Article:
International community has expressed deep concern over the failure of Iran-US talks in Islamabad, with key world leaders calling for a return to negotiations and maintenance of the current ceasefire. British Health Secretary, in an interview with the British TV, stated that the absence of a deal in the Islamabad talks does not mean that efforts should be halted. Australian Foreign Minister emphasized the need for the US and Iran to return to talks and maintain the ceasefire, with a focus on finding a swift resolution to the crisis. The Australian minister warned that the escalation of the conflict would not only result in human losses but also have a detrimental impact on the global economy.
US President Donald Trump, in a social media post, stated that the talks with Iran began early morning and lasted for almost 20 hours. He hinted that several key points were agreed upon, but expressed disappointment over the lack of an agreement on a critical issue related to Iran’s nuclear program. The US President’s post was corroborated by an American official who confirmed that the entire US negotiating team has departed for Islamabad.
In a separate development, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over the phone. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, likening him to Hitler, and threatening a military strike. Meanwhile, Pope Francis delivered his weekly prayer address from the Vatican, highlighting the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif emphasized that the US must understand that Iran cannot be dictated to. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf announced that a portion of the Lavan refinery will be operational within 10 days. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called on the US and Iran to return to talks and maintain the ceasefire.
In a related development, the Pakistani government revoked the passport of a former US diplomat Mark Bullen under the National Security Act, citing concerns over his involvement in spreading biased media narratives about Pakistan. The Saudi government has increased the price of gasoline by 30% to 83.3 riyals per liter, amid escalating tensions in the region.
