U.S. confirms troop deaths: All the latest news on Middle East conflict
The widening war between Iran, U.S. and Israel is leaving civilians and soldiers caught in its wake. Thousands are stranded across the Gulf, flight...
China will hold talks with Russia and Iran in Beijing on Iran’s nuclear programme, following a UN Security Council meeting on uranium enrichment concerns.
China will host a meeting in Beijing on Friday with Russia and Iran to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, according to its foreign ministry. Both nations will be represented by their deputy foreign ministers.
Iran and Russia have strengthened ties since 2022, signing a strategic cooperation treaty in January. Both countries maintain close relations with China.
China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will chair the meeting, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed at a press briefing on Wednesday.
The discussions follow a closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council in New York on the same day, which addressed Iran’s growing stockpile of uranium enriched to levels close to weapons-grade.
Last week, Russia stated that Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had met with Iran’s ambassador, Kazem Jalali, to discuss international efforts related to Iran’s nuclear activities. This followed reports that Russia had agreed to assist the US administration in communications with Iran.
Tehran has denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons. However, the UN’s atomic watchdog, the IAEA, has reported that Iran is increasing its uranium enrichment to levels of up to 60% purity, approaching the 90% required for weapons-grade material.
Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, which lifted sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear programme.
The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018, after which Iran began reducing its nuclear-related commitments.
China has reiterated its support for renewed negotiations and has called for a diplomatic resolution to the issue.
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.
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions to shut their doors.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 3rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment