China and Pakistan discuss Afghanistan security and Urumqi Process
China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, has met Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, in Islamabad to di...
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as American military assets arrived in the Middle East amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“Our brave Armed Forces are prepared – with their fingers on the trigger – to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air and sea,” Araghchi wrote on X on Wednesday (28 January).
He added that lessons from the 12-day conflict with Israel and the U.S. in June “have enabled us to respond even more strongly, rapidly and profoundly.”
At the same time, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s commitment to a “mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL – on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation,” emphasising that Tehran has never sought nuclear weapons.
“Such weapons have no place in our security calculations,” he wrote.
The warning followed a series of statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who described a “massive armada” heading toward Iran that is “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.”
Trump urged Iran to negotiate “a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties,” citing last summer’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and threatening that “the next attack will be far worse.”
The U.S. naval buildup includes the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three destroyers armed with Tomahawk missiles, adding approximately 5,000 troops to an already robust American presence of more than 30,000 personnel across the Middle East, including at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is the first U.S. carrier to operate in the region since last summer.
Araghchi denied any request for new talks with Washington but confirmed contact with “various intermediaries.” “Negotiations cannot take place under threats, and any talks must be conducted in conditions where threats and excessive demands are set aside,” he said.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told state-aligned Tasnim News Agency on Thursday that Tehran is “ready for sincere and genuine negotiations with America” but warned that while Trump “may be able to start a war,” he cannot foresee how it will end.
The renewed tensions centre on Iran’s nuclear programme, its ballistic missile capabilities, and its support for regional proxy forces – long-standing concerns for the U.S., Israel, and their regional partners.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
Competing narratives continue to shape perceptions of the war in Ukraine, with Russian leadership suggesting a possible end phase while Ukrainian officials warn of renewed large-scale attacks and ongoing escalation risks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Lebanese President and Israeli Prime Minister on efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon. According to a U.S. official, Washington has proposed a plan aimed at achieving a gradual de-escalation of hostilities.
When Armenians vote on 7 June, they will be voting in an election shaped by months of political change and a rapidly deepening relationship with the European Union. The result may not only determine who governs Armenia but also the future direction of the country's geopolitical alignment.
Unsealed records from the U.S. Department of Justice have renewed scrutiny of lawyer Robert Amsterdam after documents revealed communications between his law firm and Jeffrey Epstein's office. The disclosures have drawn attention because of Amsterdam's prominent role in Armenia.
China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, has met Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, in Islamabad to discuss the China-facilitated Urumqi Process and regional security concerns.
International organisations, investors, environmental experts and business representatives gathered in Samarkand for the opening of Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, one of the region's largest environmental events focused on green growth, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Yerevan remains committed to normalising relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, expressing confidence that decades of regional hostility will eventually give way to lasting stability.
Kazakhstan has restored oil production after an accident at the Tengiz oil field briefly disrupted output last week, while also signalling its readiness to increase crude shipments through the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
Baku has once again become a focal point for international energy diplomacy, investment and strategic cooperation, as Baku Energy Week brings together policymakers, industry leaders and investors from around the world.
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