Venezuela oil exports hit seven-year high

 Venezuela's oil exports increased 14% in April to 1.23 million barrels per day, reaching the highest level in more than seven years, according to shipping data and documents from the state oil company PDVSA on Friday.

The increase was driven by higher sales to the United States, India, and Europe, with 66 vessels departing Venezuelan waters in April, up from 61 ships in March, when exports stood at 1.08 million barrels per day.

The April volume was the strongest monthly level since late 2018, before US sanctions were imposed on Venezuela's energy industry.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Venezuela-oil-exports-hit-seven-year-high/66202149

Trump says he is unhappy with Italy, Spain

 US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was "not happy" with Italy and Spain, while also saying the European Union was not adhering to a vehicle tariff agreement.

Trump reaffirmed that the US will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union to 25% next week. He said vehicles made at US plants would not face the tariff and argued the EU had failed to comply with a fully agreed trade deal.

Trump also said his administration was looking at a bailout for Spirit Airlines, after reports that the budget carrier was preparing to shut down following the collapse of rescue talks.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Trump-says-he-is-unhappy-with-Italy-Spain/66202631

Trump says US not leaving Hormuz now

 US President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States is "not leaving" the Strait of Hormuz for now, as he defended the blockade and described it as "powerful" during remarks to reporters outside the White House.

Trump said the blockade was working and argued that energy prices would fall sharply once the war ends. "When this war ends, oil, gas, and everything will come tumbling down," he said.

He also touted record highs in the US stock market and said projects under his administration were coming in "on time" and "on budget."

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Trump-says-US-not-leaving-Hormuz-now/66202713

Trump says he is not satisfied with Iran's proposal

 US President Donald Trump shared his disappointment with Tehran's peace proposal on Friday.

"They want to make a deal. I'm not satisfied with it," the American head of state stated, adding that he was "not sure" if a deal could be reached. However, he did confirm that Washington and Tehran participated in talks shortly before his statement.

Trump once again said that the Iranian "leadership is very disjointed" and that it consists of two to four groups. "And with that being said, they all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up," he told reporters.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Trump-says-he-is-not-satisfied-with-Iran's-proposal/66202610

Bessent defends Trump's blockade of Hormuz

 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent posted a blunt warning to Iran's leadership on X on Friday, apparently comparing them to "rats in a sewer pipe" that are unaware of "what's going on in the outside world."

He went on to claim how the US has "complete control" of the Strait of Hormuz, that Iran faces a dollar shortage, that food and gasoline rationing was put in place, that the "entire international community" has turned against Tehran, concluding with "the BLOCKADE will continue, until there is pre-February 27 Freedom of Navigation."

His comments were apparently made in response to a Wall Street Journal article claiming that US tactics exposed holes in Iran's strategy. Meanwhile, CNN yesterday reported that Iran and its allies have damaged at least 16 US military installations across eight Middle Eastern countries.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Bessent-defends-Trump's-blockade-of-Hormuz/66202518

US threatens sanctions over Hormuz tolls

 The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) warned on Friday that shipping companies could face sanctions risk if they make "toll" payments demanded by Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

OFAC said the warning applies to US and non-US persons and covers payments in fiat currency, digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, and in-kind arrangements, including donations routed through Iranian-linked entities. The agency said US persons are generally barred from transactions with Iran's government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and from dealing with blocked Iranian digital asset exchanges unless authorized.

"Maritime industry participants involved with vessels calling at Iranian ports face significant sanctions risk under multiple sanctions authorities targeting Iran’s shipping sector and ports, and OFAC will continue to aggressively target Iran’s main revenue-generating sectors," the government office said.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/US-threatens-sanctions-over-Hormuz-tolls/66202234

WH declines to comment on Iran's new proposal

 White House declined to comment on rumors that Tehran presented Washington with another ceasefire proposal.

"We do not disclose private diplomatic conversations. President [Donald] Trump made it clear that Iran will never be able to possess nuclear weapons, and negotiations continue to ensure the national security of the United States in the short and long term," White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Israeli i24NEWS on Friday.

The document in question has also been framed as Iran's response to US-revised terms, with reports suggesting it was sent out on Thursday.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/WH-declines-to-comment-on-Iran's-new-proposal/66202299