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What is President Trump's position on the war with Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Trump says the U.S. is closing in on a deal to end the war with Iran. NPR's Jane Araf in Beirut reports on what the president is saying about the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
President Trump, in a social media post on Sunday, said, quote, the blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed. The blockade he is referring to there is U.S. naval forces and other U.S. military assets that are around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has signaled it will reopen the strait to traffic, but only if and when those U.S.
military forces withdraw. And further down the line, Iran is also indicating it will insist on retaining control of the waterway.
That's NPR's Jaina Raff. The U.S. blockade has been in place in the Middle East for more than a month. President Trump is scheduled to visit Arlington National Cemetery on this Memorial Day. The president will be taking part in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony before making remarks.
NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben takes a look at the president's approval ratings amid the unresolved war with Iran and higher prices in the U.S. economy.
The president's approval rating has continued to fall and is currently in the high 30s, according to polling averages. And as inflation picks up, he has approval of only around 35 percent on the economy, according to RealClearPolling, with the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index also hitting a record low. However, Republicans still overwhelmingly approve of Trump.
And recent elections show that Trump still exerts power over the party he reshaped. Trump and Dorsey's in Republican primaries in Kentucky, Indiana, and Louisiana have defeated Trump's perceived opponents. But then the question is if his candidates can win in November. Democrats currently lead in generic ballot polling. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
In northern China, search and rescue efforts are continuing following a deadly explosion at a coal mine. More than 80 people have been killed. As NPR's Jennifer Pak reports from Shanghai, it's the country's deadliest mine accident in years.
Preliminary investigations suggest serious violations at the coal mine in Shanxi province, according to local authorities over the weekend, though they did not elaborate. The gas explosion took place Friday after dinnertime. China's state broadcaster CCTV reported that the coal mine blueprints did not match the actual layout, hampering rescue efforts.
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