International

Trump says there may be a nuclear agreement with Iran “very, very soon”

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington could reach a possible agreement on nuclear weapons with Iran “very, very soon”, just hours after assuring that he had sent a letter to Tehran urging negotiations.

“We have a situation with Iran and something is going to happen very soon, very, very soon,” Trump explained in an appearance before the press at the Oval Office, where he added that only “the last brushstrokes” remain to reach an agreement and that “there will be interesting days ahead.”

“With hopefully we will be able to have a peace agreement, I am not speaking from a position of strength or weakness. I’m just saying that I prefer to see a peace agreement than the other (the military option), although the other will solve the problem,” the president added, pointing out that Washington cannot “allow them to have a nuclear weapon,” in reference to the ayatola regime.

Trump assured that he would have quickly reached an agreement with Tehran if he had won the 2020 presidential elections – which he again called “rigged” – and held his predecessor, Joe Biden, responsible, whom he called a “very stupid person,” for allowing Iran to enrich itself after withdrawing the country’s sanctions.

The statements come hours after the US president himself said in an interview on Fox Business that he had written a letter to the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, in which, he assured, he threatened to intervene militarily if the Islamic republic did not open up to negotiations.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

In any case, the Iranian mission to the UN, quoted by the state agency IRNA, said shortly after that it had not received any letter from the president of the United States.

In 2018, during his first term (2017-2021), Trump decided to withdraw his country from the so-called Joint Comprehensive Action Plan, a pact to stop Tehran’s nuclear advances agreed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Iran, the European Union (EU) and Germany in 2015.

International

Oil prices surge again as Middle East tensions persist

Oil prices climbed again on Friday for a second consecutive session, as markets remained concerned about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East with no tangible diplomatic progress.

North Sea Brent crude for May delivery rose 4.22% to close at $112.57 per barrel.

Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) approached the $100 mark, settling at $99.64, up 5.46%.

The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to delay by ten days his ultimatum for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz failed to reassure market participants.

“It means there will be ten additional days of disruptions in the Middle East for crude and refined product flows,” said Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“For prices to come down, a resolution to the conflict is necessary,” Lipow added. “And even in the event of a ceasefire, it is not certain that Iran would allow oil shipments to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”

International

Young Spanish Woman Receives Euthanasia After Legal Battle, Sparking Debate

A 25-year-old Spanish woman, Noelia Castillo, received euthanasia on Thursday following a prolonged legal dispute with her father.

She passed away at a care center in Sant Pere de Ribes, about 40 kilometers from Barcelona, where she had been living for some time, according to Spanish media reports.

In an interview broadcast a day earlier on Antena 3, Castillo expressed her exhaustion after enduring prolonged suffering. She indicated that her decision was influenced by a combination of personal circumstances and health-related challenges, including family conflicts and a condition of paraplegia following a previous incident that left her with lasting physical consequences.

Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, becoming one of the few countries that allow patients under strict conditions to seek medical assistance to end their lives in order to avoid what the law defines as unbearable suffering.

The case has reignited debate in Spain over the ethical, legal, and family dimensions surrounding euthanasia, as well as the broader issue of support for individuals in vulnerable situations.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

Over 300 U.S. Troops Wounded Since Start of Iran Conflict, CENTCOM Says

More than 300 U.S. service members have been injured since the start of the conflict with Iran on February 28, the United States Central Command confirmed on Friday.

“Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 303 U.S. service members have been wounded. The vast majority of these injuries are minor, and 273 troops have already returned to duty,” said U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, indicated that 10 American troops remain seriously injured.

According to the latest figures, an additional 13 U.S. service members have been killed since the conflict began, including seven in the Gulf region and six in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces warned on Friday that hotels hosting U.S. troops in the region could be considered legitimate military targets.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“When U.S. forces enter a hotel, from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” said armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi in remarks broadcast on state television.