Fewer than 20 ships transited key Strait of Hormuz over weekend
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffi...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has criticised the European Union’s “destructive” stance in the Israel–U.S. war against Iran, calling for a more constructive approach, official sources in Tehran reported.
He made the remarks during a phone call with European Council President António Costa, urging European countries to align their policies with international law and pursue constructive engagement rather than what he described as a destructive approach towards Iran.
According to the President’s Office website, Pezeshkian also said the U.S. “does not believe in diplomacy”, citing two alleged attacks on Iran during negotiations last June and in February this year.
Pezeshkian said Iran has the “necessary will” to end the ongoing war but stressed that guarantees are needed to prevent a “repeat of the aggression”.
As the conflict entered its 33rd day, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss the latest developments.
In his conversation with Bayramov, Araghchi urged all countries, particularly those bordering the Caspian Sea, to take a clear and decisive stance on recent attacks targeting Iran’s coastal areas, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
During his call with Fidan, Araghchi said Iran had not launched any missiles at Türkiye and warned of repeated “false flag” operations.
“Iran is committed to observing the principle of good neighbourliness and respecting Türkiye’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said, adding that Tehran is ready for a joint technical investigation into the incident.
In a separate development, Araghchi said contacts are ongoing with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, but not in the form of formal talks.
“Iran receives messages from Witkoff directly, as before, but this does not mean Tehran and Washington are in negotiations,” he said in an interview with Doha-based Al Jazeera TV.
He also revealed that “there are communications between security agencies” of the warring parties, without providing further details.
“We have no faith that negotiations with the U.S. will yield results. The level of trust is zero. We do not see honesty,” he said, as the war entered its fifth week with no end in sight.
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
A large-scale drone attack has hit Russia's Samara region, damaging facilities and disrupting operations at an Ozon logistics complex, according to regional authorities and the company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have elevated bilateral ties with a Treaty on Eternal Friendship signed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on 23 August. The leaders also agreed to expand trade, investment, transport, and regional cooperation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of August, covering the latest developments.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Kazakhstan has concluded its first election to the new unicameral Kurultai, with turnout reaching 74.19 per cent, as vote counting begins following a major overhaul of the country’s parliamentary system.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have elevated bilateral ties with a Treaty on Eternal Friendship signed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on 23 August. The leaders also agreed to expand trade, investment, transport, and regional cooperation.
Syria has called for international action after an Israeli drone strike hit a civilian vehicle near Damascus, warning that continued Israeli attacks could deepen instability and put civilians at greater risk.
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