In a move aimed at facilitating possible peace negotiations, the United States and Israel have temporarily removed two senior Iranian officials, Foreign Minister Abbas Mousavi and Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, from their target list.
According to a US publication, American officials stated that the removal of the two officials would pave the way for high-level talks between the two nations to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. The officials further revealed that the decision was made to facilitate negotiations following US President Trump’s opening of doors for high-level talks to end the war.
Middle Eastern countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt, have urged mediators to meet with US and Iranian negotiators to discuss ways to prevent further escalation of the conflict. However, officials have expressed doubts about the success of these efforts, citing significant differences between the US and Iran’s demands.
In a recent interview, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Mousavi stated that there have been no talks with the US. He emphasized that the US has been sending messages through intermediaries, which he claimed was not the same as direct talks.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with citizens in Tehran on Friday, during which he expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the ongoing conflict. The Iranian government has accused the US and Israel of waging an undeclared war against the country.
In a separate development, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to enemy vessels, while Iranian authorities have confirmed that emergency aid teams are working to rescue people trapped under debris in the wake of the US-Israeli airstrikes.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Iran has reportedly earned approximately $1.39 million in daily oil exports, maintaining its oil exports despite the tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts have recommended increasing coal-based electricity generation to address the country’s energy needs.
In a related incident, a 12-year-old Afghan refugee was convicted of the rape and abduction of a fellow refugee. The incident sparked widespread outrage in the community.
In a separate incident, a Pakistani cricket team was involved in a brawl with university students, who allegedly attacked a professor. The incident was captured on video, showing a female student kicking the professor with her shoe.
Meanwhile, former Pakistani cricket captain and commentator Shoaib Malik shared a story about spinner Usman Qadir’s first match.
Additionally, the Iranian embassy has identified and flagged fake social media accounts spreading false information.
Furthermore, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to impose notice on national cricketer Nasim Shah for violating the terms of his central contract.
