The United States has revoked the visas of the family members of Iran’s former Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Massoumeh Ebtekar, amidst escalating tensions between the two nations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move on social media platform X, stating that the US has canceled the visas and residency status of Ebtekar’s family members, including her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.
According to Rubio, the individuals were never eligible for special residence privileges in the US. They are currently in custody, and the deportation process is underway. This move comes after a recent decision by Rubio to revoke the residence rights of several Iranian women.
The move has been seen as a significant escalation of tensions between the US and Iran, following a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Trump tweeted that the meeting was productive, with several agreements reached, but that the issue of Iran’s nuclear program remained a sticking point.
The UK and Australia have expressed disappointment that no deal was reached during the Islamabad talks between Iran and the US. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to attack Israel, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the Hitler of the present era.”
In related news, a former US diplomat in Pakistan, Mark Bullen, has had his passport revoked under national security grounds. Bullen had expressed disappointment with the Indian media’s portrayal of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Iran’s former Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, has warned the US that it must understand that Iran cannot be dictated to. Ibrahim Azizi added that Iran cannot trust the US and that it is time for the US to decide whether it can regain Iran’s trust.
In other news, a partial restart of the Lavan refinery is expected to take place within 10 days. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called on the US and Iran to return to talks and maintain a ceasefire.
The incident in Karachi’s Korangi area, where traffic congestion occurred on Shah Faisal Bridge, has been reported. The leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, MQM, and opposition leader in the Senate, Senator Maulana Ammar Yasir, has stated that the US thought it could occupy Iran after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
