DOHA — US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that indirect talks with Iran in Qatar were making progress, offering a tentative sign that diplomacy was holding after recent exchanges of fire threatened efforts to end the Middle East war. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who led Tehran’s delegation, later said the talks had concluded […]
Middle East
Iran FM warns any challenge to Hormuz routes will ‘increase tensions’
BAGHDAD — Iran’s top diplomat warned Sunday that any attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz routes agreed with the United States would “increase tensions” in the Middle East, as the countries traded attacks and accusations of violating a fragile ceasefire in the region. During a visit to Iraqi capital Baghdad, Abbas Araghchi also called […]
Iran calls deal to end Middle East war ‘declaration of US defeat’
TEHRAN — Iran called the deal it struck to end the Middle East war “a declaration of America’s defeat” on Wednesday, as the top US diplomat kicked off a tour of Gulf countries hit hardest by Tehran. The war that began with a massive US-Israeli campaign of strikes against Iran on February 28 ended with […]
Iran says UN watchdog will not be allowed to inspect bombed nuclear sites
TEHRAN — Iran said on Tuesday that inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog would not be given access to its nuclear sites that were bombed during the war with Israel and the United States last year. “We have not had a meeting with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nor do […]
Iran says to oversee Hormuz as Switzerland talks conclude
TEHRAN — Tehran voiced Tuesday its intent to maintain control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, a crucial question in the Middle East war talks with Washington that just wrapped up in Switzerland. Vice President JD Vance called the negotiations a “very good foundation” for a final deal to end the conflict, noting on Monday […]
Iran says no visit scheduled for UN inspectors to visit nuclear sites
DUBAI — Iran said on Tuesday that there’s been no visit scheduled for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to see nuclear sites earlier bombed by the United States. Esmail Baghaei made the comment to journalists at a news conference in Tehran, Iran’s capital. Baghaei’s remarks appear to cut against those made by U.S. […]
Hormuz traffic continues despite Iran’s closure announcement
PARIS — Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday continued to flow at a faster pace than before the US-Iranian agreement on talks to end the Middle East war, according to tracking firms, despite Tehran’s announcement of a renewed closure. “The latest figures suggest a cautious but visible rebound in traffic following the […]
Israeli strikes kill 11 in Gaza, health officials say
GAZA — Gaza health officials said Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least 11 people, including four members of the same family, in the latest violence to rock the Palestinian territory despite a ceasefire. Israel and Hamas trade near-daily accusations of truce violations and the Gaza Strip remains gripped by bloodshed as progress on permanently […]
Gaza ceasefire a ‘deadly illusion’: UNICEF
GENEVA — The ceasefire declared in Gaza more than eight months ago is a “deadly illusion”, the UN charged on Friday, with 265 children killed there since the fighting was supposed to have stopped. Despite a ceasefire being declared in October 2025, Israel has continued to launch strikes across Gaza, killing at least 992 Palestinians […]
US-Iran deal under immediate strain as fighting flares in Lebanon
GENEVA — Deadly exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon put a newly signed deal to end the Middle East war under further strain on Friday, after the postponement of planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland. The delay came as Tehran’s top negotiator warned it would not bend on its red lines and that its finger […]






