Pakistani PM to visit Azerbaijan, Iran and Türkiye next week
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will make urgent visits to Iran, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye next week to hold high-level talks and express gratitude for recent support.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araqchi issued a stern warning on Thursday following a CNN report suggesting that Israel might be preparing strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. He stated that Tehran would hold Washington accountable as a “participant” in any such attack and would take “special measures” to protect its nuclear infrastructure.
Iran and the United States, Israel’s closest ally, are scheduled to hold their fifth round of nuclear talks on Friday in Rome, despite deep disagreements over Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Washington insists that Iran’s enrichment could enable nuclear weapons development, a claim Tehran denies.
CNN cited intelligence sources indicating uncertainty within the US and Israeli administrations about whether Israel has finalized any decision on military action against Iran.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Araqchi condemned what he described as “adventurism” by Israel and promised a decisive response to any unlawful acts. He also suggested that Iran would inform the International Atomic Energy Agency of any measures taken to safeguard its nuclear materials.
An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader previously hinted that Tehran could suspend cooperation with the IAEA or relocate enriched material to undisclosed locations if threats persist.
The Revolutionary Guards echoed the warning, with spokesperson Alimohammad Naini declaring that Israel would face a “devastating and decisive response” if it attacks Iran, dismissing Israeli threats as miscalculations.
Diplomats suggest that if US-Iran negotiations collapse or produce a deal that fails to ease Israel’s security concerns, Israel could consider military strikes on its regional rival.
Speaking on state television Thursday, Araqchi criticized US demands to end uranium enrichment entirely, stating that such a condition would make a deal impossible. While open to the idea of an international consortium overseeing enrichment, he emphasized that Iran would not relinquish enrichment activities on its own soil.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had earlier described US demands to halt enrichment as “excessive and outrageous” and expressed skepticism about the success of the talks.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian use only. Araqchi reiterated that while Iran has the capability to build nuclear weapons, it lacks the intent to do so.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated in the past year, including exchanges of fire in April and October, increasing fears of a broader regional conflict.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
AnewZ and Kazakhstan’s Jibek Joly/Silk Way TV channel co-hosted a special AnewZ Talks in Astana at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU), uniting global experts and young leaders at Silk Road Media Group’s journalism school to explore the growing intersection of media and diplomacy.
The Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, scheduled for May 18–19, will host 200 international guests, including 40 current and former European officials.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Thursday that more than 50 individuals have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to sabotage the country’s regional and parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday, May 25.
A private jet carrying music industry professionals, including renowned talent agent Dave Shapiro, crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday, killing all six people on board and setting off a firestorm that destroyed a home, scorched vehicles.
In a move with sweeping consequences for higher education, the Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, escalating its ongoing conflict with the Ivy League institution and raising serious questions about the future of thousands of foreign schol
U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing the European Union to unilaterally reduce tariffs on American goods or face the reimposition of steep duties, according to a report by the Financial Times on Friday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 23rd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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