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White House Makes 2,000-Pound Bombs Available to Israel, Undoing Biden’s Pause

An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows Palestinians walking through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP)
An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows Palestinians walking through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP)
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White House Makes 2,000-Pound Bombs Available to Israel, Undoing Biden’s Pause

An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows Palestinians walking through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP)
An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows Palestinians walking through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP)

President Donald Trump's White House has instructed the US military to release a hold imposed by the Biden administration on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, a White House source told Reuters on Saturday.

The move was widely expected. Biden put the hold on the delivery of those bombs due to concern over the impact they could have in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.

A ceasefire to halt the war was recently agreed.

The Biden administration's particular concern had been over the use of such large bombs in the city of Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians in Gaza had taken refuge.

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Trump Open to Meeting Iran's Leaders

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
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Trump Open to Meeting Iran's Leaders

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

US President Donald Trump said he was open to meeting Iran's supreme leader or the country's president, when he was asked by Time magazine in an interview on April 22 whether he would meet with either as the countries began nuclear talks.

Negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program will return Saturday to the sultanate of Oman, where experts on both sides will start hammering the technical details of any possible deal.

The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on Iran closing in on half a century of enmity. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Neither Iran nor the US have offered any explanation on why the talks will return to Muscat, the Omani capital nestled in the Hajar Mountains. Oman has been a mediator between the countries. Last weekend's talks in Rome offered a more-equal flight distance between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who are leading the negotiations.

But Rome remains in mourning after the death of Pope Francis, whose funeral will be Saturday.