Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, a key mediator in indirect nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, met with United States Vice President JD Vance in Washington, DC on Friday, as regional tensions escalate over Iran’s nuclear programme and the threat of potential military confrontation. Why this meeting matters Oman has long played a quiet but crucial role as an intermediary between the United States and Iran, especially on nuclear issues. Its foreign minister’s meeting with the US vice president signals: Read More: Israel says it has launched attack on Iran, as explosions reported in Tehran FAQs What…
Author: Leonard
The United States and Israel have launched what they describe as a “pre-emptive” military operation against Iran, marking a sharp escalation in tensions and raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were aimed at removing threats to Israel, accusing Tehran of advancing its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Explosions were reported in Tehran, with smoke seen rising over parts of the capital. The New York Times, citing a US official, reported that American strikes were underway. A source told Reuters that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been moved from Tehran to…
Smoke has been seen rising over parts of Tehran after Israel said it launched a “pre-emptive” attack on Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two regional powers. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had initiated the strikes and declared a “special and permanent state of emergency” across the country, warning of possible retaliatory missile and drone attacks. Iranian state media reported multiple explosions in the east and north of Tehran, including around central areas such as Jomhouri Square and Hassan Abad Square. The BBC has received images showing plumes of smoke rising above the capital. What…
Trump news at a glance. High-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme ended Thursday without a breakthrough, intensifying concerns that Washington could pivot toward military action if diplomacy stalls. Indirect talks in Geneva were conducted in two sessions, mediated by Oman. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, described the discussions as making “good progress” and confirmed that further contacts would take place within a week, likely at a technical level in Vienna. Omani mediators echoed that cautious optimism. However, there was no evidence of convergence on the core disputes: Iran’s insistence on its right to enrich…
U.S. President Donald Trump has struck a stark tone in the U.S.–Iran standoff, saying that while he would prefer a diplomatic solution, there may be moments when military force is necessary. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House on 27 February 2026, Trump expressed frustration with Tehran’s unwillingness to commit to giving up its nuclear weapons ambitions, while affirming that further negotiations were expected soon. Trump reiterated that the primary U.S. objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear arsenal, a position that has underpinned U.S. foreign policy for years. Speaking before a trip to Texas, he said…
Beijing’s muted response to Washington’s mounting pressure on Iran has prompted speculation that China is either unwilling or unable to stand by Tehran. Yet interpreting China’s restraint as abandonment misses the strategic logic underpinning its approach. Far from indifference, Beijing’s posture reflects a calculated long-term strategyone that prioritizes stability, leverage, and geopolitical advantage over overt confrontation. The image of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 16th BRICS Summit symbolized deepening ties between Tehran and Beijing. Since signing a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in 2021, China and Iran have described their relationship as a…
High-stakes nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran stretched late into the night in Geneva on Thursday, underscoring both the fragility of diplomacy and the growing possibility of US military action if talks collapse. With apparent gaps still separating the two sides, the shadow of President Donald Trump looms large. Trump has assembled an unprecedented concentration of US military assets across the Middle East, creating leverage at the negotiating table but also raising fears that a breakdown could trigger punitive strikes against Iran. Talks Continue Amid Signs of Deadlock Iran’s foreign ministry sought to dismiss speculation that negotiations had…
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has described the situation across the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a “human-made disaster,” citing grave violations by Israeli forces as well as serious abuses committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. Presenting a new report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) covering the 12 months through 31 October 2025, Türk said that Israel had continued attacks on residential buildings and makeshift shelters in Gaza, resulting in the destruction of entire neighbourhoods and what he called “mass civilian deaths.” According to the report, more than…
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Iran’s refusal to negotiate over its ballistic missile programme poses a serious obstacle to diplomatic progress, just as a new round of nuclear talks begins in Geneva. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Saint Kitts and Nevis, Rubio stressed that while President Donald Trump prefers diplomacy, Washington expects broader discussions beyond Iran’s nuclear activities. His remarks come amid heightened tensions after Trump alleged that Tehran may be developing rockets capable of reaching the United States — a claim Iran has consistently denied. Diplomatic Push Amid Military Pressure The third…
As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine faces one of the most delicate assignments in modern civil-military history: preparing detailed military plans for a potential war with Iran while maintaining influence with President Donald Trump, a commander-in-chief known for unpredictability and public bravado. Behind closed doors at the Pentagon, Caine has been drafting a broad range of military options targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, and even contingency scenarios involving regime change. At the same time, he has privately raised concerns about the scale, risks, and unintended consequences of such an operation, according to officials familiar with…