Caracas, June 26: Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez has introduced three key measures for rescue and reconstruction efforts after two devastating earthquakes struck the country’s northern regions on Wednesday.

The acting president has ordered mobilising debris-removal equipment from private companies, establishing a 200-million-USD assistance fund, and providing special credit lines to affected business owners, as essential measures in response to the powerful earthquakes unseen over decades in the country’s history, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the country is taking necessary steps to coordinate international assistance, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Thursday. At least a dozen countries from the region and other parts of the world have expressed solidarity and offered assistance.

Venezuela was struck on Wednesday by two consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, causing widespread destruction in the north-central state of La Guaira and severe damage across the Caracas metropolitan area.

Several world leaders on Thursday expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela and offered aid following the devastating earthquakes that have claimed the lives of 32 people and injured over 700 people.

US President Donald Trump has expressed Washington’s support for Venezuela and said that he has directed US government agencies to get ready to move quickly.

“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths. The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!,” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela and said that she has instructed the preparation of the necessary aid for the South American country.

“Our solidarity with the people of Venezuela. The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the government of the brother country, and I have already instructed the preparation of the necessary aid. For now, they have requested support with specialised personnel in rescue and health. Mexico is always and will be in solidarity”, she said in a post on X.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele stated that 300 rescuers and paramedics with 50 tons of equipment, medicines, and essential supplies are ready to depart for Caracas.

Washington, June 24: The US Senate passed a war powers resolution on Iran, restricting President Donald Trump from launching further military operations in Iran without congressional approval.

The passage of the resolution on Tuesday marked the first time such a measure has cleared both chambers of Congress since the conflict began in February and signaled growing opposition to Trump’s handling of the war.

The Iran War Powers Resolution passed in Senate by a vote of 50 to 48, with four Republicans joining most Senate Democrats in support of the measure. One Democrat voted against it, Xinhua news agency reported.

The resolution “directs the President to remove US Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted,” according to a summary of the legislation published on the Congress website.

It also reaffirms Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war and initiate military hostilities, with supporters arguing that the war against Iran amounted to an unauthorized “war of choice.”

Some US media outlets described the resolution’s passage as largely symbolic.

“But Tuesday’s resolution will likely be largely symbolic, since the administration argues that US forces are not currently engaged in hostilities with Iran,” CBS News reported.

NBC News noted that “the largely symbolic measure’s passage comes as the US and Iran are in the early stages of talks aimed at ending the war.”

Democrats, however, argued that a war powers resolution remains necessary even after the United States reached a deal to end the conflict.

“I think it’s a good time to have the vote to say, ‘Hey, if we’re really in a period of maybe some stability here, let’s not just allow it to start up again without Congress being involved in that decision,'” Senator Tim Kaine told reporters last week, according to CNN.

Washington, June 23: US President Donald Trump said any sanctions relief granted to Iran would be tied to purchases of American agricultural products, while insisting that Tehran would never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon under an emerging agreement being negotiated between the two countries.

Speaking at the White House after signing executive orders on quantum technology, Trump offered his most detailed public comments yet on the state of ongoing negotiations with Iran, describing the talks as productive and saying shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had returned to normal levels.

“We have an open strait and we have a country that will never have a nuclear weapon, will never, ever have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

The remarks came as Vice President JD Vance and a US delegation continued negotiations with Iranian officials in Switzerland, where discussions have focused on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and regional deconfliction mechanisms.

Trump said the administration was considering sanctions relief, but indicated that any unfrozen funds would be channelled towards food purchases from the United States.

“One of the things that we are doing also, and it came up last night, is money that’s being unfrozen is going to be used to buy food,” he said. “And the food’s going to be bought exclusively through the United States from our farmers.”

He added: “Corn, soybeans, all of the things they need are going to be bought from our farmers.”

Asked whether easing sanctions could allow Iran to rebuild its military capabilities, Trump said the understanding was that the money would be used for humanitarian purposes.

“They’re supposed to use money to buy food for their people, because right now their people are very hungry,” he said.

The President also expressed confidence that the negotiations were moving in the right direction.

“We’re doing very well in terms of negotiating a fair and reasonable deal,” he said.

While declining to discuss specific enforcement mechanisms, Trump warned that the United States would respond if Iran failed to comply with any agreement.

“If Iran doesn’t live up to their agreement or if they’re not behaving, I will do what I have to do,” he said.

Trump rejected suggestions that Tehran had gained leverage in the negotiations and argued that recent military operations had significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities.

“Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their leaders are all dead. Their whole country is a mess. Their economy is shot,” he said.

He also praised Vance’s role in the talks.

“I think that they’re doing a fantastic job,” Trump said. “I watched his news conference from Switzerland. He’s a very smart guy. He did a great job.”

The President further claimed that energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz had rebounded strongly following recent tensions.

“We took in more oil yesterday than has ever gone through the strait,” he said. “The strait is totally open.”