International

Trump Warns of ‘Major Wave’ of Attacks as Iran Conflict Escalates

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday praised the success of his military campaign against Iran and warned that the “major wave” of attacks has not yet been launched, suggesting it could come “very soon.”

In a phone interview with CNN, Trump said U.S. Armed Forces are “pounding” Iranian targets and described the operation as going “very well.”

“We have the best military in the world and we’re using it. (…) We haven’t even started hitting them hard yet. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” he warned.

Operation “Epic Fury”

The United States launched Operation “Epic Fury” on Saturday in coordination with Israel. The initial strikes reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with much of the country’s top military leadership.

Tehran has vowed to avenge Khamenei’s death and has responded with missile attacks against Israel and several Arab countries hosting U.S. military bases, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

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Trump told CNN that the “biggest surprise” of the campaign was Iran’s decision to strike Gulf nations with an American military presence. He said those countries now “want to fight,” despite U.S. assurances that Washington has the situation under control.

“They’re fighting aggressively. They were going to have very little involvement, and now they insist on participating,” he added.

Possible U.S. Casualties

Trump, who campaigned in 2024 on a promise to keep the United States out of prolonged foreign wars, acknowledged that additional American casualties could occur. So far, four U.S. service members have reportedly been killed.

“I always thought it would last four weeks. And we’re a little ahead of schedule,” he said.

When asked whether his administration is helping the Iranian people regain control of their country and pursue regime change, Trump responded, “Yes.”

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“Yes, we are. But right now we want everyone to stay sheltered. It’s not safe to be out there,” he cautioned.

International

UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions

The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.

According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.

Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.

The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.

“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.

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While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.

To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.

Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.

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International

Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela

Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.

In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.

For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.

“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.