Trump Threatens Iran, Dismisses War Length, Blames Media

President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric towards Iran, threatening to "blow up" the country as diplomatic talks stall. In a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine, Trump also dismissed his low poll ratings as "fake numbers" and deflected responsibility for misleading Americans about the projected length of the Iran war, blaming the media for reporting his earlier remarks. He refused to rule out declaring a state of emergency before the midterms.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to menace commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz with drone and missile attacks, though many have failed to strike their targets. The US president's stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions contrasts with his approach to North Korea, which he described as a "friend of mine" despite its nuclear capabilities, while asserting that Iran cannot possess them. These developments occur as the UK engages in talks with EU partners regarding fuel reserves following Trump's threat to ban diesel exports to ease US prices.