Trump team proposes Iran talks this week on nuclear deal, ceasefire: Reports
The US is discussing with Iran the possibility of a meeting this week between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss a nuclear deal and an end to the war between Israel and Iran, Axios reported on Monday, citing four sources briefed on the issue.
Reuters couldn't immediately verify details of the Axios report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
41 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Russian Presidential Security Official Shoigu Arrives in North Korea
Russia's top presidential security adviser Sergei Shoigu was expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after arriving in Pyongyang "on special instructions" from President Vladimir Putin, Russia's Tass news agency reported on Tuesday. Shoigu will hold talks with the North Korean "leadership on implementing agreements" reached during his visit earlier in June under the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by the two leaders last year, Tass reported. It did not elaborate on the details of Shoigu's expected talks or what Putin's instructions were. The visit by Shoigu is the third in nearly three months as the two countries rapidly advanced diplomatic and security ties in the past two years, including North Korea's military support for Russia in the war against Ukraine. A Reuters investigation has found that North Korea has supplied millions of artillery rounds and thousands of troops to Russia for fighting in Ukraine. Kim has expressed "unconditional support" for Russia's policies amid concerns by South Korean and Western officials that North Korea may be receiving Moscow's help with advanced military technology as well as economic assistance.
Asharq Al-Awsat
41 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Fighter Jets, Refueling Aircraft, Frigate: UK Assets in Mideast
Britain is deploying extra fighter jets and other assets to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said. Below, AFP takes a look at the UK's military presence in the region. 'Contingency support' Starmer told reporters travelling with him on his plane to Canada for G7 talks on Saturday that Britain was "moving assets to the region, including jets... for contingency support". The jets are Eurofighter Typhoon planes, according to Britain's defense ministry. Additional refueling aircraft have also been deployed from UK bases, according to Downing Street. Royal Air Force fighter planes are already in the region as part of Operation Shader, the codename given to Britain's contribution to the international campaign against the ISIS group. RAF Typhoon jets aided Israel in April 2024 when they shot down an unspecified number of drones fired by Iran, as confirmed by the UK's then-prime minister, Rishi Sunak. Starmer, Sunak's successor, refused to speculate whether the UK would become directly involved this time in the conflict between the arch foes, which entered their fourth day on Monday. Iran threatened to target American, British and French bases if Western countries intervened to stop Iranian strikes on Israel. Tehran also urged London, Paris and Berlin to pressure Israel to stop its deadly attacks on Iran.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pakistan, US agree to finalize trade deal ‘at the earliest' after Trump's reciprocal tariffs
KARACHI: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to move forward with negotiations aimed at finalizing a trade deal 'at the earliest,' as Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick held a virtual meeting to discuss recently imposed American 'reciprocal tariffs,' Pakistan's finance ministry said on Tuesday. Last month, Islamabad announced it had formally launched talks with the US following the imposition of steep tariffs by President Donald Trump's administration on several countries, including Pakistan. The duties, which Washington says are meant to correct trade imbalances and ensure fair treatment of American goods, have been widely criticized as a blow to global economic recovery efforts in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pakistan has been hit with a 29 percent tariff on its exports to the US at a time when the country is trying to drive economic growth through increased exports. 'Further to Pak-US negotiations on US reciprocal tariffs, a virtual meeting took place between Mr. Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan's Finance Minister, and Howard Lutnick, United States' Commerce Secretary on 16th June, 2025,' the finance ministry said in its statement. 'Both sides resolved to carry forward their negotiations through a constructive engagement to finalize the trade deal at the earliest,' it added. The ministry informed the discussion focused on strengthening trade and investment and deepening economic ties between the two countries. Both sides agreed to hold further technical-level discussions in the coming days, based on a mutually agreed roadmap. The United States is Pakistan's largest export market, and analysts warn that the new tariffs could undermine Islamabad's fragile economic recovery. According to Pakistan's central bank, the country exported $5.44 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports stood at $4 billion, up 10 percent compared to the same period last year. Nearly 90 percent of Pakistan's exports to the US are textiles, a sector likely to bear the brunt of the tariff impact. Trade experts have also cautioned that the duties could erode Pakistan's competitiveness, especially if regional players such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam shift focus to European markets, intensifying competition in alternative destinations.
