Direct communication between senior U.S. and Iranian officials has broken down as tensions rise over Tehran’s crackdown on protests and fears of U.S. military action.
Contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended, citing a senior Iranian official.
The development comes as President Donald Trump warned of possible U.S. military strikes against Iran following reports of protesters being killed during antigovernment demonstrations. The warning follows a brief war in June, when U.S. forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict launched by Israel.
Iran has responded by threatening retaliation against U.S. military bases across the region if it is attacked.
Amid the escalating tensions, some personnel have been advised to leave the U.S. military’s Al Udeid airbase in Qatar - Washington’s largest base in the Middle East — by Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, Iran’s judiciary signalled a tougher response to the protests. Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said trials and punishments must be carried out quickly to maintain deterrence.
“If we want to do something, we have to do it now,” he said in comments broadcast by Iranian state television, warning that delays would weaken the impact of punishment. Activists fear the remarks point to fast-tracked trials and possible executions of detained protesters.
Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh also issued a strong warning, saying Iran had “many surprises” for any attacker. He added that countries assisting strikes against Iran would be considered legitimate targets.
“If these threats turn into action, we will defend the country with full force and until the last drop of blood,” Nasirzadeh said at a security meeting.
The breakdown in diplomacy has raised fears that the standoff between the U.S. and Iran could move closer to direct confrontation.
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A drone strike caused a fire at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, officials said on Sunday, with no injuries or radiation leaks reported. Saudi Arabia also said it had intercepted three drones. Meanwhile President Donald Trump urged Iran to act "fast" as diplomatic efforts stall.
Iran and Pakistan reviewed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the stalled Iran-U.S. peace negotiations mediated by Islamabad, as Tehran and Washington continue to refuse tangible concessions amid a fragile ceasefire and escalating verbal threats.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 16th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist, public policy analyst, Columbia University professor, and UN advisor, said Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus could become one of the world’s key strategic connectors in an emerging multipolar order.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed at least eight Palestinians on Sunday, according to local health officials, as the Israel Defense Forces intensified operations targeting Hamas commanders and infrastructure across the enclave.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Russia carried out overnight drone strikes, air raids and shelling across Ukraine, hitting cities including Odesa and Dnipro, killing one person and injuring more than 30, according to Ukrainian officials on Monday (18 May).
Iran and Pakistan reviewed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the stalled Iran-U.S. peace negotiations mediated by Islamabad, as Tehran and Washington continue to refuse tangible concessions amid a fragile ceasefire and escalating verbal threats.
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