Trump under fire for defending Putin over poll meddling
Washington, July 17 : US President Donald Trump is facing a barrage of criticism for defending his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over claims of Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential elections.
At a joint news conference with Putin following their summit in Finland on Monday, Trump refused to denounce the Russian leader for interfering in the presidential campaign and instead contradicted American intelligence agencies, the US media reported on Tuesday.
Russia had no reason to meddle, Trump said.
His remarks sparked an enormous amount of backlash from his critics, Republicans and Democrats, warning that his actions could ultimately hurt national security interests.
"The President must appreciate that Russia is not our ally," said House Speaker Paul Ryan. "The US must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy."
Russia is responsible for "ongoing, pervasive attempts" to undermine US democracy, said Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.
Republican Senator John McCain, a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it was a "disgraceful performance".
"No prior President has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant," he said.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted that it was a "missed opportunity... to firmly hold Russia accountable for 2016 meddling".
"Shameful," tweeted Republican Senator Jeff Flake. "Bizarre and flat-out wrong," wrote Senator Ben Sasse in reference to Trump's separate assertion that both countries were to blame for their deteriorating relationship.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump's actions had "strengthened our adversaries while weakening our defences and those of our allies".
Former Vice President Joe Biden said: "... Our President had the chance to confront an adversary who has attacked - and continues to attack - our democracy and our allies. He could have stood up for American interests and values. He chose not to."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Trump's performance an "embarrassment". Former CIA director John Brennan said Trump's news conference "was nothing short of treasonous".
"Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???" he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Mike Pence defended the summit and praised Trump.
During the press conference, Putin offered to allow US investigators to visit Russia to question the officers regarding poll medding.
In a later interview with Fox News, he said it was "ridiculous" that some people thought Russia could have influenced the US elections.
Putin said the US-Russian relations should not be "held hostage" to an internal political struggle in America. He also dismissed longstanding reports that Russian intelligence may hold compromising material on Trump.
The Russian leader described the Helsinki meeting as "candid and useful" while Trump said there had been "deeply productive dialogue".
Trump said US-Russia relations had "never been worse" than before they met, but that had now changed.
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What is Iran’s 10-point plan? Key demands ahead of US talks in Islamabad
Tehran/Islamabad: Iran has outlined a 10-point plan as the basis for upcoming talks with the United States, expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11, according to a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.
The plan lays out Tehran’s key political, military and economic demands, and is being seen as a framework for negotiations following the recent escalation in the region.
Strait of Hormuz at the centre
A major focus of the plan is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has proposed “controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces,” which it says would give the country a unique economic and geopolitical position.
The plan also calls for the “establishment of a safe transit protocol” in the Strait that would guarantee Iran’s dominance under an agreed mechanism.
Call to end conflict
Iran has demanded “the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance,” signalling its expectation that hostilities should stop not only in Iran but also involving allied groups in the region.
US troop withdrawal
Another key demand is the “withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region,” indicating Tehran’s long-standing position against American military presence in West Asia.
Sanctions relief and compensation
The plan places strong emphasis on economic measures. It calls for “full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates,” along with “the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council.”
It also seeks “the release of all Iranian assets and properties frozen abroad,” which have been a major point of contention for years.
Binding global guarantee
Finally, Iran has demanded that all these terms be formally recognised through “a binding Security Council resolution,” suggesting it wants international legal backing to ensure enforcement.
What this means
The 10-point plan reflects Iran’s broader push for security guarantees, economic relief and regional influence. The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to test how far both sides are willing to negotiate on these demands.
