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US divided over Iran attack

Divisions are growing among top US officials over a possible military strike on Iran, amid Washington’s escalating war rhetoric against Tehran. On Monday, major US media quoted the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff as warning of various risks associated with possible strikes on Iran. The Washington Post said General Dan Caine has expressed concern that shortages of munition and a lack of allied support could increase danger to US personnel. The Wall Street Journal also said both the top general and other Pentagon officials have warned of risks such as US and allied casualties as well as the danger of US air defenses being depleted if its forces strike Iran. Hours later, Trump denied reports that the top general had warned against Iran strikes, saying the reports were 100 percent incorrect. He claimed that the US can easily win any war against Iran. The development came as Trump has been escalating threats of military action against Iran if the ongoing nuclear talks fail. According to US media, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, and his advisor, Jared Kushner, have also urged him to hold off military action and give diplomacy a chance.

Trump job approval declines

A new survey in the US shows support for the Trump administration is plummeting, as majority of Americans believe that the government’s concentration is on wrong problems. According to a CNN poll, only 36 percent of Americans now approve of Trump’s job performance. The poll indicates that 68 percent of Americans say Trump is NOT focused on the country’s most pressing problems. Over 60 percent of respondents also believe the US President’s current policies are moving the nation in a wrong direction. The latest poll follows a blow to Trump’s tariff policies by the Supreme Court that ruled the levies exceed the powers given to the president. 

Rift among EU states

The EU foreign policy chief says the bloc’s foreign ministers have failed to arrive at an agreement on the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, after Hungary refused to back the measures. Kaja Kallas described the failure as a setback, as she was talking to media following a meeting between EU foreign ministers in Brussels. During the meeting, Hungary said it will not support any EU decision that benefits Ukraine as long as Kiev continues to block the Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline. Budapest earlier blocked the payout of the EU’s 90 billion Euro loan for Ukraine that had been agreed in December. Slovakia is also at loggerheads with Ukraine over the same issue, moving to block electricity exports to the war-torn country. The Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Central Europe via Ukraine, has faced repeated disruptions since last year. Kiev has blamed Russian drone attacks for damage to the pipeline. But Moscow slams Kiev for energy blackmail.

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