What you need to know
- Trump took secret flight out of Ankara after July's NATO summit, amid threat from Iran, Washington Postreports
- US, Iran talks on peace and reopening Strait of Hormuz hit impasse
- Oil prices steady after massive gains, as market loses hope of a deal
Keep reading for the latest developments in the war in Iran and wider conflict in the Middle East from Tuesday, August 11:
Trump took secret flight out of Turkey over Iran threat — report
US President Donald Trump reportedly departed from Turkey on a secret military flight, last month, instead of the flying aboard an older Air Force One as announced by the White House.
This was in response to a credible Iranian assassination threat, the Washington Post reported, amid the months-old conflict between the two countries.
Trump had taken the newly renovated Qatari-donated jet to Ankara for the NATO summit in July. However, he unexpectedly announced he would used an older Air Force One when departing the country, "for old times's sake." The move had then raised question over the donated jet's safety.
Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras but was secretly shuttled by an airport catering truck to a smaller plane, an Air Force C-32A, the Washington Post said, citing corroborating material and a US official familiar with the operation.
Journalists aboard the decoy Air Force One, where they believed to be accompanied by the US President, said they had been advised to keep their window shades closed in the press cabin.
When they inquired about it later, Trump said it was because they were "probably on a dangerous flight."
"But if I go, you go. Right?" he added.
The White House did not directly address the report.
Communications director Steven Cheung told the Post there were "many enemies of America" targeting Trump and that every available tool was being used tocounter threats.
Welcome to our coverage
Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of the war in Iran and developments from across the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump allegedly took a secretive flight out of Turkey after the NATO summit in July, according to the Washington Post. The report describes how the US President was smuggled into a smaller plane, provoking mental visuals straight out of a Hollywood movie, to thwart a possible assassination attempt by Iran.
Trump meanwhile, has scoffed at Iran's demands of concessions and reparations, saying he too would seek conflict compensations as part of a peace deal. With this, negotiations over a truce and the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz seem to have hit a wall once more.
The news had an effect on global markets as well, initially sending oil prices soaring, but they have now stabilized.
Stay tuned!