Middle East crisis Iran war

Report: US has plan to seize Iran's enriched uranium

At the request of Donald Trump, the US military has developed a complicated plan – which has no historical precedent – ​​to seize Iran's enriched uranium. Sources tell the Washington Post.

It involves flying in excavation equipment and building runways so that cargo planes can fly out the uranium, according to the report.

– This would be one of the largest, if not the largest, and most complex special operations in history. It would be an enormous risk for the military, says Mick Mulroy, the former US assistant secretary of defense for Near Eastern affairs.

Sources: Trump threatened to stop arms deliveries to Ukraine

Trump threatened to stop arms deliveries to Ukraine if he did not get help from Europe to open the Strait of Hormuz, sources told the Financial Times.

At the end of February, Trump demanded that NATO countries stand up and send ships to open the strait, but several European countries said no.

According to the sources, Trump responded by threatening to stop arms deliveries to the NATO initiative Purl (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List). It is an initiative in which several NATO countries jointly raise money for the purchase of American weapons and ammunition that are delivered to Ukraine.

This has reportedly prompted six member states to express their readiness to contribute with “appropriate efforts” to secure free passage through the strait in a joint statement.

– It was (NATO chief) Rutte who insisted on the joint statement because Trump threatened to withdraw support for Purl and Ukraine in general, says one of the sources.

The statement was reportedly written quickly, and other countries had to join later because there was no time to invite everyone to sign, according to the source.

Reports: US sends more fighter jets to the Middle East

The Pentagon is doubling the number of A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jets in the Middle East, according to information provided to the New York Times.

An additional 18 aircraft are being sent in addition to the ten currently in place, according to two sources within the Pentagon. The A-10 flies at low altitude and relatively slowly, and can be used as air support for ground troops.

The plane has stopped at an air base in the UK on its way to the Middle East, flight data shows.