CARACAS — Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the same area of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing buildings to collapse, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and AFP journalists. The quakes sowed panic in the capital, Caracas, driving people into the streets. It was unknown if there were fatalities, but some […]
WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington would not accept Iranian tolls or fees on the Strait of Hormuz, as disputes over the vital waterway, nuclear inspections, and missiles exposed early strains in negotiations to end the Middle East war. Washington and Tehran have signed a preliminary agreement to halt […]
WASHINGTON — The United States suspended sanctions on Iranian oil on Monday after Vice President JD Vance said Iran would allow UN nuclear inspectors to return to the country. “We laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal,” Vance told reporters following talks at Switzerland’s luxury Burgenstock resort aimed at ending the US-Israeli […]
WASHINGTON — The US Treasury Department authorized the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil on Monday, a move promised under an agreement reached by Washington and Tehran last week. The general license, announced as the two sides continue talks aimed at reaching a final peace deal, allows the production, delivery and sale of crude […]
Burgenstock (Switzerland) — Iran’s senior envoys left talks in Switzerland on Monday after a marathon negotiating session with the United States, state media reported, as mediators claimed progress towards a definitive US-Iran deal. The host nation said conditions were set for technical talks to immediately follow, with the sides at the beginning of a 60-day […]
SWITZERLAND — Iran and the United States wrapped up the first round of talks to end the Middle East war at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland on Monday, with technical talks to continue. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hailed the “major progress” achieved with the help of mediators Pakistan and Qatar, while the United States […]
BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland/DUBAI — The first round of talks between high-ranking U.S. and Iranian officials in Switzerland ended Monday, mediators said, after a tense opening marked by Tehran’s announcement it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. President Donald Trump repeating his threats to resume attacks on Iran. A joint statement from mediating nations […]
SINGAPORE — Oil prices rose on Monday after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed while talks between US and Iranian officials in their first meeting under an interim peace deal were off to a bumpy start. Brent crude futures climbed 54 cents or 0.67%, to $81.11 a barrel by 0030 GMT, after touching a […]
WASHINGTON — The US military said Saturday it remained “present and vigilant” in the Strait of Hormuz, shortly after Iran announced it was closing the critical shipping lane. “US forces remain present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect,” US Central […]
TEHRAN — Pakistan’s interior minister arrived in Iran on Saturday after planned talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland were postponed, Iranian media reported. Tehran and Washington were due to hold talks in Switzerland on Friday, after signing a memorandum of understanding ending the war in the Middle East, but the latest negotiations […]