The American president, Donald Trump, is “still considering” the possibility of withdrawing American troops from Italy. He stated this in an exclusive phone call with Corriere della Sera. On the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the day after the trip to Rome by his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Trump repeated: “Italy was not there when we needed her. And I have always been there for Italy, and so is my country”. At correspondent Viviana Mazza’s observation that Italy could provide minesweepers after the ceasefire in Iran, Trump interrupted her by once again saying: “Italy wasn’t there when we needed it.”
We still have to wait for Iran’s response
Donald Trumpmeanwhile, is awaiting a response from Iran today on the latest proposal to put an end to the war, and at the same time explained to journalists, as he left the White House, that otherwise he will reactivate Operation Freedom for the military escort of ships through theStrait of Hormuz.
While maintaining that theceasefire formally remains in forceTrump issued a warning to Tehran: if a new agreement is not signed soon, the United States will respond with aeven greater violence and strength. The President described the current Iranian leadership as led by “madmen”, reiterating his absolute commitment to preventing the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, the three destroyers involved in the clash havetransit through the Strait completedand they rejoined the American naval blockade, defined by Trump as a real “wall of steel”.
US sanctions on Chinese companies that help Tehran arm
The US Treasury Department announced sanctions against 10 companies and individuals, including Chinese, for aiding Iran’s arms industry. Companies in the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe that would have allowed Tehran to obtain weapons and raw materials for the Shahed drones and the ballistic missile program have ended up in the sights of the Office for Foreign Assets (Ofac).
The Treasury also said it was prepared for “secondary” sanctions against financial institutions including “those linked to the independent ‘Tetei’ refineries of the People’s Republic of China”, a network that imports crude oil at discounted prices from Iran and Russia.
The list of sanctioned companies includes Yushita Shanghai, for helping the Center for the Progress and Development of Iran (CDPI), which was tasked with obtaining advanced technologies for Iran’s military industry. China’s Hitex Insulation Ningbo has been sanctioned for collaborating with Iran’s ballistic missile program.
The network of companies allegedly allowed Iran to obtain Manpads air defense systems, while other companies based in Hong Kong, Dubai and Belarus acted as intermediaries to hide ties to Tehran.
The sanctions come less than a week after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.