live U.S. launches 'defensive' strikes against Iran as peace talks continue
The U.S. military has said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, U...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Astana on Wednesday, 10 December, for a two-day visit aimed at expanding trade, transit, and economic ties, with more than ten agreements expected to be signed.
Discussions are expected to focus on expanding the Incheh Borun–Bereket–Gorgan railway, improving container services, and launching new logistics initiatives. Analysts cited by Kazakhstan’s Khabar Agency and Iran’s IRNA suggest that agriculture, energy, and logistics will drive the next stage of bilateral co‑operation as both nations seek more diversified and resilient trade corridors.
A business forum and cultural exhibition highlighting shared historical and regional links are also planned, underlining the broader economic and diplomatic significance of the visit.
Iran and Kazakhstan have maintained close economic ties in recent years. During President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s 2022 visit to Tehran, the countries set a trade target of $3 billion, introduced a 14-day visa-free regime, and launched the first container train linking Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Türkiye.
According to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, bilateral trade reached $310.8 million between January and September 2025, with Kazakh exports nearly tripling year-on-year.

The visit is seen as a step towards further enhancing regional connectivity amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and evolving transit routes. Officials say the planned agreements and initiatives are expected to strengthen Iran–Kazakhstan trade links and boost economic integration across Central Asia.
The inaugural Enhanced Games began in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern sport, in which athletes openly compete using performance-enhancing drugs banned under traditional anti-doping rules.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, though the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.
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The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) resumed passenger services between Baku and Tbilisi on 25 May, with the first train departing Baku Railway Station at 23:10 local time after a six-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in decades, Armenia has rail access to the EU. The Akhalkalaki–Kars corridor, running through Georgia into Türkiye, is now officially open for Armenian cargo - a quiet but consequential shift in the region’s economic geography.
The Kremlin warned on Monday that Armenia could lose the “very attractive” price it pays for Russian gas if it moved away from integration with Russia and deepened ties with the European Union.
Uzbekistan has unveiled its final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance at football’s biggest tournament. The national team, led by Italian head coach Fabio Cannavaro, will compete at the tournament hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population - more than 21 million people - needed humanitarian assistance in the first three months of 2026, according to the United Nations, yet aid agencies reached only 4.7 million people.
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