Comments by Iran’s economy minister in reaction to US sanctions

I don’t think Iran has a lot of fighting powder to hit back at the US but they probably have mitigating actions to help alleviate pressure from the latest sanctions. The real fear is if they feel emboldened enough to take more military action as what we saw last week when they shot down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz.

A US official outlines who Trump will be having bilateral meetings with at the G20 later this week in Japan

• Putin – to discuss Iran, Ukraine, Middle East, Syria, arms control
• Indian PM Modi
• Saudi crown prince – to discuss escalation in tensions in Iran and threats to regional stability
• Turkey’s Erdogan
• Germany’s Merkel

And, of course (drumroll please), Chinese President Xi!

• opportunity to “maintain his engagement”
• see where China is on the trade dispute
• “The president is quite comfortable with any outcome”
• meeting with Xi likely to be on second day of G20 (details still to be confirmed)

Trump to also travel to Korea:

• no plans to meet with Kim Jong Un

UP President Trump spoke in a TV  interview on Sunday.

• “I have the right to do that, but I haven’t said that.”

• “I had somebody that raised the rates very rapidly — too much. He made a mistake, that’s been proven.“

• It should be noted that Fed Chair Powell gave the middle finger to Trump

US President Donald Trump has  said over the weekend he’ll impose “major” additional sanctions on Iran.

• economic pressure will be maintained
• Wants to see Iranian leadership change course, specifically on developing nukes
• “We’re putting additional sanctions on … we are moving rapidly.”

He makes it a binary decision but what is “great”?

Trump comments

People’s Daily newspaper piece written by the head of the banking and insurance regulator, Guo Shuqing

• impact of additional U.S. tariffs on the Chinese economy will be very limited
• fluctuations in the yuan exchange rate were normal in the short term
• over a longer horizon the currency would not continue to lose value given China’s economic fundamentals.

There are reports an explosion has been heard near the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran.

 Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is 17 kilometres southeast of the city of Bushehr:

Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping agree North Korea and China need to work together in face of changing international environment

• Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping agreed to have close strategic communication and deepen cooperation in various fields

KCNA (NK state media) report on the meeting between the leaders of NK and China).

I’m gonna guess that the subtext to this is they both have a common enemy … or no?

How to tell its time to wash your hands.

Not exactly preaching peace