The Trump administration sanctioned nearly two dozen firms operating in Irans illicit international oil trade, as President Donald Trump delivered remarks in the Middle East tempting the Islamic Republic with a "much brighter future" should it come to a nuclear agreement with the United States.The sanctions, announced by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control Tuesday, target firms that operate in Irans oil trade.TRUMP TARGETS IRANIAN OIL WITH SANCTIONS, INCREASING PRESSURE ON ISLAMIC REPUBLIC TO MAKE DEAL ON NUKESOfficials said the Iranian government allocates billions of dollars worth of oil annually to its armed forces to supplement budget allocations, underwriting the development of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and financing regional terrorist groups.Treasury Department officials said Irans Armed Forces general staff and its main commercial affiliate, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, continue to establish front companies and rely on buyers and facilitators to enable their sanctioned oil trade.Sepehr Energy often carries out its oil shipments through a series of "deals" between multiple front companies that it owns or controls, according to the Treasury Department, creating the "illusion of non-sanctionable trade between separate entities.""Many of the entities involved in Sepehr Energys oil shipments are part of an elaborate system of oil smuggling and money laundering, directly controlled by or acting on behalf of Sepehr Energy," the Treasury Department said, adding that it also controls Hong Kong-based front companies and uses them to "broker and receive shipments of Iranian oil delivered to independent so-called teapot refineries in China." 4TH ROUND OF US-IRAN TALKS ENDS AS TRUMP SET TO EMBARK ON HISTORIC MIDDLE EAST TOURThe sanctions came shortly after Trump delivered a speech in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, urging Iran to take a "new and a better path." The Trump administration is in talks with Iran for a new nuclear deal.The president, during his speech, though, warned of "massive maximum pressure" if Iran does not come to an agreement."As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be profound," Trump said. "If Irans leadership rejects this olive branch... we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure, drive Iranian oil exports to zero."VANCE PREVIEWS US-IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS, SAYS TRUMP 'OPEN' TO SITTING DOWN WITH RUSSIANS, CHINESE IN FUTURE"Iran can have a much brighter future, but we will never allow them to threaten America and our allies with terrorism or a nuclear attack," Trump said.Trump had announced a 60-day time frame to reach an agreement with Iran over its illegal atomic weapons program. The first U.S. negotiating session with Iran commenced April 12.Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Iranian officials for a fourth round of nuclear talks over the weekend.The nuclear talks were "difficult but useful," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaeisaid. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations, offered more, describing the talks as being both indirect and direct, The Associated Press reported.An "agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements," the U.S. official said. "We are encouraged by todays outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Trump administration has said the flawed 2015 Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, did not prevent Iran from building an atomic bomb.Before leaving for his trip to the Middle East, Trump reiterated his stance on Iran's nuclear goals."You can't have a nuclear weapon, but I think that they are talking intelligently," Trump said. "We're in the midst of talking to them, and they're right now acting very intelligent. We want Iran to be wealthy and wonderful and happy and great, but they can't have nuclear weapons. Very simple. So I think they understand that."A day before the start of talks, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei welcomed chants of "Death to America" in Iran's capital, Tehran."Your judgment is right," Khamenei told a crowd of supporters who called for the destruction of the U.S.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed two lawsuits against President Donald Trump's administration Tuesday.James, a longtime legal opponent of Trump, joined 19 other attorneys general in filing the lawsuits, the first of which claims DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has threatened to cut off "emergency preparedness" funding if states do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The second lawsuit targets the Department of Transportation on similar grounds, arguing it is unconstitutional to withhold funds to coerce immigration compliance."DHS is holding states hostage by forcing them to choose between disaster preparedness and enabling the administrations illegal and chaotic immigration agenda,"James said in a statement. "This funding is vital to keeping New Yorkers safe during hurricanes, floods, and other catastrophes."The federal government cannot weaponize disaster relief to coerce states into abandoning public safety and community trust. My office will fight to ensure all New Yorkers are protected both from tragic disasters and from cruel and unnecessary immigration policies."TOM HOMAN: MIGRANTS DEPORTED TO EL SALVADOR WERE 'SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS'The lawsuit claims the Trump administration has presented states "with an impossible choice.""Either they forego millions of dollars in federal funds that Congress has appropriated and which their emergency preparedness and response efforts rely on or they undermine their law enforcement efforts by diverting their resources to enforce federal immigration law," James' office wrote.READ THE LAWSUIT AGAINST FEMA APP USERS, CLICK HERE:CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGEThe DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.In the DOT lawsuit, the attorneys general argue the department's conditions for receiving funding "put billions in federal funding necessary for vital public safety and reliable transportation projects at risk, including those that prevent injuries and deaths from traffic accidents, protect riders from train collisions, and help improve airport safety measures."The DOT also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The lawsuits come during a massive immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which has deported over 130,000 illegal immigrants since Trump's inauguration.Apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border have plummeted 93% under the new administration, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection released Monday.The CBP says it averaged 279 apprehensions per day at the southern border in April, compared to 4,297 apprehensions in April 2024. The total apprehensions for April this year landed at 8,383, compared to last year's 129,000.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPCBP officials also noted that just five illegal aliens were temporarily released into the U.S. during April, compared to 68,000 during the same month last year.READ THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APP USERS, CLICK HERE:"For the first time in years, more agents are back in the field patrolling territories that CBP didnt have the bandwidth or manpower to oversee just six months ago," said Pete Flores, acting commissioner of CBP. "But thanks to this administrations dramatic shift in security posture at our border, we are now seeing operational control becoming a reality, and its only just beginning."

As Democrats attack President Donald Trump for accepting the Qatari royal family's gift of a $400 million jet to be refurbished to serve as Air Force One, photos have resurfaced of some Democratic lawmakers three years earlier enjoying an expenses-paid trip to the Gulf emirate.The trip, paid for by the U.S.-Qatar Business Council, involved four House Democrats and one Republican who went to Qatar in 2021. During the trip, at least two of the Democrats participated in a sightseeing excursion via camelback for them and their family members.While the trade group that footed the bill for the Democrat excursion is not directly tied to the Qatari royal family, it describes its work as "dedicated exclusively to enhancing the bilateral business relationship between the U.S. and Qatar."HOUSE DEMOCRAT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ETHICS PROBE OF QATARI PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP"This you frolicking in the sand on a camel as part of your $84,621.59 trip paid for by the US-Qatar Business Council to theFour Seasons in Doha in 2021?" Republican strategist Steve Guest asked in response to criticism about Trump's jet from now-Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. The senator accused Trump of engaging in a "pay-to-play" scheme and "selling out U.S. policy." Gallego, at the time of the trip, was a congressman representing Arizona's 7th District."This is pay-to-play, plain and simple," Gallego said in a post on X. "Trump isnt making decisions based on whats best for you hes selling out U.S. policy to whoever gives him the biggest jet.""Gallegos feaux [sic] outrage would hit hard, except, here he is, shirtless and riding camels in Qatar all paid for by a special interest group," conservative writer John Hasson said in response to Gallego's post.Both Hasson and Guest's posts included a now-infamous image of Gallego, alongside Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell, sitting on camels shirtless and smiling as they participated in an excursion through the desert with their wives during their 2021 trip to Qatar funded by the U.S.-Qatar Business Council.At the time, Swalwell was a prominent member of the House Intelligence Committee, which he was later removed from after it was discovered he allegedly had a romantic tryst with a Chinese Communist Party spy, among other concerns related to his judgment on national security.TRUMP DUBS DEMS 'OUT OF CONTROL,' SUGGESTS GOP CONSIDER KICKING THEM OUT OF CONGRESS FOR 'REAL CRIMES'Following backlash over their trip to Qatar in 2021, the U.S.-Qatar Business Council told the New York Post that it did not pay for the camel excursion, only "costs directly associated with travel and the working agenda of the trip."The trip cost roughly $85,000, according to congressional database Legistorm, which noted that the total cost amounted to more than half of the entire congressional travel expenses accounted for in 2021.In addition to Swalwell and Gallego, Reps. Lou Correa, D-Calif., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Lisa McClain, R-Mich., were part of the American delegation on the trip.In response to the criticism from Republicans over his alleged hypocrisy, a spokesperson for Gallego shot back at the notion that the 2021 trip was anywhere near the same as Trump's acceptance of the roughly $400 million plane from the Qatari royal family."If you think traveling on a bipartisan congressional delegation and visiting U.S. troops is the same as corruptly accepting a $400 million plane, then I have beachfront property in Arizona to sell you," Gallego communications director Jacques Petit told Fox News Digital.Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell's office for comment as well, but did not hear back.BYRON DONALDS LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO PUNISH FEDERAL WORKERS FOR FAILURE TO REPORT FOREIGN GIFTSTrump shot back at criticisms over his planned acceptance of the Qatari gift, which the administration was given to use in place of Air Force One. Trump has been pushing to upgrade Air Force One, but the process that was initiated in 2018 has repeatedly been delayed."The fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane," Trump said in a Truth Social post published Sunday. "Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA"

President Donald Trump defends accepting Qatar's 'impressive' gift of a Boeing 747 in an exclusive interview on 'Hannity.'

The president's plan to entice illegal immigrants to self-deport by providing those willing to do so with $1k has been met with praise & criticism on Capitol Hill, with at least one Dem questioning the legality of the move (Credit:Nicholas Ballasy)

President Donald Trump defends accepting Qatar's 'impressive' gift of a Boeing 747 in an exclusive interview on 'Hannity.'

Longtime sports broadcaster Kevin Harlan offers advice to Michael Jordan ahead of his new role with NBC during an appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich."

The president's plan to entice illegal immigrants to self-deport by providing those willing to do so with $1k has been met with praise & criticism on Capitol Hill, with at least one Dem questioning the legality of the move (Credit:Nicholas Ballasy)

President Donald Trump chats with 'Hannity' about his trade deal with China, slashing drug prices and getting an American hostage released.

Longtime sports broadcaster Kevin Harlan offers advice to Michael Jordan ahead of his new role with NBC during an appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich."