U.S. Compromise Possible in Iran Nuke Talks

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump administration’s red line with Iran is preventing it from developing nuclear weapons — a possible diplomatic opening ahead of this weekend’s talks in Oman.

Witkoff told The Wall Street Journal the U.S. position starts with full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program but acknowledged potential room for compromise:

“That is our position today… but we may find other ways to compromise.”

If Iran refuses to eliminate its program, Witkoff said the matter would be referred to President Trump for a final decision — possibly forcing the White House to weigh diplomacy against military options.

Source: WSJ

Witkoff and Putin have concluded negotiations. They lasted more than 4 hours.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Faces Insider Trading Allegations

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is under scrutiny for stock purchases made just before a market rebound triggered by Trump’s tariff pause.

She bought shares in companies like Dell, Amazon, and Apple shortly after the tariff announcement and before Trump reversed course — raising suspicions of insider trading.

Beekeeper Regrets Voting Trump After Tariffs Hit His Business

Jim Hartman, a North Carolina beekeeper and three-time Trump voter, says he regrets his support after Trump’s tariffs and federal cuts devastated his honey business.

“I thought a second Trump term would be good for farmers,” Hartman said.

“I was wrong.”

“The constant policy flip-flops make it impossible to plan,” he added.

“That’s no way to run a business.”

Source: CNN

U.S. Dollar Hits 3-Year Low

The U.S. Dollar Index plunged to a three-year low of 99.014 today, down over 8% year-to-date.

• Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods—now at 145%—have driven investors away from dollar assets.

• The dollar hit a 14-year low against the Swiss franc, and weakened against the euro and yen.

A US judge has ruled the government can deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate arrested last month.

Trump's Ukraine envoy Kellogg:

Ukraine could be partitioned almost like Berlin after WW2 as part of a peace deal.

Map: The Times

The number of Europeans travelling to the US is declining.

Source: FT

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has just arrived in Muscat, the capital of Oman, for today’s nuclear talks with a U.S. delegation led by White House Special Envoy, Steve Vitkoff.

The negotiations are expected to begin within the next few hours and will be mediated by Oman.

U.S. consumer sentiment plunged in April, with inflation fears hitting a 12-month high not seen since 1981, amid rising trade tensions.

The University of Michigan’s index fell to 50.8 from 57.0 in March, below the expected 54.5.

Argentina has secured a $20 billion bailout deal with the IMF to support President Milei’s economic reforms.

President Milei says Argentina's economy will grow "like never before.”

Trump:

When people understand what we are doing, I think the dollar value will go up.

Trump:

Bond market had a little moment but I solved that problem very quickly.

Both Trump's envoy Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have arrived in Oman for the first nuclear talks.

Iranian delegation led by Araghchi in Oman.

The US dollar’s status as a haven for global capital could come under threat from erratic policymaking and rising trade barriers, fund managers have warned.

On Friday the currency slumped to a three-year low against the euro.

Source: FT

Plunging oil prices could affect Russia's war effort.

Russia's budget may be as much as 2.5% lower than expected in 2025 if crude oil prices stay at current levels.

That would force Russia to increase borrowing, cut nonmilitary spending or draw down its remaining reserves.

Source: FT

Kellogg:

The Times article misrepresents what I said. I was speaking of a post-cease fire resiliency force in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty. In discussions of partitioning, I was referencing areas or zones of responsibility for an allied force (without US troops). I was NOT referring to a partitioning of Ukraine.

United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen: (at Antalya Diplomacy Forum)

Israelis must stop what they’re doing in Syria.

This is playing with fire.

Without the lifting of sanctions, Syria is moving towards disaster.

US wants to take control of Gazprom pipeline in Ukraine.

The draft agreement on Ukrainian minerals suggested by the US contains a demand that the US government's International Development Finance Corporation take control of a natural gas pipeline from Russia's Gazprom across Ukraine to Europe.

Source: Reuters