Trump says Iran wants a deal as Tehran rules out talks for now
U.S. President Donald Trump has again said Iran is keen to reach a deal quickly, but a senior Iranian security official rejected the claim, saying ...
Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, used a visit to Uzbekistan to press for easier trade and transit, focusing on boosting exports, establishing an export centre in Balkh, and strengthening regional economic ties.
Azizi attended the INNOPROM Central Asia industrial exhibition in Tashkent, where, according to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, more than 60 Afghan companies participated over three days. The ministry said the firms showcased products from the cotton, coal, spices, agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.
In a meeting with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Jamshid Khodjayev, the two sides discussed trade, transit and Afghan exports to Uzbekistan. According to an official statement, they also discussed “establishing an export centre for Afghan products in Balkh province, as well as the mechanism for operating this centre.”
The visit also included a trilateral meeting with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on the sidelines of the exhibition. According to the ministry, the three sides discussed “providing facilities in the areas of transit and trade, especially for Afghanistan’s export goods to the republics of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan”. The statement said they agreed to form a joint working group and confirmed Afghanistan’s membership in the exhibition.
In Namangan, Azizi met Governor Shavkat Abdurazzaqov. According to the ministry, the two sides discussed expanding trade and increasing exports to Uzbekistan, “especially cotton and coal”. The ministry said Azizi also invited Uzbek investors to invest in textile factories, mineral processing plants and pharmaceutical production in Afghanistan.
Azizi also met Belarusian Industry Minister Andrey Yevgenyevich Kuznetsov in Uzbekistan. According to the ministry, they discussed “increasing the level of trade between the two countries, as well as purchasing diesel fuel and petrol from the Republic of Belarus.” The ministry said both sides agreed to form a deputy minister-level working group to follow up on the talks.
The meetings point to a broader Afghan effort to increase exports of cotton, coal, spices, agricultural goods and pharmaceuticals, while also seeking fuel imports and foreign investment.
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent amid fresh regional attacks and supply concerns.
U.S. President Donald Trump has again said Iran is keen to reach a deal quickly, but a senior Iranian security official rejected the claim, saying Tehran will not negotiate until its conditions are met.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
A Danish military helicopter came within “metres” of being struck by flares fired by a Russian warship, Denmark's Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said on Tuesday. Russia accused Denmark of carrying out “dangerous manoeuvres” near its ship, and said it was investigating the incident.
Türkiye has completed production of its first lunar spacecraft, with the probe now undergoing tests ahead of a planned launch in early 2027.
Kazakhstan and South Korea have agreed to upgrade relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, as the two countries discuss nearly $19 billion in projects spanning energy, critical minerals and infrastructure.
The opening day of the 24th Arab Media Summit in Dubai highlighted how geopolitical, economic and technological upheaval is reshaping not only the region, but the media industry itself.
Georgia's move to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines has sparked a diplomatic exchange with Tehran, as Tbilisi faces growing scrutiny in Washington over its ties with Iran, Russia and China.
Pakistan’s courts have temporarily blocked the expulsion of Afghan medical students, allowing dozens to continue their studies as Islamabad presses ahead with its wider Afghan repatriation drive amid tensions with Kabul.
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