The US and Israel on Feb 28 launched what they described as a “pre-emptive” joint strike against Iranian targets, with Trump announcing start of “major combat operations”
Pakistan hosted the first round of face-to-face talks between the US and Iran in 47 years in April; the talks ended without a breakthrough, but also without a breakdown
Trump rejects Iran’s response to latest US proposal that would stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues unresolved for now
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has congratulated new Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on securing parliamentary confidence after he was sworn in on Thursday, Al Jazeera reports.
“I hope that in this new phase, and drawing on the deep ties between our two peoples, we will witness a new chapter of strategic cooperation,” he says, adding that Iran would “remain by Iraq’s side on the path of development and the consolidation of security”.
Speaking to reporters, Trump also declared that the US had gained a “total military victory in Iran”.
In response to a question, the US president asserted, “ We knocked out their entire navy, we knocked out their air force, we knocked out their leaders in the second division, we knocked out their leaders in the third division”.
On being asked if hostilities could resume, the US president said, “I don’t want to say anything. I can only say with very, very strong conviction that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says his government had received messages from the United States indicating that President Donald Trump’s administration was open to continuing talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, AFP reports.
“What was said that the United States rejected Iran’s proposal or Iran’s response to the American proposal was a few days ago, when Mr Trump tweeted and said that it was unacceptable,” Araghchi tells reporters in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
“But after that, we received messages again from the Americans saying that they are willing to continue the talks and continue the interaction.”
Araghchi, in response to a question regarding Pakistan’s role in US-Iran mediation, said that the process “has not failed but was on a very difficult course”.
He said this was due to the “American behaviour and the mistrust that exists between us”.
“We appreciate any country which can help,” he added.
Araghchi, addressing reporters in New Delhi, said that “parts of” the final statement of the Brics ministerial were “blocked by a certain country which has its own special relation with Israel”.
He termed the development “unfortunate,” stressing the country, which he did not name, “stopped the statement due to their support for Israel and the US in their aggression against Iran”.
He expressed hope that the “country will come to an understanding that we are neighbours and have to live with each other”.
“The Israeli and Americans cannot protect them,” he added.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says he is open to any support, including from China, to help resolve the conflict in the Middle East, AFP reports.
“We appreciate any country who has the ability to help, particularly China,” he told reporters in the Indian capital, where he attended a meeting of the BRICS bloc of nations.
“We have very good relations with China, we are strategic partners to each other, and we know that (the) Chinese have a good intention, so anything that can be done by them to help diplomacy would be welcomed by the Islamic republic.”
Araghchi has also reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remained open, stating that all vessels — except those belonging to countries in war with Iran — can pass.
“The vessels that want to pass should coordinate with our military because of the mines and obstacles which exist; we will guide them to pass,” the foreign minister said.
He maintained that the safe passage of vessels through the strait was in Iran’s “interest and policy”. Araghchi stressed that the source of the insecurity in the region was “US aggression”.
He added that Iran, along with Oman, was ensuring the safe passage of all vessels.
Araghchi, during his talk, noted that the existing US-Iran negotiations suffered from “lack of trust, contradictory messages”.
“Everyday is different from yesterday [..] in one day, we receive two different messages, and this is a problem and adds to the question of mistrust,” Araghchi said.
Araghchi, addressing a press conference, expressed that Iran remained “interested” in negotiations, however, “only if the other side is serious and is in line with real negotiations”.
“We have no trust in Americans; this is a fact,” Araghchi said.
He maintained that Iran responds to the “language of respect,” recalling that every time the US has approached Iran with diplomacy, Iran answered “positively”.
Israel’s military says it is striking Hezbollah targets in the Tyre area of south Lebanon, reports AFP.
“The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon,” the army said in a statement, hours after issuing evacuation warnings for five towns and villages.
An AFP correspondent saw strikes in the area.
In a separate statement, the military said “a number of explosive drones” had fallen in several areas of northern Israel, with no injuries reported.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has briefed his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the latest developments in the US-Israeli war on Iran, IRNA reports.
Araghchi briefed Jaishankar on the status of the current fragile ceasefire and the ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Additionally, the two sides consulted and exchanged views on the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security developments, and regional stability.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has blamed what he calls “contradictory messages” from Washington for complicating negotiations, Al Jazeera reports, citing IRIB.
In comments carried by Iran’s IRIB broadcaster, Araghchi said Iran is not to blame for disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tehran did not initiate the war and is only defending itself.
Araghchi reiterated Iran’s position that the strait is now open to vessels of “friendly countries”, as long as they coordinate with Iranian officials, and only closed to Iran’s “enemies”.
India has issued a chair’s statement at the conclusion of the annual Brics foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi instead of a joint statement and said there were differing views among some members on the situation in the Middle East, Reuters reports.
Brics includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Iran and the UAE are on opposing sides in Tehran’s war with the US and Israel.
An Israeli strike has targeted a motorcycle in the southern Lebanese town of al-Majadel, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency says according to Al Jazeera.
Israel’s military said it has attacked and destroyed a rocket launcher that Hezbollah fighters had used to fire rockets towards northern Israel, Al Jazeera reports.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will accelerate construction of a new oil pipeline to double its export capacity through Fujairah, the government’s Abu Dhabi media office said of a project that would vastly expand its ability to bypass the largely shuttered Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.
The US State Department is offering hefty rewards for information on six individuals it says are involved in the drone-production wing of Iran’s IRGC Quds Force, identified as the Kimia Part Sivan Company (KIPAS), Al Jazeera reports.
The individuals, the State Department says, “are involved in KIPAS’s testing, development and supply of drones”.
A post by the State Department’s national security rewards programme said people who submit tips about individuals, their associates, or financial networks may be eligible for an award of up to $15m.
“Help us put a dent in the IRGC’s revenue stream,” the post states.
Economic growth in Germany, which was just 0.3 per cent in the first quarter, will likely take a significant hit from the effects of the Iran war in the second quarter, the federal economy ministry warned, Reuters reports.
“Rising prices, supply chain issues and uncertainty are weighing on sentiment among businesses and households,” the ministry said in its monthly report.
