CBS: President Trump said Tuesday that Iran had “fully and completely” agreed to allow nuclear inspections, but Tehran said there were “no plans” for IAEA inspectors to return to its bombed enrichment sites. Vice President JD Vance said Monday that U.N. inspectors could return as soon as this week, though Mr. Trump said Tuesday there was “no rush.”…
Qatar says US-Iran hotline essential to stop rogue actors impeding Hormuz reopening
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the FT that the hotline agreed by the warring parties at their talks in Switzerland was needed to counter “disinformation” and ensure co-ordination while mines were cleared from the crucial waterway.
A challenge, he said, was that “anyone who just wants to mess around” could use shipping communications to warn vessels: “‘Go back, we are going to fire, we are the IRGC [Iran’s Revolutionary Guards]’.”…
U.S. and Iran Offer Conflicting Accounts of Nuclear Discussions
Rubio starts Middle East trip as Gulf allies sceptical about Iran deal seek answers
Rubio’s remarks during his swing through the region will be closely scrutinized to see how the man once known as a hawkish critic of Iran frames a deal that many congressional Republicans argue amounts to capitulation…
Trump to meet munitions makers amid push to replenish weapons stockpiles
The United States has supplied large quantities of weapons to allies while also using munitions in its own military operations, raising concerns about inventories of key air-defense and precision-guided weapons and increasing pressure on contractors to boost output…
Senate votes to limit Trump’s Iran war powers in rare rebuke
The Senate adopted a resolution on Tuesday directing the president to remove military forces from the conflict with Iran, a significant rebuke to Donald Trump and a strong message that the war lacks support in Congress…
Australia spy chief warns of rising threat of Iran-backed terrorism
“Iran continues to view Australia as a legitimate target for covertly directed acts of violence,” said Mike Burgess, director-general of security at the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, in a speech on Wednesday.
He also pointed to a recent wave of attacks in Europe targeting Jewish interests, which he said were of concern to Australian authorities. “We assess there is a realistic possibility the group that’s been active in Europe will expand its networks to this part of the world, and could conduct or inspire acts of arson, vandalism or even assassinations on Australian soil,” he said…
Global oil prices fall to lowest level since before the US-Iran war
Trump Is Making Big Claims About the Iran Talks. Iran Keeps Contradicting Him.
President Trump appears to be describing his preferences as fully negotiated deals, in hopes of locking the Iranians in. The question is whether a succession of such disputes will sink the whole venture…
Israel’s Military Is Caught in a Political No Man’s Land in Lebanon
“It’s an Israeli Catch-22 that we created for ourselves,” said Michael Milshtein, a former senior Israeli intelligence officer. “You reach a situation where you are stuck in a place where you tell yourself that you can’t withdraw because it will hurt the country’s security interests and its deterrence, and on the other hand, your hands are tied.”…
Iran’s Loyalists Promote a Wider Nationalism, Unveiled Women Included
Government supporters are showing off new ties with alleged former dissidents in a bid to show that they can withstand enemies at home as well as abroad…
China Is Luring the World to the Yuan—and Hobbling Western Sanctions
Iran and Russia have used the currency to carry out oil sales and other trade, evading controls on dollar transactions…