tariffs could be as high as 50%.
The president later said his ire could «dissipate quickly» if Putin «does the right thing,» and once again noted he has «a very good relationship with [Putin].»
However, the Kremlin chief, who reportedly has another call scheduled with Trump this week, has not responded to Trump’s heated comments.
The chief spokesman for Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said on Monday that Russia will continue to work on «restoring» relations with Washington that he said were «damaged by the Biden administration» following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and noted that Putin remains in «open contact» with Trump.
However, Putin’s lack of public response and the toned-down statements from the Kremlin are all part of Putin’s broader strategy, former DIA intelligence officer and Russia expert, Rebekah Koffler, told Fox News Digital.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington, D.C., on Mar. 30, 2025, when he said he was «pissed off» at Russian President Vladimir Putin. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
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«Putin, like Trump, thrives on confrontation,» Koffler said. «Except his approach is different. The Kremlin deliberately is projecting that Putin is cool, calm, and collected now, which he is.
«The fact that President Trump reportedly got mad and used those words means to Putin that he finally got to him, the way he got to Biden, Obama, and others who called him a killer and other derogatory words,» she continued.
«Putin now feels that not only Russia has an upper hand on the battlefield over Ukraine and in terms of total combat potential over NATO, but he also was able to unbalance Trump,» Koffler explained. «That is the whole point – it’s a judo move.»
INTERNACIONAL
Guerra comercial entre Ecuador y Colombia: advierten por la pérdida de 300.000 empleos y escasez de insumos de diálisis
Los principales gremios empresariales de Ecuador y Colombia advirtieron que la escalada arancelaria entre ambos países ya está generando efectos económicos y sociales que podrían profundizarse si no se suspenden las medidas y se abre un canal de diálogo político inmediato. En un pronunciamiento conjunto el 2 de marzo, dirigentes productivos de ambos lados de la frontera pidieron dejar sin efecto los incrementos recíprocos del 50% y alertaron que alrededor de 300.000 empleos están en riesgo, en un contexto en el que el comercio binacional registra una fuerte contracción.
Según los representantes empresariales, cerca de 7.600 importadores ecuatorianos han sido afectados por una reducción aproximada del 70% en las importaciones provenientes de Colombia, lo que compromete alrededor de 200.000 plazas de trabajo en Ecuador. Del lado colombiano, el impacto alcanzaría a 2.700 empresas y unos 100.000 empleos vinculados al intercambio comercial con el país vecino. Los gremios señalaron que las medidas ya están encareciendo productos, frenando operaciones logísticas y elevando el riesgo de informalidad y contrabando en la frontera.
La advertencia se produjo luego de que el Gobierno colombiano publicara un proyecto de decreto para elevar del 30% al 50% el arancel a productos ecuatorianos, ampliando además el número de subpartidas alcanzadas por la medida, en reciprocidad a la decisión adoptada por Ecuador. Aunque los empresarios no anticiparon demandas judiciales a nivel nacional o internacional, insistieron en la necesidad de una negociación urgente para evitar un deterioro mayor del comercio y de la economía fronteriza.
Uno de los puntos más sensibles de las afectaciones es el abastecimiento de insumos médicos. La Asociación Ecuatoriana de Distribuidores e Importadores de Productos Médicos (Asedim) advirtió que el arancel del 50% amenaza con encarecer y restringir el acceso a dispositivos críticos, especialmente aquellos destinados a tratamientos de diálisis. De acuerdo con el gremio, alrededor del 15% de los insumos médicos que importa Ecuador proviene de Colombia, pero en el caso específico de la diálisis la dependencia es mayor: entre el 50% y el 60% de los insumos requeridos tienen origen en ese país.
En Ecuador, más de 20.000 pacientes reciben diálisis de manera regular en 136 centros médicos: 105 privados y 31 públicos, lo que convierte cualquier alteración en el suministro en un asunto de salud pública. Asedim alertó que el incremento arancelario podría agravar el desabastecimiento ya existente y trasladarse a mayores costos en filtros, soluciones, catéteres y otros insumos esenciales para estos tratamientos. A esta situación se suman los atrasos de pago del Estado a proveedores de salud, que el gremio cifra en decenas de millones de dólares, lo que tensiona aún más la cadena de suministro .
El sector avícola también expresó su preocupación. La Corporación Nacional de Avicultores del Ecuador (Conave) señaló que cerca del 80% del material genético avícola —reproductoras, abuelas y líneas genéticas para la producción de carne y huevos— proviene de Colombia. El arancel del 50% podría trasladarse parcialmente al precio final del pollo y el huevo, productos básicos de la canasta familiar, con un impacto estimado en al menos un 5% en el consumidor, según el gremio.
Además, la cadena avícola genera alrededor de 300.000 empleos directos a nivel nacional, lo que añade presión sobre el Gobierno para encontrar una salida negociada, según reportes de Ecuador Chequea.
En la zona fronteriza, transportistas de carga pesada reportaron una reducción de hasta el 95% en el transporte de mercancías hacia Colombia durante febrero y realizaron movilizaciones para exigir la suspensión de los aranceles. Según el sector, más de 2.000 familias vinculadas a la cadena logística en la provincia del Carchi estarían afectadas por la caída de la actividad comercial.
Corporate Events,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,South America / Central America,Government / Politics
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Crenshaw says political enemies came out ‘with their knives’ as Texas GOP primary looms
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Rep. Dan Crenshaw is heading into Tuesday’s Texas GOP primary warning that some of the biggest names in conservative politics are trying to take him down.
«You know, my enemies have all come out with their knives — Tucker Carlson or Ted Cruz — for no good reason,» Crenshaw told Fox News Digital.
Despite lacking endorsements from key political figures in the Lone Star State, Crenshaw said he likes his odds against Republican challenger Steve Toth, a state representative.
«I’m literally at a polling location at the moment, and in areas where my opponent should be more popular because he represents this area as a state rep,» Crenshaw said.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, arrives to a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
«You know, this is a guy who got zero bills passed in the last legislative session. I got more bills passed in Congress. That’s where it’s a lot harder. So, you know, he’s one of these guys who just always votes no, has never accomplished anything at all.»
Toth did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Crenshaw said he hopes to avoid a runoff election but did not rule out the possibility when asked whether he could clinch the primary Tuesday.
«Anything’s possible,» he said.
Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who has not shied away from verbal confrontations with other Republicans, is pursuing his fifth term in Congress but must first defeat Toth. The sharp-tongued congressman has clashed with Cruz, Fox News personality Jesse Watters, Tucker Carlson and Alex Rosen, a YouTube political activist, over policy disagreements.
Notably, Toth has received an endorsement from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who until last Thursday had not made a pick in the race.
«I am proud to endorse [Toth] for Congress in Texas’s 2nd Congressional District. Steve faithfully served the people of Texas in the Texas House of Representatives, championing our Texas values of liberty, limited government and constitutional governance,» Cruz said in a post on X.
CRENSHAW PRAISES MEXICAN OFFICIALS AFTER ‘EL MENCHO’S DEATH, CALLS CARTEL ‘TERRORIST INSURGENCY’
Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Cruz’s endorsement of Toth comes after he and Crenshaw split over Cruz’s ROTOR Act, an aviation safety bill.
Crenshaw voted against the bill Thursday.
Aside from disagreements over legislation, Crenshaw believes Cruz has more financially based reasons for his endorsement. He noted that Robert Marling, CEO of Woodforest National Bank, financially supported Toth after Crenshaw urged investigators to examine Marling’s $20 million investment in 2023.
In particular, Crenshaw, alongside other lawmakers, said Marling’s real estate loans appeared to be «attracting and enabling illegal alien settlement in the state of Texas» by offering easy-access credit with little indemnity verification, according to a letter he penned to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office.
Crenshaw signed the letter alongside 25 other Republicans.
«Now, where does Cruz come into play? Well, that same banker is a mega donor for Cruz to the tune of millions of dollars,» Crenshaw said.
Most recently, FEC records indicate Marling made a personal $14,000 donation to WinRed, a Republican fundraising organization, with the funds earmarked for Toth.
Other FEC records indicate Marling has spent millions supporting other Republican candidates. In 2025, he has backed candidates such as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc.
TEXAS SENATE PRIMARIES EXPLODE AS CORNYN WARNS PAXTON COULD COST GOP MAJORITY, DEMOCRATS CLASH OVER RACE
Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, right, is running to unseat Congressman Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, left. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo and courtesy of Steve Toth for Congress)
Despite Cruz’s opposition, Crenshaw noted that this would not be the first time he has had to run without Cruz’s blessing.
«Cruz endorsed against me in my very first race. We saw the results of that,» Crenshaw said.
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«So now we’re feeling good about it. But it’s a race, and we’re gonna run through the finish line.»
Polls in Texas opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.
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congress,republicans,house of representatives,politics,texas
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U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described what he believes is the «best option» for Americans looking to flee Israel amid the ongoing unrest across the Middle East.
Huckabee said overnight, «We are getting a lot of requests regarding evacuating from Israel from American citizens who are currently in Israel or who have family here,» and that there are «very limited» options available.
«As of now, the best is utilizing Israel’s Ministry of Tourism shuttle bus to Taba, Egypt and getting flights from there or going on to Cairo for flights back to the U.S.,» Huckabee said on X. «Not sure when Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv will reopen. Hopefully soon, but even when it does, there will be VERY limited flights with priorities to those who already were ticketed by El Al. Doubtful that other airlines will fly in/out for a while.»
«The Ministry of Tourism is operating buses to Taba. That crossing is further away, but it’s open 24/7. There are some flights from Taba, but there are also options to get to Cairo, and it’s operating normally except to Middle Eastern countries. To get out, it’s the best option for now,» Huckabee added.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, left, and emergency personnel at the site of an Iranian missile strike on a residential building in Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 1, 2026. (Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images; Ronen Zvulun/TPX Images of the Day/Reuters)
Huckabee also said he does not recommend Americans exit via Jordan at this time, as «Flights are not consistent and access across the Allenby crossing has limited hours.»
«All of our personnel from [the] embassy are sheltering in place, but I realize you may need to get people out and back home and not continue to incur hotel costs,» the ambassador wrote.
NETANYAHU INSISTS US AND ISRAEL’S STRIKES ON IRAN WON’T LEAD TO ‘ENDLESS WAR’
People take shelter in Tel Aviv on Sunday, March 1, 2026, after Iran launched missile barrages following attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Saturday. (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
U.S. Embassy Jerusalem said in a statement early Tuesday morning that it is «not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.» It also mentioned the Israeli Ministry of Tourism’s buses to Taba.
«To be added to the passenger list for a shuttle, you must register via the Ministry’s evacuation form,» it said.
A firefighter works to put out a fire in Tel Aviv after Iran launched missiles into Israel on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters)
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«The U.S. Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism’s shuttle. If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety,» it added.
war with iran,israel,conflicts,iran,middle east,world
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