Trump escalates rhetoric on Iran while facing domestic resignation

President Donald Trump made a series of public statements escalating tensions with Iran. He said the U.S. was 'close to meeting objectives' and opposed a ceasefire, while also calling NATO a 'paper tiger' over a situation in the Strait of Hormuz and claiming the U.S. 'knew nothing' about a reported strike on a gas field in Iran.

In response, a top U.S. counterterrorism official, Joe Kent, resigned. Kent cited the approach to Iran and pressure from Israel as reasons, stating he could not 'in good conscience support this.' Trump also made remarks to Japan's Takaichi about bringing peace and threatened to 'take Cuba,' which prompted a defiant response from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.