US President Donald Trump has accused Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of “playing with fire” after the mayor publicly reaffirmed that the city would not enforce federal immigration laws, a stance that has intensified political tensions in Minnesota while also prompting renewed calls for dialogue and de-escalation.

The dispute unfolded after Mayor Frey wrote on X that “Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws,” reiterating the city’s long-standing sanctuary policies. The statement drew a sharp response from President Trump, who said the mayor was breaking the law and risking serious consequences.

Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, saying: “Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!” The president added that Frey’s comments came “after having had a very good conversation with him,” suggesting frustration at what he viewed as a reversal in tone.

The clash comes amid heightened emotions in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents on Saturday. The incident has sparked protests, national scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics, and bipartisan appeals for calm as investigations continue.

Mayor Frey said he had communicated directly with Trump’s border tsar, Tom Homan, and made clear that Minneapolis would not change its approach. In a detailed social media post, Frey stressed that his priority was community safety and trust.

“I reiterated that my main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to end as quickly as possible,” he said. “Public safety works best when it’s built on community trust, not tactics that create fear or division. I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.”

He added that while the city would continue to cooperate on public safety, it would remain focused on protecting residents rather than enforcing federal immigration law. “We will remain focused on keeping our neighbours and streets safe,” Frey said.

Lawmakers from both parties have urged restraint as tensions rise. Democratic Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar called for accountability at the federal level, saying Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should “resign or face impeachment” over recent developments in the state. Omar also said she was attacked with an unidentified substance at a town hall event on Tuesday night, underscoring the charged atmosphere surrounding the debate.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, political observers note that the exchange also highlights an ongoing conversation between federal and local authorities about how immigration enforcement is carried out and its impact on communities. While the White House maintains that federal law must be upheld uniformly, city leaders argue that trust between residents and local authorities is essential to effective policing and public safety.

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that “time is running out” to reach an agreement on its nuclear programme, as the United States continues a steady build-up of military forces in the Gulf, raising international attention on the standoff while leaving the door open to negotiations.

Speaking amid heightened tensions, Trump said a “massive Armada” of US naval forces was moving rapidly towards the region, describing it as advancing “with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose”. His remarks were widely interpreted as a signal of pressure rather than an immediate threat, aimed at pushing Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Iran responded by striking a careful balance between defiance and diplomacy. In a statement, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said Tehran “stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests”, underlining that it remains open to talks. At the same time, it warned that if Iran were forced into confrontation, it would defend itself and “respond like never before”.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, rejecting long-standing accusations from the US and its allies that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have repeatedly argued that international inspections and agreements provide sufficient assurances about the civilian nature of its nuclear activities.

Trump’s latest warning comes against the backdrop of intense unrest inside Iran following a sweeping and violent crackdown on demonstrations earlier this month. At the height of the protests, the US president publicly voiced support for demonstrators, telling them that “help is on the way”. He later adopted a more cautious tone, saying he had received assurances that executions linked to the protests had stopped.

Human rights groups continue to report alarming figures. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says it has confirmed the deaths of more than 6,301 people since unrest erupted in late December, including at least 5,925 protesters. HRANA added that it is investigating reports of a further 17,000 deaths, which it says have been difficult to verify due to an extended internet shutdown across the country.

Meanwhile, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) has warned that the final death toll could exceed 25,000, highlighting the scale of the crisis and the urgency of international engagement.

The United States has confirmed that agents from its immigration enforcement apparatus will provide limited security support during the Winter Olympics in Italy, a move that has sparked political debate but also prompted reassurances from both Washington and Rome about the scope of the deployment.

US officials said a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will assist American security operations during the Games, which begin on 6 February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The confirmation followed reports that triggered concern and anger among some Italian politicians and local leaders, particularly in Milan.

Milan Mayor Beppe Sala criticised the plan, describing ICE as “a militia that kills” and saying the agency’s presence would not be welcome in the city. His comments reflected broader unease in Italy, where ICE has come under international scrutiny following a recent fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani moved quickly to calm the controversy, stressing that the deployment should not be exaggerated or misunderstood. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, he said: “It’s not like the SS are coming,” underlining that comparisons with historical atrocities were inappropriate. The ceremony was attended by Holocaust survivors, adding symbolic weight to his call for restraint and perspective.

US and Italian authorities have both emphasised that Olympic security will remain firmly under Italian control. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said all security operations at the Games would be “directed and managed exclusively by Italian authorities”, with American personnel playing only a supporting role.

Tajani clarified that no ICE agents would patrol Italian streets during the Olympics. Instead, security on the ground will be handled by Italian police forces, including the Carabinieri military police and the Guardia di Finanza financial authority. Italy’s interior ministry later confirmed that the United States will operate an internal coordination and operations room at its consulate in Milan, where relevant US agencies will work behind the scenes throughout the Games.

US officials explained that the involvement of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of ICE, would be “strictly supportive”. Their task will be to work alongside the US Diplomatic Security Service and Italian counterparts to help vet potential threats and mitigate risks linked to transnational criminal organisations.

American embassy sources in Rome noted that US federal agencies have assisted with security at previous Olympic Games, describing the arrangement as a well-established form of international cooperation. While it remains unclear whether ICE itself played a role at past Games, officials said the current plan follows the same principles of coordination, information-sharing and respect for host-nation authority.