Trump tweets: U.S. to impose "major" new sanctions on Iran

Alex Wong/Getty Images

In a string of Saturday tweets, President Trump announced that the U.S. plans to impose major new economic sanctions on Iran starting Monday, within days of abruptly aborting a plan to launch airstrikes against the nation.

What he's saying:

  • Speaking to reporters Saturday morning on the White House lawn before leaving for Camp David, Trump said military force against Iran is "always on the table until we get this resolved," Bloomberg reports.
  • “We’ll see with Iran,” he said. “Everyone was saying I’m a warmonger and now they’re saying I’m a dove.” Instead, Trump described himself as “a man with common sense,” per Bloomberg.

The backdrop: Earlier this week, Trump authorized a retaliatory strike after Iran for downing an unmanned American drone. He aborted the mission Thursday night, saying he decided the casualty count was disproportionate.

Go deeper: Iran timeline: How Trump and Tehran came to the bring of war

Go deeper

Axios
Updated 48 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Health: Large coronavirus outbreaks leading to high death rates — Coronavirus cases are at an all-time high ahead of Election Day — Fauci says U.S. may not return to normal until 2022
  2. Politics: Space Force's No. 2 general tests positive for coronavirus
  3. World: Taiwan reaches a record 200 days with no local coronavirus cases
  4. Europe faces "stronger and deadlier" wave — France imposes lockdown — Germany to close bars and restaurants for a month.
  5. Sports: Boston Marathon delayed — MLB to investigate Dodgers player who joined celebration after positive COVID test.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Caitlin Owens, author of Vitals
57 mins ago - Health

Large coronavirus outbreaks leading to high death rates

Data: The COVID Tracking Project; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios

Many of the states where coronavirus cases have recently skyrocketed are also seeing the highest death rates in the nation, a painful reminder that wherever the virus goes, death eventually follows.

Between the lines: Deaths usually lag behind cases by a few weeks. Given America's record-high case counts, it's reasonable to expect that death rates across the country will continue to rise in tandem.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Amy Harder, author of Generate
1 hour ago - Science

Pandemic scrambles Americans' acceptance of science

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The pandemic is throwing a wrench into Americans' understanding of science, which has big implications for climate change.

Driving the news: Recent focus groups in battleground states suggest some voters are more skeptical of scientists in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while surveys reveal the persistence of a deep partisan divide.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow