Event: U.S.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, has said that France, Germany and the UK, known as the E3, and Middle Eastern foreign ministers must examine the root causes of military conflict in the region. In Istanbul, the European foreign ministers underlined the urgent need for diplomacy concerning the US-Israel war on Iran. But Baqaei said diplomacy should not be reduced to a public relations tool and such forums must examine examine the root causes of the conflict. He condemned the alleged double standards of the E3 regarding their inaction in the face of US and Israeli military aggression against Iran, their comprehensive support for Israel, and their destructive approaches towards Iran’s nuclear issue. Separately, in a post on X, he appeared to highlight a contrast in Germany’s position by juxtaposing statements made more than a year apart by its chancellor and foreign minister on the war on Iran. Baqaei wrote: June 2025: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking about Israel’s aggression against Iran, said: “This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us.” October 2026: German Foreign Minister (and others) warn against renewed attacks on Iran and stress the need to prevent further escalation. June 2025: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking about Israel’s aggression against Iran, said: “This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us.” October 2026: German Foreign Minister (and others) warn against renewed attacks on Iran and stress the need to prevent further escalation. Friedrich Schiller, The Maid of Orleans, Act III, Scene VI: “O exalted Reason, bright daughter of the divine mind, wise architect of the universe and guide of the stars—who are you, then, if, bound to the tail of the wild horse of madness, you must watch helplessly, crying out, as you are dragged alongside that drunken rider into…

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at a midterm elections campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday. | Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times U.S. President Donald Trump defended his decision to wield tariffs during a campaign rally in Georgia, saying they’ve made the U.S. richer as he announced that Volkswagen agreed to build a new $4.2 billion Audi plant in the state.“Think of that, 200,000 cars a year. That’s incredible,” Trump told a crowd in the city of Perry. “This will be the single largest investment in U.S. auto industry history, modern history.”Later, he added, “Without tariffs, they wouldn’t be coming in.” In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth salute during a dignified transfer for soldiers killed amid the conflict with Iran at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, in July. | Kenny Holston / The New York Times A Middle East war that U.S. President Donald Trump said would be over in a matter of weeks now looks set to escalate as it enters its ninth month.Trump has repeatedly hinted that his forces in the Mideast would resume strikes on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3. The president has already sent a third aircraft carrier strike group and 10,000 additional sailors and Marines toward the Persian Gulf to give U.S. commanders more options if he restarts hostilities. Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also made an unannounced stop in Israel — which launched the war against Iran alongside the U.S. — where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days ahead of the Israeli leader’s sensitive reelection bid. Staffing at Mideast bases, which have been hit hard by Iranian counterstrikes, has reportedly been reduced. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW