Trump Calls Critical News Reports on Iran 'Virtual Treason'

US President Donald Trump says journalists who suggest Iranian forces have not been hurt are 'cowards'.

Topic: World Politics

Trump called journalists 'cowards' for saying Iran is not losing.

Trump said he does not need help from China to end the war with Iran.

Trump said, 'I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise.'

More than a month after a ceasefire, there is no progress on an agreement to end the fighting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's uranium must be 'taken out' before the war can end.

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By Elissa Steedman

If you're just joining us, here's the latest on the war:

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By Elissa Steedman

Iran is not backing down from its terms in peace negotiations with the US.

Iran's chief negotiator says Washington must accept Tehran's peace plan or face failure.

Both sides have refused to make concessions and threatened to resume fighting.

There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal.

The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it.

A deputy foreign minister said reparations for Iran and Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz are 'minimum requirements'.

He accused the US of 'coercive score-settling', harming diplomacy.

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By Georgie Hewson

Defence Minister Richard Marles said he joined discussions with over 40 countries to support freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Marles said Australia was ready to support an independent and strictly defensive Multinational Military Mission.

Australia's intention is to contribute the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to defensive efforts.

The Multinational Military Mission is designed to complement ongoing diplomatic engagement and de-escalation efforts.

The government wants to see the conflict end and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz recommence.

Our government is doing all we can to shield Australians from the impacts.

Key Event

By Georgie Hewson

Israel has hit south Lebanon with more strikes ahead of talks between the two countries in Washington.

Lebanon's health ministry said the latest Israeli strikes killed 13 people in the south.

The ministry said Israel has 'complete disregard for all international norms'.

Hezbollah has been carrying out attacks, including several on Tuesday, against Israeli troops.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem vowed to turn the battlefield into 'hell' for Israeli forces.

Lebanon's Health Minister said 380 people have been killed and 1,122 wounded since April 17.

A ministry official said the toll includes 22 children.

By Georgie Hewson

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson called on the world to reject 'the path of barbarism and domination'.

The war between Iran and the US/Israel will determine 'the very meaning between 'good' and 'evil' in our time and future'.

What has been unleashed upon our peace-loving nation is not just another conflict.

This is a war between those who boast of torpedoing unarmed vessels and those who defend innocent lives.

This is a war between professional liars and a proud people who defend their homeland and human dignity.

By Brad Ryan in Washington DC

Analysts say the war in Iran has delivered some wins to China ahead of Donald Trump's trip to Beijing.

The US war on Iran hasn't redounded to Beijing's strategic benefit.

He says the reasons for that include:

Chinese President Xi Jinping has strong incentives to work with Trump to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

It's important for the United States to understand that China wants to see the strait reopened.

For more on how the Iran war has affected the power dynamics between Trump and Xi, read the full story:

By Georgie Hewson

The Albanese government insists its defence commitments to the United Arab Emirates do not involve taking any offensive action against Iran.

Australia sent an RAAF Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft to the UAE at the gulf kingdom's request.

The UAE has consistently been the major target of missile and drone strikes from Iran.

The UAE has expressed its outrage over the attacks, arguing that it had consistently pushed the US and Israel not to begin a war with Iran.

Iran has charged that the UAE had been directly involved in strikes on Iranian sites and facilities.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the UAE has carried out military strikes on Iran.

The revelation recasts the gulf monarchy as an active combatant in the war.

Global Affairs Editor Laura Tingle writes more about that here:

Key Event

By Elissa Steedman

Kuwait says it has arrested four people affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran condemned the arrest, saying the four were on a maritime patrol and had only entered the nation's territorial waters due to a 'disruption in their navigation'.

Tehran also rejected Kuwait's allegations that Iran was planning 'hostile actions' against it.

By Emilie Gramenz in Washington DC

The US President Donald Trump has departed for China, saying he'll have a 'long talk' to China's President Xi Jinping about the war with Iran.

The focus of his trip is mainly trade, but the war can't be ignored.

The war is proving to be a double-edged sword for Beijing.

China is getting hit hard by the closing of the Strait of Hormuz on the economic side.

But on the political side, they're winning, because they can go around to Africa, Latin America, other countries and say: we, China, are the steady superpower.

Manuel, a former US diplomat, says China tends to be hesitant to play an active role in diplomacy.

I would expect even if it gets asked, it's very unlikely for the Chinese to be very forward-leaning in trying to resolve the conflict.

As he was leaving the White House, Trump fielded a reporter's question about whether he'd ask Xi to intervene in the war.

Trump said, 'I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other. We'll win it peacefully or otherwise.'

By Elissa Steedman

US President Donald Trump has been active on social media since boarding his flight to Beijing.

In a post to Truth Social, he said journalists who suggest Iranian forces have not been decimated are 'cowards that are rooting against' the US.

When the Fake News says that the Iranian enemy is doing well, Militarily, against us, it's virtual TREASON.

Only Losers, Ingrates, and Fools are able to make a case against America!

The post follows an earlier lengthy complaint about The New York Times.

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By Elissa Steedman

Some reporters also took the opportunity to needle the president on how the war has affected Americans.

At one stage, it was noted inflation had reached its highest level in three years.

Donald Trump insisted his economic policies 'are working incredibly', claiming inflation was low before the war.

He tried to define his record by quoting a selective and now outdated three-month measure of inflation.

By the most conventional measures, inflation generally began to climb after Trump imposed new tariffs last year.

Still, the inflation rate is not close to the 2022 peak of 9.1 per cent under then-president Joe Biden.

Now we had a choice: let these lunatics have a nuclear weapon.

If you want to do that, then you're a stupid person and you happen to be.

Trump attempted to assure Americans that once the war was over, oil prices would drop and stock prices would go 'through the roof'.

Another reporter further litigated the point.

Reporter: 'On negotiating with Iran, Mr President, to what extent are Americans' financial situation motivating you to make a deal?'

Trump: 'Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran. They can't have a nuclear weapon.'

The war remains deeply unpopular among Americans, with polling averages suggesting just 37 per cent support the ongoing conflict.

By Elissa Steedman

Walking down the line of reporters, Donald Trump was also asked what his message on the war to Xi Jinping is.

The US president said the pair would have a 'long talk' about the conflict.

But to another reporter, he said Iran would likely not come up during talks.

We have a lot of things to discuss.

I wouldn't say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control.

Trump said he did not think he needed the Chinese president to intervene in negotiations.

No, I don't think we need any help with Iran.

We'll win it, we'll win it peacefully or otherwise.

Key Event

By Elissa Steedman

US President Donald Trump has just departed for Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On his way out, he spoke with reporters on the White House lawn about the war in Iran.

Asked about the ongoing peace negotiations, he said he was 'going to see what happens'.

We're only going to make a good deal and we'll see what happens.

But I believe that one way or the other, it's going to be very good for the American people, and I think actually very good for the Iranian people.

The president was then probed on his red line to end the ceasefire.

Well, we're going to see.

And we'll be thinking about it on the flight, and we'll be thinking about for the next little while.

He added that he believed the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz had been 'very effective'.

It's going work out well. I think you're going have so much oil, you're gonna have a gusher of oil like you've never had before.

Key Event

By Elissa Steedman

A magnitude-4.6 earthquake has been reported in Tehran.

The quake was at a depth of 10 kilometres.

There is no immediate report of casualties or damage from the tremor.

By Elissa Steedman

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Iran.

US President Donald Trump has boarded a plane to Beijing, where he will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Speaking to reporters before take-off, he said the US would win the war 'peacefully or otherwise'.

Stay with us throughout the day for the latest updates.

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