Iran has vowed to respond strongly to any US military action, amidst rising tensions between the two nations. The US and Iran are set to resume talks in Geneva on Thursday, following a brief break in negotiations mediated by Oman. Ahead of the talks, US President Donald Trump warned that failure to reach a deal would spell disaster for Iran. A US official said that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Wietkof, and Jerryksoner will meet with the Iranian delegation in Geneva on Thursday. The US has reportedly deployed troops to the Middle East to exert pressure on Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Isaam Bakai reiterated Iran’s stance that any US attack would be considered an act of aggression, and that any state would defend itself in such a scenario. Iran and the US have been engaged in indirect negotiations in Switzerland, with the second round of talks concluding on Tuesday and the new round set to begin on Thursday.
In unrelated news, a helicopter crash in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Wednesday claimed the lives of the pilot, copilot, and two civilians. British former ambassador Peter Mandleson was arrested in London on suspicion of misuse of office following reports of his alleged links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In Iran, the government spokesperson said that students have the right to protest, but everyone should understand the red lines. A 21-year-old man was arrested in India’s city of Lucknow on charges of murdering his father in a brutal manner.
Venezuela has demanded the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his party, while in Mexico, a notorious drug lord and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as ‘El Mencho’, was killed in a military operation, with intelligence provided by the US. The operation has sparked widespread protests across the country. The UK’s Nigel Farage has called for visa restrictions on Pakistan and other countries that refuse to take back illegal immigrants and criminals.
European Union High Representative Josep Borrell has described the situation in Iran as extremely serious, stating that the EU does not want another war in the region. In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Thani. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the election tribunal’s decision in the recent general elections, which favored Yasmine Rashid.
Renowned Pakistani comedian Hanif Raja has said that he has traveled the world, but Dubai and Sharjah are like his hometown, Lahore. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised her team for reducing prices, urging citizens to boycott shops selling at higher prices. Police said that the suspects were arrested in Sialkot and Narowal.
