Explainer: Why Israel and Lebanon are set for rare U.S. talks amid escalating conflict
Israeli and Lebanese envoys are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday in a rare U.S.-driven diplomatic effort to halt escalating violence between...
Tehran has declined Egypt’s official invitation to participate in the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit on Gaza ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he cannot sit at the same table with the statemen who attacked his country.
In a post on X, Araghchi expressed gratitude for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s invitation but made it clear that neither President Masoud Pezeshkian nor himself would be meeting with hostile counterparts.
"Iran is grateful for President El-Sisi's invitation to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit. While favouring diplomatic engagement, neither President Pezeshkian nor I can engage with counterparts who have attacked the Iranian people and continue to threaten and sanction us."
He said this in reference to joint Israeli - U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities in June, as well as the US maximum pressure sanctions targeting the country’s economy, energy and health sectors.
However, he reiterated Tehran’s firm support for any Palestinian decision that ends Israel’s military occupation of Gaza.
“Having said that, Iran welcomes any initiative that ends Israel's Genocide in Gaza and ensures the expulsion of occupation forces," he added.
The summit in Egypt’s Red Sea port city of Sharm al-Sheikh will be co-chaired by el-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump to formalise a ceasefire and lay out reconstruction and governance steps after the two-year war in Gaza.
Iran does not recognise Israel and therefore has not accepted the two-state solution of Palestine and Israel expressing its reservation on the issue at the international forums on the situation in the Palestinian lands.
Araghchi also rejected Trump's statement saying Iran can join the Abraham Accords which include agreements that established diplomatic normalisation between Israel and some Arab states.
In a televised interview on Saturday, he said that the US President expresses what he wants to achieve in different ways, stressing that Trump’s expectation will never take place.
“Trump usually expresses what he wants to achieve in various ways, but the foundation of the Abraham Accords is fundamentally treacherous and has no alignment with the ideals of the Islamic Revolution or the Iranian nation.”
“It will never happen,” Iran’s top diplomat added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
Israeli and Lebanese envoys are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday in a rare U.S.-driven diplomatic effort to halt escalating violence between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Myanmar’s newly installed president, Min Aung Hlaing, has said his government faces major challenges and must work to restore the country’s international standing, including rebuilding strained ties with Southeast Asia after years of isolation.
An Iranian delegation has arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan urged all sides to engage constructively. Meanwhile, the United States and Lebanon called on Israel to pause its attacks ahead of planned negotiations.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry says the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged continued cooperation after talks in Kabul on aid coordination, bilateral ties and job creation.
Uzbekistan is advancing plans to reduce the state’s role in the economy while introducing a VAT refund system for foreign visitors, as part of broader efforts to attract investment and boost tourism.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment