Kazakhstan vows to fast-track AZAL crash investigation amid rising diplomatic tensions
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounti...
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says Iran’s nuclear bomb development has been delayed by "at least two to three years" due to the ongoing conflict, while expressing doubt about diplomacy as European leaders push for renewed talks with Tehran in Geneva.
In a wide-ranging interview with the German newspaper Bild, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar outlined Israel’s firm stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating that while a direct military confrontation has caused setbacks to Iran’s nuclear programme, Israel remains unwavering in its goal to neutralise the threat.
"We are committed to doing everything possible to eliminate the danger from Iran’s nuclear programme," Sa’ar said, adding that military pressure has bought the international community critical time.
Sa’ar, however, expressed deep scepticism toward diplomatic efforts. "I don’t really believe in diplomacy with Iran. All previous diplomatic efforts have been unsuccessful," he told Bild. Despite this, European leaders remain optimistic about dialogue.
Top European diplomats—including representatives from the UK, France, and Germany—met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday in Geneva. The goal of the meeting was to de-escalate rising tensions and explore pathways to restart negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Asked whether Israel sees regime change in Tehran as an objective, Sa’ar said such a goal has not been formally adopted. "The Security Cabinet has not yet defined regime change as a goal in this war. At least not yet," he clarified.
The Geneva talks come at a time of heightened tensions across the Middle East, with both Israel and Iran intensifying rhetoric and operations. While the Israeli government remains cautious about setting long-term political goals for the conflict, the international community continues to seek channels for diplomatic resolution.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
Türkiye raised its security level for Turkish-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to Level 3 on Sunday (2 March). The development follows Iranian restrictions on shipping after U.S. and Israeli strikes and confirmation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death.
Seven opposition parties in Georgia have formed a coordinated alliance ahead of upcoming elections, saying it aims to challenge the dominance of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The government has dismissed the move as a rebranding of familiar political figures.
Türkiye’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has described the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran as a “clear violation of international law”, in his strongest remarks yet on the escalating regional crisis.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounting diplomatic pressure and geopolitical tensions push the disaster further into the international spotlight.
Entrances to Iran's underground and previously bombed uranium-enrichment plant at Natanz have been struck as part of the U.S.-Israeli military attacks on the country, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEZ) confirmed on Tuesday (3 March).
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