1 President Says Iran Ceasefire Is "On Life Support"
President Trump said yesterday that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is "on life support" after calling Iran's peace counter-proposal "stupid" and describing the ceasefire as "the weakest right now" since its announcement in April. Iran fired back, calling U.S. demands "unreasonable" and "one-sided." Iran's proposal called for ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, lifting the U.S. naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and resolving the nuclear issue through separate later talks, rather than as a precondition. Trump has demanded Iran first reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree to at least a 10-year nuclear moratorium. The Trump administration also announced new sanctions on Iranian oil operations, and Trump is heading to Beijing for a summit with Xi Jinping where he is expected to press China to lean on Iran.
2 Measures Being Introduced In Congress To Suspend Federal Gas Tax
With gas prices averaging $4.52 a gallon nationally, up more than $1.50 since the Iran war began on February 28, President Trump announced yesterday that he would like to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax and called on Congress to deliver it. The proposal touched off an immediate scramble on Capitol Hill, with at least three separate Republican bills introduced on the same day. Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey introduced an 18-month suspension of all federal motor fuel taxes, with rates phasing back in gradually after the pause. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri proposed a 90-day suspension with presidential authority to extend it another 90 days. On the Democratic side, Sens. Mark Kelly, Richard Blumenthal, and Rep. Chris Pappas had already filed a bill in March suspending the gas tax through October 1st. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism about a gas tax holiday, though he said he would hear members out.
3 Two Americans From Hantavirus Cruise Ship, Two Showing Symptoms
The U.S. passengers evacuated from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius arrived in the United States yesterday, with 16 flying to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, 15 of them in the isolation unit and one confirmed case in the biocontainment unit. Two others with symptoms were flown to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for further care. The confirmed and probable death toll stands at three, and total confirmed or probable cases aboard the ship have risen to 10. France reported that eight of its nationals are in hospital isolation after one French passenger started showing symptoms on the repatriation flight on Sunday, and a Spanish national from the ship tested positive for the virus yesterday afternoon.