Trump administration talked about seizing more Iranian oil tankers to squeeze Tehran, but backed off over fears Iran would retaliate, spike oil prices, or treat it as an act of war.

Iran could respond by seizing allied tankers or mining the Strait of Hormuz (≈25% of global oil).

Officials fear retaliation would “drive up oil prices sharply.”

Over 20 Iranian-linked ships are already sanctioned and potential targets.

Source: WSJ

Trump:

This is the greatest period of anything that we have ever seen.

Colombian President Petro on assassination attempt against him:

I have to confess… I’ve been traveling for two days escaping being killed.

I couldn’t land because the lights weren’t turned on. In the morning I didn’t land where I was supposed to, fearing the helicopter would be shot at, with my children inside.

So we went out to sea for four hours and I arrived where I wasn’t supposed to—but I arrived.

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Trump: We can grow at 15 percent. I think more than that.

Larry Kudlow: Well, 15 is a big number.

Trump: But Larry, you can do it!

Trump on interest rates:

I’s just a paper charge when you think about it.

We should have the lowest interest rate in the world.

Trump on India-Pakistan:

It would have been a nuclear war. In my opinion, they were really going at it.

Ten planes were shot down. They were going at it.

They were going to go nuclear, in my opinion, without tariffs.

Trump on Iran:

I know one thing: they want to make a deal.

Trump:

I spoke to Mr. Toyoda in Japan. I said, “What is your name?” Toyota.

I said, if your name is Toyota you are a very rich guy. He is about 90 years old.

Netanyahu has arrived in Washington, DC for a meeting at the White House with Trump.

He traveled in a large Secret Service motorcade. Security measures included the closure of I-695 West and helicopters operating overhead.

Before his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu met with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

NEW: Ukraine plans presidential elections and a referendum on a Russia peace deal by May 15, under pressure from the Trump administration, which has tied US security guarantees to the vote and a deal.

Zelensky is expected to announce the plan on February 24.

Source: FT

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Ten people, including the suspected shooter, were killed after a gunman opened fire at a high school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday.

Six victims were found inside the school, two at a nearby home, and one died on the way to hospital.

The suspect, described as a female, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted injury.

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The United States is pushing Hamas to surrender all weapons capable of striking Israel under a draft Gaza plan, but would allow the group to keep some small arms at first.

An American-led team, including Jared Kushner and other senior envoys, plans to present the proposal to Hamas in the coming weeks.

The plan calls for phased disarmament, with heavy weapons decommissioned immediately and remaining arms registered and later handed over.

Source: NYT

Trump on Switzerland:

I put on a 30% tariff, which is very low. Then I got an emergency call from I believe the Prime Minister of Switzerland and she was very aggressive.

I didn't really like the way she talked to us, so instead of giving her a reduction, I raised it to 39%.

U.S. forces stationed at Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base moved Patriot missile systems onto mobile truck launchers as tensions with Iran intensified.

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Trump Considers Sending Second Aircraft Carrier if Iran Talks Collapse

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Arab Israelis Rally in Mass Protests, Blame Ben-Gvir for ‘Deliberate Negligence’ in Crime Surge

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Iranian President Pezeshkian:

I apologize to the noble nation for the shortcomings that exist.

We are striving with all our heart and soul to resolve all these problems with power and firmness.

Iranian President Pezeshkian:

We welcome protest. We consider protest to be a blessing. We have a duty to listen to these protests.

However, we are disgusted by destruction, vandalism, killing, and arson. No true Iranian takes up arms to kill another Iranian. No Iranian sets fire to a mosque. No Iranian sets fire to public transport or public property.

No Iranian asks a stranger to violate this country, its soil, or its waters. No free person asks the enemy to come and solve an internal problem.

We will sit down and solve our own problems ourselves.

We are ready with all our being to resolve these issues—but not through arson, not through burning, and not through the spreading of false and wrong rumors.

📸 Symbolic coffins of several American military leaders during the anniversary parade of the revolution’s victory in Tehran, Iran.

Iranian President Pezeshkian:

We have taken the path of diplomacy based on the efforts of our officials and the direction set by the Supreme Leader.

I state once again: we are not looking for nuclear weapons. We have said this many times, and we are ready for any kind of verification.

However, there is a tall wall of mistrust created by the United States and Europe through their actions and words.

This wall prevents these conversations from reaching a meaningful result. If the world truly seeks diplomacy, it must end its provocative actions.

Our Iran will not bow down to their excessive demands. Our Iran will not back down against injustices and transgressions.

We have learned that we can only rely on our own people and our indigenous capabilities.