live Democrats press Trump to seek Congress approval for Iran war - Friday, 01 May
A senior U.S. administration official says a ceasefire agreed with Iran in early April has effectively ended hostilities for an imminent congressio...
Iranian officials have criticised ceasefire violations by Isreal and U.S., citing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon on Wednesday (8 April), an intrusion of a military drone, and a U.S. denial of Tehran’s right of nuclear enrichment, on the first day of the two-week ceasefire on Wednesday.
President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed the latest post-war developments, including Israel’s large-scale attacks on Lebanon, in phone conversations with his Azerbaijani, French, Japanese and Pakistani counterparts, the President Office announced.
Also after the ceasefire, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with his Azerbaijani, Cypriot, Finnish, Iraqi, Saudi, and Turkish counterparts as well as Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, according to news media quoting the ministry’s statements.
General Munir was reportedly mediating with U.S. President Donald Trump to negotiate a ceasefire in the Israeli-U.S. war on Iran which began 28 February.
Iran’s top diplomat slammed Israel’s bombing of Lebanon as a “massacre” in a post on social media, urging Washington to carry out its ceasefire obligations.
“The Iran-U.S. ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose – ceasefire or continued war via Israel.”
“It cannot have both. The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments,” his post read.
Also Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei strongly condemned the deadly attacks by Israel across Lebanon as a “heinous and shameful crime” in a statement.
He said Washington shall bear direct responsibility for Israel’s strikes, according to the state IRNA news agency.
In a post on X, Baghaei said, "If this [the White House spokesman's claim that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire] isn’t another case of U.S. early reneging, then what is it?”
Amid rising disputes between Iran and U.S. over provisions of the ceasefire stipulated in their conflicting draft proposals, Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said that it was ‘unreasonable’ to hold talks with Washington after three violations of the ceasefire.
His statement was made as Iranian and U.S. negotiators are reportedly scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Friday to sort out a deal on cessation of hostilities.
Unconfirmed reports suggested Ghalibaf will be Iran’s Chief Negotiator in Pakistan if Vice-President J.D. Vance is going to head the U.S. delegation.
In another post-ceasefire development, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Navy announced two routes for transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, warning risks of mines planed in parts of the strategic waterway.
"All vessels intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz are advised to take alternative routes to ensure maritime safety and avoid potential sea mine hazards,” Sepahnews website reported citing IRGC’s statement.
Few vessels were confirmed passing the strait on Wednesday after Iran agreed under the ceasefire to open the waterway to transit of oil and gas tankers.
A report published by Minval Politika has raised new questions over alleged efforts by Luis Moreno Ocampo to shape international pressure against Azerbaijan and influence political dynamics around Armenia.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phase” for the Strait of Hormuz, while a senior adviser said U.S. blockade efforts would fail and could trigger confrontation.
Shares in Meta Platforms fell sharply in extended trading on Wednesday after the tech giant raised its annual capital spending forecast by billions of dollars.
A humanoid robot called Sophia took an unusual place at the heart of a classical concert in Hong Kong on Wednesday (29 April), as she performed alongside a live orchestra for the first time.
A senior U.S. administration official says a ceasefire agreed with Iran in early April has effectively ended hostilities for an imminent congressional war powers 1 May deadline, arguing that the absence of any military exchanges for more than three weeks removes the need for further authorisation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phase” for the Strait of Hormuz, while a senior adviser said U.S. blockade efforts would fail and could trigger confrontation.
Iran said on Thursday it would respond with “long and painful strikes” against U.S. positions if Washington resumed attacks, while also reasserting its claim over the Strait of Hormuz, complicating U.S. plans to form a coalition to reopen the waterway.
The United Nations has said that at least 21 people have been executed in Iran and more than 4,000 arrested since the outbreak of war involving the United States and Israel on 28 February.
President Donald Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long U.S. blockade of Iran's ports with oil companies, a White House official said on Wednesday, as the U.S. renewed its calls for other nations to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment